10 20 644 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/5d64f090519b9e896592128f02ec0c39.jpg 7132a01dcf7dd73f4768874198f90742 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/edf3b5a7d2dc2176171bea400a278963.pdf 2e81c7efa036dc8294c8bd398356f8a4 PDF Text Text Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans;Our.Families + Friends " Building AEVER ¯ Boy Scou.ts Target.ed For Ant -Gay B=as ¯ TULSA - In conjunction with a National Day of ¯ Protest of the Boy Scouts of America~ Kerry Lewis, ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ MCC +American Expre. ss Offer Financial Planning TULSA - Tulsa’s Metropolitan Community Church United (MCC-United) with Theresa M. Barnard, a financial planning advisor with American Express Financial Advisors will present a series of financial planning seminars at MCC United. One seminar will be "Financial Strategies for Gay Men & Lesbians" and will be held on Tuesday, S eptember 5th and will be repeated on Tuesday, October 10th. Barnard will present "Retirement - Explore Your Options, Create your Retirement Income," on Tuesday, .September 19th and ,Estate Planning" on Tuesday, October 24th. All seminars will be at 7pro at the church located at 1623 No. Maplewood, just north and west of Sheridan and Pine. Bamard and MCC United provided the following statement from American Express Financial Advisors: "We want to make our commitment to Gay men and Lesbians clear. Just as we have ~ktended domestic partner benefits to our Lesbian and Gay employees worldwide, we are commi tted to providing sound finan, cial advice that specifically addresses the unique finandal issues affecting our Lesbian and Gay clients." see MCC, p. 3 ¯ ~ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ spokesperson for Tulsa Oklahomans for Human A More Light Presb erMn Weekend ¯¯ Rights (TOHR), has announced that TOHR and TULSA - A local liberal protestant church, College Hill Presbyterian Church recently became a"More Light" church by joining the More Light network, a group of Presbyterian affiliated organizations which are dedicated to welcoming Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals and Transgendered persons into the church in all roles, both as lay members and as ordained leaders and clergy. Now in August, on the 25, 26, and 27, the congregation will host a "More Light" event and organizer both to help educate local religious groups and individuals, and to recognize and celebrate College Hill’s joining the More Light group. The Session (the board of directors of the congregation) has invited Michael Adee, Ph.D., who is a full time organizer for More Light network, a weekend of workshops. According to College Hill’s spokesperson, "these three days will be filled with opportunities for worship mad fellowship together, to learn more about ministry to and with Gay, Lesbian; Bisexual and Transgendered persons, and to inform and welcome others to this ministry of compassion, inclusion and justice." The opening event will be a lunch on Friday; August 25th, from noon to 1:30 in the Fellowship Hall of the church which is located at 712 So. Columbia Ave. The church is just west of the campus of the UniversityofTulsa and since TU has tom down the old Kendall School to build a Tennis Center, the church can be seen from Delaware. The lunch presentation is called, "Building a Church for Everyone," and church professionals and elders from Presbyterian Churches in the area are invited to attend this luncheon. Adee will give a short presentation on the history and goals of More Light Presbyterians, followed by a question and answer session. The meal will be $5.00. On Saturday, August 26th, Adee will lead a workshop "Caring for All God’s People," from 8:30- 12:30 again in the Fellowship Hall. According to organizers; those attending this event will gain greater understanding of the pastoral care needs of GLBT people and their families, see Light, p. 3 : ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ~ ¯ ¯ : : other local organizations will hold a protest at the local headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America on August 21st. The time of the event will be available by contacting TOHR at 743-4297. The protes t is in response to a recent US S upreme Court decision which overturned a New Jersey court ruling that the Boy Scouts’ anti-Gay policies were illegal under New Jersey non-discrimination laws. According to Lewis, "the purpose of these protests is to provide a visible and rational response to their discriminatory and de-humanizing policies." The Indian Nations Council of the BSA is located at 3206 So. Peoria. Parking is limited at the site but is available on the street a few blocks away in the Brookside business area. Lewis noted also that there are also several other options for you to register your protest of the Boy Scout policy. One is to write a letters of complaint. Informational materials, including sample letters, are available by contacting TOHR. And in discussions with Tulsa Family News, Lewis acknowledged that another aspect of the Boy Scouts’ discriminatory policies was Tulsa AreaUnitedWay’s (TAUW) funding for the BSA. Lewis acknowledged that some in the community favor designating TAUW as the target of protests or demonstrations, but that those discussions were ongoing. Lewis also said that the next meeting of Tulsa’s Diversity Council will be on Tuesday, August 22nd at 7pm at the Center. Further in the future is a visit to Tulsa by Dr. Laura Schlessinger, radio talk show host known for her characterization of Gay people see BSA, p. 3 Others May Follow Women Try to Change ¯ Barnes & Noble Boots Canada’s Marriage Law ¯ Vermont’s Lead On Unions ¯ Minority Newspapers VICTORIA, CANADA (AP.)- Two women at the center of a constitutional court challenge exchanged vows in July as friends and relatives witnessed the union ceremony. Judy Lightwater, 49, and Cynthia Callahan, 36, pledged to "cherish and sustain each other" for all of their days with "passion, honor, patience and laughter." Since Canadian law recognizes marriage only between a man and a woman, it was legally impossible for the Gay activism to get a marriage license. But the British Columbia government has asked the provincial Supreme Court on behalf of the couple to declare that same-sex marriages are legal. The court challenge is expected to reach the Supreme Court of Canada within about seven years. The provincial government issues marriage licenses but is bound by federal rules as to who qualifies. "When I see there are two people who are dearlyin love and want to make a commitment to each other and want to have the same access to laws that are available to others, as a human being I ask myself why should ~ose people not be able to make that commitment? said B.C. Attorney General Andrew Petter. "We’re in love and we want to tell everyone about it," ........... said Lightwater: "It"s not that complicated.~ More love in the world is something everyone supports." The other couple named in B.C.’s court petition are Murray Warren and Peter Cook, who filed a human rights complaint after they were. refused a marriage license 18 months ago. see Courts, p. 3 US & WORLD NEWS HEALTH NEWS ENTERTAINMENT P. 2 P. 3 P. 4 P, 6 P, 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 DIRECTORY EDITORIAL MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)- Legislators in Rhode Island and New York are hoping their states follow Vermont’s lead in granting same-sex couples the benefits of marriage. "From New Hampshire to California, politicians are intrigued by the civil unions statute Vermont created to grant Gay and Lesbian couples rights and benefits without wandering into the politically volatile thicket of marriage. But most advocates say Vermont will remain ." a pioneer on the issue for the foreseeable future while the public ¯ becomes more comfortable with the idea. ¯ A state senator in New York is drafting a bill based on : Vermont’s statute and a Rhode Island state representative is ." pushingabill to expandhis state’s marriage laws toinclude same¯ sex couples. "I would not introduce anything but marriage;’ said : Rep: Michael Pisamro, a Democrat from Cranston, R.I. "I don’t : necessarily see something like civil unions or domestic partner. ships as a stepping stone to marriage." Pisaturo earlier this year ; said Rhode Islanders are still uncomfortable with the idea of ¯ recognized partnerships between Gay people. That’s why he held ~ . off on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage and will try next year. ¯ In the New York state Senate, Manhattan Democrat Tom : Duane is drafting a bill that his aide said would be "similar to" ." Vermont’s first-in-the-nation civil unions statute, although de." tails were still being worked out. "Our Legislature won’t be back , ’ until January., ~s~ it wouldn’t be until then,", said Scott Mdvin. ~ : Advocates also see opportunities in New Hampshire, Con: nectient, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California for laws ¯ granting marriage benefits, either through marriage itself or ¯ through a civil unions compromise like Vermont, s. ¯ "I think the situation we’re in is Vermont will be there and will ." have to have the courage of its convictions for a while and then, ¯ I think, it will fall into place in a number of spots," said Beatrice ¯ Dohrn, a lawyer for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education : Fund, which led the legal fight in Hawaii for Gay marriage. ¯ Although most advocates insist that full inclusion in marriage ¯ statutes is the only way for Gay and Lesbian couples to achieve ; equality, some see the civil unions statute as a good way to begin ." moving toward that goal. ¯ "Using Vermontas a model, other legislatures wishing to enact ¯ equal benefits,~ see Unions, p. 2 ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ TULSA- In amove thatis being decriedby smaller ¯ newspaper publishers across the US, Barnes & ¯ Noble has thrown out most community publica¯ dons out of its stores across the US. ¯ In Tulsa, Barnes & Noble representatives sent ¯ notice to TulSa Family News by letter in the last ¯ week of June of the new policy which went into : effect on July 1st. Newspaper reports from else. where in the US note that Barnes & Noble sent the : letter to most publication in sometime in March. : Local representatives could give no explanation for ¯ the several month delay before informing Tulsa : publications. ¯ Barnes & Noble stated in its letter that it was : removing the publications in order to use the space ¯ forit own merchandise but after TFN publisher : spoke with (the no~w former) manager of the 71st : St. store, it became clear that while minority pub: lieatious were being removed, Barnes & Noble was ¯ creating a new space inside the store for two com" ¯ mtmitypublications; TulsaPeopleand Urban Tulsa. ¯ These two were retaining distribution privileges ¯ because they have the largest volume of copies ¯ ¯ distributed. Both- Tulsa People (TP) and Urban : Tulsa (UT) are publications with histories of fail" ing to serve Tulsa’s Gay & Lesbian communities or : of having anti-Gay policies (UT). Tulsa Family News publisher Tom Neal said, ¯~ "this policy inherently discriminates against mi¯ nority community publications. By virtue of being ¯ minority, we simply cannot compete on a highest ," volume basis." : Neal added that given a choice between making ¯ purchases at Barnes & Noble or at Borders, he ¯ encourages community members to buy at Borders ¯ which consistently has been more supportive of : Lesbians and Gay menin Tulsa. Neal also suggests ¯ that readers let Matt Mozzoni, manager of the 41st ¯ St. Barnes & Noble see Barnes & Noble, p. 3 �Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants 712-2324 *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 610-5323 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial 583-2119 *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine 835-2376 *Club Vortex, 2!82 S. Sheridan 749-4511 *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria 744-4280 Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael"s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 834-4234 *The Star, 1565 Sheridan 585-3405 *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 660-0856 *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial 584-1308 *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 749-1563 "*The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 665-4580 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 712-1122 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 494-2665 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 743-5272 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 746-0313 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 295-5868 *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 622-0700 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 352-9504, 800-742-9468 Tim Daniel, Attorney 749-3620 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 744-5556 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 838,-8503 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 369-8555 Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 584-0337, 712-9379 *Ross Edward Salon 592-0460 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 744-9595 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoffa6!0-0880 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 628-3709 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 808-8026 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 742-1460 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 459-9349 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 744-7440 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 341-6866 *International ~[ours 712-2750 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 582-3018 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 747-0236 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 582-8460 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 599-8070 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 747-5466 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard. #210 585-1234 *Li~:ing A~tSpace, 308 South Kenosha 584-3112 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 663-5934 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 664-2951 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place .... ~838-7626 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 743-4297 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 747-5932 Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, "74101 834-0617 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-7921,747-4746 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 749-6301, Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 260-7829 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 481-0558 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 835-5563 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 743-1733 Fred Welch, LCSW, Connseting 665-2222 *Wherehouse Music. 5150 S. Sheridan 592-0767 *Whittier News Stand. 1 N. Lew~s www.gaytulsa.org Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities 579-9593 AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337.74101 743-2363 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 587-7314 Black & ~Vhite, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 918.583.12.zhS, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140. Tulsa. OK 74159 e-mail: Tu!saNews@ earthhnk.:~et Publisher + Editor: Tom Seal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche. Lamont Lindstrom. Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers. Hughston Walkinshaw Member of The Associated Press Tulsa Family News wishes to correct an error in our July issue. In an article about GayTulsa.o,:g, we mistakevJy indentified their Associate Webmaster, Scan, as Seth and as a "partner" in the r, on-profit organization, rather than by his correct title. TFN regrets any all,stress this caused to the staff and friends of GayTulsa.org. - TN -: equal status for Gay and, Lesbian people wi!l look at this," said David Smith ofthe !. Humau Rights Campaign, the nation’s " " ,. the country that would look to this.’.’ Vermont’s law is parallel to mamage ". but ~s a separate legal creation. It has prompted a lot of debate around the coun¯ try about granting benefits to couples who want legal recognition and protection for their long-term relationships. Vermont lawmakers have said repeat747-6827 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 edly that their law could be a model for 582-0438 Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 other states to emulate as they seek to 583-6611 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. steer clear of the emotional debate about 834-4194 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral marriage. Thirty-two states have adopted 481-1111 Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st statutes specifically outlawing Gay mar834-8378 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education riage. Because civil unions aren’t mar*House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood riage, though, the Vermont authors of the Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 law say, they’re a way to take a step 838-1715 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood without getting bogged down in emotion, 748-3111 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. religion and morality. 365-5658 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 But to people like California AssemOK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 blywoman Rep. Carole Migden of San *OSU-Tulsa Francisco, that’s demeaning. ’.’The premise 749-4901 PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 of civil union is still an insult, but never587-7674 *Plalmed Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria theless we’re pleased that the state of Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 Vermont recognizes the quality of Les749-4195 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network bian and Gay equality in a less-than-dig584-2325 *Red Rock Mental Center, !724 E 8 nified way," said Migden, whose state last O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults year outlawed Gay marriage in a referenO’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth dum. "We’re moving along. Each year we 425-7882 St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincim~ati add to it, It’s a step-by-step building492-7140 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st block process." 582-3088 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King Some Gay civil rights advocates cau583-7171 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder don that experiences in Hawaii and Alaska, 582-7225 *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care where courts said same-sex couples should 595-4105 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 be allowed to marry and then lawmakers Co~tfidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only and voters reversed them, should temper 743-4297 Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c,~o The Pride Center any predictions that the idea of civil unions T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform~ Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 will spread quickly beyond Vermont. "I *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule think it’s important to bear in mind that *Tulsa Community College Campuses V ermont i s a leader in notjus t civil rations, 743-4297 *TulsaGay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 but in terms of hate crimes, second parent 749-8833 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown adoption and nondiscrimination is sues for BARTLESVILLE the Lesbian and Gay community," said *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 Tim Sweeney, deputy executive director of New York state’s Fanpire State Pride OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Agenda. "I think that’s an important conBorders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 text to keep in mind." Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 Political considerations appear to be far TAHLEQUAH from the minds of many of the people 9!8-456-7900 Stonewall League. c~J! for i~fformation: entering into civil unions since they be9182456-7900 *Tahlequmh U vjtarian-Uni vcrsalist Church came thelaw on July !. Of the 115 that had 918-453-9360 Green Country A!DS Cozdition, POB !570 been reported to the state vital records NSU Schoo! of C,ptometry, 1001 N. Grand division through Monday~ more th;m tw oHIVtestln,, e’ve~v other T~es. 5:30-8:30. cal! for dates thirds have b~eu between conples from outside Vermont. That’ s even though civil 501-253-7734 583-7815 Autunm Breeze Restaurm~. L~w~.. 23 unions are not legally recognized anyBless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 501-253-7457 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main where else in the country. *]3 L/G/T Alliance. Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 5K3-9780 501-253-6807 585-1201 DeVito’s Restaurant. 5 Center g t. *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston That "alone will make a difference in 501-253 -5445 Emerald Rainbow. 45 &l:2 Spring St. *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Horence other states, though, advocates say, be~ 501-253-9337 MCC of the Living Spring *Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwo°d 587-1314 cause it is generating debate in practically 5~ 1-253-2776 Geek to Go!, PC SpecialisL POB 429 every state. "The whole mo~cement an *Commtmity of Hope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 50!-253-5332 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery *CommunityUnitarian-Universalist Congregatmn 749-0595 Vermont has createda tremendous amount 501-624-6646 748-3888 Positive Idea Marketing Plans of education and discussion about LesCouncil Oak Men’s Chorale 501-253-6001 712-1511 Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East bian and Gay relationships and the kind of *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 501-253-4074 742-2457 White Light, 1 Center St. discrimination we face," Sweeney said. *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 "It’ s been an extremely positive discusDignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & JOPLIN, MISSOURI 355-3140 Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 stun and very helpful to humanize Les*Spirit of Christ MCC. 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 747-7777 bian and Gay relationships and our fami*Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard * is where you can f’md TFN. N o t all are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. lies ." Free Sprat Women s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Issued on or before the ! st of each month, the entire contents of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by T~,u~ ~: o~ Ndw~ and may not be reproduced either in whole orin part without written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assmned to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of rJ,4~ ~.’. Ncnu4~ Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each ediuon at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. �National Gay Organizations Comment on Cheney by Tom Neal, editor/publisher How disappointing that Colin Powell would lend his credibility to the Republican scam of being a party of inclusion at the recent GOP convention. Since the days of that deficit-creating monster Reagan, Republicans have represented the worst in American character: hate-mongering, religiously intolerant, and committed to undermining constitutional rights of those unlike themselves. In Philadelphia, we see Blacks, Latinos, women and the disabled trotted out but we still read the same attacks o~ Gay Americans. Gays can be soldiers ouly at the cost of free speech. Gay relationships, by federal law, can only be end class. In Oklahoma, Democrats aren’t much better. Republicans talk nasty about Gay taxpayers. Democrats keep quiet but both abuse the authority of the State to attack Gay Oklahomans. God forbid we should get through a legislative session without a vote by the majority to remind us of the contempt in which we are held. When both parties treat all fairly, when the accidents of birth: race, ability, ethnicity, sexual orientation and the choices of a free citizenry: political affiliation, religious "lifestyles" or "preferences", all are of no more importance than that of being left or fight-handed, then Americans, Republican and Democrat, can say we are the nation of fairness for all. The statement continues, "whether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or caring for children, yotir ?maerican Express financial advisor ca~’help you take control of your financial future. We can help you: Establish savings and investment plans. Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation. Avoid financial restrictions placed on unmarried couples. Avoid cosily delays in the receipt of life insurance proceeds." Bamard requests that those wishing to attend please telephone in advance to her at 748-8191, ext. 121. They have been in a relationship for 29 years. "The community support has been really important to me because I don’t have the support from my family," said Callahan, whose parents did not attend her union ceremony. as being "biological error[s]". TOHR is trying to work with other groups to design an effective protest for her visit this fall. On Tuesday, Aug. 8th, TOHR will hold its general membership meeting at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center at 7:30pm. The regular business session (which is usually short) will be followed by a special program presented by the Credit Counsding Center of Tulsa, a Short presentation on financial responsibility, etc. Members and those interested in the community are invited and encouraged to attend. And on Sunday, Aug. 13th, the"Lesbian Connection," a program of TOHR, is inviting EVERYONE in the community to come out and have fun at Keystone lake. Burgers will be provided - you bring the rest! Swimming, volleyball, fishing, boating, etc. will be available all day. Call the Center for directions. The initial planning meeting for "Diversity Celebration 2001" will be held at the Tulsa Gay Cominunity Services Center beginning at 1 lain on Saturday, Aug. 19th. know about their nnhappiness with the new policy. Mozzoni seemed to be sympathetic to the situation but has stated that since it comes down from corporate. headquarters, he has litfle choice. Mozzoni can be reached at 665-4580. WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Human Rights Campaign : ate." (HRC) and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force ¯. HRC has endorsed Vice President A1 Gore for presi(NGLTF) have issued comments on the record o’f Rich- ¯ dent. He has yet to name a running mate. Cheney is ard B. Cheney, George W. Bush’s Vice-presidential : currently the chief executive officer of the Halliburton : Co., a publicly traded company that supplies equipment nominee, on Gay and AIDS issues. ¯ to the oil industry. Halliburton does not have a nonCheney, a former defense secretary in the administration of Bush’s father, and a member of the U.S. House of . discrimination policy thiat includes sexual orientation nor Representatives from 1978-1989, has an extremely con- : a domestic partner program for Gay employees. ¯ According to the NGLTF research, Cheney opposed servative record, HRC noted. Like Gov. Bush, however, Cheney seeks to package a conservative record with a : the Equal Rights Amendment, opposes reproductive moderate image, the organization said. "The choice of ¯¯ choice and supports prayer in public schools. NGLTF notes like HRC that Cheney in 1993 opposed Secretary Cheney is in keeping with Governor Bush’s ¯ strategy of staking out conservative pos!,tions and wrap- ¯ President Clinton’s effort to lift the military ban and openly Gay servicemembers. At the height of the debate, ping them in a moderate package, said Wiunie ¯ Cheney warned that defense cuts and the proposal to lift Stachelberg, HRC’s political director. As a Wyoming congressman, Cheney opposed early :¯ the ban "have led to a decline in the quality of military recruits." efforts to address the HIV/AIDS crisis. Most notably, he He added that "the whole reduction in defense spendwas one of 13 House members who voted against the ¯ AIDS Federal Policy Act of 1988, the first major bill to : ing, the controversy over Gays in the military, has led to provide funding for HIV/AIDS counseling and testing. : an unwillingness to serve and low morale." ¯ NGLTF adds that Cheney has served as a trustee of the Cheney also supported an effort to reduce funding for HIV/AIDS research. In addition, Cheney voted against ¯¯ arch-conservative American Enterprise Institute, where the Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1988 and supported an ¯ he was a former senior fellow. The American Enterprise Institute is home to many right-wing thinkers, such as amendment that added anti-Gay language to the bill. ¯ former Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork, former As defense secretary, Cheney supported Pete Williams, the department’s chief spokesman, when The Ad- ¯¯ House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Charles Murray, author of "The Bell Curve," a book which suggests that vocate magazine revealed his homosexuality. "I have ¯ differences inintelligence exist between blacks and whites operated on the basi, s over the.years with respect tO my personal staff that I don’t ask them about their private ¯ and that these differences are genetic and immutable. lives," said Cheney. "As long as they perform their ¯ American Enterprise Institute scholars have also been professional responsibilities in a responsible manner, ~ outspoken in their opposition to equal rights for Gay, : Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people. their private lives are their business." "George W. Bush has flubbed the most important Cheney opposed President Clinton’s effort to lift the : ban on Gays serving openly in the military. Cheney told ¯¯ decision in his presidential camp~gn," said Elizabeth Toledo, NGLTF executive director. "His compassionate CNN in 1993,"I am one of those people who believes that ¯ conservatism holds out no compassion whatsoever for people’s sexual preference and orientation are a private matter. It’s something that is a personal matter for them, ¯¯ theGay, Lesbian,BisexualandTransgendercommunity. Furthermore, it sends a chilling signal to women, to and no one else’.s business. And that’s the way I ran the ¯ people of colo~: and to those concerned with fairness and civilian side of the Pentagon... On the military side, : equality that a major political party would offer up a though, you can’t pursue that policy." candidate with such a background to the voters. This Later in the interview, Cheney ffaid: "I basically don’t believe in discrimination, but I did conclude, as secretary ¯ selection demonstrates that right-wing, religious extremof defense, that the ban on Gays in uniform was appropri- ¯ ists are still a powerful force on the political landscape." ¯ ¯ Openly Gay Republican Featured at Convention Topics include: coming out, integration of sexuality and faith, responding to homophobia in the church and soci- . PHILADELPHIA -Rep: Jim Kolbe of Arizona made ¯ history when he became the first openly Gay member of ety, helping parents of GLBT children and children of ¯ GLBT parents. This group is open to all. ’ It will be ¯ Congress to address a Republican convention. The Ariespecially helpful for GLBT people and their families, ¯ zona congressman had a prime-time speaking slot, addressing the GOP on trade issues for three minutes. their friends, and fellow church members, elders, teachers ¯ Kolbe, first elected in 1984, is the most senior openly and youth leaders. Continental breakfast and snacks will ¯ Gay member of Congress andis the only openly Gay be served. ¯ Sunday morning, the Church School Mid-highs to ¯ Republican in the House. Having Kolbe speak at the convention was an idea first raised by Washington city Adults will.begin at 9:35 in the Chapel. This event is rifled ¯ councilm_.an David Cataniain April, when the Log Cabin "Bringing Body and Soul Together (Let’s Talk about ] Republicans, the most prominent Gay GOP organization, Faith and Sexuality)" This Church School Class will feature’an interactive discussion on Christian sexual ." met with presidential candidate George W. Bush. Bush met with the group, a first for a candidate preparethics. Those choosing to attend will share in an hour ¯ ing to pick up the GOP presidential nomination, despite devoted to how Christians integrate faith and sexuality in his opposition to many of the its issues, including Gay living the Christian life. The focus will be what makes ." marriage. Log Cabin Republicans Pleased Members of ’good relationships’ for all God’s people. Then on Sunday, August 27th, the regular worship ¯ the Log Cabin Republic,~ns are delighted by Kolbe’s service at 11 am in the Sanctuary will feature a sermon by :¯ place.in the convention lineup - especially considering Michael Adee. The service entitled "Celebrating Diver- ¯ that he backed Bush’s rival, Sen. John McCain, during the primary season. sity and Inclusiveness" will honor "Christ’s call to be ¯ According to the group, this is the first lime a wallinclusive." The chancel choir will offer special music for ¯ known openly Gay person has gone to the podium at the the occasion and communion will be celebrated. This is ¯ the formal event to mark College Hill’s declaration to be ¯ GOP national convention. In 1996, a little-known Log Cabin Republican member from California, Steve Fong, inclusive and work as part of More Light Presbyterians to bring the Presbyterian denomination to the inclusion of ¯ gave a low -prof’ile, one-mi nute speech amid little fanfare. [ But some socially conservative Republicans, who are GLBT people in ordination as well as membership.. ¯ Finally on Sunday afternoon from 5:30- 7:30, a Youth ¯ opposed to civil rights for Gay people and have warned Bush about reaching out to the Gay community, were Event, "On Being Gay & Being Christian" will be held. " unhappy with the prospect of having Kolbe speak, One The College Hill youth fellowship will be hosting leading conservative Republican told ABCNEWS he individuals and other youth groups for pizza and open, informal conversation about sexuality and faith for youth. ¯ was "flabbergasted" by the decision, and called it a Adee will be the facilitator on topics ranging from being ~ "shock." "It is not going to be a happy time," said the GLBT and Christian, coming out, harassment at school ¯ Republican. "I think it is a really bad decision." Kolbe is a founding member of the National Advisory and church, sexual sdf-esteem, dealing with family, and : ¯ Board of the Log Cabin Republicans; the nation’s most Gay/Straight friendships. This event hopes to help Gay and Straight youth under- [ prominent Gay GOP group. In 1997, he gave the keynote ¯ address at the LOg Cabin Republicans convention. Kolbe ctand themselves and each other better. ¯ was a strong proponent of the North American Free Trade For more information about these events, contact " i Agreement. College Hill Presbyterian Church at 592-5800. �Pentagon Says Gay Policy Is Working WASHINGTON (AP) - The military’s much-criticized policy on Gays in uniform is working, but training must be improved to eliminate anti-Gay behavior like the abuse that led to a soldier’s murder in Kentucky last year, the Defense Department said. "We think we’ve got it right this time," Carol DiBattiste, the undersecretary of the Air Force, told a news conference Friday to publicize anew Pentagon program to re-emphasize in training that such behavior is unacceptable. Speaking at the same news conference, Bernard ¯ Rostker, the undersecretary of defense, said he disagreed with President Clinton’s statement last year, after the beating death of Pfc. Barry Winchell by a fellow soldier at Fort Campbell, Ky., that implementation of his policy on Gays was "out of whack." "I don’ t agree with that characterization. I think the policy is working reasonably wall to provide a degree of safety’.’ for Gays in uniform, Rostker said. "The days of witch hunts, the days of stakeouts, are really gone." Even so, Rostker said, more needs to be done to ensure that everyone in the military understands the policy. The Clinton administration’s policy on Gays in the military is derived from a law passed in 1993 after Clinton failed to persuade Congress and the Pentagon to allow Gays to serve openly. ~.The policy, known as "don’t ask, don’t tell," holds that Gays can serve in uniform so long as they don’t reveal their sexual orientation. One problem, however, has been unwarranted investigations of people suspected of being homosexual. There also is a fear among discreetly Gay service members that if they ,qomplain about harassment, they will be discharged. ’" The announced plan to eliminate anti-Gay behavior was created by a panel of civilian and military officials led by DiBattiste of theAir Force. It was in response to a Pentagon inspector general’s report in March that found anti-Gay behavior was commonplace in the military. DiBattiste said the key to her panel’ s plan is adoption of an"overarching principle" meant to clarify to all in the military that unacceptable behavior includes not just abuse of Gays but also "inappropriate comments or gestures." "That’s the high road that we need to take," she Said. The DiBattiste panel’s 13-point "action plan" is largely reiteration of previous expressions of deterruination to stamp out anti-Gay behavior and to hold military commanders responsible for policy infractions. Last December, Rostker’s predecessor in the undersecretary’s post, Rudy de Leon, issued a statement that "harassment of service members for any reason, to include alleged or perceived homosexuality, will not be tolerated," and commanders must take prompt action against violators. Michelle Benecke, an executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund, an advocate for Gay rights in the military and a frequent critic of Pentagon policy; called the DiBattiste panel’s report "’thoughtful and considered." ’.’Today’s recommendations, if implemented, would be a very good start," Benecke said. The spark that caused- the Pentagon to take a closer look at the Gay policy’s implementation, and at the extent of anti-Gay behavior in the field, was the Winchell murder at Fort Campbell on July 5, 1999. Two of Winchell’ s fellow soldiers were convicted in the crime and are in prison. Gen. Eric Shinseki, the Army chief of staff, released the Army inspector general’s report Friday on circumstances surrounding the Winchell murder. The report concluded that some members of D Company, 2nd Battalion, 502rid Infantry Regiment, Winchell,’ s unit in the 101st Airborne Division, violated the military’s policy against anti-Gay behavior, but it exonerated all commanders at Fort Campbell. The Army report also concluded no general climate of homophobia existed at Fort Campbell. With some exceptions, "It was determined that the command climate at Fort Campbell before 5 July 1999 was a positive environment," the inspector general’s report said. It also said the chain of command at Fort Campbell "responded appropri ate1 y" w hen confronted with situations that appeared to violate the "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. United in God’s Love " Rep. Mart,y,. Meehan, D-Mass., questioned these conduslons. ’Giving Fort Campbdl arelatively dean bill of health doesn’t square with recent reports of prevalent anti-Gay harassment throughout the services," Meehan said. Vermont Papers Will Print Civil Union Notices RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - Aunotmcements for civil unions are beginning to appear alongside wedding announcements on wedding pages in newspapers around the state. At many newspapers, editors said they will treat announcements of same-sex unions the same as traditional marriages, placing them in the same section of their newspapers and in the same format, although perhaps under a different heading. The decision "took about 30 seconds of deep thought," said Valley News editor Jim Fox. "It wasn’t very difficult." "Of course we would treat them the same," said .amnette Sharon, managing editor of the Manchester Journal. "ff they want to make that announcement to their neighbors, the newspaper is the place for that to happen." Even newspapers that have editorialized against the law granting marriage-like benefits to same-sex couples appear likely to print civil union announcements. Mark Smith, publisher of The CaledonianRecord, said no one had.brought such a notice to his St. Johnsbury paper, but if someone did, he would probably publish it. "My personality is such that it will depend on the attitude of the person who comes through the door," he said. Smith said he would comply with a polite request but dig in his heels if he felt pressured. So far,the reqtlests have been few. In Brattleboro, where the first civil union was certified just after midnight on July 1, no announcements have been submitted to the local newspaper, the Reformer. In August, that will likely change, though, when John Calvi and Marshall Brewer of Putney, have a civil union ceremony, and submit an announcement. The coupl e - and the new spaper i- made national new s more than a decade ago when the Reformer became the first mainstream newspaper in the United States to publish a Gay wedding announcement. Joseph Watson of Leicester, entered a civil union with his partner, Michael Warner, on July 7. Watson said he had no problem with sending out the notice, which has appeared in the Addison County Independent and was in the July 23 edition of the Sunday Rutland Herald and Times Argus. It will also be in a new "Milestones" section of the Gay newspaper "Out in the Mountains" and is expected to be published soon by The Burlington Free Press. Addison . County Independent publisher Angelo Lynn said his paper received only aletter of praise for its publication of Watson’s civil union notice. At the Newport Daily Express, however, managing editor Susan Davis doesn’t expect such a smooth reception. Davis said if she receives civil union notices, she will print them as long as her publisher approves. But she anticipates a backlash. "I don’t have a problem with it, but I know a lot of people do," she said. "’This is the Northeast Kingdom and everybody is running anti-civil unions (for the upcoming dections).. It’s a huge issue up here." Man Charged With Hate : Crime in Beating Death : : ¯ ¯ : : ." ¯ ". ~ BARRON, Wis. (AP) - A man charged with helping murder a 22-year-old hearing-impaired, mentally dis abled man now also is accused of a hate crime in the killing. Prosecutors contend Raymond C. Walton,33, of Barron, helped beat Michael J. Hatch to death with a tire :iron Oct. 20 because Walton thought Hatch was Gay, according to court records. Walton was charged with being party to firstdegree intentional homicide and armed robbery in Hatch’s death. The hate-crime enhancer was added to the charges last week. Barron County District Attorney James Babler dedined comment on the hate crime filing, which says MCC-United Sunday Worship 11:00 am Reverend Cathy Elliot Pastor " 1623 N. 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Atlanta Place, 742-’7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church We Icomes You Walton intentionally selected the victim because of his belief or perception regaa’ding Hatch’s sexual orientation. Authorities say Walton a~d Corey L. Kralewski, 21, killed Hatch and left his body in a rural Barron County corufield. A criminal complaint said Kralewski, Walton and Mary Reed spend the evening of Oct. 19 at several Barron bars. Kralewski played pool with Hatch, whom he knew from high school. Later, the group left the pool hall and drove to a field near the Dunn County line. Reed told authorities she sat in her truck while Kralewski beat Hatch with a tire iron. Walton also hit Hatch several times, she said. In a written statement, Kralewski told authorities he knocked Hatch down with a few blows but that Walton did most of the beating. Walton showed authorities Hatch’s body. Kralewski pleaded innocent to a homicide charge and goes on trial Aug. 7. Reed, 34, pleaded guilty to aiding a feton and was sentenced to t~vo years in prison. tors said Mick attacked another man he had met, but the victim was able to fight him off. Chicago Bishop Faces Ecclesiatical -Charges CHICAGO (AP) - A United Methodist lay member has filed a complaint with the church, accusing his Chicago-based bishop of using the office"as a public relations and news media channel for promoting homosexuality," among other things. John Juergensmeyer, an attorney and member of a United Methodist church inElgin, is calling for Bishop C. Joseph Sprague to resign or be removed. Sprague, formerly a United Methodist pastor in Columbus, Ohio, heads the church’s Northern Illinois Conference. He was one of several Methodists, including at least one other bishop, arrested while protesting anti-Gay measures adopted at the church’ s general conference in Cleveland in May Juergensmeyer said that Sprague’s arrest was a "triggering point" for his complaint. But he said Sprague’s overall political views have long troubled him and other conservative United Methodists. "He is reducing the church only to a political instrument rather than a spiritual force." said Juergensmeyer, rather than a spmtum io~c~, ~a~,., o~.~r,~,l ..... av., who also ~s accusing Sprague of promotang writings about Jesus Christ that luergensmeyer says violate church doctrine. Earlier this month, Sprague told the United Methodist News Service that the letters of complaint seemed to be "part of an organized effort of a small, very vocal minority." He also said he made his views clear when he stood for election as bishop four years ago. Sprague was re-elected to his second four-year term at the church s North Central Jurisdictional Conference this month. Lesbian Recieves Headof-Household Status SACRAMENTO (AP) -The state Board of Equalization has voted to grant head-of-household tax status to a Lesbian who is supporting her partner and nonbiological child. The board voted 3 -2 to allow the Los Angeles family to file with one of the women as the head-of-household, which will save them about $2,500 a year in state and federal taxes. Helmi Hisserich and Tori Patterson of Los Angeles have been together 14 years and had a daughter in 1997. Patterson gave birth and has stayed home to raise the baby since then. When Hisserich filed a tax return for 1997, she checked the box for head of household and calculated accordingly. The Franchise Tax Board said she was not eligible, saying head of household status covered situations only where an unmarried person was paying more than half the expenses of an adoptive or foster child, or any blood relative. They said she owed $1,050, Hisserich said. Sbnnnon Minter, staff attorney for the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco, argued Hisserich’s case before the board June 30. "This is the first time they’ve addressed this issue," he said. "It recognizes the reality of our families and gives legal validation to the reality that our client is a parent regardless of the fact that she doesn’t have a biological relationship to the child." Hisserich said the board had to consider whether a heterosexual couple would be treated in the same manner. "But if we were a heterosexual couple, we would be mamed. We’ve been together 14 years, we’ve registered as domestic partners in our city, our county and the state. We’ ve done everything we can," she said. The Board of Equalization will vote again after its staff prepares a written decision, and will comment publicly on its reasoning when the vote is final, according to spokeswoman Cristina Herrera. That could take up to three mouths, she said. -- ~i~-n~)g~s~i~d tile vote was the logical extension of Califo~aua court rulingsin the past two years that had granted parental status to Gay men and Lesbian couples planning and having children. Because intent was the basis of his winning argument in the tax case, Minter said the deciston most likely woulon’t apply to situations where someone moved in with a partner who already had a child. The ruling affects only state tax status, but I-Iisserich said the Internal Revenue Service followed the state on head of household status. Man Gets Two Life Sentences for Slaying Jury Votes Death to Killer of Lesbian Couple BALTIMORE (AP) - A man who told police he attacked Gay men because he thought Gays were evil was given two life sentences for the slaying of a h.otel guest last June. Gary William Mick, 25, was gaven one life sentence for first-degree murder and a concurrent 20-year sentence for robbery for the attack on Christopher Williams Jones. He received a consecutive life sentence with all but 30 years suspended for first-degree attempted murder and a concurrent 20year sentence for attempted robbery for a separate incident last September. Mick, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to the two attacks in May. Jones, 37, of Metuchen, N.J., was attending a pharmaceutical conference in B altimore when he was found bludgeoned to death at the Admiral Fell Inn. "We loved our son and his partner in life as we love all our children and their lifemates. The emptiness we feel because of this loss is extreme," said Howard Jones, the father of one of the victims, in a family statement to the court. Prosecutors said Mick accompanied Jones to his hotel room after the two met. once.inside, Mick struck Jones nine times on the right side of the head with a claw hammer. He then stole Jones’ truck and credit cards, which he used to buy clothes, jewelry, food and a beard trimmer, prosecutors said. The second attack occurred in September. Prosecu- PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Mnltnomah County jury sentenced to death a Portland man who killed a Lesbian couple in a karaoke bar. Eric Walter Running, 49, was fOund guilty of two counts of aggravated murder in the February 1998 shotgun slayings of Jaqueline J. A_ffderson, whom he had dated, and Barbara J. Gilpin. Running killed the women after Anderson, 29, a poet and writer, broke up with him and returned to her 10-year-relationship with Gilpin, 44, a landscaper. In an unusual split, the jury imposed the death sentence only for Anderson’s murder, giving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for Gilpin’.s death. Ten of the 12 jurors voted to give a deat~ sentence in Gilpin’s murder, but a unanimous verdict is needed. "’Barbara Gilpin deserved the same verdict as my daughter," said Jack Anderson. "But one death sentence is all that it takes. I don’t care if he dies tomorrow or never, I’m just glad he can’t be a threat to anyone anymore." Running smiled as the verdicts were read. He will become the 25thperson on Oregon s Death Row at the state penitentiary in Salem. Almost 20 patrons at the Ambassador Restaurar.’-a and Lounge in Portland witnessed Running kill women Feb. 24, 1998. Rurming’s lawyers offered insanity defense. �Speaking ahead of the Se.n.a.te OK’s $600 ¯ batfleHIV/AIDS. $200 million interuational program to " ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Million for AIDS . WASHINGTON (AP)-Legislafioncom- " Nations) Regional Forum, Asia’s largest mitring up to $600 million in U.S. aid for " security conference, Downer noted prefighting HIV and AIDS in Africa and ¯ dictions that AIDS threatens to reduce or developing countries elsewhere was " even reverse Asia’s economic growth. "I don’t think the Asia-Pacific region can passed at the end of July by the Senate. On turn,!ts back on this devastating probavoicevote, theSenateapprovedabillby lem, Downer told’anews conference. Sens. Bill Ffist and Jesse Helms, both " Most of the $200 million will be tarRepublicans, authorizing $300 million in ¯ geted at countries in the Asia-Pacific reeach of the next two years for AIDS " glen, Downer said, and Canberra expects prevention and treatment and also for the to work dosdy with the Association of care of AIDS orphans in developing coun- ¯¯ Southeast Asian Nations. tries. The bill directs the Treasury Depart- ¯ Much of the funding remains uncomment to establish a trust fund with the ", mitted, but some will augment existing World Bank for the prevention efforts and ¯. programs in Indonesia and Papua New the treatment of orphans. ¯ Guinea, Australia’s immediate northeru Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign ¯ neighbors. Relations Committee, said the bill requires that up to $220 million of all U.S. bilateral funding for HIV -AIDS programs over the next two years be spent on supporting orphans in Africa. T,he United Nations has predicted that the disease is expected to wipe out half the teen-age population in some poor countries in Africa. Similar legislation passed in the House, which voted earlier this month to fully fund President Clinton’s request for $2’44 million next year for combating and treating AIDS in poor counmes. HIV-Treatment Ctr. Targets Blacks Russia’s Infections Growing MOSCOW (AP) - The number of registered HIV cases in Russia has soared in the last six months and will continue to grow, but the government doesn’t have the money to fight the epidemic adequately, a top health official said. By tl~e middle of July, Russia had some 53,1~30 registered HIV cases, with almost half of them coming in the last six months, said Vadim Pokrovsky, the head of the Federal AIDS Prevention Center. But he said that the actual number of Russians infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is probably more than 300,000, since only about 10% of the population. has been checked. "The regi,s, tered cases are only the tip of the iceberg, Pokrov sky said. "We must accept the fact that we are facing a very quickly spreading epidemic." Increased drug use and prostitution since the collapse of the Soviet Union have been two key reasons for the rise in HIV cases? Still, a low incidence in HIV-ca.ses in recent years as well as more pressing economic problems m.ean ~.e~g~o v ~eru~ ,~t, has been slow to combat AID~. in zu , only 46 million rubles ($1.65 million) was set aside to combat HIV and AIDS, Pokrovsky said. If Russia doesn’t take new measures to stop the spread of the virus, the country could have some 1.6 million HIV cases by 2015, he said..and those who are infected nrobablv won’tbe able to get the help they. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - A treatment center for blacks who have AIDS or HIV is planned in a county where only a third of black AIDS patients get treatment, compared to half of infected whites. Rochesterhas the second-highestnumber of AIDS cases in Ne~v York state, after New York City. The number of local AIDS cases has leveled off among whites but is climbing among blacks, according to the Rochester Primary Care Network. Existing programs are not reaching t~ growing number of black men ana wom who are HIV-positive, Art Collier, prestdent of Primary Care Network, said. The rate among Monroe County’residents who are black is over eight times the rate among white residents, he added. Before 1991, 64% of reported AIDS cases in Monroe County were among whites mad 27% were among blacks. The center expects to have an initial the government’s manmty to pay. wm casdoad of about 150 patients. Besides people probably shouldn t count on getmedical care, services will include mental ting treatment," Pokrovsky said. . health counseling and treatment for subHIV is worst in the Moscow regto.n, stance abuse. The National Black Leaderwhere some 5% of young people are inship Commisston on AIDS is helping plan fected, Pokrovsky said. the center and recruit a black staff, Collier said. Coordinatbrs believe black patients will respond better to treatment by black medical personnel. Dr~Anson .,W;urapa.,~ black physician at strong Memon ¯ Hospital’s AIDS Center, said blacks tend TORONTO (AP) - Figures showing.a to mistrust the medical sys.te.m, a~.d w.~en , rise of HIV infections amongG~Y., men m everyone on the staff is whtte, tlae s~tua- " Ontario could be the fLrst sigu O~ mcreastion is worse. - " ~ .... " ing HIV levds for Gay men in Cam.a.dar Natioo~!JY, one in .5~b,~abk.,m~,’~s,.m7 AIDS. activists note. A. recent prownce2 fectedw~HIV,’,andAiDSis’theleaamg i wide study conducted by University ot cause’of!~a,.~.~d~allblackAmerica~ Toronto and community gr6ups f°und an between:th~.~g~of 25:and44:Thbdis-~. increasing number of HIV infections ease i’s gr6wiiig fastest among -black among O~tario Gay men ~ter_ 19°~6,~ _ r In 1992, the infection rate was ,.~ 1~ women, who a~.ount for 56% of HIT ~ cases in women.¯ " " 100 people tested, the ~tudy found. The number dr°pped t° 0"87J 1"00 in 1 "996; d Rise in HIV Infections ih Gays Australia College Hill Presbyterian Church announces a "More Light" Weekend with Michael Adee National Field Organizer, More Light Presbyterians August 25 - 27, 2000 Building A Church for Everyone Friday, August 25th, Luncheon: Noon - 1:30, Fellowship Hall History and goals of More Light Presbyterians, followed by a question and answer session. Cost: $5.00 for the meal Caring for All God’s People Saturday, August 26th, Workshop: 8:30 - 12:30, Fellowship Hall Pastoral care needs of GLBT people and their families. Continental breakfast and snacks will be served. Bringing Body and Soul Together Sunday, August 27th, Church School Mid-highs to Adults, 9:35am, Chapel An interactive discussion on Christian sexual ethics. Celebrating Diversity and Inclusiveness Sunday, August 27th, Worship ll:00am, Sanctuary A special worship to celebrate our diversity and Christ’s call to be inclusive. Michael Adee will preach and we will share communion together. On Being Gay and Being Christian Sunday, August 27th, Youth Event 5:30 - 7:00pm The ColleggHill youth fellowship will be hosting individuals and other youth groups for pizza and informal conversation about sexuality and faith for youth. College Hill Presbyterian Church, 712 S. Col~bia Avenue, 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the Uni;~sity of Tulsa Campus) ’Financial Pla.nning With A Clear Comm,tment. ~t American Express Financial Advisors, we want to make our 3ommitment to gay men and lesbians clear. Just as we have extended domestic partner oenefits to our lesbian and gay employees worldwide, we are committed to providing sound financial advice that specifically addresses the unique financial issues affecting our lesbian and gay clients. Nhether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or caring for children, your Americar ~xpress financial advisor can help you take control of your financial future. 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To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. m~ lip And Save I I I "1 I I I I I I I I .I I I I I I I D, CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216.3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 " Servicio a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas S0bre su Cuen~a: 1-888-216-3491 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I : about it, saying you’rejust~following the by Karin Gregory I just love Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Re- ¯ Old Testament. Hell, if we followed all the Old T0.~tament teachings we’d still be ally, I do. I think she and I could be great ¯ selling ot~ daughters into slavery; still buds. You know how some girls make plain girls their friends just to make them- ¯ buying s~ves from neighboring comaselves look prettier? Or how some pal " tries; and~ould be allowed to kill, witharound with fat girls just so they’ll look " out impunity, anyone who worked on the thinner? Well, Dr. Laura could be my ¯ Sabbath. Gee, I didn’tknow that the Jewgirlfriend (eeeewwww, not that way!!!) ¯ ish could also play pick and choose with because every stupid thing I’ve ever said ¯ religious teachings like some Christians. How much does she really believe in in my life would sound intelligent next to the things she says. And she’ll be saying ¯ these religious texts? Who knows? She doesn’t even have a consistency when it plenty, I’m sure, come October, when she ¯ comes to condemning homosexuality. rides in on her broomstick to Tulsa. ¯ Well, she does, but she tries to say that Who is Dr. Laura, you ask? If you’re Gay, you’ve been in a cave. Laura ¯ she’s not condemning anyone. The point Schlessinger, shock jock advice-giver of ¯¯ is,shehas saidthingsinprintandonradio, taken them back, backpedaled, madeother the radio circuit, has called Gays and ¯ people speak for her so many times it’s Lesbians "biological errors", "sexual deviants", and my personal favorite, ¯ ridiculous. Her stand is so ambivalent, so ¯ setin sand, that no one canbelieve or trust "pedophiles." She says she does this out of compas- ¯ anything that comes out of her mouth. Her ¯ press agents said she apologized for her sion for us, not out of hatred. Oh no, I don’t feel hated and maligned by those ¯¯ remarks about Gays being "errors", and statements, do you? She spews her hatred ¯ then the next day she said she wasn’t apologizing. and bile via the airwaves, with complete ¯ Dr. Laura has denounced the American support from the Religious Right. You know them- that group that has the inside ¯¯ Psychiatric Association and the National info on the "homosextml agenda"! As if ¯ Education Association for their - oh, I suppose- compassk hate stance on equal her radio show weren’t bad enough, Schlessinger’s taking her "teach intoler- ¯ rights for all, andinstead has sold her soul a-:ze" rantings to the TV screen in Sep- ¯ to Religious Right organizations like Fotember, courtesy of that "giant" of great ¯¯ cus on the Family. She promotes, within her own radio show, an intolerance totelevision programming, Paramount. "OK," you’re saying, "the Lesbian is " ward Gay people on all levels, even to the once more raging about something, but ¯ point of denouncing hate crimes legislawhat has that got to do with me? What’s ¯ tion. ¯ I can see her leading cheers to teach one more ignorant person in a long line?" children who’ve just come home from Funny you should ask. "Dr." Laura (she has a Ph.D in physiology, not psychol- ¯ school how to actively hate homosexuals. "Gays are bad! Gays are fey! Let’s go ogy) has become svch a controversial ¯ bash ~ Gay today!" She says she is a figure (much like Am., Bryant in the late ’70s when she tried to inflate anti-Gay ¯ moralist and has openly opposed the Verlegislation) that the G/L/B/T commurnty ¯ mont same-sex partners’ rights decision a few months ago. But again, she’s not has united to protest her television show. ¯ hatingus. She’sjustcompassionate.Yeah, All over this country are planned protests to keep her off the TV screen. ¯ this is why she takes an attitude of "I’m And debates have become so heated ¯ right no matter what" on her radio show, and will also, I’m sure, on TV. But let’s that major advertisers such as Proctor & ¯ see how that could work against her, shall Gamble, American Express and United Airlines have pulled out, saying that they ¯ we? Anyone who’s ever watched a few epidon’t need any more controversy. And Geico Insurance Company (my insurance : sodes of"Frasier" knows how easy it is to company!) tookits advertising away from ¯ just hit a button and get rid of pesky caller her radio show at the beginning of July. ¯ #1. How does this work on TV, when The reason? The company could not, be- ¯ you’re faced with the pesky caller in pering supporters of diversity, condone the " son? Taping. has already begun on her words and actions of someone who clearly : show, and from the reports, it doesn’ t look sees diversity as wrong. These are not ¯¯ likeasuccess. Dr. Lauradidn’tknow how their exact words, mind you, but .you may ¯ to ask the proper questions, or even know some rudimentary technical televison find out more by going to ¯ www.stopdrlaura.com. knowledge i~her first tapings. Let’ s look at this woman’ s career briefly ¯¯ There’s n~question that Dr. Laura is used to the ~d~o. But she also wants an and find out just what led her to this ¯ audience like the one on radio - one she homophobic phase in her life. Several years ago I.first heard her radio program, ¯¯ can rant to ,and not have to.see. Because and I thought that she was telling people ¯ for all her bravado and showmanship, she really DOESN’T WANT to help anyone. the truth, even if they didn’t want to hear it. Somehow I admired that, although I : She actually doesn’t seem to like people. didn’t always agree with everything she ¯ You can bitch and moan to people all you said. She is a big proponent of parents : wantif you don’tsee their faces. She’s on taking control in the home and not blam- : radio and~feels safe. Guess What? Rea[peopie~ ing everyone else for how their’children behave. That part hooked me since Iwas ! may had.e, more difneultyi~ing~p.le 0ff if she him to .fae~i. them, [f’.~votild be a middle school teacher at the time and interesting to seehow b~y!hla~ di~S if saw parents who didn’t think they had an] responsibility for their child’s behavior. ¯ she has to face questions about her views So far, so good. And I even read reports ¯ on homosexuality, but I know I won’t be that she used to support the G/IJB/T com- ~ watching. I think she should just quietly ¯ go away, like Anita Bryant. A career munity. Two years ago, however, she converted to Orthodox Judaism, adopting ¯¯ shriveled by her own hatred. Gregory is a Texas based writer, who intolerance as her Bible. Now she says she ¯ lives near Ft. Worth. Sheformerly taught can’t support the G/L/B/T community ¯ school and also was a newspaper rebecause of religious teachings. If you hate me, hate me. But don’t lie . porter. i Public Service Company of Oklahoma �by Jim Christjohn, entertainment queen Happy summer, folks! Been a lot of changes since the last column- went on a visit to Chicago where I discovered an artist I’m eager to tell you about, and closed the door on a ghost from the past; started a new job and more. First, local news: Cyndi Vetter directs Heller Theatre’s first production of the new season, "A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking" by John Foi:d Noonan. Starring local favorites Julie Tattershall (an excellent actress) and Maude Mix, it is the story of two women who are complete opposites of each other, and the unlikdy bond they form. They discover that, together, they can overcome anything. The production runs August 3-6, at the Heller Theatre, 5328 S. Wheeling Ave. Reservations are rectAmended at 746-5065. While in Chicago, I had the chance to meet some marvelous people, including TomMichael,whoIlaterlearnedisoneof the top cabaret artists across the nation, consistently in the industr~’s top ten lists amongthecompanyofMichaelFeinstein, Maureen McGovern, Betty Buckley, Michael McAssey (who hosted the eveningatthepianobar-somethingTulsa desperately needs), Sally Mayer, Donna Murphy, and Amanda McBro(~fi. ~He’s been actively singing in the Chicago nightclub scene for 12years, andhas also performed with the Boston Pops and Spokane symphonies. In 1995, he was invited to participate in the national Cabaret Symposium with such luminaries as MargaretWqfiting, Julie Wilson. and Ann Hampton Callaway. His album, "Sailing On," is the perfect music for romancing yournewguyorgal.TomMichael’svoice wraps around you like a warm blanket on a winter’s night, and draws you in. I was privileged to meet the man behind the voice, and spend-an afternoon with him. He is as nice as the voice he sings those incredible love songs with. And he’sboyishlyhandsome, withblondehair and incredibly intense eyes that dance with light ’ every so often. His smooth " tenor voice and immaculate phrasing finmediately gave me a new perspective on that style of voice, My favorite cut is the title song, which I’ve heard done before, but not with such feeling that you feel the song flowing around you. Beckie McKenzie, who unfortunately was out of town the.Sunday I saw Tom perform, lent her voice and arranged the music for the album, and there’s not a tinker on it. When I asked my host "Which local artists’ CD should take home with me as a souvemr. , the immediateresponsewasTomMichael’s’, And he was right. Tom Michael’s "Sailing On" is available from Amazon.corn, or Tower Records, Original Cast Records (1-888-627-3993), Borders, Barnes and Noble, Footlight Records, and CDNOW.com: BrachettllS comang. No,~t s notaplece of tOast with herbs and tomatoes on ~t, it’s ArturoBrachetti, the quick-change artist, Think "Greater Tuna" meets Robin WillJams while doing David Copperfield’s act. Greater Tuna had two guys doing quick changes to create the 22 characters of a small mythical town; Arturo is one man creating 88 characters during the course of an evening - from cowboys to geishas and barmaids to Royal Mounties, he is a very channing man and handsome as ffelll He speaks atleast threelanguages o trammg. And to do this you need that of doing the constant prePs/media events, fluently, and has a mischievous sense of o traimng. So it’s easy to injure your voice, being portrayed in press as living a life that wasn’t close to reality and the rumors humor. Welose alot of cast members, who haven’t Described as Versace on hyper speed, ¯ had the kind of vocal traimng that will based on the illusion. For instance, "There’d be a photo op at a party. I’d go Braehetti changes costumes at lightning ¯ sustain you through a show like this. And, fast speed, transforming into more than " like I said, even if you have had it, there just long enough for the picture, then g~t home to a cup of tea and bed. DoingS8 80 characters and giving life to legions of ¯ are moments you forget. And you defishows a week plus recording an~ alb~ personalities. His show is a multi-media o nitely feel it later. Even the trained folks didn’t leave much time for a Wild extravaganza, combining comedy, mu- . lose voices as they get caught up in the even if I’d wanted to live one. Thenthe~ sic, magic, and emotions of the I’d be, splashed across the C~adian video in a unique show " ". , .Deserll~ed as Versace on collage of acting, equivalent of the National Inquirer, with Jc: What elan article about what a party boy I was. storytelling, stunts fect has doing this layper speed, Braelaett] c]aan~es Please." and caricature. He show had in terms Feeling too tied to the show, he decided is thewinner of the costumes at li~latnin~ fast speed, of impacting your 2000 Moliere life and/or views to start over and move to NYC, where ironically, he ended up being recast in Award(theFrench transformln~ into more tlaan 80 of the world? Tony, which has MH: "A s I Rent. He took a week or so off to record el~araeters and ~ix,~n~ life to. vocals for the new album, which he pronever been one by said, I’ ve been duced and played instrument~ for. anyone outside of through years of le~ions of personalities, Heloves performing, dislikes pressjuntraining, withsingFrance), and a deHis slaow is a multl-media lighffully impish ing, and acting, kets and meeting hordes of people. He made an exception to come to Tulsa, for fellow.Addalittle and dancing. I’d extravaganza, eomblnln~ which the event was nice and relatively Cirque De Soleil been so close to low key, in his eyes. At th~ time of the too that mixture comedy, music, marie, and v’ldeo getting parts so interview,hehadflownoutfromNYCity many times, only above, too. 6:30pm the prior evening, didpress, upat Brachetti arin a uniclue colla~e of acting, to lose them to 5:30am for more press, and was flying peoplewhohadn’t rivesinTulsaatthe storytelling, stunts and earleaback an’hour after I spoke with him. Ah, PAC courtesy of had any training. I was about to quit Celebrity Attracthe glamorous life! ture. He is... a tions August6-13. show busines s Chad was kind enough to give me a CD sampler of his new album, "No. 1 Fan," when the call came Tickets can be had deliChffully impish fellow, by calling 596from the Rent and it’s very good. Nice melodic rock, Add a little Cirque De Soldl and I love the first song -"Small Town 7111.Iwilltellyou people. I’dbeenin so many situations Girl;" atl.~,ode to not giving up on dreams now, the costumes too tlaat mixture above, too.., where I’d been that Brachetti deand p~venng with what life gives vou Ng~i~2i~ really nice beach-boys n{eets signedandcreated through al! this rival any elaborate training, and Fl’~i~,ood Mac kinda tune about break[and] workedreallvhard ~ mg-!:~p¢ or ~vantiug to, by the title .of Bette Midler on my craft c~nly to ¯ "I~xmgton." After that is "Say Good-bye Cheridrag Queen ...RENT opens August 99 see people with no : t~ hip-hoppy kinda rappish song extravaganza. Di experieuce get wi~eat pop hook, withsomejazz~a~,d I mention he’s and runs tlarou~la September 8 rock bi-~:thrown in for good measure. It s parts I was up for, cute, designs a and had just beabout growing up, growing old, selling mean frock, in his for 8 performances, out, doing what you’re told. "I know who come so disheartmid thirties (he’s I wanna be..." The next ~s a ham~ting ened with the biz. RENT is only ttae cagey about his Sothis,gethngthat ballad/rocker, an ode to loneliness of a age) and single? ~tla musical to win both lostfriencFrelationshipanddrinkingalone. call, really .reinRENT Opens forced my faith in On each, his voice handles the material August 29 and tlae Pulltzer Prize and and styles with aplomb, and he has a very the business and runs through Sepappealing tone. It seems there will be that renewed tember3for8perseveral qony Awards..." something for everyone on the full CD, dream, formances. Tix go and it will be worth picking up. I hope ~t Also, I’ve beon sale June 12th gets radio play. at 596 7111. RENT is only the fifth musicome much more spiritual. I wasn’t spiriJeffrey Seller, the show’s producer, tual at all when I took this part. But Mimi cal to win both the Pulitzer Prize and speaks of show with real enthusiasm, and seve :al Tony ,Awards. Matinees are set is such a wonderful character and she’ s his eyes light up when speaking of the for Sat & Sunday, and there will be a grounded in faith, and to play that, every impacthe’s witnessedthe showhaveupon special $25 per seat matinee on Wednesnight I have to believe it on stage. Since its audience. He sees "Rent" as a transforday, August 30. doing the show and portraying a characmative experience. He hopes the show Presentatthepressconferenceannouncter, Mimi, who is very spiritual, I have will reach the younger Gay teens and become more open to that aspect of life ing this special addition to Celebrity Attwenty-somethings and send a message tractions’ season were Marcy Harriell, where once I wasn’t, and I’ve heard from that "Yes, you can be gay and successful, MIMI on Broadway, and Chad friends and fans about their own searches that gay is more than OK and is cool. You for meaning, whichis one of the themes of Richardson, ROGERon Broadway, flown can live ~oodlife, a rich life," and hopes the show. And that has inspired me to in for the day to perform a couple of they will be moved by the relevant expestart searching. It’s so nice to bein a show numbers from the show. They were both rienees the show represents. The message that’s inspiring instead of traumatizang." dynamate, and had incredible voices, of inclusiveness is important to him for Marcy Harriell has not done a CD yet, I was able to ask a few questions of the audience to ’get." but hopes ~t is in her future. And I can them, which they were most ~acious in Even today, he still has a passion for assure you, evenifshe sings the telephone answering. I spoke first with Ms Harriell, book, it would be well worth listening to. this show evident in his speech and the who was as gracious as she was beautiful, JC: This seems like an incredibly diffiway his eyes light up. Having aecomChad Richardson is Canadian rock plished quite a bit for his 35 years, he singer, and has had two albums produced, cult show to do, especially in terms of the His third is the upcoming "No. 1 Fan," chalks his success up to being a vocals. workaholic. He never tires of seeing the due out in May. He’s a handsome man, MH: (laughing) "Oh yes! Well, I’m a show s effect on audiences, its power to and he also has an incredible voice, much classically trained singer - opera and so easier to listen to in many ways than embrace and connect with all people, and on, so doing this show was really different make them feel part of a family. Anthony Rapp, the originator of the role. in terms of it being arock show, basically. Of course, that does kind of clash with He also has incredible presence and very It places totally different stresses on your piercing eyes. the show’s detractors, who feel that it vocalchords,andrequiresalotofstamina; glamorizes drug use and unsafe sex, but Chad was a member of the Canadian because when you get caught up in the you can’t please everyone. cast ~f Rent, who reached rock-star fame emotion of the show - which happens at some point every night - you forget the .o as a member of the show. He quickly tired ��¯ tions of sexuality. Gayness exists in order by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. : to maintain the boundaries of straightness. My sister just reported in from the an- ¯ We just don’t admit it: nual family reunion. Earlier this month, Gayness has to exist as an open secret. the uncles, aunts, and cousins congre- ¯ It is a shadowy, inverted, gated in apark on the suband devalued reflection of urban slopes ofMt. Diablo, My family doesn’t straight. When it emerges California. Safe here in from the closet and appears talk much. What Oklahoma, I’ve somehow clearly in public, it threatmanaged to .miss the last f~ets I have derive ens ¯ straightness if it bedecade of these family piccomes a possible, alternafrom the Oakland tive normal sexuality. But news filters back. Straight can’t exist withTribune Internet This year my second out Gay; but it perhaps also cousin Michael reapnewspaper archives. can’ t exist - not in the same peared, somehow on paway, anyway - when the role. I am surprised beOr rather, the truth open secret is revealed. cause it wasn’t too long Like murder and autism is that we happily ago that he attacked an eldin the family, the erly couple in their car, gossip about each unspeakability of secret pulled up at a gas station. Gayness has maintained its He stabbed the old woman other when those shame. We’ve heard the dead. A .Vietnam War reaction: "Go ahead and flashback, Michael’s lawothers aren’t be Gay. Butkeepit to youryer said, which could wall self. Don’t thrust your listening. We just be true. lifestyle in my face. We My family doesn’t talk don’t speak such don’t want to know about much. What facts I have it. How dare you Gays derive from the Oakland things publiely. flaunt k ? Can’t you keep it Tribune lnternet newspasecret?" per archives. Or rather, the You can understand the worry. Flaunttruth is that we happily gossip about each ¯ other when those others aren’t listening. " ing destroys open secrets. Public recogniWe just don’t speak such things publicly. ¯ ,tion of Gayness erodes the normality and And there at the picnic also were my ¯ "6ounds of straightness. Telling one’s sesecond cousins, once-removed, who are ¯ crets unsettles the uncles and the aunts autistic. Our gossip wonders if this condi- ¯ and their elemental notions about who tion is their parents’ fault. The brothers, ¯ and what they are. Who can blame them? who are now in their 30s, somehow make ¯ Nowonderthey’dratherhappily smalltalk a living repairing trails in Yosemite Na- ¯ with arson abouthis job andhis car- and not about what he does when no one is tional Park. We all know something about them despite the fact that their autism is ;"¯ looking (or when they are pretending not to be looking). never spoken of at our reunions. ¯ So my family dogs its job, keeping our My first cousin arson was at the picnic ¯ open secrets. And it’s not just my timotoo. arson is 46, unmarried, does some- ¯ thing with computers, and still lives with ¯ rous relatives. I have thirty-something my aging aunt and uncle. It makes one ¯ Gay friends who avoid certain bars for fear they might run into family friends think. It makes us gossip, too. Perhaps I " mother. Likemom " ¯ who’dtell thexr doesn ’t have a Gay cousin: Or perhaps arson is ¯ already know. But, sometimes, she really just a happy solitary. Who knows? We doesn’t knowshe honors the open secret never talk about it:Opeuly, that is. ¯ by not admitting that she’s seen through My family - likes yours, maybe - reli¯ her son years ago. giously follows our own policy of "Don’t One of these years I’m going to finally ask, don’t tell." This peculiar sort of se- ¯¯ make it home to the family reunion. crecy is the framewt,rk of the closet. The ¯ "Orson," maybe I’ll say,"So what do you closet comes into being just because we ¯ of those Back Street Boys?" have agreed not to notice what is obvious. ¯ think Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropolarson’s sexual identity is an open secret. ogy at the University of Tu,lsa. He knows what he is, and we know what he is too. But because we never admit what we know, not publicly anyway, we avoid having to deal with its consequences. If we did acknowledge that we know, ¯ we might have to do something. Dismiss ¯ It takes courage to scrutinize your defense structures, belief system, values, selfthe newly uncloseted Gay from the Army, " worth, self-doubt, behavioral patterns, and for example. My family wouldn’t dis- ¯ overall identity, and to shed the traits and charge Orson.(or me either,.for that mat¯ beliefs that no longer functionin your life. ter) from the clan, but it w ould face having ¯ It takes uncommon courage and integrity to revalue Gayness. It would lose the ~ comfort of our open secret. This would ¯ to implement the insights of that scrutiny, and to live honesty and authentically. demand considerable emotional and po- ¯ Anyone who enters and completes this litical transformation on all sides, It’s alot : process is a survivor, and deserves the easier just to go along to eat the hotdogs ¯ rewards of liberation, identity autonomy, and hamburgers and chat about kids and ¯ and happiness." the weather. : While much of this book is geared toEve Sedgwick, a literary critic and one " ward use by straight therapists for their of the founders of "queer theory," pro- ¯ posedin"The Epistemology of the Closet" ¯ Lesbian and Gay clients, lay people will that open secrets are fundamental within ¯ also find it valuable. It will help people to fully understand that the rituals they have modern American culture. ¯ gone through are not unusual and that Part of her argument can be restated simply. Homosexuality - which through- :¯ their goal shou!.d be a vibrant, happy and healthy life. out much of the 20th century couldnot be ¯ Check for this title at your local library, recognized publicly - is nonetheless al- ¯ or call Readers Services at 596-7966. ways present within contemporary no- Timothy .W. Daniel Attorney at Law | An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy I 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma ~sare available. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American Support Group is here .for you! ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project �rr IGTA member Call 341.6866 international Tours iormorein!ormation. e Therapy services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #t34133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Ffi., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro American - She is praised by relatives in strange by Ted Anthony, AP National Writer ways ("When she was born, she had perN~V YORK (AP) - 715ose eyes. ~tNose fecfly manicured fingernails:’ says an eyelashes. Those cheekbones. Those outaunt). fits. She Is m~ American original, this - She goes to a photographer to get new Tammy Faye Bakker - for better and for head shots and smpri ses the makeup artist worse, an utterly umque vessel that conby announcing that her lips, eyes and rains the strange stew of celebrity, spiritueyebrows are permanently lined. ality and sin we have come to expect from The film’s success, though, lies in asour fallen 1cons in recent decades. Who sembling a portrait of Tammy Faye that better, then, to explore, to figure out, to transcends parody. She is an easy target focus in upon than the face that launched for a hip, sarcastic documentary. Instead, 1,000 quips? That’s the mission of a new we find out about a woman who was documentary, and "Tile Eyes of Tammy reaching out to Gays and AIDS patients Faye" doesn’t disappoint. long before anyone else in the Christian For those of you living on Jupiter’s broadcasting community We learn about moons, Tammy Faye Bakker (now a woman who endured cancer, then judged. Tammy Faye Messner) was/is the excruthe experience worthwhile because ~t ciatingly mascaraed ex-wife of brought her closer to her daughter. And tdevangelist Jim Bakker and former cowe discover, though she never says it star of PTL, the North Carolina-based outfight, that she still respects Jim Bakker television ministry that imploded in a pit - and may well still love him xn some of accusations and recriminations in the ways. Bakker, too, is interviewed here, late 1980s. watched balefully by his new wife as he He trysted with Jessica Hahn (who later talks - and sometimes reminisces fondly paraded in Playboy) and went to jail. She - about his time with Tammy Faye. got addicted to pills and ended up marryIn the end, you’re left with several ing his best friend. Jerry Falwell got inquestions about Tammy Faye: What DID volved. Things got nasty. Pop culture she and Bakker believe in? God? Ego? references were born. Mascara compaMoney? Themselve,’ 9 And what does she nies prospered. really look like under all those layers? Now, more than a decade later, Tammy Whatever she ultimately is, Tammy Fgye paces-the halls of her California Faye deserves some sympathy. She’ s been gated-community house, trying to sti~lI through alot that wasn’t her own making. together the swatches of her life and fin__ She’s going to church again, singing ~n a out what’s important to her. This proves local choir and trying to figure out just to be a funny and tragic endeavor, and who she is - an admirable trait in anyone, filmmakers Randy Barbato and Fenton and something not to be lampooned, no Baily chronicle it as it unfolds. Narrated matter what her past has held. "I don’t by RuPaul, of all people, it’s a festival of know of any woman in our time who has weirdness camed out on an impressively been so maligned," Pat Boone tells the documentarian level, and it offers a deadcamera. "And yet she just keeps going." on look at Tammy _ aye without ever And that trajectory makes for a fascinatpoking fun at her. It lets her do all the ing documentary - whether you end up work, and work she does. seeing it as a valid piece of journalism or - She gives us a tour of her makeup case an entertaining celebrity car wreck. (the eyes come from L’Oreal Waterproof Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Augus, 17- !9 August 24 - 26 Eight o’clock Eight dollars at. the gate Tulsa ’sonly professional body-piercing Phil brook Museum 2727 South Rockford Road. Homosexual Rites of Passage: A Road to Visibility & Validation by Marie Mohler, MA reviewed by Barry Hensley Tulsa Ciry-CounU Eibrary Like e~eryone else, Lesbians and Gay men go through a series of life events that shape their personalities, morals and ability to interact with other people. However, because of sexual orientation, there is often a different set of events and there are different hurdles to jump. This book analyzes these rites of passage to help Lesbians and Gay men understand themselves. Author ~ [thief approaches a variety of topics, each with, a sep~ate chapter, inciudi~.g ~,~nderstar,,ding Fear, Overcoming c.~Coming Out, Con-a~fitment Rimai s ar,_d Aging Rites. Each topic builds o~ the prevtous one. Fern plays a big role for both straights and Ga)’s. For Gay people, fear serves as an obstacle to growth. For straightpeople, fear of Gays "’smt’aces in antiGay bashing, picketing, propaganda, hazing, attempts at converting homosexuals and discrimination in the workforce. Energy is tied up in keeping the Lesbian and Gay individual out of their world, consciousness, and own ide.nti.ty,.b.y attemp.ting t,o, keep homosexuahty mws~ble and stlent. Mohler suggests that straights fear Gays due to ignorance. "This ignorance often arises from lack of awareness that others may differ from one’s sdf. There is often no motivation to learn about other cultures or sexual orientations. Thus, anything different from the self is considered abnormal." One thought provoking section in the chapter on aging deals with the death of a same sex life partner. A Gay or Lesbian individual’s "truest support system, emotionally, physically, sexually, and finandally, may be flflfilled by this one person. In light of’the fact that many heterosexual peers and families may not mfite understand the magnitude of homo~sexual fee!rags _~md. Gay!Lesbi,~ conuni~mem to !ife parmers, ~t ma~ be devastating to not rec~’~c ~N’.: much-needed suppn<i: dmSng this a;~,::’~;v-g pefic,l. The heterosextml majci:~.~? ~m,,y be blind to exiuatiL~g the loss of one’s life partner to ’,he loss of a husband or wife. While this lack of support is a great tragedy, with great potenial for re~njuring and shaming homosexuals during a time of great mourning, it is thevery reason why Gay men and Lesbian women needto stand together as a community and validate the troth of their parmerships." The chapter on coming out summarizes the upbeat feel of the entire book: "(the coming out) process affects homosexuals physically, emotionally, and intellectuall) see Passages, p. 10 �� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document MCC +American Expre.ss Offer Financial Planning TULSA - Tulsa’s Metropolitan Community Church United (MCC-United) with Theresa M. Barnard, a financial planning advisor with American Express Financial Advisors will present a series of financial planning seminars at MCC United. One seminar will be "Financial Strategies forGayMen&Lesbians" and will be held onTuesday, September 5th and will be repeated on Tuesday, October 10th. Barnard will present "Retirement - Explore Your Options, Create your Retirement Income," on Tuesday, .September 19th and ,Estate Planning" on Tuesday, October 24th. All seminars will be at 7pro at the church located at 1623 No. Maplewood, just north and west of Sheridan and Pine. Bamard and MCC United provided the following statement from American Express Financial Advisors: "We want to make our commitment to Gay men and Lesbians clear. Just as we have ~ktended domestic partner benefits to our Lesbian and Gay employees worldwide, wearecommi tted to providing sound finan, cial advice that specifically addresses the unique finandal issues affecting our Lesbian and Gay clients." see MCC, p. 3 Women Try to Change Canada’s Marriage Law VICTORIA, CANADA (AP.)- Two women at the center of a constitutional court challenge exchanged vows inJuly as friends andrelatives witnessed the union ceremony. Judy Lightwater, 49, and Cynthia Callahan, 36, pledged to "cherish and sustain each other" for all of their days with "passion, honor, patience and laughter." Since Canadian law recognizes marriage only between aman and awoman, it was legally impossible for the Gay activism to get a marriage license. But the British Columbia government has asked the provincial Supreme Court on behalf of the couple to declare that same-sex marriages are legal. The court challenge is expected to reach the Supreme Court of Canada within about seven years. The provincial government issues marriage licenses but is boundby federal rules as to who qualifies. "When I see there are two people who are dearlyin love and want to make a commitment to each other and want to have the same access to laws that are available to others, as a human being I ask myself why should ~ose people not be able to make that commitment? said B.C. Attorney General Andrew Petter. "We’rein loveandwe want to tell everyone about it," ........... said Lightwater: "It"s not that complicated.~ More love in the world is something everyone supports." The other couple named in B.C.’s court petition are Murray Warren and Peter Cook, who filed a human rights complaint after they were. refused a marriage license 18 months ago. see Courts, p. 3 DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P, 6 ENTERTAINMENT P, 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans;Our.Families + Friends " Building AEVER A More Light Presb erMn Weekend ¯ TULSA - A local liberal protestant church, College Hill Presby- ¯ terian Church recently became a"More Light" church byjoining ¯ the More Light network, a group of Presbyterian affiliated ¯ organizations which are dedicated to welcoming Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals and Transgendered persons into the church in all roles, both as lay members and as ordained leaders and clergy. Now in August, on the 25, 26, and 27, the congregation will host a "More Light" event and organizer both to help educate local religious groups and individuals, and to recognize and ¯ celebrate College Hill’s joining the More Light group. The Session (the board of directors of the congregation) has invited Michael Adee, Ph.D., who is a full time organizer for More Light network, a weekend of workshops. ~ According to College Hill’s spokesperson, "these three days ¯ will be filled with opportunities for worship mad fellowship ¯ together, to learn more about ministry to and with Gay, Lesbian; Bisexual and Transgendered persons, and to inform and welcome ¯ others to this ministry of compassion, inclusion and justice." The opening event will be a lunch on Friday; August 25th, ¯ from noon to 1:30 in the Fellowship Hall of the church which is ¯ located at 712 So. Columbia Ave. The church is just west of the ¯¯ campus of theUniversityofTulsa and sinceTU has tomdown the old Kendall School to build a Tennis Center, the church can be seen from Delaware. The lunch presentation is called, "Building a Church for Everyone," and church professionals and elders from Presbyterian Churches in the area are invited to attend this luncheon. Adee will give a short presentation on the history and goals of More Light Presbyterians, followed by a question and answer session. The meal will be $5.00. On Saturday, August 26th, Adee will lead a workshop "Caring for All God’s People," from 8:30- 12:30 again in the Fellowship Hall. According to organizers; those attending this event will gain greater understanding of the pastoral care needs of GLBT people and their families, see Light, p. 3 ¯ Others May Follow Vermont’s Lead On Unions ¯ MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)- Legislators in Rhode Island and New ¯ York are hoping their states follow Vermont’s lead in granting ¯ same-sex couples the benefits of marriage. "From New Hamp- ¯ shire to California, politicians are intrigued by the civil unions ¯ statute Vermont created to grant Gay and Lesbian couples rights ¯ and benefits without wandering into the politically volatile ¯ thicket ofmarriage. But most advocates say Vermont will remain ." a pioneer on the issue for the foreseeable future while the public ¯ becomes more comfortable with the idea. ¯ A state senator in New York is drafting a bill based on : Vermont’s statute and a Rhode Island state representative is ." pushingabill to expandhis state’s marriage laws toinclude same- ¯ sex couples. "I would not introduce anything but marriage;’ said : Rep: Michael Pisamro, a Democrat from Cranston, R.I. "I don’t : necessarily see something like civil unions or domestic partner- . ships as a stepping stone to marriage." Pisaturo earlier this year ; said Rhode Islanders are still uncomfortable with the idea of ¯ recognized partnerships between Gay people. That’s why heheld ~ . off on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage and will try next year. ¯ In the New York state Senate, Manhattan Democrat Tom : Duane is drafting a bill that his aide said would be "similar to" ." Vermont’s first-in-the-nation civil unions statute, although de- ." tails were still being worked out. "Our Legislature won’t be back , ’ until January., ~s~ it wouldn’t be until then,", said Scott Mdvin. ~ : Advocates also see opportunities in New Hampshire, Con- : nectient, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California for laws ¯ granting marriage benefits, either through marriage itself or ¯ through a civil unions compromise like Vermont, s. ¯ "I think the situation we’re in is Vermont will be there and will ." have to have the courage of its convictions for a while and then, ¯ I think, it will fall into place in a number of spots," said Beatrice ¯ Dohrn, a lawyer for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education : Fund, which led the legal fight in Hawaii for Gay marriage. ¯ Although most advocates insist that full inclusion in marriage ¯ statutes is the only way for Gay and Lesbian couples to achieve ; equality, some see the civil unions statute as a good way to begin ." moving toward that goal. ¯ "Using Vermontas a model, other legislatures wishing to enact ¯ equal benefits,~ see Unions, p. 2 ¯ Boy Scou.ts Target.ed For Ant -Gay B=as ¯ TULSA - In conjunction with a National Day of ¯ Protest ofthe Boy Scouts ofAmerica~ Kerry Lewis, ¯ spokesperson for Tulsa Oklahomans for Human ¯ Rights (TOHR), has announced that TOHR and : other local organizations will hold a protest at the ¯ local headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America on ¯ August 21st. The time of the event will be available ¯ by contacting TOHR at 743-4297. The protest is in response to a recent US Supreme Court decision which overturned a New Jersey court ruling that the Boy Scouts’ anti-Gay policies were illegal under New Jersey non-discrimination laws. According to Lewis, "the purpose of these protests is to provide a visible and rational response to their discriminatory and de-humanizing policies." The Indian Nations Council of the BSA is located at 3206 So. Peoria. Parking is limited at the site but is available on the street a few blocks away in the Brookside business area. Lewis noted also that there are also several other options for you to register your protest of the Boy Scout policy. One is to write a letters of complaint. Informational materials, including sample letters, are available by contacting TOHR. ¯ And in discussions with Tulsa Family News, ¯ Lewis acknowledged that another aspect of the ¯ Boy Scouts’ discriminatory policies was Tulsa ¯ AreaUnitedWay’s (TAUW) funding for the BSA. ¯ Lewis acknowledged that some in the community ¯ favor designating TAUW as the target of protests ¯ or demonstrations, but that those discussions were ~ ongoing. ¯ Lewis also said that the next meeting of Tulsa’s Diversity Council will beonTuesday, August 22nd ¯ at 7pm at the Center. : Further in the future is a visit to Tulsa by Dr. : Laura Schlessinger, radio talk show host known for her characterization of Gay people see BSA, p. 3 Barnes & Noble Boots ¯ TULSA-In amove thatis being decriedby smaller ¯ newspaper publishers across the US, Barnes & ¯ Noble has thrown out most community publica- ¯ dons out of its stores across the US. ¯ In Tulsa, Barnes & Noble representatives sent ¯ notice to TulSa Family News by letter in the last ¯ week of June of the new policy which went into : effect on July 1st. Newspaper reports from else- . where in the US note that Barnes & Noble sent the : letter to most publication in sometime in March. : Local representatives could giveno explanation for ¯ the several month delay before informing Tulsa : publications. ¯ Barnes & Noble stated in its letter that it was : removing the publications in order to use the space ¯ forit own merchandise but after TFN publisher : spoke with (the no~w former) manager of the 71st : St. store, it became clear that while minority pub- : lieatious were being removed, Barnes &Noble was ¯ creating a new space inside the store for two com- " ¯ mtmitypublications; TulsaPeopleand Urban Tulsa. ¯ These two were retaining distribution privileges ¯ because they have the largest volume of copies ¯ ¯ distributed. Both- Tulsa People (TP) and Urban : Tulsa (UT) are publications with histories of fail- " ing to serve Tulsa’s Gay &Lesbian communities or : of having anti-Gay policies (UT). Tulsa Family News publisher Tom Neal said, ¯~ "this policy inherently discriminates against mi- ¯ nority community publications. By virtue of being ¯ minority, we simply cannot compete on a highest ," volume basis." : Neal added that given a choice between making ¯ purchases at Barnes & Noble or at Borders, he ¯ encourages community members to buy at Borders ¯ which consistently has been more supportive of : Lesbians and Gay menin Tulsa. Neal also suggests ¯ that readers letMattMozzoni,manager of the 41st ¯ St. Barnes & Noble see Barnes & Noble, p. 3 Minority Newspapers Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2!82 S. Sheridan *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael"s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd "*The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 749-4511 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth 295-5868 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th - 749-3620 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838,-8503 Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 369-8555 *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 592-0460 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoffa- 744-9595 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 6!0-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International ~[ours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard. #210 747-5466 *Li~:ing A~tSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place ....~- 664-2951 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, "74101 747-5932 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746 Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301, Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Connseting 743-1733 *Wherehouse Music. 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222 *Whittier News Stand. 1 N. Lew~s 592-0767 www.gaytulsa.org Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337.74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & ~Vhite, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *]3 L/G/T Alliance. Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 5K3-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Horence *Church of the Restoration UU, 1314N.Greenwo°d 587-1314 *Commtmity ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *CommunityUnitarian-Universalist Congregatmn 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 Free SpratWomen s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 918.583.12.zhS, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140. Tulsa. OK 74159 e-mail: Tu!saNews@ earthhnk.:~et Publisher + Editor: Tom Seal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche. Lamont Lindstrom. Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers. Hughston Walkinshaw Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the ! st of each month, the entire contents -: of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by T~,u~ ~:€o~ Ndw~ and may not be reproduced either in " wholeorin part without written permission from the publisher. " Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s ,. sexual orientation. Correspondence is assmned to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & be- ". comes the sole property of rJ,4~ ~.’. Ncnu4~ Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each ediuon at distribution ¯ points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Plalmed Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, !724 E 8 584-2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincim~ati 425-7882 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Co~tfidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c,~o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform~ Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *TulsaGay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH Stonewall League. c~J! for i~fformation: 9!8-456-7900 *Tahlequmh Uvjtarian-Uni vcrsalist Church 9182456-7900 Green Country A!DS Cozdition, POB !570 918-453-9360 NSU Schoo! of C,ptometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtestln,, e’ve~v other T~es. 5:30-8:30. cal! for dates Autunm Breeze Restaurm~. L~w~.. 23 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’s Restaurant. 5 Center g t. Emerald Rainbow. 45 &l:2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!, PC SpecialisL POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC. 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 5~ 1-253-2776 50!-253-5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 417-623-4696 * is where you can f’md TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. Tulsa Family News wishes to correct an error in our July issue. In an article about GayTulsa.o,:g, we mistakevJy indentified their Associate Webmaster, Scan, as Seth and as a "partner" in the r,on-profit organization, rather than by his correct title. TFN regrets any all,stress this caused to the staff and friends of GayTulsa.org. - TN equal status for Gay and, Lesbian people wi!l look at this," said David Smith ofthe !. Humau Rights Campaign, the nation’s the country that would look to this.’.’ Vermont’s law is parallel to mamage but ~s a separate legal creation. It has prompted a lot of debate around the country about granting benefits to couples who want legal recognition and protection for their long-term relationships. Vermont lawmakers have said repeatedly that their law could be a model for other states to emulate as they seek to steer clear of the emotional debate about marriage. Thirty-two states have adopted statutes specifically outlawing Gay marriage. Because civil unions aren’t marriage, though, the Vermont authors of the law say, they’re a way to take a step without getting bogged down in emotion, religion and morality. But to people like California Assemblywoman Rep. Carole Migden of San Francisco, that’s demeaning. ’.’Thepremise of civil union is still an insult, but nevertheless we’re pleased that the state of Vermont recognizes the quality of Lesbian and Gay equality in a less-than-dignified way," said Migden, whose state last year outlawed Gay marriage in a referendum. "We’re moving along. Each year we add to it, It’s a step-by-step buildingblock process." Some Gay civil rights advocates caudonthat experiences in Hawaii and Alaska, where courts said same-sex couples should be allowed to marry and then lawmakers and voters reversed them, should temper any predictions that the idea of civil unions will spread quickly beyond Vermont. "I think it’s important to bear in mind that Vermonti s aleader in notjust civil rations, but in terms of hate crimes, second parent adoption and nondiscrimination is sues for the Lesbian and Gay community," said Tim Sweeney, deputy executive director of New York state’s Fanpire State Pride Agenda. "I think that’s an important context to keep in mind." Political considerations appear to be far from the minds of many of the people entering into civil unions since they became thelaw on July !. Ofthe 115 that had been reported to the state vital records division through Monday~ more th;m tw othirds have b~eu between conples from outside Vermont. That’ s even though civil unions are not legally recognized anywhere else in the country. That "alone will make a difference in other states, though, advocates say, be~ cause it is generating debate in practically every state. "The whole mo~cement an Vermonthas createda tremendous amount of education and discussion about Lesbian and Gay relationships and the kind of discrimination we face," Sweeney said. "It’ s been an extremely positive discusstun and very helpful to humanize Lesbian and Gay relationships and our families ." by Tom Neal, editor/publisher How disappointing that Colin Powell would lend his credibility to the Republican scam of being a party of inclusion at the recentGOPconvention. Since the days of that deficit-creating monster Reagan, Republicans have represented the worst in American character: hate-mongering, religiously intolerant, and committed to undermining constitutional rights of those unlike themselves. In Philadelphia, we see Blacks, Latinos, women and the disabled trotted out but we still read the same attacks o~ Gay Americans. Gays can be soldiers ouly at the cost offree speech. Gayrelationships,by federal law, can only be end class. In Oklahoma, Democrats aren’t much better. Republicans talk nasty about Gay taxpayers. Democrats keep quiet but both abuse the authority of the State to attack Gay Oklahomans. God forbid we should get through a legislative session without a vote by the majority to remind us of the contempt in which we are held. Whenboth parties treat all fairly, when the accidents of birth: race, ability, ethnicity, sexual orientation and the choices of a free citizenry: political affiliation, religious "lifestyles" or "preferences", all are of no more importance than that of being left or fight-handed, then Americans, Republican and Democrat, can say we are thenation of fairness for all. The statement continues, "whether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or caring for children, yotir ?maerican Express financial advisor ca~’help you take control of your financial future. We can help you: Establish savings and investment plans. Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation. Avoid financial restrictions placed on unmarried couples. Avoid cosily delays in the receipt of life insurance proceeds." Bamard requests that those wishing to attend please telephone in advance to her at 748-8191, ext. 121. They have been in a relationship for 29 years. "The community support has been really important to me because I don’t have the support from my family," said Callahan, whose parents did not attend her union ceremony. as being "biological error[s]". TOHR is trying to work with other groups to design an effective protest for her visit this fall. On Tuesday, Aug. 8th, TOHR will hold its general membership meeting at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center at 7:30pm. The regular business session (which is usually short) will be followed by a special program presented by the Credit Counsding Center of Tulsa, a Short presentation on financial responsibility, etc. Members and those interested in the community are invited and encouraged to attend. And on Sunday, Aug. 13th, the"Lesbian Connection," a program of TOHR, is inviting EVERYONE in the community to come out and have fun at Keystone lake. Burgers will beprovided - youbring the rest! Swimming, volleyball, fishing, boating, etc. will be available all day. Call the Center for directions. The initial planning meeting for "Diversity Celebration 2001" will be held at the Tulsa Gay Cominunity Services Center beginning at 1 lain on Saturday, Aug. 19th. know about their nnhappiness with the new policy. Mozzoni seemed to be sympathetic to the situation but has stated that since it comes down from corporate. headquarters, hehas litflechoice. Mozzoni canbe reached at 665-4580. National Gay Organizations Comment on Cheney WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) have issued comments on the record o’f Richard B. Cheney, George W. Bush’s Vice-presidential nominee, on Gay and AIDS issues. Cheney, a former defense secretary in the administration of Bush’s father, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1978-1989, has an extremely conservative record, HRC noted. Like Gov. Bush, however, Cheney seeks to package a conservative record with a moderate image, the organization said. "The choice of Secretary Cheney is in keeping with Governor Bush’s strategy of staking out conservative pos!,tions and wrapping them in a moderate package, said Wiunie Stachelberg, HRC’s political director. As a Wyoming congressman, Cheney opposed early efforts to address the HIV/AIDS crisis. Most notably, he was one of 13 House members who voted against the AIDS Federal Policy Act of 1988, the first major bill to provide funding for HIV/AIDS counseling and testing. Cheney also supported an effort to reduce funding for HIV/AIDS research. In addition, Cheney voted against the Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1988 and supported an amendment that added anti-Gay language to the bill. As defense secretary, Cheney supported Pete Williams, the department’s chief spokesman, when The Advocate magazine revealed his homosexuality. "I have operated on the basi, s over the.years with respect tO my personal staff that I don’t ask them about their private lives," said Cheney. "As long as they perform their professional responsibilities in a responsible manner, their private lives are their business." Cheney opposed President Clinton’s effort to lift the ban on Gays serving openly in the military. Cheney told CNNin 1993,"I am one of those people who believes that people’s sexual preference and orientation are a private matter. It’s something that is a personal matter for them, and no one else’.s business. And that’s the way I ran the civilian side of the Pentagon... On the military side, though, you can’t pursue that policy." Later in the interview, Cheney ffaid: "I basically don’t believe in discrimination, but I did conclude, as secretary of defense, that the ban on Gays in uniform was appropri- Topics include: coming out, integration of sexuality and faith, responding to homophobia in the church and society, helping parents of GLBT children and children of GLBT parents. This group is open to all. ’ It will be especially helpful for GLBT people and their families, their friends, and fellow church members, elders, teachers and youth leaders. Continental breakfast and snacks will be served. Sunday morning, the Church School Mid-highs to Adults will.begin at 9:35 in the Chapel. This event is rifled "Bringing Body and Soul Together (Let’s Talk about Faith and Sexuality)" This Church School Class will feature’an interactive discussion on Christian sexual ethics. Those choosing to attend will share in an hour devoted to how Christians integrate faith and sexuality in living the Christian life. The focus will be what makes ’good relationships’ for all God’s people. Then on Sunday, August 27th, the regular worship service at 11amin the Sanctuary will feature a sermon by Michael Adee. The service entitled "Celebrating Diversity and Inclusiveness" will honor "Christ’s call to be inclusive." The chancel choir will offer special music for the occasion and communion will be celebrated. This is the formal event to mark College Hill’s declaration to be inclusive and work as part ofMore Light Presbyterians to bring the Presbyterian denomination to the inclusion of GLBT people in ordination as well as membership.. Finally on Sunday afternoon from 5:30- 7:30, aYouth Event, "On Being Gay & Being Christian" will be held. The College Hill youth fellowship will be hosting individuals and other youth groups for pizza and open, informal conversation about sexuality andfaithfor youth. Adee will be the facilitator on topics ranging from being GLBT and Christian, coming out, harassment at school and church, sexual sdf-esteem, dealing with family, and Gay/Straight friendships. This event hopes to help Gay and Straight youth underctand themselves and each other better. For more information about these events, contact " College Hill Presbyterian Church at 592-5800. : ate." ¯. HRC has endorsed Vice President A1 Gore for presi- ¯ dent. He has yet to name a running mate. Cheney is : currently the chief executive officer of the Halliburton : Co., a publicly traded company that supplies equipment ¯ to the oil industry. Halliburton does not have a non- . discrimination policy thiat includes sexual orientation nor : a domestic partner program for Gay employees. ¯ According to the NGLTF research, Cheney opposed : the Equal Rights Amendment, opposes reproductive ¯¯ choice and supports prayer in public schools. NGLTF notes like HRC that Cheney in 1993 opposed ¯ President Clinton’s effort to lift the military ban and ¯ openly Gay servicemembers. At the height of the debate, ¯ Cheney warned that defense cuts and the proposal to lift : the ban "have led to a decline in the quality of military ¯ recruits." ¯ He added that "the whole reduction in defense spend- : ing, the controversy over Gays in the military, has led to : an unwillingness to serve and low morale." ¯ NGLTF adds that Cheney has served as a trustee of the ¯ arch-conservative American Enterprise Institute, where ¯ he was a former senior fellow. The American Enterprise ¯ Institute is home to many right-wing thinkers, such as ¯ former Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork, former ¯ House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Charles Murray, ¯ author of "The Bell Curve," a book which suggests that ¯ differences inintelligence existbetweenblacks and whites ¯ and that these differences are genetic and immutable. ¯ American Enterprise Institute scholars have also been ~ outspoken in their opposition to equal rights for Gay, : Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people. : "George W. Bush has flubbed the most important ¯ decision in his presidential camp~gn," said Elizabeth ¯ Toledo, NGLTF executive director. "His compassionate ¯ conservatism holds out no compassion whatsoever for ¯ theGay, Lesbian,BisexualandTransgendercommunity. ¯ Furthermore, it sends a chilling signal to women, to ¯ people of colo~: and to those concerned with fairness and : equality that a major political party would offer up a candidate with such a background to the voters. This ¯ selection demonstrates that right-wing, religious extrem- ¯ ists are still a powerful force on the political landscape." ¯ Openly Gay Republican ¯ Featured at Convention . PHILADELPHIA -Rep: Jim Kolbe of Arizona made ¯ history when he became the first openly Gay member of ¯ Congress to address a Republican convention. The Ari- ¯ zona congressman had a prime-time speaking slot, ad- ¯ dressing the GOP on trade issues for three minutes. ¯ Kolbe, first elected in 1984, is the most senior openly ¯ Gay member of Congress andis the only openly Gay ¯ Republican in the House. Having Kolbe speak at the ¯ convention was an idea first raised by Washington city ¯ councilm_.an David Cataniain April, when the Log Cabin ] Republicans, themostprominent Gay GOPorganization, ." met with presidential candidate George W. Bush. ¯ Bushmetwith the group, a first for a candidate preparing to pick up the GOP presidential nomination, despite his opposition to many of the its issues, including Gay ." marriage. Log Cabin Republicans Pleased Members of ¯ the Log Cabin Republic,~ns are delighted by Kolbe’s : place.in the convention lineup - especially considering ¯ that he backed Bush’s rival, Sen. John McCain, during ¯ the primary season. ¯ According to the group, this is the first lime a wall- ¯ known openly Gay person has gone to the podium at the ¯ GOP national convention. In 1996, a little-known Log ¯ Cabin Republican member from California, Steve Fong, ¯ gave alow-prof’ile, one-mi nute speech amidlittle fanfare. [ But some socially conservative Republicans, who are ¯ opposed to civil rights for Gay people and have warned ¯ Bush about reaching out to the Gay community, were " unhappy with the prospect of having Kolbe speak, One leading conservative Republican told ABCNEWS he ¯ was "flabbergasted" by the decision, and called it a ~ "shock." "It is not going to be a happy time," said the ¯ Republican. "I think it is a really bad decision." : Kolbe is a founding member of the National Advisory ¯ Board of the Log Cabin Republicans; the nation’s most [ prominent Gay GOP group. In 1997, he gave the keynote ¯ address at the LOg Cabin Republicans convention. Kolbe ¯ was a strong proponent of the NorthAmerican Free Trade i Agreement. Pentagon Says Gay Policy Is Working WASHINGTON (AP) - The military’s much-criticized policy on Gays in uniform is working, but training must be improved to eliminate anti-Gay behavior like the abuse that led to a soldier’s murder in Kentucky last year, the Defense Department said. "We think we’ve got it right this time," Carol DiBattiste, the undersecretary of the Air Force, told a news conference Friday to publicize anew Pentagon program to re-emphasize in training that such behavior is unacceptable. Speaking at the same news conference, Bernard ¯ Rostker, the undersecretary of defense, said he disagreed with President Clinton’s statement last year, after the beating death of Pfc. Barry Winchell by a fellow soldier at Fort Campbell, Ky., that implementation of his policy on Gays was "out of whack." "I don’ t agree with that characterization. I think the policy is working reasonably wall to provide a degree of safety’.’ for Gays in uniform, Rostker said. "The days of witch hunts, the days of stakeouts, are really gone." Even so, Rostker said, more needs to be done to ensure that everyone in the military understands the policy. The Clinton administration’s policy on Gays in the military is derived from a law passed in 1993 after Clintonfailed topersuade Congress and the Pentagon to allow Gays to serve openly. ~.The policy, known as "don’t ask, don’t tell," holds that Gays can serve in uniform so long as they don’t reveal their sexual orientation. One problem, however, has been unwarranted investigations of people suspected of being homosexual. There also is a fear among discreetly Gay service members that if they ,qomplain about harassment, they will be discharged. ’" The announced plan to eliminate anti-Gay behavior was created by a panel of civilian and military officials led by DiBattiste of theAir Force. It was in response to a Pentagon inspector general’s report in March that found anti-Gay behavior was commonplace in the military. DiBattiste said the key to her panel’ s plan is adoption of an"overarching principle" meant to clarify to all in the military that unacceptable behavior includes not just abuse of Gays but also "inappropriate comments or gestures." "That’s the high road that we need to take," she Said. The DiBattiste panel’s 13-point "action plan" is largely reiteration of previous expressions of deterruination to stamp out anti-Gay behavior and to hold military commanders responsible for policy infractions. Last December, Rostker’s predecessor in the undersecretary’s post, Rudy de Leon, issued a statement that "harassment of service members for any reason, to include alleged or perceived homosexuality, will not be tolerated," and commanders must take prompt action against violators. Michelle Benecke, an executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund, an advocate for Gay rights in the military and a frequent critic of Pentagon policy; called the DiBattiste panel’s report "’thoughtful and considered." ’.’Today’s recommendations, if implemented, would be a very good start," Benecke said. The spark that caused- the Pentagon to take a closer look at the Gay policy’s implementation, and at the extent of anti-Gay behavior in the field, was the Winchell murder at Fort Campbell on July 5, 1999. Two of Winchell’ s fellow soldiers were convicted in the crime and are in prison. Gen. Eric Shinseki, the Army chief of staff, released the Army inspector general’s report Friday on circumstances surrounding the Winchell murder. The report concluded that some members ofDCompany, 2nd Battalion, 502rid Infantry Regiment, Winchell,’ s unit in the 101st Airborne Division, violated the military’s policy against anti-Gay behavior, but it exonerated all commanders at Fort Campbell. TheArmy report also concludedno general climate of homophobia existed at Fort Campbell. With some exceptions, "It was determined that the command climate at Fort Campbell before 5 July 1999 was a positive environment," the inspector general’s report said. It also said the chain of command at Fort Campbell "respondedappropriate1y"when confronted with situations that appeared to violate the "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. " Rep. Mart,y,. Meehan, D-Mass., questioned these conduslons. ’Giving FortCampbdl arelatively dean bill of health doesn’t square with recent reports of prevalent anti-Gay harassment throughout the services," Meehan said. Vermont Papers Will Print Civil Union Notices RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - Aunotmcements for civil unions are beginning to appear alongside wedding announcements on wedding pages in newspapers around the state. At many newspapers, editors said they will treat announcements of same-sex unions the same as traditional marriages, placing them in the same section of their newspapers and in the same format, although perhaps under a different heading. The decision "took about 30 seconds of deep thought," said Valley News editorJim Fox. "It wasn’t very difficult." "Of course we would treat them the same," said .amnette Sharon, managing editor of the Manchester Journal. "ff they want to make that announcement to their neighbors, the newspaper is the place for that to happen." Evennewspapers thathave editorialized against the law granting marriage-like benefits to same-sex couples appear likely to print civil union announcements. Mark Smith, publisher of The Caledonian- Record, said no one had.brought such a notice to his St. Johnsbury paper, but if someone did, he would probably publish it. "My personality is such that it will depend on the attitude of the person who comes through the door," he said. Smith said he would comply with a polite request but dig in his heels if he felt pressured. So far,the reqtlests have been few. In Brattleboro, where the first civil union was certified just after midnight on July 1, no announcements have been submitted to the local newspaper, the Reformer. In August, that will likely change, though, when John Calvi and Marshall Brewer of Putney, have a civil union ceremony, and submit an announcement. The couple- and the newspaperi- made national news more than a decade ago when the Reformer became the first mainstream newspaper in the United States to publish a Gay wedding announcement. Joseph Watson of Leicester, entered a civil union with his partner, Michael Warner, on July 7. Watson said he had no problem with sending out the notice, which has appeared in the Addison County Independent and was in the July 23 edition of the Sunday Rutland Herald and Times Argus. It will also be in a new "Milestones" section of the Gay newspaper "Out in the Mountains" and is expected to be published soon by The Burlington Free Press. Addison . County Independent publisher Angelo Lynn said his paper received only aletter of praise for its publication of Watson’s civil union notice. At the Newport Daily Express, however, managing editor Susan Davis doesn’t expect such a smooth reception. Davis said if she receives civil union notices, she will print them as long as her publisher approves. But she anticipates a backlash. "I don’t have a problem with it, but I know a lot of people do," she said. "’This is the Northeast Kingdom and everybody is running anti-civil unions (for the upcoming dections).. It’s a huge issue up here." Man Charged With Hate : Crime in Beating Death BARRON, Wis. (AP) - A man charged with helping murder a 22-year-old hearing-impaired, mentally dis - : abled man now also is accused of a hate crime in the : killing. Prosecutors contend Raymond C. Walton,33, ¯ of Barron, helped beat Michael J. Hatch to death with ¯ a tire :iron Oct. 20 because Walton thought Hatch was : Gay, according to court records. : Walton was charged with being party to first- ." degree intentional homicide and armed robbery in ¯ Hatch’s death. The hate-crime enhancer was added to ". the charges last week. ~ Barron County District Attorney James Babler dedined comment on the hate crime filing, which says United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11:00 am Pastor " 1623 N. 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Atlanta Place, 742-’7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church We Icomes You Walton intentionally selected the victim because of his belief or perception regaa’ding Hatch’s sexual orientation. Authorities say Walton a~d Corey L. Kralewski, 21, killed Hatch and left his body in a rural Barron County corufield. A criminal complaint said Kralewski, Walton and Mary Reed spend the evening of Oct. 19 at several Barron bars. Kralewski played pool with Hatch, whom he knew from high school. Later, the group left the pool hall and drove to a field near the Dunn County line. Reed told authorities she sat in her truck while Kralewski beat Hatch with a tire iron. Walton also hit Hatch several times, she said. In a written statement, Kralewski told authorities heknocked Hatch down with afew blows but that Walton did most of the beating. Walton showed authorities Hatch’s body. Kralewski pleaded innocent to a homicide charge and goes on trial Aug. 7. Reed, 34, pleaded guilty to aiding a feton and was sentenced to t~vo years in prison. Chicago Bishop Faces Ecclesiatical -Charges CHICAGO (AP) - A United Methodist lay member has filed a complaint with the church, accusing his Chicago-based bishop of using the office"as a public relations and news media channel for promoting homosexuality," among other things. John Juergensmeyer, an attorney and member of a United Methodist church inElgin, is calling for Bishop C. Joseph Sprague to resign or be removed. Sprague, formerly a United Methodist pastor in Columbus, Ohio, heads the church’s Northern Illinois Conference. He was one of several Methodists, including at least one other bishop, arrested while protesting anti-Gay measures adopted at the church’ s general conference in Cleveland in May Juergensmeyer said that Sprague’s arrest was a "triggering point" for his complaint. But he said Sprague’s overall political views have long troubled him and other conservative United Methodists. "He is reducing the church only to a political instrument rather than a spiritual force." said Juergensmeyer, rather than a spmtum io~c~, ~a~,., o~.~r,~,l.....av., who also ~s accusing Sprague of promotang writings about Jesus Christ that luergensmeyer says violate church doctrine. Earlier this month, Sprague told the United Methodist News Service that the letters of complaint seemed to be "part of an organized effort of a small, very vocal minority." He also said he made his views clear when he stood for election as bishop four years ago. Sprague was re-elected to his second four-year term at the church s North Central Jurisdictional Conference this month. Man Gets Two Life Sentences for Slaying BALTIMORE (AP) - A man who told police he attacked Gay men because he thought Gays were evil was given two life sentences for the slaying of a h.otel guest last June. Gary William Mick, 25, was gaven one life sentence for first-degree murder and a concurrent 20-year sentence for robbery for the attack on Christopher Williams Jones. He received a consecutive life sentence with all but 30 years suspended for first-degree attempted murder and a concurrent 20- year sentence for attempted robbery for a separate incident last September. Mick, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to the two attacks in May. Jones, 37, of Metuchen, N.J., was attending a pharmaceutical conference in Baltimore whenhewas found bludgeoned to death at the Admiral Fell Inn. "We loved our son and his partner in life as we love all our children and their lifemates. The emptiness we feel because of this loss is extreme," said Howard Jones, the father of one of the victims, in a family statement to the court. Prosecutors said Mick accompanied Jones to his hotel room after the two met. once.inside, Mick struck Jones nine times on the right side of the head with a claw hammer. He then stole Jones’ truck and credit cards, which he used to buy clothes, jewelry, food and a beard trimmer, prosecutors said. The second attack occurred in September. Prosecutors said Mick attacked another man he had met, but the victim was able to fight him off. Lesbian Recieves Headof- Household Status SACRAMENTO (AP) -The state Board of Equalizationhas voted to grant head-of-household tax status to a Lesbian who is supporting her partner and nonbiological child. The board voted 3-2 to allow the Los Angeles family to file with one of the women as the head-of-household, which will savethem about $2,500 a year in state and federal taxes. Helmi Hisserich and Tori Patterson of Los Angeles have been together 14 years and had a daughter in 1997. Patterson gave birth and has stayed home to raise the baby since then. When Hisserich filed a tax return for 1997, she checked the box for head of household and calculated accordingly. The Franchise Tax Board said she was not eligible, saying head of household status covered situations only where an unmarried person was paying more than half the expenses of an adoptive or foster child, or any blood relative. They said she owed $1,050, Hisserich said. Sbnnnon Minter, staff attorney for the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco, argued Hisserich’s case before the board June 30. "This is the first time they’ve addressed this issue," he said. "It recognizes the reality of our families and gives legal validation to the reality that our client is a parent regardless of the fact that she doesn’t have a biological relationship to the child." Hisserich said the board had to consider whether a heterosexual couple would be treated in the same manner. "But if we were a heterosexual couple, we would be mamed. We’ve been together 14 years, we’ve registered as domestic partners in our city, our county and the state. We’ ve done everything we can," she said. The Board of Equalization will vote again after its staff prepares a written decision, and will comment publicly on its reasoning when the vote is final, according to spokeswoman Cristina Herrera. That could take up to three mouths, she said. -- ~i~-n~)g~s~i~d tile vote was the logical extension of Califo~aua court rulingsin the past two years that had granted parental status to Gay men and Lesbian couples planning and having children. Because intent was the basis of his winning argument in the tax case, Minter said the decistonmostlikely woulon’t apply to situations where someone moved in with a partner who already had a child. The ruling affects only state tax status, but I-Iisserich said the Internal Revenue Service followed the state on head of household status. Jury Votes Death to Killer of Lesbian Couple PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -A Mnltnomah Countyjury sentenced to death a Portland man who killed a Lesbian couple in a karaoke bar. Eric Walter Running, 49, was fOund guilty of two counts of aggravated murder in the February 1998 shotgun slayings of Jaqueline J. A_ffderson, whom he had dated, and Barbara J. Gilpin. Running killed the women after Anderson, 29, a poet and writer, broke up with him and returned to her 10-year-relationship with Gilpin, 44, a landscaper. In an unusual split, the jury imposed the death sentence only for Anderson’s murder, giving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for Gilpin’.s death. Ten of the 12 jurors voted to give a deat~ sentence in Gilpin’s murder, but a unanimous verdict is needed. "’Barbara Gilpin deserved the same verdict as my daughter," said Jack Anderson. "But one death sentence is all that it takes. I don’t care if he dies tomorrow or never, I’m just glad he can’t be a threat to anyone anymore." Running smiled as the verdicts were read. Hewill become the 25thperson onOregon s Death Row at the state penitentiary in Salem. Almost 20 patrons at the Ambassador Restaurar.’-a and Lounge in Portland witnessed Running kill women Feb. 24, 1998. Rurming’s lawyers offered insanity defense. Se.n.a.te OK’s $600 ¯ $200 million interuational program to Million for AIDS batfleHIV/AIDS. Speaking ahead of the . " ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian WASHINGTON (AP)-Legislafioncom- " Nations) Regional Forum, Asia’s largest mitring up to $600 million in U.S. aid for " security conference, Downer noted prefighting HIV and AIDS in Africa and ¯ dictions that AIDS threatens to reduce or developing countries elsewhere was " even reverse Asia’s economic growth. "I passed at the end of July by the Senate. On don’t think the Asia-Pacific region can avoicevote, theSenateapprovedabillby turn,!ts back on this devastating prob- Sens. Bill Ffist and Jesse Helms, both lem, Downer told’anews conference. Republicans, authorizing $300 million in " Most of the $200 million will be tar- ¯ geted at countries in the Asia-Pacific re- " glen, Downer said, and Canberra expects ¯ to work dosdy with the Association of ¯ Southeast Asian Nations. ¯ Much of the funding remains uncom- ", mitted, but some will augment existing ¯. programs in Indonesia and Papua New ¯ Guinea, Australia’s immediate northeru ¯ neighbors. Relations Committee, said the bill requires that up to $220 million of all U.S. bilateral funding forHIV-AIDS programs over the next two years be spent on supporting orphans in Africa. T,he United Nations has predicted that the disease is expected to wipe out half the teen-age population in some poor countries in Africa. Similar legislation passed in the House, which voted earlier this month to fully fund President Clinton’s request for $2’44 million next year for combating and treating AIDS in poor counmes. each of the next two years for AIDS prevention and treatment and also for the care ofAIDS orphans in developing countries. Thebill directs the Treasury Department to establish a trust fund with the World Bankfor the prevention efforts and the treatment of orphans. Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign HIV-Treatment Ctr. Targets Blacks ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - A treatment center for blacks who have AIDS or HIV is planned in a county where only a third ofblackAIDS patients gettreatment, compared to half of infected whites. Rochesterhas the second-highestnumber ofAIDS cases in Ne~v York state, after New York City. The number of local AIDS cases has leveled off among whites but is climbing among blacks, according to the Rochester Primary Care Network. Existing programs are not reaching t~ growing number ofblackmenanawom who are HIV-positive, Art Collier, prestdent of Primary Care Network, said. The rateamong MonroeCounty’residents who are black is over eight times the rate among white residents, he added. Before 1991, 64% of reported AIDS cases in Monroe County were among whites mad 27% were among blacks. The center expects to have an initial casdoad of about 150 patients. Besides medical care, services will include mental health counseling and treatment for substance abuse. TheNational Black Leadership Commisston onAIDS is helping plan the center and recruit ablack staff, Collier said. Coordinatbrs believe black patients will respond better to treatment by black medical personnel. Dr~Anson .,W;urapa.,~ black physician at strong Memon Hospital’s AIDS Center, said blacks tend Russia’s Infections Growing MOSCOW (AP) - The number of registered HIV cases in Russia has soared in the last six months and will continue to grow, but the government doesn’t have the money to fight the epidemic adequately, a top health official said. By tl~e middle of July, Russia had some 53,1~30 registered HIV cases, with almost half ofthemcomingin the last six months, said Vadim Pokrovsky, the head of the Federal AIDS Prevention Center. But he said that the actual number of Russians infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is probably more than 300,000, since only about 10% of the population. has been checked. "The regi,s,tered cases are only the tip of the iceberg, Pokrovsky said. "We must accept the fact that we are facing avery quickly spreading epidemic." Increaseddrug use andprostitution since the collapse of the Soviet Union have been two key reasons for the rise in HIV cases? Still, a low incidence in HIV-ca.ses in recent years as well as more pressing economicproblems m.ean ~.e~g~ov~eru~,~t, has been slow to combat AID~. in zu , only 46 million rubles ($1.65 million) was set aside to combat HIV and AIDS, Pokrovsky said. If Russia doesn’t take new measures to stop the spread of the virus, the country could have some 1.6 million HIV cases by 2015, he said..and those who are infected nrobablv won’tbeable to get the help they. the government’s manmty to pay. wm people probably shouldn t count on getting treatment," Pokrovsky said. . HIV is worst in the Moscow regto.n, where some 5% of young people are infected, Pokrovsky said. Rise in HIV Infections ih Gays College Hill Presbyterian Church announces a "More Light" Weekend with Michael Adee National Field Organizer, More Light Presbyterians August 25 - 27, 2000 Building A Church for Everyone Friday, August 25th, Luncheon: Noon - 1:30, Fellowship Hall History and goals of MoreLight Presbyterians, followedby a question and answer session. Cost: $5.00 for the meal Caring for All God’s People Saturday, August 26th, Workshop: 8:30 - 12:30, Fellowship Hall Pastoral care needs ofGLBT people and their families. Continental breakfast and snacks will be served. Bringing Body and Soul Together Sunday, August 27th, Church School Mid-highs to Adults, 9:35am, Chapel An interactive discussion on Christian sexual ethics. Celebrating Diversity and Inclusiveness Sunday, August 27th, Worship ll:00am, Sanctuary A special worship to celebrate our diversity and Christ’s call to be inclusive. Michael Adee will preach and we will share communion together. On Being Gay and Being Christian Sunday, August 27th, Youth Event 5:30 - 7:00pm The ColleggHill youth fellowship will be hosting individuals and other youth groups for pizza and informal conversation about sexuality and faith for youth. College Hill Presbyterian Church, 712 S. Col~bia Avenue, 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the Uni;~sity of Tulsa Campus) ’Financial Pla.nning With A Clear Comm,tment. ~t American Express Financial Advisors, we want to make our 3ommitment to gay men and lesbians clear. Just as we have extended domestic partner oenefits to our lesbian and gay employees worldwide, we are committed to providing sound financial advice that specifically addresses the unique financial issues affecting our lesbian and gay clients. Nhether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or caring for children, your Americar ~xpress financial advisor can help you take control of your financial future. We can help ~OU: Establish savings and investment plans Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation Av.oid financial restrictions placed on unmarried couples Avoid costly delays in the recei pt of life insurance proceeds series of Seminars given by "heresa Barnard, American Expeess Financial Advisor Where: MCC United When: 7:00 P.M. 1623 N Maplewood Ave ¯ TORONTO (AP) - Figures showing.a to mistrust the medical sys.te.m, a~.d w.~en , rise of HIV infections amongG~Y., menm everyone on the staff is whtte, tlae s~tua- " Ontario could be the fLrst sigu O~ mcreastion is worse. - " ~.... " ing HIV levds for Gay men in Cam.a.dar Natioo~!JY, one in .5~b,~abk.,m~,’~s,.m7 AIDS. activists note. A. recent prownce2 1. Create your Retirement Income fectedw~HIV,’,andAiDSis’theleaamg i wide study conducted by University ot [Tuesday; September 19th cause’of!~a,.~.~d~allblackAmerica~ Toronto and community gr6ups f°und an between:th~.~g~of 25:and44:Thbdis-~. increasing number of HIV infections [e Estate Planning ease i’s gr6wiiig fastest among -black among O~tario Gay men ~ter_ 19°~6,~ _ r [ Tuesday, October 24th women, who a~.ount for 56% of HIT ~ In 1992, the infection rate was ,.~ 1~ cases in women. " - " 100 people tested, the ~tudy found. The / ¯ number dr°pped t° 0"87J 1"00 in 1"996; d Australia a]or HIV Initiative-’" -" " risen to 2.07/100 people testea. llae stuaY mirrors recent results in San Francisco BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Australian " which showed that HIV infections among Foreign Minister Alexander Downer an- " Gay andBisexualmentherenearlytripled - nounced thelaunchrecenflY of asix-year’ over the past two years. -’inancial Strategies for Gay Men & Lesbians Tuesday, September 5th and Tuesday, October 10th Please R.S.V.P. RetirementExplore Your Options with Theres;~ at ...... " 918-748-8191 ext.121 Power Connect. Public Service Company of Oklahoma Customer Service Is Now Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around-the-clock answers to your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill, Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. I I I "1 I I I I I I I I CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216.3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 m~€lip And Save I I I I I I I " Servicio a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 .I Preguntas S0bre su Cuen~a: 1-888-216-3491 Public Service Company of Oklahoma I I I I I I D, I I I I I I I by Karin Gregory I just love Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Really, I do. I think she and I could be great buds. You know how some girls make plain girls their friends just to make themselves look prettier? Or how some pal around with fat girls just so they’ll look thinner? Well, Dr. Laura could be my girlfriend (eeeewwww, not that way!!!) because every stupid thing I’ve ever said in my life would sound intelligent next to the things she says. And she’ll be saying plenty, I’m sure, come October, when she rides in on her broomstick to Tulsa. Who is Dr. Laura, you ask? If you’re Gay, you’ve been in a cave. Laura Schlessinger, shock jock advice-giver of the radio circuit, has called Gays and Lesbians "biological errors", "sexual deviants", and my personal favorite, "pedophiles." She says she does this out of compassion for us, not out of hatred. Oh no, I don’t feel hated and maligned by those statements, do you? She spews her hatred and bile via the airwaves, with complete support from the Religious Right. You know them- that group that has the inside info on the "homosextml agenda"! As if her radio show weren’t bad enough, Schlessinger’s taking her "teach intolera-: ze" rantings to the TV screen in September, courtesy of that "giant" of great television programming, Paramount. "OK," you’re saying, "the Lesbian is once more raging about something, but what has that got to do with me? What’s one more ignorant person in a long line?" Funny you should ask. "Dr." Laura (she has a Ph.D in physiology, not psychology) has become svch a controversial figure (much like Am., Bryant in the late ’70s when she tried to inflate anti-Gay legislation) that the G/L/B/T commurnty has united to protest her television show. All over this country are planned protests to keep her off the TV screen. And debates have become so heated that major advertisers such as Proctor & Gamble, American Express and United Airlines have pulled out, saying that they don’t need any more controversy. And Geico InsuranceCompany (my insurance company!) tookits advertising away from her radio show at the beginning of July. The reason? The company could not, being supporters of diversity, condone the words and actions ofsomeone who clearly sees diversity as wrong. These are not their exact words, mind you, but .youmay find out more by going to www.stopdrlaura.com. Let’ s lookat this woman’s careerbriefly and find out just what led her to this homophobic phase in her life. Several years ago I.first heard her radio program, and I thought that she was telling people the truth, even if they didn’t want to hear it. Somehow I admired that, although I didn’t always agree with everything she said. She is a big proponent of parents taking control in the home and not blaming everyone else for how their’children behave. That part hooked me since Iwas a middle school teacher at the time and saw parents who didn’t think they hadan] responsibility for their child’s behavior. So far, so good. And I even read reports that she used to support theG/IJB/T community. Two years ago, however, she converted to Orthodox Judaism, adopting intolerance as her Bible. Now she says she can’t support the G/L/B/T community because of religious teachings. If you hate me, hate me. But don’t lie : about it, saying you’rejust~following the ¯ Old Testament. Hell, if we followed all the Old T0.~tament teachings we’d still be ¯ selling ot~ daughters into slavery; still ¯ buying s~ves from neighboring coma- " tries; and~ould be allowed to kill, with- " out impunity, anyone who worked on the ¯ Sabbath. Gee, I didn’tknow that the Jew- ¯ ish could also play pick and choose with ¯ religious teachings like some Christians. How much does she really believe in ¯ these religious texts? Who knows? She doesn’t even have a consistency when it ¯ comes to condemning homosexuality. ¯ Well, she does, but she tries to say that ¯ she’s not condemning anyone. The point ¯ is,shehas saidthingsinprintandonradio, ¯ takenthemback, backpedaled, madeother ¯ people speak for her so many times it’s ¯ ridiculous. Her stand is so ambivalent, so ¯ setin sand, thatno one canbelieve or trust ¯ anything that comes out ofher mouth. Her ¯ press agents said she apologized for her ¯ remarks about Gays being "errors", and ¯ ¯ then the next day she said she wasn’t apologizing. ¯ Dr. Laura has denounced the American ¯ Psychiatric Association and the National ¯ ¯ Education Association for their - oh, I suppose- compassk hate stance on equal ¯ rights for all, andinstead has sold her soul ¯ to Religious Right organizations like Fo- ¯ cus on the Family. She promotes, within ¯ her own radio show, an intolerance to- " ward Gay people on all levels, even to the ¯ point of denouncing hate crimes legisla- ¯ tion. ¯ I can see her leading cheers to teach children who’ve just come home from ¯ school how to actively hate homosexuals. "Gays are bad! Gays are fey! Let’s go ¯ bash ~ Gay today!" She says she is a ¯ moralist and has openly opposed the Ver¯ mont same-sex partners’ rights decision a few months ago. But again, she’s not ¯ hatingus. She’sjustcompassionate.Yeah, ¯ this is why she takes an attitude of "I’m right no matter what" on her radio show, ¯ and will also, I’m sure, on TV. But let’s ¯ see how that could work against her, shall ¯ we? Anyone who’s ever watched a few epi- : sodes of"Frasier" knows how easy it is to ¯ just hit a button and get rid of pesky caller ¯ #1. How does this work on TV, when ¯ you’re faced with the pesky caller in per- " son? Taping. has already begun on her : show, andfrom the reports, it doesn’ tlook ¯ likeasuccess. Dr. Lauradidn’tknow how ¯ to ask the proper questions, or even know ¯ some rudimentary technical televison ¯ knowledge i~her first tapings. ¯ There’s n~question that Dr. Laura is ¯ used to the ~d~o. But she also wants an ¯ audience like the one on radio - one she ¯ can rant to ,and not have to.see. Because ¯ ¯ for all her bravado and showmanship, she really DOESN’T WANT to help anyone. : She actually doesn’t seem to like people. ¯ You can bitch and moan to people all you : wantif you don’tsee their faces. She’s on : radio and~feels safe. i Guess What? Rea[peopie~ ! may had.e, more difneultyi~ing~p.le 0ff if she him to .fae~i. them, [f’.~votild be interesting to seehow b~y!hla~ di~S if ¯ she has to face questions about her views ¯ on homosexuality, but I know I won’t be ~ watching. I think she should just quietly ¯ go away, like Anita Bryant. A career ¯ shriveled by her own hatred. ¯ ¯ Gregory is a Texas based writer, who lives near Ft. Worth. Sheformerly taught ¯ school and also was a newspaper re- . porter. by Jim Christjohn, entertainment queen as ffelll He speaks atleast threelanguages o trammg. And to do this you need that of doing the constant prePs/media events, Happy summer, folks! Been a lot of fluently, and has a mischievous sense of o traimng. So it’s easy to injure your voice, being portrayed in press as living a life changes since the last column- went on a humor. Welose alotofcastmembers, whohaven’t that wasn’t close to reality and the rumors visit to Chicago where I discovered an Described as Versace on hyper speed, ¯ had the kind of vocal traimng that will based on the illusion. For instance, artist I’m eager to tell you about, and Braehetti changes costumes at lightning ¯ sustain you through a show like this. And, "There’d be a photo op at a party. I’d go closed the door on a ghost from the past; fast speed, transforming into more than " like I said, even if you have had it, there just long enough for the picture, then g~t started a new job and more. 80 characters and giving life to legions of ¯ are moments you forget. And you defi- home to a cup of tea and bed. DoingS8 First, local news: Cyndi Vetter directs personalities. His show is a multi-media o nitely feel it later. Even the trained folks shows a week plus recording an~ alb~ Heller Theatre’s first production of the extravaganza, combining comedy, mu- . lose voices as they get caught up in the didn’t leave much time for a Wild new season, "A Coupla White Chicks sic, magic, and emotions of the even if I’d wanted to live one. Thenthe~ Sitting Around Talking" by John Foi:d video in a unique show " I’d be, splashed across the C~adian Noonan. Starring local favorites Julie collage of acting, ". , .Deserll~ed as Versace on Jc: What el- equivalent of the National Inquirer, with Tattershall (an excellent actress) and storytelling, stunts layper speed, Braelaett] c]aan~es fect has doing this an article about what a party boy I was. Maude Mix, it is the story of two women and caricature. He show had in terms Please." who are complete opposites of each other, is thewinner ofthe costumes at li~latnin~ fast speed, of impacting your Feeling too tied to the show, he decided and the unlikdy bond they form. They 2000 Moliere life and/or views to start over and move to NYC, where discover that, together, they can over- Award(theFrench transformln~ into more tlaan 80 of the world? ironically, he ended up being recast in come anything. The production runs Au- Tony, which has el~araeters and ~ix,~n~ life to. MH: "As I Rent. He took a week or so off to record gust 3-6, at the Heller Theatre, 5328 S. never been one by said, I’ ve been vocals for the new album, which he pro- Wheeling Ave. Reservations are rectA- anyone outside of le~ions of personalities, through years of duced and played instrument~ for. mended at 746-5065. France), and a de- training, withsing- Heloves performing, dislikes pressjun- While in Chicago, I had the chance to lighffully impish His slaow is a multl-media ing, and acting, kets and meeting hordes of people. He meet some marvelous people, including fellow.Addalittle extravaganza, eomblnln~ and dancing. I’d made an exception to come to Tulsa, for TomMichael,whoIlaterlearnedisoneof Cirque De Soleil been so close to which the event was nice and relatively the top cabaret artists across the nation, too that mixture comedy, music, marie, and v’ldeo getting parts so low key, in his eyes. At th~ time of the consistently in the industr~’s top ten lists above, too. many times, only interview,hehadflownoutfromNYCity amongthecompanyofMichaelFeinstein, Brachetti ar- in a uniclue colla~e of acting, to lose them to 6:30pm the prior evening, didpress, upat Maureen McGovern, Betty Buckley, rivesinTulsaatthe peoplewhohadn’t 5:30am for more press, and was flying Michael McAssey (who hosted the PAC courtesy of storytelling, stunts and earlea- had any training. I back an’hour after I spoke with him. Ah, eveningatthepianobar-somethingTulsa Celebrity Attrac- was about to quit the glamorous life! ture. He is... a desperately needs), Sally Mayer, Donna tions August6-13. show busines s Chad was kind enough to give me a CD Murphy, and Amanda McBro(~fi. Tickets can be had deliChffully impish fellow, when the call came sampler of his new album, "No. 1 Fan," ~He’s been actively singing in the Chi- by calling 596- from the Rent and it’s very good. Nice melodic rock, cago nightclub scene for 12years, andhas 7111.Iwilltellyou Add a little Cirque De Soldl people. I’dbeenin and I love the first song -"Small Town also performed with the Boston Pops and now, the costumes too tlaat mixture above, too.., so many situations Girl;" atl.~,ode to not giving up on dreams Spokane symphonies. In 1995, he was that Brachetti de- where I’d been and p~venng with what life gives vou invited to participate in the national Caba- signedandcreated through al! this Ng~i~2i~ really nice beach-boys n{eets ret Symposium with such luminaries as rival any elaborate [and] training, and Fl’~i~,ood Mac kinda tune about break- MargaretWqfiting, Julie Wilson. and Ann Bette Midler workedreallvhard ~ mg-!:~p¢ or ~vantiug to, by the title .of Hampton Callaway. His album, "Sailing Cheridrag Queen onmy craft c~nly to ¯ "I~xmgton." After that is "Say Good-bye On," is the perfect music for romancing extravaganza. Di ...RENT opens August 99 see people with no : t~hip-hoppy kinda rappish song yournewguyorgal.TomMichael’svoice I mention he’s and runs tlarou~la September 8 experieuce get wi~eat pop hook, withsomejazz~a~,d wraps around you like a warm blanket on cute, designs a parts I was up for, rock bi-~:thrown in for good measure. It s a winter’s night, and draws you in. mean frock, in his for 8 performances, and had just be- about growing up, growing old, selling I was privileged to meet theman behind mid thirties (he’s come so disheart- out, doing what you’re told. "I know who the voice, and spend-an afternoon with cagey about his RENT is only ttae ened with the biz. I wanna be..." The next ~s a ham~ting him. He is as nice as the voice he sings age) and single? ~tla musical to win both Sothis,gethngthat ballad/rocker, an ode to loneliness of a those incredible love songs with. And RENT Opens call, really .rein- lostfriencFrelationshipanddrinkingalone. he’sboyishlyhandsome, withblondehair August 29 and tlae Pulltzer Prize and forced my faith in On each, his voice handles the material and incredibly intense eyes that dance runs through Sep- the business and and styles with aplomb, and he has a very with light ’ every so often. His smooth tember3for8per- several qony Awards..." renewed that appealing tone. It seems there will be " tenor voice and immaculate phrasing fin- formances. Tix go dream, something for everyone on the full CD, mediately gave me a new perspective on on sale June 12th Also, I’ve be- and it will be worth picking up. I hope ~t that style of voice, at 596 7111. RENT is only the fifth musi- come much more spiritual. I wasn’t spiri- gets radio play. My favorite cut is the title song, which cal to win both the Pulitzer Prize and tual at all when I took this part. But Mimi Jeffrey Seller, the show’s producer, I’ve heard done before, but not with such seve :al Tony ,Awards. Matinees are set is such a wonderful character and she’ s speaks of show with real enthusiasm, and feeling that you feel the song flowing for Sat & Sunday, and there will be a grounded in faith, and to play that, every his eyes light up when speaking of the around you. Beckie McKenzie, who un- special $25 per seat matinee on Wednes- night I have to believe it on stage. Since impacthe’s witnessedthe showhaveupon fortunately was out of town the.Sunday I day, August 30. doing the show and portraying a charac- its audience. He sees "Rent" as a transforsaw Tom perform, lent her voice and Presentatthepressconferenceannounc- ter, Mimi, who is very spiritual, I have mative experience. He hopes the show arranged the music for the album, and ing this special addition to Celebrity At- become more open to that aspect of life will reach the younger Gay teens and there’s not a tinker on it. When I asked tractions’ season were Marcy Harriell, where once I wasn’t, and I’ve heard from twenty-somethings and send a message my host "Which local artists’ CD should MIMI on Broadway, and Chad friends and fans about their own searches that "Yes, you can be gay and successful, take home with me as a souvemr. , the Richardson,ROGERonBroadway, flown for meaning, whichis one of the themes of that gay is more than OK and is cool. You immediateresponsewasTomMichael’s’, in for the day to perform a couple of the show. And that has inspired me to can live ~oodlife, a rich life," and hopes And he was right. Tom Michael’s "Sail- numbers from the show. They were both start searching. It’s so nice to bein a show they will be moved by the relevant expeing On" is available from Amazon.corn, dynamate, and had incredible voices, that’s inspiring instead of traumatizang." rienees the show represents. The message or Tower Records, Original Cast Records I was able to ask a few questions of Marcy Harriell has not done a CD yet, of inclusiveness is important to him for (1-888-627-3993), Borders, Barnes and them, which they were most ~acious in but hopes ~t is in her future. And I can the audience to ’get." Noble, Footlight Records, and answering. I spoke first with Ms Harriell, assure you, evenifshe sings the telephone Even today, he still has a passion for CDNOW.com: who was as gracious as she was beautiful, book, it would be well worth listening to. this show evident in his speech and the BrachettllS comang. No,~t s notaplece JC: This seems like an incredibly diffi- Chad Richardson is Canadian rock way his eyes light up. Having aecomof tOast with herbs and tomatoes on ~t, it’s cult show to do, especially in terms of the singer, and has had two albums produced, plished quite a bit for his 35 years, he ArturoBrachetti, the quick-change artist, vocals. His third is the upcoming "No. 1 Fan," chalks his success up to being a Think "Greater Tuna" meets Robin Will- MH: (laughing) "Oh yes! Well, I’m a due out in May. He’s a handsome man, workaholic. He never tires of seeing the Jams while doing David Copperfield’s classically trained singer - opera and so and he also has an incredible voice, much show s effect on audiences, its power to act. Greater Tuna had two guys doing on, so doing this show was really different easier to listen to in many ways than embrace and connect with all people, and quick changes to create the 22 characters in terms of it being arock show, basically. Anthony Rapp, the originator of the role. make them feel part of a family. of a small mythical town; Arturo is one It places totally different stresses on your He also has incredible presence and very Of course, that does kind of clash with man creating 88 characters during the vocalchords,andrequiresalotofstamina; piercing eyes. the show’s detractors, who feel that it course of an evening - from cowboys to because when you get caught up in the Chad was a member of the Canadian glamorizes drug use and unsafe sex, but geishas and barmaids to Royal Mounties, emotion of the show - which happens at cast ~f Rent, who reached rock-star fame you can’t please everyone. he is a very channing man and handsome some point every night - you forget the .o as a member of the show. He quickly tired by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. My sister just reported in from the annual family reunion. Earlier this month, the uncles, aunts, and cousins congregated in apark on the suburban slopes ofMt. Diablo, California. Safe here in Oklahoma, I’ve somehow managed to .miss the last decade ofthese family pic- But news filters back. This year my second cousin Michael reappeared, somehow on parole. I am surprised because it wasn’t too long ago thathe attacked an elderly couple in their car, pulled up at a gas station. He stabbed the oldwoman dead. A .Vietnam War flashback, Michael’s lawyer said, which could wall be true. My family doesn’t talk much. What facts I have derive from the Oakland Tribune lnternet newspaper archives. Orrather, the truth is that we happily gossip about each other when those others aren’t listening. Wejust don’t speak such things publicly. And there at the picnic also were my second cousins, once-removed, who are autistic. Our gossip wonders if this condition is their parents’ fault. The brothers, who are now in their 30s, somehow make a living repairing trails in Yosemite National Park. We all know something about them despite the fact that their autism is never spoken of at our reunions. My first cousin arson was at the picnic too. arson is 46, unmarried, does something with computers, and still lives with my aging aunt and uncle. It makes one think. It makes us gossip, too. Perhaps I have a Gay cousin: Or perhaps arson is just a happy solitary. Who knows? We never talk about it:Opeuly, that is. My family - likes yours, maybe - religiously follows our own policy of "Don’t ask, don’t tell." This peculiar sort of secrecy is the framewt,rk of the closet. The closet comes into being just because we have agreed not to notice what is obvious. arson’s sexual identity is an open secret. He knows what he is, and we know what he is too. But because we never admit what we know, not publicly anyway, we avoidhaving to deal withits consequences. If we did acknowledge that we know, we might have to do something. Dismiss the newly uncloseted Gay from the Army, for example. My family wouldn’t discharge Orson.(or me either,.for that matter) fromthe clan,butitwouldface having to revalue Gayness. It would lose the comfort of our open secret. This would demand considerable emotional and political transformationonall sides, It’s alot easier just to go along to eat the hotdogs and hamburgers and chat about kids and the weather. Eve Sedgwick, a literary critic and one of the founders of "queer theory," proposedin" TheEpistemology ofthe Closet" that open secrets are fundamental within modern American culture. Part of her argument can be restated simply. Homosexuality - which throughout much of the 20th century couldnot be recognized publicly - is nonetheless always present within contemporary no- My family doesn’t talk much. What f~ets I have derive from the Oakland Tribune Internet newspaper archives. Or rather, the truth is that we happily gossip about each other when those others aren’t listening. We just don’t speak such things publiely. ¯ tions of sexuality. Gayness exists in order : to maintain theboundaries of straightness. ¯ Wejust don’t admit it: ¯ Gayness has to exist as an open secret. It is a shadowy, inverted, and devalued reflection of straight. When it emerges from the closetand appears clearly in public, it threatens ¯straightness if it becomes a possible, alternative normal sexuality. Straight can’t exist withoutGay; butitperhaps also can’t exist-notin thesame way, anyway - when the open secret is revealed. Likemurder and autism in the family, the unspeakability of secret Gayness has maintainedits shame. We’ve heard the reaction: "Go ahead and be Gay. Butkeepit to yourself. Don’t thrust your lifestyle in my face. We don’t want to know about it. How dare you Gays flaunt k ? Can’t you keep it secret?" ¯ You can understand the worry. Flaunt- " ing destroys open secrets. Public recogni- ¯ ,tion of Gayness erodes the normality and "6ounds of straightness. Telling one’s se- ¯ crets unsettles the uncles and the aunts ¯¯ and their elemental notions about who ¯ and what they are. Who can blame them? Nowonderthey’dratherhappily smalltalk ¯ with arson abouthis job andhis car- and ¯ not about what he does when no one is ;" looking (or when they are pretending not ¯ to be looking). ¯ So my family dogs its job, keeping our ¯ open secrets. And it’s not just my timo- ¯ ¯ rous relatives. I have thirty-something Gay friends who avoid certain bars for ¯ fear they might run into family friends ¯ who’dtell thex" rmother. Li" kemomdoesn’t ¯ already know. But, sometimes, she really doesn’tknow- she honors the open secret ¯ by not admitting that she’s seen through ¯ her son years ago. ¯ One of these years I’m going to finally ¯ make it home to the family reunion. ¯ "Orson," maybe I’ll say,"So what do you ¯ think of those Back Street Boys?" ¯ Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropology at the University of Tu,lsa. ¯ ¯ It takes courage to scrutinize yourdefense structures, belief system, values, self- " worth, self-doubt, behavioral patterns, and ¯ overall identity, and to shed the traits and ¯ beliefs thatno longer functionin your life. ¯ It takes uncommon courage and integrity ~ to implement the insights of that scrutiny, ¯ and to live honesty and authentically. ¯ Anyone who enters and completes this : process is a survivor, and deserves the ¯ rewards of liberation, identity autonomy, ¯ and happiness." : While much of this book is geared to- " ward use by straight therapists for their ¯ Lesbian and Gay clients, lay people will ¯ also find it valuable. It will help people to ¯ fully understand that the rituals they have ¯ gone through are not unusual and that : their goal shou!.d be a vibrant, happy and ¯ healthy life. ¯ Check for this title at your local library, ¯ or call Readers Services at 596-7966. Timothy .W. Daniel Attorney at Law | An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy I 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma ~sareavailable. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American Support Group is here .for you! ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project rr IGTA member Call 341.6866 international Toursiormorein!ormation. e Therapy services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #t34133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Ffi., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro Tulsa ’sonly professional body-piercing American Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Augus, 17- !9 August 24 - 26 Eight o’clock Eight dollars at. the gate Phil brook Museum 2727 South Rockford Road. by Ted Anthony, AP National Writer N~V YORK (AP) - 715ose eyes. ~tNose eyelashes. Those cheekbones. Those outfits. She Is m~ American original, this Tammy Faye Bakker - for better and for worse, an utterly umque vessel that conrains the strange stew of celebrity, spirituality and sin we have come to expect from our fallen 1cons in recent decades. Who better, then, to explore, to figure out, to focus in upon than the face that launched 1,000 quips? That’s the mission of a new documentary, and "Tile Eyes of Tammy Faye" doesn’t disappoint. For those of you living on Jupiter’s moons, Tammy Faye Bakker (now Tammy Faye Messner) was/is the excruciatingly mascaraed ex-wife of tdevangelist Jim Bakker and former costar of PTL, the North Carolina-based television ministry that imploded in a pit of accusations and recriminations in the late 1980s. He trysted with Jessica Hahn (who later paraded in Playboy) and went to jail. She got addicted to pills and ended up marrying his best friend. Jerry Falwell got involved. Things got nasty. Pop culture references were born. Mascara companies prospered. Now, more than a decade later, Tammy Fgye paces-the halls of her California gated-community house, trying to sti~lI together the swatches of her life and fin__ out what’s important to her. This proves to be a funny and tragic endeavor, and filmmakers Randy Barbato and Fenton Baily chronicle it as it unfolds. Narrated by RuPaul, of all people, it’s a festival of weirdness camed out on an impressively documentarian level, and it offers a deadon look at Tammy _ aye without ever poking fun at her. It lets her do all the work, and work she does. - She gives us a tour of her makeup case (the eyes come from L’Oreal Waterproof - She is praised by relatives in strange ways ("When she was born, she had perfecfly manicured fingernails:’ says an aunt). - She goes to a photographer to get new head shots and smpri ses the makeup artist by announcing that her lips, eyes and eyebrows are permanently lined. The film’s success, though, lies in assembling a portrait of Tammy Faye that transcends parody. She is an easy target for a hip, sarcastic documentary. Instead, we find out about a woman who was reaching out to Gays and AIDS patients long before anyone else in the Christian broadcasting community Welearn about awoman who endured cancer, thenjudged. the experience worthwhile because ~t brought her closer to her daughter. And we discover, though she never says it outfight, that she still respects Jim Bakker - and may well still love him xn some ways. Bakker, too, is interviewed here, watched balefully by his new wife as he talks - and sometimes reminisces fondly - about his time with Tammy Faye. In the end, you’re left with several questions aboutTammy Faye: What DID she and Bakker believe in? God? Ego? Money? Themselve,’ 9 And what does she really look like under all those layers? Whatever she ultimately is, Tammy Faye deserves some sympathy. She’ s been through alot that wasn’t her ownmaking. She’s going to church again, singing ~n a local choir and trying to figure out just who she is - an admirable trait in anyone, and something not to be lampooned, no matter what her past has held. "I don’t know of any woman in our time who has been so maligned," Pat Boone tells the camera. "And yet she just keeps going." And that trajectory makes for a fascinating documentary - whether you end up seeing it as a valid piece of journalism or an entertaining celebrity car wreck. Homosexual Rites of Passage: arises from lack of awareness that others A Road to Visibility & Validation by Marie Mohler, MA reviewed by Barry Hensley Tulsa Ciry-CounU Eibrary Like e~eryone else, Lesbians and Gay men go through a series of life events that shape their personalities, morals and ability to interact with other people. However, because of sexual orientation, there is often a different set of events and there are different hurdles to jump. This book analyzes these rites of passage to help Lesbians and Gay men understand themselves. Author ~ [thief approaches a variety of topics, each with, a sep~ate chapter, inciudi~. g ~,~nderstar,,ding Fear, Overcoming c.~- Coming Out, Con-a~fitment Rimai s ar,_d Aging Rites. Each topic builds o~ the prevtous one. Fern plays a big role for both straights and Ga)’s. For Gay people, fear serves as an obstacle to growth. For straightpeople, fear of Gays "’smt’aces in antiGay bashing, picketing, propaganda, hazing, attempts at converting homosexuals and discrimination in the workforce. Energy is tied up in keeping the Lesbian and Gay individual out of their world, consciousness, and own ide.nti.ty,.b.y attemp.ting t,o, keep homosexuahty mws~ble and stlent. Mohler suggests that straights fear Gays due to ignorance. "This ignorance often may differ from one’s sdf. There is often no motivation to learn about other cultures or sexual orientations. Thus, anything different from the self is considered abnormal." One thought provoking section in the chapter on aging deals with the death of a same sex life partner. A Gay or Lesbian individual’s "truest support system, emotionally, physically, sexually, and finandally, may be flflfilled by this one person. In light of’the fact that many heterosexual peers and families may not mfite understand the magnitude of homo~sexual fee!- rags _~md. Gay!Lesbi,~ conuni~mem to !ife parmers, ~t ma~ be devastating to not rec~’~c ~N’.: much-needed suppn<i: dmSng this a;~,::’~;v-g pefic,l. The heterosextml majci:~.~? ~m,,y be blind to exiuatiL~g the loss of one’s life partner to ’,he loss of a husband or wife. While this lack of support is a great tragedy, with great potenial for re- ~njuring and shaming homosexuals during a time of great mourning, it is thevery reason why Gay men and Lesbian women needto stand together as a community and validate the troth of their parmerships." The chapter on coming out summarizes the upbeat feel of the entire book: "(the coming out) process affects homosexuals physically, emotionally, and intellectuall) - see Passages, p. 10 Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, August 2000; Volume 7, Issue 8 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, July 2000; Volume 7, Issue 7 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/603 2000 African Americans AIDS aMUSEments arts and entertainment Bars Boy Scouts businesses churches civil unions Colin Powell Dick Cheney gay bashing Gay marriage Gay Studies hate crimes HIV homophobia Jim Christjohn journalism Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm Marie Mohler marriage equality military inclusion Murder Native Americans performing arts Raging Lesbian Read All About It Republican Party restaurants support groups Tammy Faye Messner Tom Neal Tulsa Family News https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/0846012a916f00b5f8064a33169fa46f.jpg 13403bd37042323904e6a8ac35051af8 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/b5db2b9cd9a0fc88f1298d18b284ac33.pdf 33ead70d0ebc045633099ac2421f8edf PDF Text Text ¯ Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends TMM’s Exclusion of I TOHR Celebrates i of GaysDiscrimination Deliberate Act 20 Years of Se.rvice Only MCC Is Older ,n State ¯ TULSA- It was a different world then. There was no ¯ ¯ ¯ Pastor Says "Sexual Orientation" Was ¯ Will and Grace, few Gay or Lesbian images in print Added But TMM Board Never Told ¯ or on the airwaves, HIV was not yet discovered, and ¯ TULSA - While the incident, a KKK visit, to which a local ¯ "diversity" statement sought io i’~spond is well past, the state" merit continues to brew controversy. Tulsa Metropolitan Minis" try, an "interfaith" religious organization issued a statement -.¯ which defined Tulsa’s "diversity" as being composed of race, religion andethnicity, without mentioning sexual orientation. ¯ Earlier, it appeared that the failure to mention "sexual orienta¯ tion" might have been an oversight based on the KKK’ s historical ¯ attacks primarily on Jews and Blacks. However, in a return call ¯ to the Tulsa Family News, the Rev. Russell Bennett of Fellowship Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, stated that ¯ he participated in the meeting to draft the statement, and specifically he called for the inclusion of "sexual orientation" in the NORMAN, Ok - The Oklahoma Lambda Intercollegiate Coalition (OLIC) has announced the creation of : statement. Bennett noted that he heard no objections to his the Oklahoma Lambda Youth Scholarship which they ¯ request, and he said that he expected that "sexual orientation" claim is the first such program in Oklahoma. The ¯ would be included. Perry Simons, executive director of the Jewish Federation Coalition is an umbrella network of Lesbian, Gay, : Bisexual, and Transgender student groups from Okla- ¯ attended the meeting at Fellowship Congregational Church with : Nancy Day of the National Conference for Community and homa colleges and universities. Justice, Dr. Sandra Rana, representing Tulsa’s Muslim commuAccording to OLIC spokespersons, Kent Doss of the University of Oklahoma and Mandy Whitten, the Presi- : nity, the Rev. Clark Shackleford of Sand Springs, as well as dent of University of Central Oklahoma Gay Alliance ¯ Bennett. And while Simmons says he does not remember Bennett for Tolerance and Equality (GATE), the purpose of the ." calling for adding "sexual orientation," Simons says he feels he scholarship is to promote pride in youth activism and ¯ should have raised theissue. Simons noted that Dr. Rana took the ¯ notes of what he described as a "stream of consciousness" foster leadership at Oklahoma college campuses. ¯ Oklahoma high-school graduates who intend to rediscussion. main in the state throughout their college careers will be ; However, the Rev. Radford Rader of College Hill Presbyterian eligible for the $1,000 award. Applicants will be se- ¯ and a-member of the T!VIM executive boardstated that the lected according see OLIC, p. 3 ¯ executive board never saw a version see TMM, p. 11 Gay Students Start LGBT Scholarships what was later called AIDS was just beginning to be seen in New York City and San Francisco. The ¯ Stonewall Riots had only ocurred 10 years before, ¯ Gay people were still subject to arrests and harass" ment in most of the US, and world. ¯ In Oklahoma City, community activists began a group called Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR). ¯ Tnlsans joined that group and then formed a Tulsa ; branch. This group lead by three Tulsa attorneys, ¯ Dennis Neill, Bob Inglish and Mike Green and others ¯ later created Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, ¯ Oklahoma’s 2nd oldest organization after Tulsa’s ¯ Metropolitan Community Church United. ¯ Twenty years later, the world has changed. Tulsa ¯ has support groups in the public schools for Lesbian ¯ and Gay young adults, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered people are very much visible in Ameri¯" can media and society but TOHR is still here provid¯ ing community services as at the beginning with all volunteer, staffing and not that many dollars. ¯ Longtime TOHR member and former board mere¯ ber Jonathan Stanley remembers being a member as ¯ early as 1980 or 1981, adding that he recalls Bob ¯ Inglish as president and meeting in a small upstairs ¯ room in Stonehorse, a building now known as the ¯ Consortium. A particularly vivid memory of those ¯ early days was the controversy when TOHR rented a ¯ city pool for an event and cityofficials had the pool ¯ drained because Gay p_eopl_e_had, used. it..This was in the very early days of AIDS when the disease was associated exclusively with Gay men and little was known about HIV transmission. ¯ During these years, TOHR has provided a commuLANSING, Mich. (AP)- Newly dected state House Rep: Chris ¯ uity information telephone line, civil rights advoKolb heads to Lansing in January as the state’s first openly Gay cacy, anonymous HIV anti-body testing (eventually lawmaker, but he said he has a lot more he wants to tackle than ¯¯ with paid staff and HIV education outreach workers simply civil rights for Gay-people. Kolb, 42, admits his role is ¯ - a program which has spun off as the H.O.P.E. important, but it’s not his only focus. "I don’t wear it on my ¯ Testing Clinic), and for the last several years, a sleeve. I am who I am, but I don’t bring itinto every discussion," ¯ community center. The Center was in the Brookside he said of his sexual orientation. "It’s not my one and only ¯ neighborhood was first known as the Pride Center crusade in life." ¯ and featured a 5x8’ flag which flew over the building The election of Kolb, a Democrat from Ann Arbor, puts ¯ until it was repeatedly stolen. Now the Center is Michigan among 22 states that have an openly Gay man or ¯ known as theTulsa Gay Community Services Center Lesbianin their legislatures. The Ann Arbor city councilman first : and has relocated to 21st & Memorial (2114 So. got interested in politics after receiving his bachelor’s degree in ¯ Memorial), ironically sharing a wall with one of natural resources from the University of Michigan in 1982. He ¯ Tulsa’s oldest Lesbian bars, TNT’s. started with local government, distributing campaign literature ," However, TOHR president Greg Gatewood and and knocking on doors for candidates. After serving as aprecinct ; the proposed new officers, Kerry Lewis, president, captain and secretary of the local Democratic Party, he won an ¯ 1st v.p. Vance Reed, 2nd v.p. Don Glass, secretary open seat on the Ann Arbor City Councilin 1993. Eventually, he ¯ Curtis Evans, and treasurer Beth Persac, are hoping became mayor pro-tern. ¯ the current location will be a short-term one. TOHR " Working on the Democratic-controlled council with former has announced a capital raising campaign, the PyraAnn Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon, a Republican, has already ¯ mid Project, to purchase a permanent commtmity helped Kolb learn to forge bipartisan alliances, a key skill in the ." center. state Legislature. Sheldon admits she and Kolb were competi." According to Gatewood, the Project has in hand ox tors, but said he never made his sexual orientation an issue. "You : in pledges and grants, $65,000 of their goal ot do not think of him as being the stereotypical Gay person in Ann ¯ $250,000. And the organization has set up legal Arbor," Sheldon said. "He’S a regular person the way you or I restrictions such that all gifts to the Pyramid Projec! would want to be relating to a person." ¯ arerestricted to that useonly. Also, thoserules (whicl: Kolb said he will work at improving the state of civil and ¯ were reviewed by outside legal counsel and CPA’s" human rights in Michigan,but he’s also interested in tackling ¯ restrict overhead expenditures to a maximum of education and environmental issues. He wants to work on legis- ¯ and all labor for the project is volunteer. lation that would make it illegal in Michigan to fire employees : Gatewood notes that the organization is setting uI based on their sexual orientation, something already prohibited web sites for TOHR and the Pyramid Projec in 11 states. "I’m not kidding myself as to how far the Legislature ¯ (www.tohr.org and www.pyramidproject.org) whicl will be able to be moved," he said. "But civil and human rights ¯ they expect to be available in mid-December. are along struggle." To celebrate the 20th anniversary of TOHR, th~ Kolb will be one of 14 new Democrats and seven Republicans .¯" group will hold a Holiday reception and silent auctiol to begin their first two-year state House terms in January. He will : on Dec. 10th from 4-7pm, see TOHR, p. be seated across the aisle see Michigan, p. 3 Tulsa Chamber Adds ¯ Michigan Elects First Gay Rep. "Sexual Orientation" ."¯ TULSA - The Tulsa Metro Chamber, which recently changed i ts name from the Metropolitan Tnlsa Chamber of Commerce, also has revised its non-discrimination policies to add the term "sexual orientation" to more traditional statues like race, religion, age, national origin, sex (gender), etc. According to Michael Hightower, media spokesperson for the organization, the .addition of "sexual orientation" was part of a comprehensive review of Chamber’ s internal policies. The Bank of Oklahoma’s Human Resources Dept. conducted this effort for the Chamber. This revision is part of a trend on the part of businesses to attract employees by committing to fair hiring practices. According to the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington based civil right group, 494 of the Fortune 500 companies have added "sexual orientation" to their policies. A number of major Tulsa employers,including American Airlines, Kimberly-Clark, AEP/PSO, Dollar/Thrifty Auto Group, and others have done the same. Kerry Lewis, president-elect of Tulsa/Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR) expressed surprise and applauded this Chamber move. TFN publisher Tom Neal noted "as one of the few openly Gay members of the Chamber, I am really proud to.see the organization welcome us. We need to support them in return." DIRECTORY EDITORIAL US & WORLD NEWS HEALTH NEWS ENTERTAINMENT GAY STUDIES P. 2 P. 3 P, 4 P. 6 P. 8 P. 10 ¯ ; : ¯ ¯ : ¯ ¯ ¯ .. ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ 2 ." ¯ ¯" ¯ ." ¯ ¯ ¯ : ¯ ¯ �seefrom a number of lawmal~ers who signed Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159. e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net a letter earlier this year asking the state *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 712-2324 Department of Education to invesugate *CW’s, 1737 S Memorial 610-5323 Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Grand Haven High School for allowing Gay *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine 583-2119 Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Karin Gregory, Barry speakers to talk to students about being Gay *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan 835-2376 Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther during "Diversity Days." Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Sqtmre 744-4280 Rothblum. Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw House Speaker-elect Rick Johnson, R*St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E 31st 745-9998 LeRoy, and~GOP Rep. Valde Garcia ;o_.[ *The Star, 1565 Sheridan 834-4234 Member of The Associated Press DeWitt were two. of the nine. staie House 58523405 *Rene~ades/Rainbow. Rooni, 1649.S. Main Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents members who signed the iletter. Both,say, *TNT’s, 211,4 S. Memorial ! 660-0856 of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by they wi!l not have_any problems worki,r~g *Tool Box, 1338E! 3rd " 584-1308 ~oL~/:~,~ Nt~v~ and may not be reproduced either in whole with Kolb. The House will retain its 58-52 *The ’Yellow Brick Road Piab; 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 ’ or in part wi~out written permission from the publisher. Republican majority when the new session Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s starts. "I don’t agree with the philosophies Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for of the Democratic Party, but that doesn’t Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & bemean I don’t work with Democrats," Garcia Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 comes the sole property of, T.oLu~./:~.’.. N~. Each reader is said. "Just because I don’t approve of his Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 entitled to 4 copies of each. edition at distribution lifestyle doesn’t mean I can’t work with *Borders Book~ ’& Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 -points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. him." *Borders B0oks’ 8~ Music, 8015 S. Yale 494~2665 ¯ Kolb’s experience in government and Brookside JeWelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272.. : ability to handle himself well even when *CD Warehri~,:3807C S. Peoria 746-0313 ¯¯ *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 ! others disagree with him will help him in *Cheap Th~ills,~::2(~iOE. 1 lth Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics’& 295"-5868 ¯ ¯ Lansing, said Jeffrey Montgomery, execuEpiscopalians, POB 701475, 74t70-1475 " ~ Cherry St. Ps,yEtirthdt~py, 1515 S. Lewis 58’1-0902, 743=4117 355-3140 Community’CI~ihiiig~’Kerby Baker . " 622-0700 ~Fellowshipcongreg.Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 ¯ tive director of the Detroit-based Gay rights group Triangle Foundation. "He’s been 352-9504, 800-742-9468’ ¯¯ -*FreeSpiritWomen’sCenter, callforloeation&info: 587-4669 Tim Daniel, At~tonie~ ¯ aroundmany, many,,ch~lenging situations," *Deco to Discoi" 3212 E. 15th Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 " " 747-6827 749=362Q. Doghouse 6n-.Brr0kside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 ¯ Friends in UnitySocial Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 .: Montgomery said. He s going to be able to *Elite Boules-& Vi~t~0S, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 : HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 :¯ handle ahar;dful ofignorantlegislators very easily." Encompass, Travel," I3161H N. Memorial 369=8555 ¯¯ *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 ¯ While Kolb believes the media makes a Ross Edwar~l:Sal6ii i 584~0337, 712~9379 HOPE,-HIV Oiitreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 ¯ ¯ ¯ bigger deal about his election than anyone *HouseoftheHoly SpiritMinstries;1517 S. Memorial 224-4754 5920460 Events Uniimited;; 507S. Main " " Floral Design-S~dioi~3404 S,. Peoria 744~9595 ¯¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 :¯ else, he knows his role~is important. He says the ultimate benefit of his election is as an 610-0880 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. - , Four Star ImpOrt.AutOmotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. ’ 748-3111 ¯ example to members of the Gay commuCathy Furlong;PhiD.~ 1980 Utica Sq..Med. Cir.365-5658 628-3709 ¯ NOW; Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 nity. "Any young person, regardless of their Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808~8026 ¯ " ,OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 ; sexual orientation, whohears about this will 742-1460 *OSU-Tuls~ *Gloria Jear;’~ .Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st" 49-490t ¯ "’ realiz.e..that ~ere’s a world of opportunity," 459~9349 ¯"- .t~-.G, POB 52800, 74152 Learme MTG’rO~s~’En~i~ance &financial pl,.a~.ng. ~ 587 76?4.... he said..,~oo often, that s not the message ." ~*Planned Parenthood,1007 S. Peori~a Mark T. Ha~by~A’ttOrney *Sandra J. I~ll,M~S;Tsychotherapy, 2865 ~i ~kelly745:74427440T 111 .... tMme-’Timers, P.O: B.ox52t 18, 74152 our community and others hear." . - , _. -R;A:L N:; Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 341:6866 749-4195 *Internafiol~al T~urs ...... ¯ Red.Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 712-2.750 Jacox Aniraal Cliifie, 2732 E. 15th .... St. Aidan’S Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinriati *Jared’s Antlques;"1602 E. 15th - 582-3018 425-7882 747-0236 " StTDu~stan’sEpiscopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 David KauSk~y~:~otmtry Club Barbering .*St: Jerome’s Parish Church; 205 W. King Memorabilia from the years will be on dis582-8460 582-3088 The Keepers; HoUsekeeping & Gardening ¯ *TulsaArea United Way,- 1430 S..Boulder 583-7171 play as well as auction items from artists and 599-8070 *Ken’s Flowers; ’1635 E. 15 747-5466. ~-*TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian.Health Care. 582-7225 ¯ merchants such as Antiquaries inTulsa, P.S. Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #21C -’ *Living A~tSpaee; 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 ¯ Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 ....... 595-4105 , Gordon, DavidHoot, T.A. Lorton, Kathleen " ¯ Pendergrass, Rand’s Art & Antiques, Mary 584-3112~ .......~.,2Confideufial HIV Testing -by appt. on Thursdays ionly *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd ¯ 663-59341 :.~.Tulsi!O!d. a.T0rH,.t!m.an Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 Schepers and others. Curt & Marj’s CaterMingo Valley’Flowers, 9720c E. 31 664-2951 "..- ~.U.L.S.A.iTulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 " ing will offer refreshments as may other *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 838-7626 - .2 T~s~a City Hall, G~0und Floor Vestibule Puppy Pause: IF,1060 S. Mingo ¯ Tulsa restaurants. 743-4297 ; .... Tiii~ii CommUnityCoil~ge Campuse~ ¯" On Dec. 1 lth, TOHR and PFLAG, Par*The Pride StOre............... ¯ 743-4297 747-5932 ~ *TulsaGay Community Center, 21st & Memorial cuts, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Rainbowz’0~ the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 834:0617- ; Unity Church of Clirigtianity,3355 s. Jamestown 749-8833 ¯ Gays will hold their annual joint Holiday Richard’s Carpet Cleaning ....... potluck dinner at the Center at 7pm. The Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834~7921, 747-4746 "BARTLESVILLE 749-~6301 Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square ...... "-B~fl~svill~Piibllc Library, 600S=. Johnstone 918-337-5353 : entree will be provided as will soft drinks 260-7829 ." and tableware. Attendees should bring vegPaul Tay, Car’Salesman TAHLEQUAH .......... ¯ etables, salads and desserts and may call *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558. ¯ 918-456-7900 ¯ 743-4297. to know which of those to bring.. 835-5563 ¯ Stonewall League, call for information: Venus Salon, 1247-S: Harvard Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 ¯ 743-1733 Gatewood also notes that planning for Fred Welch, LCSW, Cotmsding ¯ ~ Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 665-2222 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan ¯ next year’s Diversity Celebration 2001, ¯ which includes the Parade, a post-parade 592-0767 ¯¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis ¯ 501-253-7734 www.gaytulsa.org website for Tulsa Gays & Lesbians ¯ Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 ¯ Festival and ablack-tie dinner will continue 501-253-7457 Jim & Breut’s Bistro, 173 S. Main a mid-January meeting. The precise date Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities ¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. ¯ will be announced later, t 7pro. The entree501-253-6807 579-9593 AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 ¯ Emerald Raiiabow,45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445 .¯ will be provided as will soft drinks and 743-2363 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria ¯ MCC of the Living Spring tableware. Attendees should bring veg501-253-9337 587-7314 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 ¯ ¯ 501-253 -2776 etables, salads and desserts and may call the Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 ¯ Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 ¯ Center at 743-4297 for which of those to 583-9780 B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. ¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans501-624-6646 585-1201 ¯ Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S~ Boston ¯ bring. Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 Gatewood ~so notes that planning for *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence ¯ White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074 ¯ next year’s Diversity Celebration 2001, 587-1314 Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood ¯ ." which includes the Parade, a post-parade 747-6300 JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Community of Hope Church, 2545 S. Yale ¯ *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 417-623-4696 ¯ Festival and ablack-tie dinner will continue Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U1.34 ~ a mid-January meeting¯ The precise date 748-3888 Council Oak Men’s Chorale * is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. ¯ will be announced later. 712-1511 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware �World AIDS Day ¯ Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry: Gay People Need Not Exist ¯ by Tom Neal, editor & publisher ¯ committee process and edited out that inclusion. Because by Chris Labonte, semor policy advocate It might come as quite a surprise to you to learn that there " of their and their organization’s past involvement in acts Human Rights Campaign are no Gay people in Tulsa. There are no Gay bars, no Gay " of anti-Gay discrimination, it looks like Dr. Sandra Rana As we commemorate the first World AIDS Day of the churches, no Gay households, no Gay parents, no Gay kids ¯ and Nancy Day of the National Conference for Commu21st Century,itis important to bothcelebrate our achieve- you get the idea. : nity and Justice were responsible. TMM’ s executive board ments over HIV and AIDS and work vigorously to ensure At least that’s the message that Tulsa Metropolitan " never saw an inclusive version. there will be continued success in thcfuture. With success Ministry (TMM) is putting out. While"celThis does not excuse the executive in treatments, we risk the danger of resting on our laurels. ebrating" Tulsa’s "diversity" specifically, "... apologlsts for board. In this city, and in this time, it is Instead,:we :mus~ rededicate ourselves to building upon claiming to "... support each other’s right very hard not to know that Gay and LesTMM ma~e the these victories anff creating a future without HIV and to live and prosper in this great community. bian people exist. But their oversight lacks AIDS. ~People with the diseas~e live longer and healthier ¯ ." TMM. somehow managed t3 "disapexcuse that Gay the malice of deliberate exclusion. lives yet the number of those’whbar¢ newly infected in pear" Gay Tulsans. Many apologists for TMM make the Tulsans have our country each year remains steady at 40,000. We have long known that some groups in excuse that Gay Tulsans have to be sold The.new barrier to treatment and prevention is complaTMM are deeply prejudiced against Les- to be sold out in order out in order to appease the Muslims, or the cency. It comes from a variety of places and appears in bian and Gay persons. Usually these people Black churches or the Orthodox. Gay to appease the Musmany forms. New highly active antiretroviral therapies are identified as Tulsa’S Muslim commupeople are asked, again and again, year have contributed to the welcome steep decline in AIDS nity, some of Tulsa’s Black churches and lims, or the Blaeh after year, to go along because some good deaths in our nation. Media and advertising campaigns Tulsa’s Orthodox Christian commumty. comes out of it. churches for these therapies signal that one can live and should live No matter how repugnant their views are But this statement goes too far. It dea robust and long life - you can go rock climbing, ski to us, morally and theologically, we have to or the Orthodox. mands that we collaborate in the denial of down the highest mountain, and continue to do fulfilling ¯ support their constitutional right to hold Gay people are ashed, our own existence. And those.who sign it work. While all of this is true, they fail to mention that : those views. But usually their objections knowing better, knowing that TMM’ s "dithese therapies require years of medication, multiple are to.-us having those basic civil rights again and again, year versity" statement is profoundly a lie, are dtses of pills each day - sometimes with possible side protections which they enjoy themsdves. no less collaborators with evil than those after year, to go along effects- and all at a great expense. They want for it-to continue to be legal for who kept silent in the face of Nazi horrors. This somewhat slanted view of our treatment success us to be fired from our jobs, or thrown out of because some good TMMhas long tolerated a double stanmay contribute to our prevention failure. Although gay our homes or have our children taken from dard. Gay people are asked to recognize comes out of it..." ¯ and bisexual men hage made strides in reducing the us. They have objected to characterizing that Tulsa Muslims and others are "fundapercentage of HIV infections attributed to male-to-male assaults on us as hate crimes, even if the mentalists" and we are asked to tolerate sexual contact, men who have sex with men still account ¯ same act is a hate crime when they are the target. their bias agaanst us even as Muslims, Jews, Christians, for approximately 40 percent of new infections each year. : But they hadn’t before sought to deny our very existence. and. Unitarians somehow manage to respect each other. By not recognizing the tree costs of HIV infection, young This is largely a symbolic act but in some ways, it is more White supremacist groups, like the Christian Identity gay and bisexual men are engaging in risky behavior; ~ powerful than the others. Even when our fundamental civil movement and .others who use theology much like the such as intentional unprotected anal and oral sex. A recent ¯ rights are denied, we are atleast acknowledged as existing. Muslims do to justify their prejudice, are not welcomed study suggests that the more optimistic memwere about ¯ Ironically, part Of the impetus for this "diversity" stateinto.TMM. Buta special place is carved outfor anti,Gay the new treatments, the less likely they were to use safe ment was a visit by a particularly virulent part.of the Kluprejudice, sex precautions or limit their number of sexual parmers. Klux Klan. Traditionally, the KKK’ s principle targets have It is finally too much. And it is time that good people Moreover, existing health ~disparities among commm b~n Jews and Blacks. But as Gay and Lesbian people have who know better stand up for their neighbors and friends nitieS of color tuake treatments particularly out.of reach become more visible, we have been included very explicand families, ff this means that Tulsa cannot support its for them. For the first time, the numbek Of gay men fromitly in Klan hatred. This Klan visit was-no.exception. And real diversity, then at least we’ll be telling .the truth. communities of color - African Americans, Latinos, while the Klan did not forget us, Tulsds "do-gooder" Muslim Tulsans might have to acknowledge that they Asian Pacific-Islanders, Native American. and others hypocrites pretend that we don’t exist. cannot object to anti-Muslim bias while oppressing Gay outnumber the number of white gay and bisexual men in Now not all of TMM’s members take this position. Tulsans. Black Tulsans ought to know better..And Jewish new AIDS cases, according to the Centers for Disease Russell Bennett of Fellowship Congregational Church Tulsans mightneed to do for Gay people what was done Control, the federal agency :primarily responsible for sought to add sexual¯ orientation to TMM’s "diversity" for them by non-Jews in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s,which is prevention of HIV/AIDS. Prevention is also particularly statement. But ina deeply disturbing and shameful action, to be vocally and visibly advocates for civil rights. concerning with communities of color, where young gay one or two commi ttee members appear to have violated the It’s time now for this change. and bisexual men of color are often confronted with both homophobia and racism. We must address this situation immediately and offer prevention strategies targeted to ¯ III. Supporting a Queer youth movement to impact the : politics of our state and nation; the unique needs of gay and bisexual men of color so they ¯ ¯ can also benefit from treatments available to others. We IV. Providing resources to the Oklahoma GLBT youth ¯ community including political and health education, a also cannot ignore strategies that we know have been ¯ successful in reducing HIV transmission in the past. Far to three equally weighted categories; community leadersafe social environment, and an opportunity to cultivate ship, scholastic merit, and financial need. too often, policy makers ignore proven science to score : leadership skills, and; political points at the expense of peoples’ lives. Needle This year,the scholarship selection committee is .com- ¯ V. Fostering the conception and growth of new GLBT exchange programs and abstinence are two of the most prised of a student representative from five of OLIC : student groupsacross Oklahoma. vivid examples: Successful risk reduction programs also campus organizations, and five Oklahoma GLBT commu- ¯ For more information, contact, Oklahoma Lambda Insave money on future treatment costs. nity leaders..The chair-person of this year, selectiOn com- - tercollegiate Coalition 900 Asp, OMU, P,m. 363, Box 169, The CDC has set forth an ambitious goal to reduce new mittee is Whitten. The organizers add that applications will ¯ Norman OK 37019-4058 or telephone to.405-325-4452. be available Dec. 1st from our OLIC organizations, at the ¯ www. geocities.com]okolic HIV infections in our nation. In addition, the independent and science-based Institute of Medicine recently released Oklahoma City and Tulsa Gay Commlmity Centers and online at www.geocides.’com/okolic/. Applications will be areport, "No Time to Lose," that supported the use of cost effective methods of reducing HIV transmission, includdue on Feb. 15,2001 and the winners will be announced in : T.U.L.S. A~ (Tulsa Uniform Leather Seekers Associaing needle, exchange programs. A recent study from .the late March. Also, the Oklahoma ]mmbda IntercJall:egiate C0aii~0~ ¯ .ti.’9fa):held the annual Oklahoma Mr. Leather contest Heury.J. Kaiser Family Eotmda_tign~f.o_und that p.arents think schools should have more comprehensive sexual hold a fundraising reception in Tulsa Oli December 2’ls( "! ~ O.cto~b_dr 20-22 at the Silver S’t~tr in Tulsa. Four Contestants from the state competed in c~ate~ories that included inter, education curriculum and cover topics that are not generfrom 7 - 10pm at the home of Rick and Susan Dos s in Tul sa. view, streetwear, physique and full leather image. Seven ally covered, such as sexual orientation. Effective preFunds raised by this event will be used for the Oklahoma judges from the US and Canada judged the contestants. vention methods deserve support - both financial and Lambda Youth Scholarship. RSVP to 405-325-4452. A International Mr. Leather 2000 Mike Taylor was among political support- from Congress, the administration, the donation of $25 is suggested. the distinguished panel. Contestants were Jason Pelkey of public health community, and other impacted communiThe goals of the Oklahoma Lambda Intercollegiate Tulsa, Jim Stout of Ramona, Stephen Scott of OKC-Mr. ties. We must strive to continue to find even better Coalition are: Sooner State Leather 2000, and Mark Goins of Tulsa-Mr. treatments, furthe~ reduce the number HIV infections, I. Raising awareness of GLBT youth ~ssues within our Tulsa Leather 2000. provide additional assistance to nations around the globe community, schools, and society; The weekend event began with a tour of the local clubs and develop a vaccine within a reasonable time frame. II. Sharing information and resources in an effort to and Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center. The interThese goals are attainable. In a nation as wealthy and provide the best possible programming for sponsoring views were Saturday morning and the rest of the contest creative as ours, we should expect nothing less. organizations; was held that night. Stephen Scott was first runner-up. i Stout Wins Okla.Mr.Leather �Scout Troop Defies National Anti-Gay Ban : Navy Ends Harrassment :¯ of Former Seaman PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A second Rhode Island ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)- A former midshipman who Scout troop is defying the national organization’s ban : resigned from the U.S. Naval Academy amid accusaon homosexuals, Members, leaders, and parents from ¯ tious of homosexuality won’t have to repay the govemBoy Scout Troop 28 have sentaletterto the Narragansett ~ ment for his education, the Navy has ruled/The deciCouncil of Boy-Scouts saying they will ignore the ¯ sion means that Tommie Watkins, 25, will not have to policy. The troop joins Cub Scout Pack 88, which sent ." reimburse the Navy the $86,000 that covered his traina similar letter, The Providence Journal reported. . ing and tuition, plus interest. ~ Watkins, president of his clas sand an aspiring Navy .The national policy is root~,in a 1910 oath that Says Scofi~- ~’.st ke~p~el~s-~ ,.ni0ralty straigl~t:~’iThe i~ ~pil0t; ~s~id bewas pres’sured to. resign ~and did so ’ !. b~ via’g tlplldld ~y!th~ S iipr~aid Court this S~er, but ~ ~ beeau~e he feared ht~mophobia ’would preve~t him ’"about ~:d~ozen~ trbb~ ~at~oflwlde have stud thaiwill ~- fromreceiviffga fair trial:’After leaving, he acknowl-" edged being Gay. Officer trainees who drop out or are The leaders of Pack 28 said the words "morally ¯ expelled during their jtmior or senior years are required straight" have nothing to do with sexual orientation. ¯ by Pentagon policy to repay the government for their .... ’The oath did not mean to banhomosextmls but to keep ¯ education, either ~in cash or through enlisted service. ..... on the straight and narrow and do what is right," said ¯ The Navy’s Board of Correction of Naval Records Y"Allen M. Dennison, an assistant scoutmaster with ." said last year that he was a victim 6f,"error and Troop 28, who has four sons in Scouting. Our assess- ¯ injustice," and recommended the academy waive the ment of whatis right is that everyone be included, and ." payment. That decision was overruled in March by " that includes Gay leaders and Gay Scouts." ." Carolyn Becraft, the assistant secretary of the Navy for ..... The Narragansett Council will forward the letter ¯ manpower. Watkins sued, and on the day of the deadfrom Troop 28 to the Boy Scouts of Americaheadquar- : line for the Navy to respond, his lawyer got word of the ’ ters in Irving~ Texas, as it did with the letter from Pack : reversal. Watkins, who works in Miami as the project director ." 88, said state ¢o,.u~,ci! Spokesman David Preston. Pack 88hash theard from the national Boy Scouts ¯¯ for an AIDS and HIV ministry, called the decision regarding its status and calls to the Boy Scouts of "long overdue and totally justified." "It’s kind of ¯ America were not returned. Officially, troops that ironic, because the Navy says its core values are honor, " ignore Scouting rule~ Will have their charter revoked. ¯ courage and commitment," he said. "It seems like I had To date, however, the Boy.Scouts of America has not _. to exhibit those qualities to win this case.’" Officials from the Naval Academy declined to comrevoked thecharter of a troop or council for ignoring ¯ .the banon Gays. ." ment on the decision. The ban made news inRhode Island last year, when a 16-year-old Eagle Scout filed a complaint with the Rhode Island Human Rights Commission saying he was denied a job at a Scout camp because he is Gay. ¯ Iowa Order Banning AntiGay Bias to Be Reviewed DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - It’s up to a Polk County Maryland Can Ban " ¯¯¯ district ,judge to rule on the legality-, of Gov. Tom s’ci~il-rights order. District Judge Glenn Pille Anti-Gay Discrimination Vilsack heard lawyers’ arguments about the order during a ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Gov. Parris Glendening~s ¯ :plan to add Gays to Maryland’s anti-discrimination ¯ law likely would not violate the First Amendment guarantee of free exercise of religion, according to the ¯ state attorney general’s office. : Assistant Attomey General Kathryn M. Rowe is- ¯¯ sued the four-page legal opinion this week at the request of-Delegate Sandy,I. Rosenberg, who is ex- ¯ pected to use it to counter religious-based arguments ¯ -.. against the proposed legislation. "I did this so we ¯ would have a:.iegal opinion on the matter instead of ¯ rhetoric that is not precise," Rosenberg said. "In an ¯ - issue as emotional as .this, everybody should do their ¯¯ best not to misstate the law." ¯ Rosenberg asked for the opinion after a representative of the Diocese of Wilmington testified against the : governor’s plan at a public heating in Salisbury.The ¯ diocese includes Maryland’s Eastern Shore. ¯ The hearing was conducted by a commission ere- ¯ ated by the governor to solicit testimony about dis- ¯¯ crimination against Gays, Lesbians, bisexuals and ¯ transsexuals "The teaching o.f the Catholic Church and societal tradition does not accept homosexuality as a " legitimate lifestyle," the diocese said in a position ¯¯ paper presented at the hearing. ¯ The position paper alSO said the proposed legislation "significantly and Wrongfully encroaches (on) the ~ ¯ First Amendment, free-exercise rights of religious institutions and of persons whose actions are dri-ven by their religious beliefs." In her opinion, Rowe said there wasprecedent for laws with "the incidental effect of burdening certain ¯ religious practices" - as long as the laws do not single out one religion. There is also precedent suggesting ¯ that the hiring of ministers would be exempt from the ~ ¯ proposed bill, Rowe said. : ¯ recent hearing. Vilsack issued an executive order in September 1999, forbidding discrimination against Gays, Lesbians and Transexuals in state government employment. The move sparked a legislative debate. Conservative legislators were particularly angry that the order applies to Transsexuals. A majority of lawmakers voted to repeal the order, but Vilsack vetoed the legislation. Twenty-three legislators led by Republican Senate Majority Leader Stewart Iverson, challenged the order in a lawsuit filed in July. They said that Vilsack overstepped his authority and that he, in effect, rewrote the law. Vilsack has said he is carrying out a state law providing equal opportunity in state employment to all persons. Iowa Deputy Attorney General Julie Pottorff represented Vilsack at the hearing. She said the dispute is a legal question, and that Vilsack acted within his auth6rity ensuring that legal protections apply to all executive branch employees. ’°-l’his is no more than a political disagreement," Portorff told Pille. Des Moines lawyer Mark McCormick is representing the legislators and a former state employee. He argued at the hearing that the order infringes on the constitutional separation of powers and said "The governor has no power by- ~xecutive order to create law." - Vatican in Tizzy About "Fake Marriages" VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican has blasted lawmakers for givinglegal recognition to so-called"de facto" unions - including those between Gays - and said attempts to allow adoption by Gays were "a great danger." A 77-page document made public in Novem-~ Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community of Hope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at 1 lam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Service, 6pm ¯ 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-~.4-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna .L.W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114,3518 �The Pride Store 21st Street & Memorial Tulsa Gay Community Services Center .743-.GAYS (743=4297) 6-9 pm! Sudda~ ".-.!F~’{day, ~ ~ .~~°! 12,9~,prn~ ~Saturday, all sales benefit the C~nte? Important Information Call 212-461:2976 Interested? Call 918=447-8602 ber by The Pontifical Council for the Family was built heavily around similar denunciations over the last few years by Pope JohnPattl II. Italian Gay groups, stung over the summer by the Vatican’s moves to try to block Gay pride events in Rome, denounced the latest pronouncement on homosexual unions. The Vatican’s council on family matters also presented a proposal to make sex crimes against children, including "sex tourism" exploitation, crimes against humanity. But .the bulk of the positions ,pr.esented. hammered away at unions betwb.en Gays as well as legal recognition for.~tmm.arried hetgcosexual~couple~. While not citing any particular, .country, thd .,Vatica.n,. spoke of ’~great concern" about lawiiaakers’ efforts "in many countries with an ancient Christian tradition" to give legal status to unmarried couples. Earlier this month, Germany.granted legal recognition to Gay couples, following similar moves.ove~ the 1~ decade by other Western European countries. " De facto unions ~e the result.of private behavior andshoul’d remain 0ni~e pri~at~ 1,ev_ el ," . the Vatican said. It described as a ~erious sign, of.the-contempo,~ rary br0~tkd0wn in the s0dal an~ ~oral.conscilence, political eftbrts tO give institutionalstatus to delfacto couples. It Said attempts to legalize thead0ption of children by Gay. ~Q~ple,s .added ’!an elemen_t.of ~reat danger." - .. NY Town offers: Benefits Red Rock Tulsa. . Free Confidentia!.HIV Testing Walk:in Clinics Tues. & Thurs., 5 -8 pm at the Center,. 1307 East 38th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -The Gr.eenburgh Town Board voted un’aJaim6u~ly" tO ’offer health-be]aefits to same-sex domestic partners 0f municipal workers. "We want to treat all our employees as if they’re valuable to us," said Supervisor Paul.Feiner. New Yoj~k ~stiite,. Ne~: Yori~ City;._a~nd/~Ve’stchester CounU,.plus several ~orporation~,~.rpv.id¢~sach:benefits to homosexual couples. Of Westchester s-municipalities, only. Eastchester has..acted before Greenburgh. Under the measure;, which goesinto effect JnJanu..ary, an uumarried,.town, employee who.says-in an affidhvit that he or she has hadan exclusive relationship for a year can extend medical.and dental coverage to\the partner. - " . )_ Phelps at Phillips Exeter KIM WILKS Independent Consultant for 357-1757 ~n just a matter of hours .Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 ing match toward the end, when a group of University of New Hampshire students arrived to denounce the church group. "Relax! It’s just sex," one student shouted. "I preach God’s word." "You preach hate." But that’s an accusation Phelps’ followers don’t deny. They maintain that God hates homosexuals and will destroy any society that condones homosexual behavior. ’q’he Christian belief is rooted not only in the love of God, but also the hate of God. You can’t have one without ,the. 9~er.,’~’. . .Pt!_dps-Roper said. "That is definitive. Th,e~ is~no.question, that Gq~t!ha,t~s, p~9..p!e.]’, ,, -~ ~W.~[bggQ Baptist ,O~,ur..ch ~s. ~gu,t 2Pq i~im~ers. . They have picketed~a~ ~e fun~ 91s of. homosexuals, including that of Matthew Shepard,.a Gay man.who was brutally beaten and tortured in Wyoming in Octo~ ber 1998. "He’s in hall. And everyone else who.lives daat lifestyle will likely be in he!! with him unle{s.they repent," Phelps-Roper said. "Of ~.course, he could.have repented, but there’ s a snowball’, s, chance of tha~;happening." _. ¯ The Rev. Phelps did not attend, the demonstr.a_.tion. ~ His grandson said Phelps,:was .geeded back at his ¯ c,,h.t~h to minister But Phe!ps~Roper.saidthe growing ¯ acceptance of homosexualit~ made,:their message to ¯ iEx~ter all the more importan.t. ’;7~..’s.isimportant ~tuff. ¯ This is a ,matter of life and ~death,’:etemRy h~-re," phelps-Roper said. "When G.0~as said something is : ~.abomination, you don’t mes~.~ith it." ¯ Representatives of 14 churches from the region ¯ j6i]aekl the university students.i0PPosing Phdps? fol19wers. They said that thoug~flaey:don’t all agree on ¯ the moral status of homosexu~fity, they univers~ally oppose Phelps’ message. ."While we recognize their, right, to express their p,ersonal views freely concermng Academy policy and : ~e subjectin general, we take,~.trong exception to/heir ¯ rhe.t.ori9 and signs denigrati.ng 0~r ~eighbors,,, the,Rev’ ¯ ¯ Daniel Weaver of the Exeter United Methodist Church said: ~’We wholcheartedly agree:thathatr’ed, expressed ¯ or implied, as well as the adVo~icy br promotion of ¯ haff~lis anathema. It is certaird:y notitt the spirit of the ¯ v0~b~dsOf Jesus, ’Love your°neiIgl~bor~ as yourself."’ ¯ Accused Murderers of " Gay Man to Stand Trial FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) = T.w,o,teen-agers will stand EXET.ER, N.H. (AP) - An anti-Gay ch~ch group : trial ear)y next year for the murder of a Gay black man opposed to Phillips Exeter Academ~ ~ s p0!~gy .alirwing from.Marion County, a judg.e., ruled~ in November. homosexuals to be dorm parents protested outside the : David Allen Parker, whose lawyers may argue a dischool recently, v~aving.signs with messages .that in- : minished .capacity defense;,is ser~ to stand trial in cluded: ’q’hank Godfor A!DS." About adoZen fol!ow- ¯ Becldey on Jan. 16. His co-defendarit, Jared Wilson. ers of the Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro B.aptist ¯¯ will l!0t be tried until February ...... Church of Topeka~ Kan., ~rrivedat ~e S~hob’i~r’rund Par~er, 18, of Grant Town an~tWilson, 18, of Fairview noon after making similar demonstrations in’Ve~ont : ar~’charged with first-degree.murder in the July 4 and Maine earlier. ° beating death of Arthur "J.R." Warren. Police say the The, ,church members, oppose a measure Phillips teens pummeled the 26-year,old acquaintance with Exeter truste~., S approved in May that al!0ws.Gay and : their fists and feet, then ran over him four times with ,,I~,.sbian faculty and staff to serve as dormitory parents. ] Parker’s car to disguise his injuries as a hit-and-run. ’ it’s destroying the fabric0f this nation~ the~r~ls/.hat ¯ The assault allegedly began after ~Warren told others this nation ,does have," s,aid Sam Pheligs~Roper’~ the ¯" about a sexual relationshiphe claimed to have had with Rev.Phelps grandson.".It saslippeDi~lopestraightto : Parker. hell and that’s where this.country is’headed. This is a ~ Circuit Judge Rodney Merrifield said he will likely message that they need." ¯ rule within 10 days whether jurors at thetrials will hear ~ ~..m,,d~nts, at .tl],e neari~y,22Q=ye~o!d pri~vate ,high : the teens’ confessions. Defenselawyers argue sheriff’s Schorl: apparently ~v~r~fi t irit~Stc;d~j~" h~g it~ ¯ deputies inappropriately obtained the statements the Many students and faculty members_wore x~row- :, gtay, 9.t" Lhe_.murd,er,;an accusatton, the deputies have colored pins, a symbol of support for homosexuals ¯ denied on the Witness ;/arid Judy Quirm, spokeswoman for Phillips Exeter, said " Prosecutors say Warren’s DNA showed up in evithe school’s roughly ’1,000 students decided not to : dence samples taken from the interior, exterior and attend the~demonstration; and instead .-organized a : undercarriage of Parker’s car, as well as on wood diversity celebration in another part of the campus. : paneling and molding from the house where the bea~"The values of inclusion and diversity have been ¯ ing began. hallmarks of Phillips Exeter Academy since its formd- : Parker’s attorneys, Rebecca Tate and Stephen Fitz. ing," she said in a written statement. "The fact an ¯ also asked the judge for a delay so they could hire ~., objection to these principles is what brings this group ~ expert to study their client for a possible diminished to Exeter is indeed regrettable " o capacity defense strategy. The otherwise peacefifl protest erupted into a shout- �Bayer Seeks New AIDS Treatments BERLIN (AP) - Bayer AG, Germany’s biggest drugmaker, said Tuesday it will join the search for new AIDS treatments as part of a shakeup of its drug research activities: The Leverkusen-based company, best-known for developing aspirin, will look for substances effective against resistant viruses, said Wol,fgang Hartwig, head of research in’Bayer s pharmaceuti- : cal busine.ss group. The company declined to specify:how much it will invest in AIDS research. In 2000, it budgeted a total of 1 billion euros ($845 million) for research and development. Bayer said it expects to identify the first substances suitable for precliuical HIV testing within two years. Pharmaceutical research will in the future be focused on 13 fields, including seeking new treatments in urology, Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’ s disease. Bayer saidit will stop its research activities for osteoporosis, fibrosis of the liver and stroke. Key Protein in AIDS. Virus Found WASHINGTON (AP) - A protein that does housekeeping chores inside cells plays a key role in spreading the AIDS virus to other cells of the body, researchers report. In studies appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers say that _HIV, the AIDS’virus, uses a group of proteins, called proteasomes, to assemble new viral partitles and to spread those new particles.to uninfected cells. Ulrich S chubert of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said test tube studies show that blocking the action of the proteasome proteins can reduce the spread of HIV infection by about 98%. Schubert, the first author of one study in PNAS, cautioned that the research was conducted only in test tubes and it is not known if the proteasome inkibitors would work against HIV in humans. "We would never inject this drug into an HIV-infected person because we do not know what would happen," said Schubert. The proteasome inhibitors will be tested in monkeys before any human tests are considered, and those animal studies could take months, he said. Dr. Jonathan W. Yewdell, a NIAID researcher and a co-author of the study, said that althoughinhibiting proteasome shows promise as a strategy for treating HIV, "it is possible that it may not have any effect at all." He said the proteasome function is essential for healthy cells and that a drug that blocks that function could affect every cell in the body. "It is possible that the HIV-infectedcells will be more sensitive or that there are effects against the virus before" the healthy cells are affected, said Yewdell. Yewdell and Schubert said cancer researchers are experimenting with proteasome inhibitors for the treatment of prostate cancer and early studies have shown no side effects in cancer patients. The drug, however, has not been used in HIV-infected patients, they said. Proteasome’s job inside the cell is to identify and destroy old or unneeded proteins. Another PNAS study, by researchers at Pennsylvania State University, suggests that amolecule calledubiquitinplays a key role in how viruses use the proteasome function in a cell to make new viral partitles. Still another PNAS study, by researchers from the Dana-Farber Caneer Institute, Harvard Medical School and the University of Padua in Italy, also demonstrates that ubiquitin plays a role in HIV particle formation. HIV spreads its infection inside the body by forcing white blood cells, called CD4s, to make new viral particles. These partitles are released from the cells and can then infect other cells, spreading the infection throughout the body. The final part of this virus-making proeess is called budding. During budding, a new viral particle wraps itself in a membrane from the surface of the infected cell and completes its development. When the budding process is completed, the virus particle is released and can then attach to an uninfected CD4 cell and continue to spread the infection. The researchers found that HIV uses the proteasome molecules, particularly ubiquitin, to complete the assembly of a new viral particle at the cell membrane. When the pro.teasome action is blocked, HIV particle formation is crippled, they found. "Inhibiting proteasome causes fewer viruses to detach from the cell and what viru~ is madeis notas good," saidYewdell. Proteasome is most active in the budding phase of making a new HIV viral particle. It is different from protease, an enzyme that helps the HIV virus assemble precursor proteins into active proteins. Some HIV drugs, called protease inhibitors, work by blocking the action of the protease enzyme. ¯ Leftover Medicines Help in Haiti + More CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - The jar of AIDS medications that Moses Alicea plucked from among pill bottles and vials spilled across the table were bound for the dump - worthless in the United States. But in Haiti, where the lifesaving drugs will be sent, they are priceless. The medications about $20,000 worth of protease inhibitors that can suppress HIV and prevent progression of AIDS - will be sent to the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation to help people who would otherwise never receive the treatment. At the root of the salvage effort is the vast gulf between availability of the medications in affluent countries tike the United States and developing countries like Haiti. "This is importantbecause there’s peqple living with HIV who can’t get the meds like we do," said Alicea, 36, who gave his ownleftover AIDS medications. "ffI can’t use them, somebody else can. There’s alot of stuff out there that’ s just being dumped." Some 95% of the more than 33 million people with HIV and AIDS in the world are in poor countries, according to the World Health Orgamzation. In those regions, the so-called drug "cocktails" - Power Connect. Public Service Compa~ny of Oklahoma Customer Service.is Nb~Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 offering around-the-clock answers to your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All, day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. Clip And Save " p I I I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I--I I I I CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Servicio a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 Fa]ta De Suministr0:1-888-218-3924 Public Service Company of Oklahoma III I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I �which can cost upward of $20,000 per year ¯ something like this." in the United States -are about 30 times ¯ Sitting beside Alicea, Katherine Gaynes, the average monthly income and far out of : 54, takes a thick marker and strikes from a reach for most people, according to the ¯ bottle the name of the original patient, the ¯ doctor who made the prescription and the group Doctors Without Borders. ¯ The issue of global drug acess has bepharmacy that filled it so the pills cannot ¯ come heated. Protesters dogged Vice Presibe traced back to the original recipient. dent A1 Gore last year about drug prices in ¯ She said the huge overseas need for mediAfrica, and the issue is apriority for instications frustrates her, but she’s glad she’s ¯ tutions like the World Health Organizabeen able to do some good. "If the rest of ¯ the world doesn’t get better, then it doesn’t tion that are trying to combat the disease. Clients of the group Cambridge -Cares ; get better for us," she said. . About AIDS are collecting the drugs from friends and family members - even from their own medicine cabinets. Most of the donated drugs are left over when a person with AIDS switches drug regimens be¯ TORONTO (AP) - New numbers on HIV cause of debilitating sitle effects. Since infections in Canada point to a worrying last December, the group has delivered : trend away from safe sex in some segsome $200,000 worth of medications to ments of the Gay community and a steep Parmers in Health, a Boston-based organi¯ increase of infections among FirstNations zation with a clinic in Haiti which distributes them to people with AIDS and HIV. ¯ people. The number of new infections among men who have sex with menjumped Partners in Health executive director ¯ ¯ by 30% from 1996 to 1999, according to Dr. Jim Yong Kim said between 50 and ¯ the latest report on HIV and AIDS preva100 people in Haiti are regularly receiving the medications gathered by the Cam- ¯ lence issued by Health Canada. The humbridge group. But there’s an enormous : ber of new infections among Aboriginal unmet need that this effort cannot even ¯ Peoples rose 91% over the same period. : Some headway had been made over that begin to solve without global attention and a global solution- to the drug crisis, he : time in cutting the number of new cases of said. "This is now an absolute disaster and _" HIV infection among injected drug users, ¯ the report said, noting the number of new an absolute crisis," Kim said. "It’s a moral : cases declined 27% last year over 1996. problem, but it’s also an economic and ¯ "But no sooner did we do that than Gay political problem.’" : men are starting to rebound again," Chris The World Health Organization has pro¯ Archibald, Health Canada’s chief of HIV/ tocols for donated drugs. But the organiza- ¯ AIDS epidemiology and surveillance, said tion does not have separate guidelines for : from Ottawa on Thursday. AIDS medications, which generally in- ¯ Before 1996, Health Canada reported a volve complex daily regimens of 15 to 20 ¯ steady drop in the number of new cases of different pills that require close medical supervision. And the medication supply ¯ HIV among Gay men, the population most ravaged by HIV and AIDS. Gay men acmust be consistent, because interrupting counted for more than 80% of new cases in the regimen can result in the HIV virus : 1981-83; by 1996, they made up less than becoming resistant to treatment. Only a handful of groups send unused ¯ a third (30%) of new cases of HIV infection. Archibald said the upward trend has AIDS drugs overseas. Kim said agencies ¯ also been reportedin the United States and like his are "writing the book" on salvaging AIDS drugs. There is no agency over- ." the Netherlands. seeing the practice, no way of knowing how common it is or whether groups are adhering to WHO guidelines for drug donations, according to Michael R. Reich, acting chair of the Department of Popula- ¯ VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) tion and International Health at the Harvard ." A group of health-care advocates and inSchool of Public Health. . jection drug users is aiming to make But he said that while donations will Vancouver the first city in North America never fill the need for drugs in poor counto offer addicts a safe site to inject drugs. tries, this effort highlights the problem. ¯ Whether the facility is a"hole in the wall" "Troubling questions arise from gaps in ¯ or a comprehensive health center will be access," he said. "Haiti is a country with ." determined by funding, says the Harm extraordinary needs for good drugs, and ." ReductionActionSociety, whichreleased donations provide a mechanism for trying ¯ its pilot project proposal last month. to address the gap." ." The society would like to have support James Russo, spokesman for the Part- ¯ from all levels, "but let’s get this straight, nership for Quality Medical Donations, an we are going to do it," said board member organization composed of drug compaDean Wilson. "One way or another, there nies and non-govemmen.tal organizations ¯ will be such a facility or facilities," said thatTdistribute free drugs o~¢erseas, said it Ross Harvey, the executive director of the is a"perfecfly reasonable and understand- ¯ B.C. Peoples with AIDS Society. able and decent thing to do." The society would like to have a facility Such donations may not technically be ¯ open before Valentine’s Day. The group, legal, because the recipient is not the per- ¯ formed earlier this year, recently sent conson for whom the drugs were prescribed, . sultants to Frankfurt, Germany, where they ¯ he said. But if the drugs are properly used visited five sites set up in 1994. The city and distributed, then public health benefits ¯ released proposal recently that included a override such legal issues. "The fact that it ¯¯ safe-sites proposal,butMayorPhilipOwen needs doing is, to me, a tragic observation rejected the idea, saying it would be a ¯ about the state of public health policy," he magnet for drug addicts. said. "Nothing but good can come from ¯ Medical Excellenc.e And Compass.lonate Care S nce 1926. a ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER q P Medical Excellence-Compassi’onate Care Rise in HIV in Gays And Natives Feared Vancouver Looks At Injection Site �sung. And the lyrics aren’t too bad, either. by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor Merry Yule and Winter Solstice, everyHe’s been performing since he was 6, and appeared in the film "Latin Boys Go one! This year has moved fast - hard to To Hall" singing a song believe we’ll be startof his own composition. ing a new millennium "... Siegfried and Roy He’ s played some of the soon. Hope everyone have never been involved most resi~ected venues h~ a ha~pp.y hoR.day. in NYC to critical ac~. ~- ~l~a ’frijOl, ~-Jim~ .. m ~r~ming daini. ’ ~ ’ Brf~l~iffa~ ~rbtflrh~:t~o ...... in " their Tut~d D~em6~r~5~il fdt ani~iialk ,2 He ~is also named ’ hves. a a romantic ,evening bf by HX magazine as one music and fun. If you’ve They mold things around of the ten hottest men in NY. Judging from the ?iaot seen his show bethe personality press photos, I’ll sec7~ore, .or ~ ing, it s well worfla it. of their animals." ond that. He’s currently working with songi?And he’s:iher~ ~ith ¯" ~onny oshioiia,’W~Ch And maybe, if the rest of. .writer Desmond Childe, knowi~ for being a us learned’ thattriek ’ hitwriter for Ricky Marlove ~hOUt .... ~ tin,Ch~,.and Ma~10nna. ~’should 7~I’11 miss John Trbnes, a i, family m.-.. ~~m~l~ ,~ho He’il surprise you. ~’ was here ~th the ne~ for~.e~ntrol year, but"J~bgt Doimy YOu’.dnever .guess he does a grea~jdb ~i~the we’d h~ve better was anice.Jewish bpy . frOmNew York - he~s songs. Ji~ can~take a ---got: that ~0ul sound huge thOt~.~d make relationships as well down. He deserves our . it seem " room, and :he’s gOkgcous to boot - very Support, because he dell ,v~rs.the goo~s: handsom~],~,Sf;.~tl~6~:~;i~uals are as good as Mostpr6moCDsfrom Gayarfists ’end ’the musi.~;.ye~, ~I,know...you really UPas coastdts 6tmini-frisb.ees. This one’s " didn’t exp~t ~e t akeeper. Great for dancing and romancwithout .mgn,ti.0~ngl something like that, ¯ ing, I give-it fivesnaps. He’ sgot a website: did you?. ~tf!~y!~mmended; especially WWW.ARIGOLD.COM as an earl~’. Yule gift for that sigfiffieant ¯ For those~vith.cabl~;~the’Americanized ¯ ,)ersion of the British series "Queer as other. 596~7111:fo fix. If yo~J;~:i’6bidiag for nifty gffties of an ~ ’ .F01k" begins airing On Sh0w~me Decementertaiifi~ s0~t,’I have a few recomme,n,- ~ her 3rd. For.those Without c,],,ble, fihd a dations: Fir~ oifth~’list is "Chicken Run’, ¯ ’ friend that has ~it,; The~iow delivers a just out Og DVD~dVHS. The DVD is the :" Slice of.gffy life~th~t’ ~ ~corn~ellitag, ~pto,)ocative, and unlike any showyou’ll see. preferencehe~e, due to the fun extras they For 22 riveting episodes, these unforgetthrew ina~d the".claance to see the film as table men.andw0in~nr~veal tfiemselves it was preSgntetion screen, instead of only i:eally reveal themselves - as no TV charhalf the.p.ivRtr¢fformatted to fit your TV) acters ever have." Well,Iknow some folk,on the VHS version. There’s two docuwho are queer, who~ve seenthe original mentaries 9n ..tal.ent and how they made. British series, and if it’ s kept intact and not those chickens ttm; and it’s fun to see thecast men~!~erswfiose ,v, oices you hear. And Americanized todeath, it sh.ould be good. it is so eff.~ecti~e.you I1 never eat chicken : Happyw~ffChing! pot pies again:-’ Favorite line: Ging, er .... " Open now is a duo offeline proportions Chickefi,.:~.’.fig’ to explain why they re ¯ ."in "Siegfried and Roy: The Magic Box." having ~toi~i~aS escaping the chicken i Now, I wonder if .we get to find out just hat’magi box? "Siegfried and farm/pfi~on"~to g doubting member of the .*. :Who has t flock, says’ Do’you know what the prob- : ’Roy: The Mhgic B6~" i~an’ iMAX biopic lem is? ~[]ie:fe~i~S.. aren’t just ’round the ¯ ~Which includes’their Las V~gas a~t ~ well farm, they’re up he~e- in your heads !" The ¯ as abiographical storyin-azstory of how other chick~ep!ies,"Aw, give it up, ducks. .’- the two men met .-as-boys in war-tom There’s.amillion toone chance we’ll ever ¯ Germany, combining a love of magic, get out of her,e:, Ginger, mustering up the- ’ ~animals, and each other to become the last bit of hope she has (All done with the ." "world’S greatestillu~R~nistS." ¯ Anthony Hopkins Narrates the story of eyes), rep!iles, "Well . . there’s still a chance then." And then there’s Nick and ¯¯ the two boys who meet on a cruise ship (oh, the fodder for puns that provides) and Fletcher, a pair of rats who have a rather mteresturg relataonship... And that s al ~ form "a differen,,t kind of i~agic act using I’ll say about that, except I am surprised at. ¯ exotic .snimals, .: an~" als0 ~"forni ~an~ .ex: " .::’: ". .?~2. :~:, ~; ;~ ~ ¯ , "" "~.1e a certain actlwst m town who did NOT fir ¯ -ty.~me|y lohg ~erm ~-ela~o~s~i~. oli, the ~ff a s~i-ies:.6fl6tters aboi~t Gay i~dople" ~° :jokbs that come tomind. So much material ¯ to work with, so little space. being represented as rats... Even though ¯ Actually, they have my admiration and they’re really cute rats, in that rat-like ¯ all due respect. To work and live together way, and help the chickens to escape. ¯ as long as they have and not to have killed A new artiste on the Gay scene, Ari Gold, has a new CD out, and unlike many " each other in the process, and to have artists capitalizing on the "I’m Gay and ¯ remained together, is no easy task. I have out, so even if I suck, you should still buy ¯ heardthem speakofthat, andhow attimes, my stuff", it’s actually a really good CD, . you just wanna kill your parmer, but unfilled with dance grooves and soulful bal- " derneath it all is the love that keeps you see Amuse, p. 10 lads that are slickly produced and well ¯ working together - GIFTS OF T!tI S ASON!: COUNCIL OAK �WISHING YOU A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON & A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR PLEASE JOIN TULSA OKLAHOMANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AS WE CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS.{ HOLIDAY RECEPTION HONORING TOHR’s 20TH ANNIVERSAF~Y & SILENT AUCTION AN ~,.RT, AHTIQUES & FINE DINING.SHOWCASE SUNDAY, DECEMBER | 0 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM TULSA GAY COMMUNI’~Y SERVICES CENTER 2114 S MEMORIAL PARADE OF LIGHTS Come celebrate the spirit of the holiday season at the AEP-Public Service Company of Oklahoma Christmas Parade of Lights, Satu rday, Decem ber 9, downtown Tulsa at 6 p.m. View parade floats up close, Friday, DecemberS, at the HolidayFest (Brady Arts District) from 7 - 9 p.m. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA® by Karin Gregory there’s no room for anything else. i’ve GEls, have you ever had that Gay male ¯ been calling and calling my girlffien.: all friend who does everything with you? A : night, getting nothing but a busy sig:m! Will to your Grace? A Jack to your Karen? : That makes me anxious and frightenex~, se The one man- for some of you, the ONLY : I tall Vincent what’s going on, hoping to man - to whom you’d tell your secrets? ¯¯ get some sympathy. While I try to hug ...... Who is warm, caring, lov- ¯ : :, "ram, ~ comp~,a~ps .... Oh : ~, : ing, a great listener, and in no," in’d very pugquttbhe "...G~gr~|s,. ,halve you many cases,has better fashof voi~qe; his~us~tml t0ne. He ion. sense than you? The one man you can talk to all male friend whodoes VERY gingerlg: try’ing to night long? That guy who much me as little as poswill, even across the miles, everythln~ with you? sible, as if I’m a Lesbian allow you to cry on his A Will to leper. After he leaves, I get shoulder about your girlinto the closet (I thought your Grace? friend? And you still reI’d left that for good!) so as A Jack to member your own tearnot to wake him, and call stained shoulders from my friend Jim. He gives your Karen? when he knocked on your me a bigger hug over the The one man - for door at 3 a.m. Most of us, if phone from Tulsa than I some of you, the we’re lucky, have a guy got from Vincent. I pull who would be the perfect out my CD player and lisONLY man - to partner for apolitically corten to Melissa Etheridge whom you’d tell rect"family value" couple (who else?). Somehow it if he became a woman and makes me feel dominant. your secrets?.. ?’ we became a man. DAY TWO - After deBut I’m not talking about daring thatmy alarm woke him here. This is another Gay man who him from the other side of the house, he possesses none of the abovequalities. Sure, leaves. Now I can walk aroundlike I want. Ooops! I forget that he leaves the kitchen he can be a nice guy- when he wants to be. blinds open. Well, his neighbors will just And he DOES have better fashion sense than I, although that’s no stretch. But while be confused. They thooght they were livI embraced my.Gayness before embracing ing near a Gay man!.Oa my way to work, another woman, he did his embracing, and I find my girlfriend has called to let me know she’s all right, which should put me whatever rise (eeeewww!) earl~, on, and never really learned to enjoy being Gay. at ease, but the thought of having to live with Vincent depresses me. It already feels "How sad," you might say. Don’t feel sorry for him. Especially when you find like I’m giving up my life to live according out where I’m spending my days lately. to his schedule. When I arrive at his house, Great house, DirecTV, MUCH cleaner I’m in less than a pleasant mood. Anger than my place, and the perfect party home. sets in when I realize that I forgot to tape I had become - how shall I say? - finan"Will and Grace." It doesn’t help that cially non-existent and couldn’t pay my Vincent goes on and on about how this was rent (sounds like a musical, doesn’t it?). the funniest episode he’s ever seen. "Did My friend - let’s call him Vincent - ofyou tape it?" I ask hopefully, already knowfered to put me up in his house for a few ing the answer. "No, I was home to watch months. OK, let’s talk realism. He was it," he says, cleaning up the kitchen in a looking for someone to help him with the "don’t you dare make a mess" way. Selfi sh house payments. I would get one room and bastard! This further proves my point that a bathroom, as opposed to my car. Most when a man asks you into his life, for people in my situation would jump at this whatever reason, he really means, "I want arrangement. Although it .would save me to live my life as I always have, with no $400, the cost in psycffiatric visits over my compromises. You’ll just be around when lifetime would soon absorb the savings. and if I need you." No wonder I’m Gay! He Let’s just say that we were the other"Odd would drive Pat Buchanan’s wife to LesbiCouple." Picture a much more obsessive/ anism. I pop my popcorn (the only thing compulsive, anal retentive Felix Unger, I’ve had since noon today), and the only who is also emotionally constipated, and thing allowed to me. I once again listen to you have Vincent. You’re not where I am Melissa, who has a strange way of empownow, and I hope you never are. Let me tell ering me. I fall asleep, dreaming of using you how I got here through a progression a stun gun on Vincent repeatedly. of nightly entries. DAY THREE-Today’s finally Friday, ¯DAY ONE - Got to Vincent’s house and I might be allowed to watch some TV about 10:45 tonight after work. I can altonight. I’m fine all day until I enter ready tell our work schedules are going to Vincent’s abode. We’re eating pizza, and conflict as he made a great show of"havhe’s buying, an obvious splurge. But we ing" to be up this late. This was HIS idea, disagree on TV programming, so he remember. He showed me the alarm syswatches something in his room while I have the living room all to myself to watch tem. God, it feels like Fort Knox in here, motion detectors and all. He also gave me a Beatles special. I’ve figured out one thing - never trust anyone who hates the an extra key and garage door opener. It all Beatles. It’s positively UnAmerican! Anfeels so official. This IS just a trial run, other night of silence until he comes into after all. I’m relegated immediatdy to my the living room to switch channels so he room, as small as a nun’s cell. He said I can watch the news. seeLesbian,p.11 could have one piece of furniture, but e erMd Gay pU s n< "ar0 a.me �¯ for years, however. My dentist sends me a by Lamont Lindstrom "Gifts make slaves just as whips make ¯¯ Christmas card annually. But do I sendone back? Nope. In this case, I amrude enough dogs," or so says one bit of Native American wisdom. Keep this in mind during the ¯ to take without giving. But I understand upcoming holiday orgy of giving and re- ¯" the deal implied by this imbalanced exchange~ I take my mouth ceiving. Grits are more than around to his office every just tokens of affection. "... Perhaps we all They are’als0 ~gminde~s of six months. My friends in the South obligati’On ahdl du~. Gig- ~have had an experhne¢ Pacific go to huge efforts ing is politiCak ~Pd]~h~ps~ I of over-reeelvlng. to raise and give away pigs give you a present because just to get their neighbors’ °I like you. But if you accept Somebody gives us pigs in return. If would be my present,you also accept that you are indebted to me something that is way far easier for all villagers to eat their own pigs. But - at least until you can pay too much. What can what of us? .We are madme back. he have in mind? cap enough to enrich the I had, once, a student from Saudi Arabia whose father What does he want in Post Office every December by mailing, around a was in the rug trade. "I’m return? A peshy blizzard of Christmas contacting my father," he told me near the end of the aeq~intanee surp~ses cards. I send out about 60 each year, and in return I term. "I’d like to give you a us ~th a fine l~ther receive 60 back. But if I carpet." Oh no, I thought, really am so desperate for visions of Baluchis and ~aeket. But w~t cards to clutter up my manKilims dancing inmy head. does he expect? telpiece, why don’t I just How am I going to g~ve him keep those that I buy? I’d the "D" that he deserves? A closer friendship? save a 10t on postage that Luckily, he presented me A ~te? Need we way. with a cheap synthetic My island friends are prayer rug decorated, with give it up... ?" fanatic giftbalancers. They garish neon cameIs, worth keep exact records of how only a few dollars down at your local bazaar. I wasn’t that muchii~’his ] many pigs, baskets, and mats they receive debt after all, and I graded him down with ¯¯ so that they can give the same in return. But they sometimes over-give - just alittle. a lighter heart. l~erhaps we all have had an experience ¯ This iitfleextra gift, which al~O must be repaid at some point, keeps the :relationof over-receiving. Somebody g~ves us ship moving along. something that is waytoo much. What can Balanced exchanges celebrate the fact that he have in mind? What does he want in we are still investing in the relationship. return? A pesky acquaintance surprises us You remain important to me. But if I am to with a fine leather jacket. But what does he stay your equal, I need to give you about expect? A closer friendship? A date? Need what you give me. I am embarrassed if I we give it up? return too little OR ff I return too much. The fancy anthropological word for gift Imbalance in either direction implies eigiving is "reciprodty." I give something ther that I don’t care about us as much as to you, and you give something back to you do, or that I am trying to obligate you. me. Such exchange can be balanced or Given the importance of exchange balimbalanced. Either way,. this says someance, it is perverse that we remove price thing about power. If we engage in protags and wrap presents. It’s a bit of a game. longed, imbalanced gift giving, we find We see through these pretenses that "it’s ourselves in an enduring relationship of the thought that counts." As experienced inequality. Those fine presents have made givers, we are pretty good at striking a us into dogs and slaves. balance despite the absence of price tags or Parents, for instance, give a lot more to the concealment of gift-wrap. When a children than children give to parents. This friend drops off a gaily-wrapped present exchange imbalance fuels parental authorfor you, shake that box! Make a mistake in ity. Few morns and dads hand their chilwhat you give back and it could be the dren, on their 18th birthdays, a bill for doghouse for you! $186,000. Ratherthan reciprocating the Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropolexact dollar cost of raising us, we repay ogy at the University of Tulsa. parents in obedience. "As long as you live in MY house, you’ll do what I say!" Those gifts come with strings. . To avoid, obligfiroh~ we must balance gift giving. Only balanced exchange cre: and from murdering each other. They have ates equality. If some one gives us a holialso managed to survive a business that day present, we feel pressured togive a chews you up and spits you out. present in return. Failure to reciprocate It’s easy to make jokes at their expense, means either that we don’t mind shoulderbut you know, there is a magic there, that ing this debt and its obligations, or that we they’ve been able to survive that business want to break things off altogether. Does and remain together, when I’m sure there morn send out the family’ s holiday cards? were many times it would have been much What does she do when someone fails to easier to split under the pressure. reciprocate? Cross him off the list! see Amuse, p. 11 Sometimes exchangeimbalance persists Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic .Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appoinlrnenls are available. As Seen On Oprah Wireless E-Mail Send and receive Internet mail Exchange wireless notes Receive information updates Chat privately Only $99.99, Motorola T900 2-Way . after $50 mail-in rebate to order: www.acninc.com, Click on the pager icon. Rep. Ruid 0429895 �ment. Further action on the part of the organization will vary depending on their responses. Other congregations which signed the "diversity" statement, like the city’s Episcopal parishes and its Unitarian-Universalists congregations, all of whom have histories of being fair to Lesbian and Gay Tulsans are also being asked to consider withdrawing their support for the statement because of the failure to include "sexual orientation." IGTA member Call 341. 6866 International Tours formoreinformation. Fresh Start Seeking men & women to help with ,expansion in the area. Must be independent, goal-oriented; have a great attitude and excellent people skills. Call 663-5323. Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, .T, ues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm College Hill -Presbyterian Church ody Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing In response to God’s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a community of God’s people called to tell others the Gospd of-J~sus Christ through worship, - service, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living~ loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voice for peace and justice. Our congregation welcomes all persons who respohd in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Christ’s church. Membership is open:.to all people regardless of race, ethnic origin, worldly condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. Sunday Worship 1 lam712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800 (Ohe block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) This without saying a word to me. After seeing how the candidates STILL can’t " decide this election, I put on my pajamas. " That’s all, I swear. When I come out at ¯ 9:20, the TV is turned off, along with the ¯ lights. My dorm mother has declared my curfew. One thought goes through my " head - I’m going to kill him; I’m going to ¯ kill him; I’m going to kill him. Big kitchen knives flash through my mind. I go to bed " at 9:20, again listening to Melissa. She’s " giving me the wrong kind of strength, : think. And they’ve remained incredibly successDAY FOUR- This is the last day, but I " ful throughout the years and ups and downs have to spend it with HIM. I see my stu- ¯ that showbiz life provides. Living with dents at my Saturday class, knowing this : someone 5 years is a major feat, much less will probably be the last time I teachi I’ve ¯ working with them as well. And even in made up my mind as I arrive at Vincent’s. " relative anonymity, it’s hard enough. To He ignores me, as usual, while he watches ¯ have survived and remain together as long gymnastics on TV, laughing for some tea- ¯ as they have - 43 years - is a major feat. son. He won’t laugh for long. Even though ~ FYI, Roy is 5 years younger than Siegfried. I hate the color and look bffd in it, orange : About the biographical aspects of the jumpsuits will be my style for the next 20 film, Roy says "It’s ~way~ a difficult step years. Hey, they let you write,letters~in ¯ to open yourself up beeauge ~ou make prison. Ev~nLestian~olumns, I veheard. : yourself very vulnerabl~. That fneans you "Goodbye Vincent!" 5" by Karin Gregor have to let your guard down andeveryone #2238769480, Cell Block H ¯ has access to you." Scary iild~gd. The cameras were allowed full access to the home and grounds of theirestate’. He goes on to say "I have to say;~it’s~ been pretty good to do it. It goes way badk" to when I of the"diversity" statement whichincluded : was a boy. I had a catching smile, but in "sexual orientation," saying he would have : reality I was a loner. I wa~ n0t too good noticed its inclusion. ¯ with people. As a mattel: offact, I didn’t In response,’sev~al ~gregation have trustinpeople. I trustedmy animals more." commi ~ted to re=examining their endorse: I can relate to that. ment of the document? College Hill Pres- ¯ The interesting thing is that,-aozording byterian Church and’ Fellowship Congre- " to producer Bernie Yuman,’"Roy has a gational Church will’bring the.issue back bond with these animals whereby there’s to theirgov.ernmg boards. ,Andsome mere- " no force. Force createsforce. There’s alot bers of MCC~United, Tulsa s Metropoli: ¯ of love. There’s a lot of.voice intonation tan Community Church, members of and camaraderie - and a lot of meat - but predominatelyLesbianand Gay denomi- " affection and conditioning, Roy’s never nation, are concerned about their church’s ¯ trained an animal, and Siegfried and Roy endorsement of a statement which does have never been involved.in, training amnot acknowledge the existence of Lesbian -" malsin their lives. They mold things around and Gay persons. : the personality of their animals." And The welcoming committee of Commumaybe, if the rest of us learned that tricknity Unitarian-Universalist Congregation ¯ love without the need for control - we’d has drafted a letter to TMM saying, "we have longer lasting relationships .as well. erred in our endorsement of this state- " Food for thought. And so, for all the nasty ment"because the failure toinclude sexual ¯ S&Rjokes I could make, I find I really just orientation is in conflictwith the values of ¯ have too much respect for what they’ve the congregation and the letter further says ," accomplished to make them. that they wilt not endorse any future state- " In the film, you get behind the scenes ments which are not inclusive. ¯ visits to their home - which is like deOther groups such as Holland Hall ¯ signer overkill, given their taste_~or opuSchool, the Episcopal Diocese of Okla: " lence. And you get to see their private homa, and the Eastern Oklahoma : wildlife sanctuary, where they live with Presbytery -: Presbyterian Church USA, ¯ and raise the white tigers used in the act. have been asked to explain their support : Their love of the animals is evident. for a statement which is not compatible . It’s filmed in 3-D, so you’ll be able to with their policies. In the case of the Epissee Siegfried and Roy up close and percopal Diocese and. Holland Hall School, : sonal. Numerous digital techniques were staff and religious leaders were not sure if ¯ used to recreate the Europe of their childthe organization’s names had been used " hoods. As for the magic shots, they were with permission. ¯ specifically filmed uncut as master shots, Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights : so that the audience would no that no (TOHR), the state’s oldest civil rights or- ¯ camera tricks were used. Andrew Dunlap, ganization has discussed the issue at a " who plays young Roy, was also in the all recent board and membership meeting and male version of "Importance of Being president, Greg Gatewood stated that he ¯ Earnest," which was interesting to note. would seek a meeting with Rana and Day : Also playing is Fantasia 2000 and 3D to request an explanation of the exclusion Mania: Encounter in the 3rd Dimension; of "sexual orientation" from the state- ¯ 71st and Highway 169. �Healing E E IIII ECT AIDS Memorial Quilt re.n. esS World AIDS Day Candlelight Memorial March Friday, December 1st, 6:30pm Tulsa Civic Center Plaza, 5th & Denver The NAMES Project Quilt Opening, 8pm This advertisement is donated by Tulsa Family News. TFN appreciates the opportunity to support this showing of the Quilt, and The NAMES Project. � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Gay Students Start LGBT Scholarships NORMAN, Ok - The Oklahoma Lambda Intercollegiate Coalition (OLIC) has announced the creation of the Oklahoma Lambda Youth Scholarship which they claim is the first such program in Oklahoma. The Coalition is an umbrella network of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender student groups from Oklahoma colleges and universities. According to OLIC spokespersons, Kent Doss of the University ofOklahoma andMandy Whitten, the President of University of Central Oklahoma Gay Alliance for Tolerance and Equality (GATE), the purpose of the scholarship is to promote pride in youth activism and foster leadership at Oklahoma college campuses. Oklahoma high-school graduates who intend to remainin the state throughout their college careers will be eligible for the $1,000 award. Applicants will be selected according see OLIC, p. 3 Tulsa ChamberAdds "Sexual Orientation" TULSA - The Tulsa Metro Chamber, which recently changed i ts namefrom the MetropolitanTnlsaChamber of Commerce, also has revised its non-discrimination policies to add the term "sexual orientation" to more traditional statues like race, religion, age, national origin, sex (gender), etc. According to Michael Hightower, media spokesperson for the organization, the .addition of "sexual orientation" waspart ofacomprehensivereview ofChamber’s internal policies. The Bank of Oklahoma’s Human Resources Dept. conducted this effort for the Chamber. This revision is part of a trend on the part of businesses to attract employees by committing to fair hiring practices. According to the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington based civil right group, 494 of the Fortune 500 companies have added "sexual orientation" to their policies. Anumberof majorTulsaemployers,including American Airlines, Kimberly-Clark, AEP/PSO, Dollar/ Thrifty Auto Group, and others have done the same. Kerry Lewis, president-elect of Tulsa/Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR) expressed surprise and applauded this Chamber move. TFN publisher Tom Neal noted "as one of the few openly Gay members of the Chamber, I am really proud to.see the organization welcome us. We need to support them in return." DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P, 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 ¯ Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends TMM’s Exclusion of i oGfayDs iDscelriibmerinataetiAocnt ¯ Pastor Says "Sexual Orientation" Was ¯ Added But TMM Board Never Told ¯ TULSA - While the incident, a KKK visit, to which a local ¯ "diversity" statement sought io i’~spond is well past, the state- " merit continues to brew controversy. Tulsa Metropolitan Minis- " try, an "interfaith" religious organization issued a statement -.¯ which defined Tulsa’s "diversity" as being composed of race, religion andethnicity, without mentioning sexual orientation. ¯ Earlier, it appeared that the failure to mention "sexual orienta- ¯ tion"mighthavebeenanoversightbasedontheKKK’ s historical ¯ ¯ attacks primarily on Jews and Blacks. However, in a return call to the Tulsa Family News, the Rev. Russell Bennett of Fellowship Congregational Church, UnitedChurch of Christ, stated that ¯ he participated in themeeting to draft the statement, and specifically he called for the inclusion of "sexual orientation" in the : statement. Bennett noted that he heard no objections to his ¯ request, and he said that he expected that "sexual orientation" ¯ would be included. : Perry Simons, executive director of the Jewish Federation ¯ attended the meeting at Fellowship Congregational Church with : Nancy Day of the National Conference for Community and Justice, Dr. Sandra Rana, representing Tulsa’s Muslim commu- : nity, the Rev. Clark Shackleford of Sand Springs, as well as ¯ Bennett. Andwhile Simmons says he does notrememberBennett ." calling for adding "sexual orientation," Simons says he feels he ¯ shouldhave raised theissue. Simons noted that Dr. Rana took the ¯ notes of what he described as a "stream of consciousness" ¯ discussion. ; However, the Rev. Radford Rader of College Hill Presbyterian ¯ and a-member of the T!VIM executive boardstated that the ¯ executive board never saw a version see TMM, p. 11 Michigan Elects First Gay Rep. ¯ LANSING, Mich. (AP)- Newly dected state House Rep: Chris ¯ Kolb heads to Lansing in January as the state’s first openly Gay ." lawmaker, but he said he has a lot more he wants to tackle than ¯ simply civil rights for Gay-people. Kolb, 42, admits his role is ; important, but it’s not his only focus. "I don’t wear it on my : sleeve. I am who I am, but I don’t bring itinto every discussion," ¯ he said of his sexual orientation. "It’s not my one and only ¯ crusade in life." : The election of Kolb, a Democrat from Ann Arbor, puts ¯ Michigan among 22 states that have an openly Gay man or ¯ Lesbianin their legislatures. TheAnnArborcity councilman first ¯ got interested in politics after receiving his bachelor’s degree in .. natural resources from the University of Michigan in 1982. He ¯ started with local government, distributing campaign literature ¯ and knocking on doors for candidates. After serving as aprecinct ¯ captain and secretary of the local Democratic Party, he won an ¯ open seat on theAnnArbor City Councilin 1993. Eventually, he ¯ became mayor pro-tern. 2 " Working on the Democratic-controlled council with former ." Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon, a Republican, has already ¯ helped Kolb learn to forge bipartisan alliances, a key skill in the ¯" state Legislature. Sheldon admits she and Kolb were competitors, but said he never made his sexual orientation an issue. "You ¯ do not think ofhimas being the stereotypical Gay person inAnn Arbor," Sheldon said. "He’S a regular person the way you or I ." would want to be relating to a person." Kolb said he will work at improving the state of civil and human rights in Michigan,but he’s also interested in tackling ¯ education and environmental issues. He wants to work on legislation that would make it illegal in Michigan to fire employees ¯ based on their sexual orientation, something already prohibited ¯ in 11 states. "I’mnotkiddingmyself as to howfar theLegislature will be able to be moved," he said. "But civil and human rights : are along struggle." ¯ Kolb will be one of 14 new Democrats and seven Republicans ¯ to begin their first two-year state House terms inJanuary. He will be seated across the aisle see Michigan, p. 3 I TOHR Celebrates 20 Years of Se.rvice Only MCC Is Older ,n State ¯ TULSA- Itwas a different world then. Therewas no ¯ Will and Grace, few Gay or Lesbian images in print ¯ or on the airwaves, HIV was not yet discovered, and ¯ what was later called AIDS was just beginning to be seen in New York City and San Francisco. The ¯ Stonewall Riots had only ocurred 10 years before, ¯ Gay people were still subject to arrests and harass- " ment in most of the US, and world. ¯ In Oklahoma City, community activists began a group calledOklahomans forHumanRights (TOHR). ¯ Tnlsans joined that group and then formed a Tulsa ; branch. This group lead by three Tulsa attorneys, ¯ Dennis Neill, Bob Inglish andMikeGreen and others ¯ later created Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, ¯ Oklahoma’s 2nd oldest organization after Tulsa’s ¯ Metropolitan Community Church United. ¯ Twenty years later, the world has changed. Tulsa ¯ has support groups in the public schools for Lesbian ¯ and Gay young adults, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgenderedpeople are verymuchvisibleinAmeri- ¯" can media and society butTOHRis still here provid- ¯ ing community services as at the beginning with all volunteer, staffing and not that many dollars. ¯ Longtime TOHRmember and former boardmere- ¯ ber Jonathan Stanley remembers being a member as ¯ early as 1980 or 1981, adding that he recalls Bob ¯ Inglish as president and meeting in a small upstairs ¯ room in Stonehorse, a building now known as the ¯ Consortium. A particularly vivid memory of those ¯ early days was the controversy whenTOHR rented a ¯ city pool for an event and cityofficials had the pool ¯ drained because Gay p_eopl_e_had, used. it..This was in the very early days of AIDS when the disease was associated exclusively with Gay men and little was known about HIV transmission. ¯ During these years,TOHRhas provided a commu- ¯ uity information telephone line, civil rights advo- ¯ cacy, anonymous HIV anti-body testing (eventually ¯ with paid staff and HIV education outreach workers ¯ - a program which has spun off as the H.O.P.E. ¯ Testing Clinic), and for the last several years, a ¯ community center. The Center was in the Brookside ¯ neighborhood was first known as the Pride Center ¯ and featured a 5x8’ flag which flew over the building ¯ until it was repeatedly stolen. Now the Center is ¯ known as theTulsa Gay Community Services Center : and has relocated to 21st & Memorial (2114 So. ¯ Memorial), ironically sharing a wall with one of ¯ Tulsa’s oldest Lesbian bars, TNT’s. ," However, TOHR president Greg Gatewood and ; the proposed new officers, Kerry Lewis, president, ¯ 1st v.p. Vance Reed, 2nd v.p. Don Glass, secretary ¯ Curtis Evans, and treasurer Beth Persac, are hoping ¯ the current location will be a short-term one. TOHR ¯ has announced a capital raising campaign, the Pyramid Project, to purchase a permanent commtmity ." center. ." According to Gatewood, the Project has in hand ox : in pledges and grants, $65,000 of their goal ot ¯ $250,000. And the organization has set up legal restrictions such that all gifts to the Pyramid Projec! ¯ arerestricted to that useonly. Also, thoserules (whicl: ¯ were reviewed by outside legal counsel and CPA’s" ¯ restrict overhead expenditures to a maximum of ¯ and all labor for the project is volunteer. : Gatewood notes that the organization is setting uI web sites for TOHR and the Pyramid Projec ¯ (www.tohr.org and www.pyramidproject.org) whicl ¯ they expect to be available in mid-December. ." To celebrate the 20th anniversary of TOHR, th~ ¯ group will hold a Holiday reception and silent auctiol : on Dec. 10th from 4-7pm, see TOHR, p. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Sqtmre *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Rene~ades/Rainbow. Rooni, 1649.S. Main *TNT’s, 211,4 S. Memorial ! *Tool Box, 1338E! 3rd " 712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 58523405 660-0856 584-1308 *The ’Yellow Brick Road Piab; 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 ’ Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Book~ ’& Music, 2740 E. 21 *Borders B0oks’ 8~ Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside JeWelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehri~,:3807C S. Peoria *Cheap Th~ills,~::2(~iOE. 1 lth 743-1000 250-5034 665-4580 712-1122 712-9955 494~2665 743-5272.. 746-0313 295"-5868 Cherry St. Ps,yEtirthdt~py, 1515 S. Lewis 58’1-0902, 743=4117 Community’CI~ihiiig~’Kerby Baker . " 622-0700 Tim Daniel, At~tonie~ 352-9504, 800-742-9468’ *Deco to Discoi" 3212 E. 15th 749=362Q. Doghouse 6n-.Brr0kside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Boules-& Vi~t~0S, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 Encompass,Travel," I3161H N. Memorial 369=8555 Ross Edwar~l:Sal6ii i 584~0337, 712~9379 Events Uniimited;; 507S. Main ¯ 5920460 Floral Design-S~dioi~3404 S,. Peoria " " 744~9595 Four Star ImpOrt.AutOmotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. ’ 610-0880 Cathy Furlong;PhiD.~ 1980 Utica Sq..Med. Cir.- 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808~8026 *Gloria Jear;’~ .Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st" 742-1460 Learme MTG’rO~s~’En~i~ance &financial pl,.~a~.ng. 459~9349 Mark T. Ha~by~A’ttOrney *Sandra J. I~ll,M~S;Tsychotherapy, 2865 ~i ~kelly745:74427414101T *Internafiol~al T~urs...... 341:6866 Jacox Aniraal Cliifie, 2732 E. 15th .... 712-2.750 *Jared’s Antlques;"1602 E. 15th - - 582-3018 David KauSk~y~:~otmtry Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers; HoUsekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Ken’s Flowers; ’1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #21C -’ 747-5466. *Living A~tSpaee; 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112~ Mingo Valley’Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-59341 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 Puppy Pause: IF,1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *The Pride StOre............... 743-4297 Rainbowz’0~ the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning ....... 834:0617- Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834~7921, 747-4746 Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square ...... 749-~6301 Paul Tay, Car’Salesman 260-7829 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558. Venus Salon, 1247-S: Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Cotmsding 743-1733 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 www.gaytulsa.org - website for Tulsa Gays &Lesbians Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S~ Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community of Hope Church, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159. e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum. Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by ~oL~/:~,~Nt~v~ and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part wi~out written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of, T.oLu~./:~.’.. N~. Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each. edition at distribution -points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. ¯ *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 ¯ Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics’& ¯ Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74t70-1475 " ~ 355-3140 ~Fellowshipcongreg.Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 ¯¯ -*FreeSpiritWomen’sCenter, callforloeation&info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 " " 747-6827 ¯ Friends in UnitySocial Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 : HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 ¯ *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 ¯ HOPE,-HIV Oiitreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 ¯ *HouseoftheHoly SpiritMinstries;1517 S. Memorial 224-4754 ¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ¯ NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. - , 748-3111 ¯ NOW;Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 ¯ " ,OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tuls~ seefrom anumber oflawmal~ers who signed a letter earlier this year asking the state Department of Education to invesugate Grand Haven High School for allowing Gay speakers to talk to students about being Gay during "Diversity Days." House Speaker-elect Rick Johnson, RLeRoy, and~GOP Rep. Valde Garcia ;o_.[ DeWitt were two. of the nine. staie House members who signed the iletter. Both,say, they wi!l not have_any problems worki,r~g with Kolb. The House will retain its 58-52 Republican majority when the new session starts. "I don’t agree with the philosophies of the Democratic Party, but that doesn’t mean I don’t work with Democrats," Garcia said. "Just because I don’t approve of his lifestyle doesn’t mean I can’t work with him." ¯ Kolb’s experience in government and : ability to handle himself well even when ! others disagree with him will help him in ¯ Lansing, said Jeffrey Montgomery, executive director of the Detroit-based Gay rights ¯ group Triangle Foundation. "He’s been ¯ aroundmany,many,,ch~lenging situations," .: Montgomery said. He s going to be able to : handle ahar;dful ofignorantlegislators very ¯ easily." ¯ While Kolb believes the media makes a ¯ bigger deal about his election than anyone : else, he knows his role~is important. He says ¯ the ultimate benefit of his election is as an ¯ example to members of the Gay community. "Any young person, regardless of their ; sexual orientation, whohears about this will ¯"- .t~-.G, POB 52800, 74152 ." ~*Planned Parenthood,1007 S. Peori~a ....tMme-’Timers, P.O: B.ox52t 18, 74152 -- R;A:L N:; Regional AIDS Interfaith Network - ¯Red.Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 St. Aidan’S Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinriati " StTDu~stan’sEpiscopal, 5635 E. 71st .*St: Jerome’s Parish Church; 205 W. King ¯ *TulsaArea United Way,- 1430 S..Boulder ~-*TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian.Health Care. 582-7225 ¯ Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 ....... 595-4105 .......~.,2Confideufial HIV Testing -by appt. on Thursdays ionly " :.~.Tulsi!O!d.a.T0rH,.t!m.an Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 "..- ~.U.L.S.A.iTulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 - .2 T~s~a City Hall, G~0und Floor Vestibule ;.... Tiii~ii CommUnityCoil~ge Campuse~ ~ *TulsaGay Community Center, 21st & Memorial 743-4297 ; Unity Church of Clirigtianity,3355 s. Jamestown 749-8833 "BARTLESVILLE "-B~fl~svill~Piibllc Library, 600S=. Johnstone 918-337-5353 TAHLEQUAH .......... ¯ Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 49-490t ¯ "’ realiz.e..that ~ere’s a world of opportunity," 587 76?4.... he said..,~oo often, that s not the message our community and others hear." . - , _. 749-4195 584-2325 425-7882 492-7140 582-3088 583-7171 ¯ Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church ¯ ~Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 ¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS ¯ Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 ¯ Jim & Breut’s Bistro, 173 S. Main ¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. ¯ Emerald Raiiabow,45 &l/2 Spring St. ¯ MCC of the Living Spring ¯ Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 ¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery ¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans- ¯ Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East ¯ White Light, 1 Center St. ¯ JOPLIN, MISSOURI ¯ Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U1.34 918-456-7900 918-453-9360 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501-253-2776 501-253-5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 417-623-4696 * is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. Memorabilia from the years will be on display as well as auction items from artists and ¯ merchants such as Antiquaries inTulsa, P.S. , Gordon, DavidHoot, T.A. Lorton, Kathleen ¯ Pendergrass, Rand’s Art & Antiques, Mary ¯ Schepers and others. Curt & Marj’s Cater- " ing will offer refreshments as may other ¯ Tulsa restaurants. ¯" On Dec. 1 lth, TOHR and PFLAG, Par- ¯ cuts, Families and Friends of Lesbians and ¯ Gays will hold their annual joint Holiday potluck dinner at the Center at 7pm. The : entree will be provided as will soft drinks ." and tableware. Attendees should bring veg- ¯ etables, salads and desserts and may call ¯ 743-4297. to know which of those to bring.. ¯ Gatewood also notes that planning for ¯ next year’s Diversity Celebration 2001, ¯ which includes the Parade, a post-parade ¯ ¯ Festival and ablack-tie dinnerwill continue a mid-January meeting. The precise date ¯ will be announced later, t 7pro. The entree- ¯. will be provided as will soft drinks and tableware. Attendees should bring veg- ¯ etables, salads and desserts and may call the ¯ Center at 743-4297 for which of those to ¯ bring. Gatewood ~so notes that planning for ¯ next year’s Diversity Celebration 2001, ." which includes the Parade, a post-parade ¯ Festival and ablack-tie dinner will continue ~ a mid-January meeting¯ The precise date ¯ will be announced later. World AIDS Day by Chris Labonte, semorpolicy advocate Human Rights Campaign As we commemorate the first World AIDS Day of the 21st Century,itis important to bothcelebrate our achievements over HIV and AIDS and work vigorously to ensure there will be continued success in thcfuture. With success in treatments, we risk the danger of resting on our laurels. Instead,:we :mus~ rededicate ourselves to building upon these victories anff creating a future without HIV and AIDS. ~People with the diseas~e live longer and healthier lives yet the number of those’whbar¢ newly infected in our country each year remains steady at 40,000. The.new barrier to treatment andprevention is complacency. It comes from a variety of places and appears in many forms. New highly active antiretroviral therapies have contributed to the welcome steep decline in AIDS deaths in our nation. Media and advertising campaigns for these therapies signal that one can live and should live a robust and long life - you can go rock climbing, ski down the highest mountain, and continue to do fulfilling work. While all of this is true, they fail to mention that these therapies require years of medication, multiple dtses of pills each day - sometimes with possible side effects- and all at a great expense. This somewhat slanted view of our treatment success may contribute to our prevention failure. Although gay ¯ and bisexual men hage made strides in reducing the percentage of HIV infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact, men who have sex with men still account for approximately 40percent ofnew infections each year. By not recognizing the tree costs ofHIV infection, young gay and bisexual men are engaging in risky behavior; such as intentional unprotected anal andoral sex.Arecent study suggests that the more optimistic memwere about the new treatments, the less likely they were to use safe sex precautions or limit their number of sexual parmers. Moreover, existing health ~disparities among commm nitieS of color tuake treatments particularly out.of reach for them. For the first time, the numbek Of gay men fromcommunities of color - African Americans, Latinos, Asian Pacific-Islanders, Native American. and others - outnumber the number of white gay and bisexual men in new AIDS cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the federal agency :primarily responsible for prevention of HIV/AIDS. Prevention is also particularly concerning with communities of color, where young gay and bisexual men of color are often confronted with both homophobia and racism. We must address this situation immediately and offer prevention strategies targeted to the unique needs of gay and bisexual men of color so they ¯ can also benefit from treatments available to others. We also cannot ignore strategies that we know have been successful in reducing HIV transmission in the past. Far too often, policy makers ignore proven science to score political points at the expense of peoples’ lives. Needle exchange programs and abstinence are two of the most vivid examples: Successful risk reduction programs also save money on future treatment costs. The CDC has set forth an ambitious goal to reduce new HIV infections inour nation. In addition, the independent and science-based Institute ofMedicine recently released areport, "No Time to Lose," that supported the use of cost effective methods of reducing HIV transmission, including needle, exchange programs. A recent study from .the Heury.J. Kaiser Family Eotmda_tign~f.o_und that p.arents think schools should have more comprehensive sexual education curriculum and cover topics that are not generally covered, such as sexual orientation. Effective prevention methods deserve support - both financial and political support-from Congress, the administration, the public health community, and other impacted communities. We must strive to continue to find even better treatments, furthe~ reduce the number HIV infections, provide additional assistance to nations around the globe and develop a vaccine within a reasonable time frame. These goals are attainable. In a nation as wealthy and creative as ours, we should expect nothing less. ¯ Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry: Gay People Need Not Exist ¯ by Tom Neal, editor &publisher ¯ committee process and edited out that inclusion. Because It might come as quite a surprise to you to learn that there " of their and their organization’s past involvement in acts are no Gay people in Tulsa. There are no Gay bars, no Gay " of anti-Gay discrimination, it looks like Dr. Sandra Rana churches, no Gay households, no Gay parents, no Gay kids ¯ and Nancy Day of the National Conference for Commu- - you get the idea. : nity and Justice wereresponsible.TMM’s executive board At least that’s the message that Tulsa Metropolitan " never saw an inclusive version. Ministry (TMM) is putting out. While"cel- This does not excuse the executive ebrating" Tulsa’s "diversity" specifically, claiming to "... support each other’s right to live and prosper in this great community. ¯ ." TMM. somehow managed t3 "disappear" Gay Tulsans. Wehave long known that some groups in TMM are deeply prejudiced against Lesbian and Gay persons. Usually these people are identified as Tulsa’S Muslim community, some of Tulsa’s Black churches and Tulsa’s Orthodox Christian commumty. No matter how repugnant their views are to us, morally and theologically, wehave to ¯ support their constitutional right to hold : those views. But usually their objections are to.-us having those basic civil rights protections which they enjoy themsdves. They want for it-to continue to be legal for us to be firedfrom ourjobs, or thrown out of our homes or have our children taken from us. They have objected to characterizing assaults on us as hate crimes, even if the "... apologlsts for TMM ma~e the excuse that Gay Tulsans have to be sold out in order to appease the Muslims, or the Blaeh churches or the Orthodox. Gay people are ashed, again and again, year after year, to go along because some good comes out of it..." board. In this city, and in this time, it is very hard not to know that Gay and Lesbian people exist. But their oversight lacks the malice of deliberate exclusion. Many apologists for TMM make the excuse that Gay Tulsans have to be sold out in order to appease the Muslims, or the Black churches or the Orthodox. Gay people are asked, again and again, year after year, to go along because some good comes out of it. But this statement goes too far. It demands that we collaborate in the denial of our own existence. And those.who sign it knowing better, knowing thatTMM’s "diversity" statement is profoundly a lie, are no less collaborators with evil than those who kept silent in the face of Nazi horrors. TMMhas long tolerated a double standard. Gay people are asked to recognize that Tulsa Muslims and others are "funda- ¯ mentalists" and we are asked to tolerate same act is a hate crime when they are the target. : Butthey hadn’t before soughtto deny our very existence. This is largely a symbolic act but in some ways, it is more ~ powerful than the others. Even when our fundamental civil ¯ rights are denied, we are atleast acknowledged as existing. ¯ Ironically, part Of the impetus for this "diversity" statement was a visit by a particularly virulent part.of the Klu- Klux Klan. Traditionally, theKKK’s principle targets have b~nJews andBlacks.But as Gay and Lesbian people have become more visible, we have been included very explicitly in Klan hatred. This Klan visit was-no.exception. And while the Klan did not forget us, Tulsds "do-gooder" hypocrites pretend that we don’t exist. Now not all of TMM’s members take this position. Russell Bennett of Fellowship Congregational Church sought to add sexual¯ orientation to TMM’s "diversity" statement. But ina deeply disturbing and shameful action, one or two commi ttee members appear to have violated the to three equally weighted categories; community leadership, scholastic merit, and financial need. This year,the scholarship selection committee is .comprised of a student representative from five of OLIC campus organizations, and five OklahomaGLBT community leaders..The chair-person of this year, selectiOn committee is Whitten. The organizers add that applications will be available Dec. 1st from our OLIC organizations, at the Oklahoma City and Tulsa Gay Commlmity Centers and online at www.geocides.’com/okolic/. Applications will be due on Feb. 15,2001 and the winners will be announced in late March. Also, the Oklahoma ]mmbda IntercJall:egiate C0aii~0~ hold a fundraising reception in Tulsa Oli December 2’ls( from7 - 10pm at thehome ofRick and Susan Doss in Tulsa. Funds raised by this event will be used for the Oklahoma Lambda Youth Scholarship. RSVP to 405-325-4452. A donation of $25 is suggested. The goals of the Oklahoma Lambda Intercollegiate Coalition are: I. Raising awareness of GLBT youth ~ssues within our community, schools, and society; II. Sharing information and resources in an effort to provide the best possible programming for sponsoring organizations; their bias agaanst us even as Muslims, Jews, Christians, and. Unitarians somehow manage to respect each other. White supremacist groups, like the Christian Identity movement and .others who use theology much like the Muslims do to justify their prejudice, are not welcomed into.TMM. Buta special place is carved outfor anti,Gay prejudice, It is finally too much. And it is time that good people who know better stand up for their neighbors and friends and families, ff this means that Tulsa cannot support its real diversity, then at least we’ll be telling .the truth. Muslim Tulsans might have to acknowledge that they cannot object to anti-Muslim bias while oppressing Gay Tulsans. Black Tulsans ought to know better..And Jewish Tulsans mightneed to do for Gay people what was done for them by non-Jews in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s,which is to be vocally and visibly advocates for civil rights. It’s time now for this change. ¯ III. Supporting a Queer youth movement to impact the : politics of our state and nation; ¯ IV. Providing resources to the Oklahoma GLBT youth ¯ community including political and health education, a ¯ safe social environment, and an opportunity to cultivate : leadership skills, and; ¯ V. Fostering the conception and growth of new GLBT : student groupsacross Oklahoma. ¯ For more information, contact, Oklahoma Lambda In- ¯- tercollegiateCoalition 900Asp,OMU, P,m. 363,Box 169, Norman OK 37019-4058 or telephone to.405-325-4452. ¯ www.geocities.com]okolic i Stout Wins Okla.Mr.Leather : T.U.L.S. A~ (Tulsa Uniform Leather Seekers Associa- ¯ .ti.’9fa):held the annual Oklahoma Mr. Leather contest "! ~ O.cto~b_dr 20-22 at the Silver S’t~tr in Tulsa. Four Contestants from the state competed in c~ate~ories that included inter, view, streetwear, physique and full leather image. Seven judges from the US and Canada judged the contestants. International Mr. Leather 2000 Mike Taylor was among the distinguished panel. Contestants were Jason Pelkey of Tulsa, Jim Stout of Ramona, Stephen Scott of OKC-Mr. Sooner State Leather 2000, and Mark Goins of Tulsa-Mr. Tulsa Leather 2000. The weekend event began with a tour of the local clubs and Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center. The interviews were Saturday morning and the rest of the contest was held that night. Stephen Scott was first runner-up. Scout Troop Defies National Anti-Gay Ban PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A second Rhode Island Scout troop is defying the national organization’s ban on homosexuals, Members, leaders, and parents from Boy ScoutTroop 28 have sentaletterto the Narragansett Council of Boy-Scouts saying they will ignore the policy. The troopjoins Cub Scout Pack 88, which sent a similar letter, The Providence Journal reported. ~ .The national policy is root~,in a 1910 oath that Says Scofi~- ~’.st ke~p~el~s-~ ,.ni0ralty straigl~t:~’iThe ’ !. b~via’g tlplldld~y!th~ Siipr~aid CourtthisS~er,but ’"about ~:d~ozen~ trbb~ ~at~oflwlde have stud thaiwill The leaders of Pack 28 said the words "morally straight" have nothing to do with sexual orientation. ....’The oath didnotmean to banhomosextmls but to keep .....on the straight and narrow and do what is right," said Y"Allen M. Dennison, an assistant scoutmaster with Troop 28, who has four sons in Scouting. Our assessment of whatis right is that everyone be included, and " that includes Gay leaders and Gay Scouts." ..... The Narragansett Council will forward the letter fromTroop28to theBoy Scouts ofAmericaheadquar- ’ ters in Irving~ Texas, as it did with the letter from Pack 88, said state ¢o,.u~,ci! Spokesman David Preston. Pack 88hash theard from the national Boy Scouts regarding its status and calls to the Boy Scouts of America were not returned. Officially, troops that " ignore Scouting rule~ Will have their charter revoked. To date, however, the Boy.Scouts of America has not revoked thecharter of a troop or council for ignoring .the banon Gays. The ban made news inRhode Island last year, when a 16-year-old Eagle Scout filed a complaint with the Rhode Island Human Rights Commission saying he was denied a job at a Scout camp because he is Gay. Maryland Can Ban " Anti-Gay Discrimination ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Gov. Parris Glendening~s :plan to add Gays to Maryland’s anti-discrimination law likely would not violate the First Amendment guarantee of free exercise of religion, according to the state attorney general’s office. Assistant Attomey General Kathryn M. Rowe issued the four-page legal opinion this week at the request of-Delegate Sandy,I. Rosenberg, who is expected to use it to counter religious-based arguments -.. against the proposed legislation. "I did this so we would have a:.iegal opinion on the matter instead of rhetoric that is not precise," Rosenberg said. "In an - issue as emotional as .this, everybody should do their best not to misstate the law." Rosenberg asked for the opinion after a representative of the Diocese ofWilmington testified against the governor’s plan at a public heating in Salisbury.The diocese includes Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The hearing was conducted by a commission ereated by the governor to solicit testimony about discrimination against Gays, Lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals "The teaching o.f the Catholic Church and societal tradition does not accept homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle," the diocese said in a position paper presented at the hearing. Thepositionpaper alSO said the proposed legislation "significantly and Wrongfully encroaches (on) the First Amendment, free-exercise rights of religious institutionsand ofpersons whose actions are dri-ven by their religious beliefs." In her opinion, Rowe said there wasprecedent for laws with "the incidental effect of burdening certain religious practices" - as long as the laws do not single out one religion. There is also precedent suggesting that the hiring of ministers would be exempt from the proposed bill, Rowe said. : Navy Ends Harrassment : of Former Seaman ¯ ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)-A former midshipman who : resigned from the U.S. Naval Academy amid accusa- ¯ tious ofhomosexuality won’thave to repay the govem- ~ ment for his education, the Navy has ruled/The deci- ¯ sion means that Tommie Watkins, 25, will not have to ." reimburse the Navy the $86,000 that covered his train- . ing and tuition, plus interest. i Watkins, president of his classand an aspiring Navy ~ ~pil0t; ~s~id bewas pres’sured to. resign ~and did so ~ ~ beeau~e he feared ht~mophobia ’would preve~t him ~- fromreceiviffga fair trial:’After leaving, he acknowl- -" edged being Gay. Officer trainees who drop out or are ¯ expelled during theirjtmior or senior years are required ¯ by Pentagon policy to repay the government for their ¯ education, either ~in cash or through enlisted service. ¯ The Navy’s Board of Correction of Naval Records ." said last year that he was a victim 6f,"error and ¯ injustice," and recommended the academy waive the ." payment. That decision was overruled in March by ." Carolyn Becraft, the assistant secretary ofthe Navy for ¯ manpower. Watkins sued, and on the day of the dead- : line for the Navy to respond, his lawyer got word of the : reversal. ." Watkins, who works in Miami as the project director ¯¯ for an AIDS and HIV ministry, called the decision ¯ "long overdue and totally justified." "It’s kind of ironic, because the Navy says its core values are honor, ¯ courage and commitment," he said. "It seems like I had _. to exhibit those qualities to win this case.’" ¯ Officials from the Naval Academy declined to com- ." ment on the decision. ¯ Iowa Order Banning Anti- Gay Bias to Be Reviewed ¯ DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - It’s up to a Polk County ¯ district ,judge to rule on the legality-, of Gov. Tom ¯ Vilsack s’ci~il-rights order. District Judge Glenn Pille heard lawyers’ arguments about the order during a ¯ recent hearing. ¯ Vilsack issued an executive order in September 1999, forbidding discrimination against Gays, Lesbi- ¯ ans and Transexuals in state government employment. : The move sparked a legislative debate. Conservative ¯ legislators were particularly angry that the order ap- ¯ plies to Transsexuals. A majority of lawmakers voted ¯ to repeal the order, but Vilsack vetoed the legislation. ¯ Twenty-three legislators led by Republican Senate ¯ Majority Leader Stewart Iverson, challenged the order ¯ in a lawsuit filed in July. They said that Vilsack ¯ overstepped his authority and thathe, in effect, rewrote ¯ the law. ¯ Vilsack has said he is carrying out a state law ¯ providing equal opportunity in state employment to all : persons. Iowa Deputy Attorney General Julie Pottorff ¯ represented Vilsack at the hearing. She said the dispute ¯ is a legal question, and that Vilsack acted within his ¯ auth6rity ensuring that legal protections apply to all ¯ executive branch employees. ’°-l’his is no more than a ¯ ¯ political disagreement," Portorff told Pille. Des Moines lawyer Mark McCormick is represent- " ing the legislators and a former state employee. He ¯ argued at the hearing that the order infringes on the ¯ constitutional separation of powers and said "The ¯ governor has no power by- ~xecutive order to create ~ ¯ law." - : Vatican in Tizzy About ¯ "Fake Marriages" ¯ VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican has blasted ¯ lawmakers for givinglegal recognition to so-called"de ~ facto" unions - including those between Gays - and ¯ said attempts to allow adoption by Gays were "a great danger." A 77-page document made public in Novem-~ Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at 1 lam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Service, 6pm ¯ 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-~.4-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna .L.W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114,3518 The Pride Store 21st Street & Memorial Tulsa Gay Community Services Center .743-.GAYS (743=4297) 6-9 pm! Sudda~ ".-.!F~’{day, ~ ~ . ~ ~ ° ! 12,9~,prn~ ~Saturday, all sales benefit the C~nte? Important Information Call 212-461:2976 Interested? Call 918=447-8602 Red Rock Tulsa. . Free Confidentia!.HIV Testing Walk:in Clinics Tues. & Thurs., 5 -8 pm at the Center,. 1307 East 38th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KIM WILKS Independent Consultant for 357-1757 ~n just a matter of hours .Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 ber by The Pontifical Council for the Family was built heavily around similar denunciations over the last few years by Pope JohnPattl II. Italian Gay groups, stung over the summer by the Vatican’s moves to try to block Gay pride events in Rome, denounced the latest pronouncement on homosexual unions. The Vatican’s council on family matters also presented a proposal to make sex crimes against children, including "sex tourism" exploitation, crimes against humanity. But .the bulk of the positions ,pr.esented. hammered away at unions betwb.en Gays as well as legal recognition for.~tmm.arried hetgcosexual~couple~. While not citing any particular, .country, thd .,Vatica.n,. spoke of ’~great concern" aboutlawiiaakers’ efforts "in many countries with an ancient Christian tradition" to give legal status to unmarried couples. Earlier this month, Germany.granted legal recognition to Gay couples, following similar moves.ove~ the 1~ decade by other Western European countries. " De facto unions ~e the result.of private behavior andshoul’d remain 0ni~e pri~at~ 1,ev_el ," . the Vatican said. It described as a ~erious sign, of.the-contempo,~ rary br0~tkd0wn in the s0dal an~ ~oral.conscilence, political eftbrts tO give institutionalstatus to delfacto couples. It Said attempts to legalize thead0ption of children by Gay. ~Q~ple,s .added ’!an elemen_t.of ~reat danger." - .. NY Town offers: Benefits GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -The Gr.eenburgh Town Board voted un’aJaim6u~ly" tO ’offer health-be]aefits to same-sex domestic partners 0f municipal workers. "We want to treat all our employees as if they’re valuable to us," said Supervisor Paul.Feiner. New Yoj~k ~stiite,. Ne~: Yori~ City;._a~nd/~Ve’stchester CounU,.plus several ~orporation~,~.rpv.id¢~sach:benefits to homosexual couples. Of Westchester s-municipalities, only. Eastchester has..acted before Greenburgh. Under the measure;, which goesinto effect JnJanu- ..ary, an uumarried,.town, employee who.says-in an affidhvit that he or she has hadan exclusive relationship for a year can extend medical.and dental coverage to\the partner. - " . )_ Phelps at Phillips Exeter EXET.ER, N.H. (AP) - An anti-Gay ch~ch group opposed to Phillips ExeterAcadem~~ s p0!~gy .alirwing homosexuals to be dorm parents protested outside the school recently, v~aving.signs with messages .that included: ’q’hank GodforA!DS." About adoZenfol!owers of the Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro B.aptist Church of Topeka~ Kan., ~rrivedat ~eS~hob’i~r’rund noon after making similar demonstrations in’Ve~ont and Maine earlier. The, ,church members, oppose a measure Phillips Exeter truste~.,S approved in May that al!0ws.Gay and ,,I~,.sbian faculty and staff to serve as dormitory parents. ’ it’s destroying the fabric0fthis nation~ the~r~ls/.hat this nation ,does have," s,aid Sam Pheligs~Roper’~ the Rev.Phelps grandson.".It saslippeDi~lopestraightto hell and that’s where this.country is’headed. This is a ing match toward the end, when a group of University of New Hampshire students arrived to denounce the church group. "Relax! It’sjust sex," one student shouted. "I preach God’s word." "You preach hate." But that’s an accusation Phelps’ followers don’t deny. They maintain that God hates homosexuals and will destroy any society that condones homosexual behavior. ’q’he Christian belief is rooted not only in the love of God, but also the hate of God. You can’t have one without ,the. 9~er.,’~’. . .Pt!_dps-Roper said. "That is definitive. Th,e~ is~no.question, that Gq~t!ha,t~s, p~9..p!e.]’, ,, -~~W.~[bggQ Baptist ,O~,ur..ch ~s. ~gu,t 2Pq i~im~ers. . They have picketed~a~ ~e fun~€91s of. homosexuals, including that of Matthew Shepard,.a Gay man.who was brutally beaten and tortured in Wyoming in Octo~ ber 1998. "He’s in hall. And everyone else who.lives daat lifestyle will likely be in he!! with him unle{s.they repent," Phelps-Roper said. "Of ~.course, he could.have repented, but there’ s a snowball’, s, chance of tha~;happening." _. ¯ The Rev. Phelps did not attend, the demonstr.a_.tion. ~ His grandson said Phelps,:was .geeded back at his ¯¯ c,,h.t~h tominister But Phe!ps~Roper.saidthe growing acceptance of homosexualit~ made,:their message to ¯ iEx~ter all the more importan.t. ’;7~..’s.isimportant ~tuff. ¯ This is a ,matter of life and ~death,’:etemRy h~-re," phelps-Roper said. "When G.0~as said something is : ~.abomination, you don’t mes~.~ith it." ¯ Representatives of 14 churches from the region ¯ j6i]aekl the university students.i0PPosing Phdps? fol- 19wers. They said that thoug~flaey:don’t all agree on ¯ the moral status of homosexu~fity, they univers~ally oppose Phelps’ message. ."While we recognize their, right, to express their p,ersonal views freely concermngAcademy policy and : ~e subjectin general, we take,~.trong exception to/heir ¯ rhe.t.ori9and signs denigrati.ng0~r~eighbors,,, the,Rev’ ¯ ¯ DanielWeaver of theExeterUnitedMethodistChurch said: ~’We wholcheartedly agree:thathatr’ed, expressed ¯ or implied, as well as the adVo~icy br promotion of ¯ haff~lis anathema. It is certaird:y notitt the spirit of the ¯ v0~b~dsOf Jesus, ’Love your°neiIgl~bor~ as yourself."’ ¯ Accused Murderers of " Gay Man to Stand Trial FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) =T.w,o,teen-agers will stand : trial ear)y next year for the murder of a Gay black man from.Marion County, a judg.e., ruled~ in November. : David Allen Parker, whose lawyers may argue a di- : minished .capacity defense;,is ser~ to stand trial in ¯ Becldey on Jan. 16. His co-defendarit, Jared Wilson. ¯ will l!0t be tried until February...... ¯ Par~er, 18, ofGrantTownan~tWilson, 18, ofFairview : ar~’charged with first-degree.murder in the July 4 ° beating death of Arthur "J.R." Warren. Police say the teens pummeled the 26-year,old acquaintance with : their fists and feet, then ran over him four times with ] Parker’s car to disguise his injuries as a hit-and-run. ¯ The assault allegedly began after ~Warren told others ¯" about a sexual relationshiphe claimed to have had with : Parker. ~ Circuit Judge Rodney Merrifield said he will likely message that they need." ¯ rule within 10 days whetherjurors at thetrials will hear ~ ~..m,,d~nts, at .tl],e neari~y,22Q=ye~o!d pri~vate ,high : the teens’ confessions. Defenselawyers argue sheriff’s Schorl: apparently ~v~r~fi t irit~Stc;d~j~"h~g it~ ¯ deputies inappropriately obtained the statements the Many students and faculty members_wore x~row- :, gtay, 9.t" Lhe_.murd,er,;an accusatton, the deputies have colored pins, a symbol of support for homosexuals ¯ denied on the Witness ;/arid Judy Quirm, spokeswoman for Phillips Exeter, said " Prosecutors say Warren’s DNA showed up in evithe school’s roughly ’1,000 students decided not to attend the~demonstration; and instead .-organized a diversity celebration in another part of the campus. "The values of inclusion and diversity have been hallmarks of Phillips Exeter Academy since its formding," she said in a written statement. "The fact an objection to these principles is what brings this group to Exeter is indeed regrettable " The otherwise peacefifl protest erupted into a shout- : dence samples taken from the interior, exterior and : undercarriage of Parker’s car, as well as on wood : paneling and molding from the house where the bea~- ¯ ing began. : Parker’s attorneys, Rebecca Tate and Stephen Fitz. ¯ also asked the judge for a delay so they could hire ~., ~ expert to study their client for a possible diminished o capacity defense strategy. Bayer Seeks New AIDS Treatments BERLIN (AP) - Bayer AG, Germany’s biggest drugmaker, said Tuesday it will join the search fornew AIDS treatments as part of a shakeup of its drug research activities: The Leverkusen-based company, best-known for developing aspirin, will look for substances effective against resistant viruses, said Wol,fgang Hartwig, head of research in’Bayer s pharmaceuti- : cal busine.ss group. The company declined to specify:how muchit will invest in AIDS research. In 2000, it budgeted a total of 1 billion euros ($845 million) for research and development. Bayer said it expects to identify the first substances suitable for precliuical HIV testing within two years. Pharmaceutical research will in the future be focused on 13 fields, including seeking new treatments in urology, Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’ s disease. Bayer saidit will stop its research activities for osteoporosis, fibrosis of the liver and stroke. Key Protein in AIDS. Virus Found WASHINGTON (AP) - A protein that does housekeeping chores inside cells plays a key role in spreading the AIDS virus to other cells of the body, researchers report. In studies appearing in the Proceedings of the National AcademyofSciences (PNAS), researchers say that _HIV, the AIDS’virus, uses a group of proteins, called proteasomes, to assemble new viral partitles and to spread those new particles.to uninfected cells. Ulrich Schubert of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said test tube studies show that blocking the action of the proteasome proteins can reduce the spread of HIV infection by about 98%. Schubert, the first author of one study in PNAS, cautioned that the research was conducted only in test tubes and it is not known if the proteasome inkibitors would work against HIV in humans. "We would never inject this drug into an HIV-infected person because we do not know what would happen," said Schubert. Theproteasome inhibitors will be tested in monkeys before any human tests are considered, and those animal studies could take months, he said. Dr. Jonathan W. Yewdell, a NIAID researcher and a co-author of the study, said that althoughinhibitingproteasome shows promise as a strategy for treating HIV, "it is possible that it may not have any effect at all." He said the proteasome function is essential for healthy cells and that a drug thatblocks thatfunction could affect every cell in the body. "It is possible that the HIV-infectedcells will be more sensitive or that there are effects against the virus before" the healthy cells are affected, said Yewdell. Yewdell and Schubert said cancer researchers are experimenting with proteasome inhibitors for the treatment of prostate cancer and early studies have shown no side effects in cancer patients. The drug, however, has not been used in HIV-infected patients, they said. Proteasome’s job inside the cell is to identify and destroy old or unneeded proteins. Another PNAS study, by researchers at Pennsylvania State University, suggests that amolecule calledubiquitinplays akeyroleinhow viruses use theproteasome function in a cell to make new viral partitles. Still another PNAS study, by researchers from the Dana-Farber Caneer Institute, Harvard Medical School and the University of Padua in Italy, also demonstrates that ubiquitin plays a role in HIV particle formation. HIV spreads its infection inside thebody by forcing white blood cells, called CD4s, to make new viral particles. These partitles are released from the cells and can then infect other cells, spreading the infection throughout the body. The final part of this virus-making proeess is called budding. During budding, a new viral particle wraps itself in a membrane from the surface of the infected cell and completes its development. When the budding process is completed, the virus particle is released and can then attach to an uninfected CD4 cell and continue to spread the infection. The researchers found that HIV uses the proteasome molecules, particularly ubiquitin, to complete the assembly of a new viral particle at the cell membrane. When the pro.teasome action is blocked, HIV particle formation is crippled, they found. "Inhibiting proteasome causes fewer viruses to detach from the cell and what viru~ is madeis notas good," saidYewdell. Proteasome is most active in the budding phase of making a new HIV viral particle. It is different from protease, an enzyme that helps the HIV virus assemble precursor proteins into active proteins. Some HIV drugs, called protease inhibitors, work by blocking the action of the protease enzyme. Power Connect. Public Service Compa~ny of Oklahoma Customer Service.is Nb~Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 offering around-the-clock answers to your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All, day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. ¯ Leftover Medicines Help in Haiti + More CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - The jar of AIDS medications that Moses Alicea plucked from among pill bottles and vials spilled across the table were bound for the dump - worthless in the United States. But in Haiti, where the lifesaving drugs will be sent, they are priceless. The medications - about $20,000 worth of protease inhibitors that can suppress HIV and prevent progression of AIDS - will be sent to the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation to help people who would otherwise never receive the treatment. At the root of the salvage effort is the vast gulfbetween availability of the medications in affluentcountries tike the United States and developing countries like Haiti. "This is importantbecause there’s peqple living with HIV who can’t get the meds like we do," said Alicea, 36, who gave his ownleftoverAIDS medications. "ffI can’t use them, somebody else can. There’s alot of stuffoutthere that’ sjustbeing dumped." Some 95% of the more than 33 million people with HIV and AIDS in the world are in poor countries, according to the World Health Orgamzation. In those regions, the so-called drug "cocktails" - Clip And Save " p I I I I I I--I I I I III CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Servicio a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 Fa]ta De Suministr0:1-888-218-3924 Public Service Company of Oklahoma I I I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Medical Excellenc.e And Compass.lonate Care S nce 1926. a ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER q P Medical Excellence-Compassi’onate Care whichcan costupwardof $20,000 per year in the United States -are about 30 times the average monthly income and far out of reach for most people, according to the group Doctors Without Borders. The issue of global drug acess has becomeheated. Protesters doggedVice President A1 Gore last year about drug prices in Africa, and the issue is apriority for institutions like the World Health Organization that are trying to combat the disease. Clients of the group Cambridge -Cares About AIDS are collecting the drugs from friends and family members - even from their own medicine cabinets. Most of the donated drugs are left over when a person with AIDS switches drug regimens because of debilitating sitle effects. Since last December, the group has delivered some $200,000 worth of medications to Parmers in Health, a Boston-based organization with a clinic in Haiti which distributes them to people with AIDS and HIV. Partners in Health executive director Dr. Jim Yong Kim said between 50 and 100 people in Haiti are regularly receiving the medications gathered by the Cambridge group. But there’s an enormous unmet need that this effort cannot even begin to solve without global attention - and a global solution- to the drug crisis, he said. "This is now an absolute disaster and an absolute crisis," Kim said. "It’s a moral problem, but it’s also an economic and political problem.’" TheWorld Health Organizationhas protocols for donated drugs. But the organization does not have separate guidelines for AIDS medications, which generally involve complex daily regimens of 15 to 20 different pills that require close medical supervision. And the medication supply must be consistent, because interrupting the regimen can result in the HIV virus becoming resistant to treatment. Only a handful of groups send unused AIDS drugs overseas. Kim said agencies like his are "writing the book" on salvaging AIDS drugs. There is no agency overseeing the practice, no way of knowing how common it is or whether groups are adhering to WHO guidelines for drug donations, according to Michael R. Reich, acting chair of the Department of Populationand International Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. But he said that while donations will never fill the need for drugs in poor countries, this effort highlights the problem. "Troubling questions arise from gaps in access," he said. "Haiti is a country with extraordinary needs for good drugs, and donations provide a mechanism for trying to address the gap." James Russo, spokesman for the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations, an organization composed of drug companies and non-govemmen.tal organizations thatTdistribute free drugs o~¢erseas, said it is a"perfecfly reasonable and understandable and decent thing to do." Such donations may not technically be legal, because the recipient is not the person for whom the drugs were prescribed, he said. But if the drugs are properly used and distributed, thenpublichealthbenefits override such legal issues. "The fact that it needs doing is, to me, a tragic observation about the state of public health policy," he said. "Nothing but good can come from ¯ something like this." ¯ Sitting beside Alicea, Katherine Gaynes, : 54, takes a thick marker and strikes from a ¯ bottle the name of the original patient, the ¯¯ doctor who made the prescription and the pharmacy that filled it so the pills cannot ¯ be traced back to the original recipient. ¯ She said the huge overseas need for medications frustrates her, but she’s glad she’s ¯ been able to do some good. "If the rest of ¯ the world doesn’t get better, then it doesn’t ; get better for us," she said. . ¯ Rise in HIV in Gays And Natives Feared ¯ TORONTO (AP) - New numbers on HIV infections in Canada point to a worrying : trend away from safe sex in some segments of the Gay community and a steep ¯ increase of infections among FirstNations ¯ people. The number of new infections ¯ amongmenwho have sex withmenjumped ¯ by 30% from 1996 to 1999, according to ¯ the latest report on HIV and AIDS preva- ¯ lence issued by Health Canada. The hum- : ber of new infections among Aboriginal ¯ Peoples rose 91% over the same period. : Some headway hadbeen made over that : time in cutting the number ofnew cases of _" HIV infection among injected drug users, ¯ the report said, noting the number of new : cases declined 27% last year over 1996. ¯ "But no sooner did we do that than Gay : men are starting to rebound again," Chris ¯ Archibald, Health Canada’s chief of HIV/ ¯ AIDS epidemiology and surveillance, said : from Ottawa on Thursday. ¯ Before 1996, Health Canada reported a ¯ steady drop in the number of new cases of ¯ HIV among Gay men, the population most ravaged by HIV and AIDS. Gay men accounted formore than 80% ofnew cases in : 1981-83; by 1996, they made up less than ¯ a third (30%) of new cases of HIV infection. Archibald said the upward trend has ¯ VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - ." A group of health-care advocates and in- . jection drug users is aiming to make Vancouver the first city in North America to offer addicts a safe site to inject drugs. ¯ Whether the facility is a"hole in the wall" ¯ or a comprehensive health center will be ." determined by funding, says the Harm ." ReductionActionSociety, whichreleased ¯ its pilot project proposal last month. ." The society would like to have support ¯ from all levels, "but let’s get this straight, we are going to do it," said board member Dean Wilson. "One way or another, there ¯ will be such a facility or facilities," said Ross Harvey, the executive director of the ¯ B.C. Peoples with AIDS Society. The society would like to have a facility ¯ open before Valentine’s Day. The group, ¯ formed earlier this year, recently sent con- ¯. sultants to Frankfurt,Germany,where they visited five sites set up in 1994. The city ¯ released proposal recently that included a ¯ safe-sites proposal,butMayorPhilipOwen ¯ rejected the idea, saying it would be a magnet for drug addicts. ¯ also been reportedin the United States and ." the Netherlands. Vancouver Looks At Injection Site sung. And the lyrics aren’t too bad, either. He’s been performing since he was 6, and appeared in the film "Latin Boys Go To Hall" singing a song "... Siegfried and Roy have never been involved ..m ~r~ming an.i.~.ii.a.lk. i"n the’ ir h,2ves. They mold things around the personality of their animals." And maybe, if the rest of. us learned’ thattriek - love ~hOUt the ne~ for~.e~ntrol - we’d h~ve better ofhis owncomposition. He’ s played some ofthe most resi~ected venues in NYC to critical acdaini. ’ ~ He ~is also named by HXmagazine as one of the ten hottest menin NY. Judging from the press photos, I’ll second that. He’s currently working with song- .writer DesmondChilde, knowi~ for being a ’ hitwriter forRickyMar- .... ~ tin,Ch~,.and Ma~10nna. He’il surprise you. YOu’.dnever .guess he was anice.Jewish bpy relationships as well . frOmNew York - he~s ---got: that ~0ul sound by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor Merry Yule and Winter Solstice, everyone! This year has moved fast - hard to believe we’ll be starting a new millennium soon. Hope everyone h~ a ha~pp.y hoR.day. ~. ~- ~l~a ’frijOl, ~-Jim~ ’ Brf~l~iffa~ ~rbtflrh~:t~o Tut~d D~em6~r~5~il fdt a a romantic ,evening bf musicandfun. Ifyou’ve ?iaot seen his show be- 7~ore, .or ~ ing, it s well worfla it. i?And he’s:iher~ ~ith ¯" ~onny oshioiia,’W~Ch ~’should 7~I’11 miss John Trbnes, a i, family m.-..~~m~l~ ,~ho ~’ was here~th year, but"J~bgt Doimy does a grea~jdb ~i~the songs. Ji~ can~take a huge thOt~.~d make . it seem " room, and :he’s gOkgcous to boot - very handsom~],~,Sf;.~tl~6~:~;i~uals are as good as ’the musi.~;.ye~, ~I,know...you really " didn’t exp~t ~e t without .mgn,ti.0~ngl something like that, did you?.~tf!~y!~mmended; especially as an earl~’. Yule gift for that sigfiffieant other. 596~7111:fo€ fix. If yo~J;~:i’6bidiag for nifty gffties of an entertaiifi~ s0~t,’I have a few recomme,n,- dations: Fir~ oifth~’list is "Chicken Run’, just outOgDVD~dVHS. TheDVDis the preferencehe~e, due to the fun extras they threw ina~d the".claance to see the film as it was preSgntetion screen, instead of only half the.p.ivRtr¢fformatted to fit your TV) on the VHS version. There’s two documentaries 9n ..tal.ent and how they made. those chickens ttm; and it’s fun to see thecast men~!~erswfiose ,v,oices you hear. And it is so eff.~ecti~e.you I1 never eat chicken pot pies again:-’ Favorite line: Ging,er Chickefi,.:~.’.fig’ to explain why they re having ~toi~i~aS escaping the chicken farm/pfi~on"~to g doubting member of the flock, says’ Do’you know what the problem is? ~[]ie:fe~i~S.. aren’t just ’round the farm, they’reuphe~e-in yourheads !" The other chick~ep!ies,"Aw, give it up, ducks. There’s.amillion toone chance we’ll ever get out of her,e:, Ginger, mustering up thelast bit of hope she has (All done with the eyes), rep!iles, "Well . . there’s still a chance then." And then there’s Nick and Fletcher, a pair of rats who have a rather mteresturg relataonship... And that s al I’ll say about that, except I am surprised at. a: c"ertai.n::’a:c"t.lw.?s~t2m. :t~o:,w~n; w;~ho~ di¯ dN, O""T"~fi.1re ~ff a s~i-ies:.6fl6tters aboi~t Gay i~dople" being represented as rats... Even though they’re really cute rats, in that rat-like way, and help the chickens to escape. A new artiste on the Gay scene, Ari Gold, has a new CD out, and unlike many artists capitalizing on the "I’m Gay and out, so even if I suck, you should still buy my stuff", it’s actually a really good CD, filled with dance grooves and soulful ballads that are slickly produced and well down. He deserves our Support, because he dell,v~rs.the goo~s: Mostpr6moCDsfrom Gayarfists ’end UPas coastdts 6tmini-frisb.ees. This one’s akeeper. Great for dancing and romanc¯ ing, I give-it fivesnaps. He’ sgot awebsite: WWW.ARIGOLD.COM ¯ For those~vith.cabl~;~the’Americanized ¯ ,)ersion of the British series "Queer as ~ ’ .F01k" begins airing On Sh0w~me Decem- ~ her 3rd. For.those Without c,],,ble, fihd a ¯ ’ friend that has ~it,; The~iow delivers a :" Slice of.gffy life~th~t’ ~ ~corn~ellitag, ~pto- ,)ocative, and unlike any showyou’ll see. For 22 riveting episodes, these unforgettable men.andw0in~nr~veal tfiemselves - i:eally reveal themselves - as no TV characters ever have." Well,Iknow some folk,- who are queer, who~ve seenthe original British series, and if it’ s kept intact and not Americanized todeath, it sh.ould be good. : Happyw~ffChing! .... " Open now is a duo offeline proportions ¯ ."in "Siegfried and Roy: The Magic Box." i Now, I wonder if .we get to find out just .*. :Who has that’magi€ box? "Siegfried and : ’Roy: The Mhgic B6~" i~an’iMAX biopic ¯ ~Which includes’their Las V~gas a~t~ well ¯ as abiographical storyin-azstory ofhow .’- the two men met .-as-boys in war-tom ¯ Germany, combining a love of magic, ’ ~animals, and each other to become the ." "world’S greatestillu~R~nistS." ¯ Anthony Hopkins Narrates the story of ¯ the two boys who meet on a cruise ship ¯ (oh, the fodder for puns that provides) and ~ form "a differen,,t kind of i~agic act using ¯ exotic .snimals, .: an~" als0 ~"forni ~an~ .ex- ¯ -ty.~me|y lohg ~erm ~-ela~o~s~i~. oli, the ~° :jokbs that come tomind. So much material ¯ to work with, so little space. ¯ Actually, they have my admiration and ¯ all due respect. To work and live together ¯ as long as they have and not to have killed " each other in the process, and to have ¯ remained together, is no easy task. I have ¯ heardthem speakofthat, andhow attimes, . you just wanna kill your parmer, but un- " derneath it all is the love that keeps you ¯ working together - see Amuse, p. 10 GIFTS OF T!tI S ASON!: COUNCIL OAK WISHING YOU A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON & A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR PLEASE JOIN TULSA OKLAHOMANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AS WE CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS.{ HOLIDAY RECEPTION HONORING TOHR’s 20TH ANNIVERSAF~Y & SILENT AUCTION AN ~,.RT, AHTIQUES & FINE DINING.SHOWCASE SUNDAY, DECEMBER | 0 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM TULSA GAY COMMUNI’~Y SERVICES CENTER 2114 S MEMORIAL PARADE OF LIGHTS Come celebrate the spirit of the holiday season at the AEP-Public Service Company of Oklahoma Christmas Parade of Lights, Satu rday, Decem ber 9, downtown Tulsa at 6 p.m. View parade floats up close, Friday, DecemberS, at the HolidayFest (Brady Arts District) from 7 - 9 p.m. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA® by Karin Gregory GEls, have you ever had that Gay male friend who does everything with you? A Will to your Grace?AJack to your Karen? The oneman-for some of you, theONLY man - to whom you’d tell your secrets? Who is warm, caring, loving, a great listener, and in many cases,has betterfashion. sense than you? The one man you can talk to all night long? That guy who will, even across the miles, allow you to cry on his shoulder about your girlfriend? And you still remember your own tearstained shoulders from when he knocked on your door at 3 a.m. Most ofus, if we’re lucky, have a guy who would be the perfect partnerforapolitically correct" family value" couple if he became a woman and we became a man. ButI’m nottalking about him here. This is another Gay man who possesses none ofthe abovequalities. Sure, he can be a nice guy- whenhe wants to be. And he DOES have better fashion sense than I, although that’s no stretch. Butwhile I embracedmy.Gayness before embracing another woman, he did his embracing, and whatever rise (eeeewww!) earl~, on, and never really learned to enjoy being Gay. "How sad," you might say. Don’t feel sorry for him. Especially when you find out where I’m spending my days lately. Great house, DirecTV, MUCH cleaner thanmy place, and the perfect party home. I had become - how shall I say? - financially non-existent and couldn’t pay my rent (sounds like a musical, doesn’t it?). My friend - let’s call him Vincent - offered to put me up in his house for a few months. OK, let’s talk realism. He was looking for someone to help him with the house payments. I would get oneroom and a bathroom, as opposed to my car. Most people in my situation wouldjump at this arrangement. Although it .would save me $400, the cost in psycffiatric visits overmy lifetime would soon absorb the savings. Let’s just say that we were the other"Odd Couple." Picture a much more obsessive/ compulsive, anal retentive Felix Unger, who is also emotionally constipated, and you have Vincent. You’re not where I am now, and I hope you never are. Let me tell you how I got here through a progression of nightly entries. ¯DAY ONE - Got to Vincent’s house about 10:45 tonight after work. I can already tell our work schedules are going to conflict as he made a great show of"having" to be up this late. This was HIS idea, remember. He showed me the alarm system. God, it feels like Fort Knox in here, motion detectors and all. He also gave me an extra key and garage door opener. It all feels so official. This IS just a trial run, after all. I’m relegated immediatdy to my room, as small as a nun’s cell. He said I could have one piece of furniture, but there’s no room for anything else. i’ve ¯ been calling and calling my girlffien.: all : night, getting nothing but a busy sig:m! : That makes me anxious and frightenex~, se : I tall Vincent what’s going on, hoping to ¯¯ get some sympathy. While I try to hug ¯ : : ~, : :, "ra.m,.~.com.p~,.a~ps.....Oh "...G~gr~|s,. ,halve you no," in’d very pugquttbhe of voi~qe; his~us~tml t0ne. He e erMd Gay pU s n< "ar0 a.me male friend whodoes VERY gingerlg: try’ing to everythln~ with you? A Will to your Grace? A Jack to your Karen? The one man - for some of you, the ONLY man - to whom you’d tell your secrets?.. ?’ much me as little as possible, as if I’m a Lesbian leper. After he leaves, I get into the closet (I thought I’d left that for good!) so as not to wake him, and call my friend Jim. He gives me a bigger hug over the phone from Tulsa than I got from Vincent. I pull out my CD player and listen to Melissa Etheridge (who else?). Somehow it makes me feel dominant. DAY TWO - After dedaring thatmy alarm woke him from the other side of the house, he leaves. Now I can walk aroundlike I want. Ooops! I forget that he leaves the kitchen blinds open. Well, his neighbors will just be confused. They thooght they were living near a Gay man!.Oa my way to work, I find my girlfriend has called to let me know she’s all right, which should put me at ease, but the thought of having to live with Vincent depresses me. It already feels like I’m giving upmy life to live according to his schedule. WhenI arrive at his house, I’m in less than a pleasant mood. Anger sets in when I realize that I forgot to tape "Will and Grace." It doesn’t help that Vincent goes on andon abouthow this was the funniest episode he’s ever seen. "Did youtapeit?" I askhopefully, already knowing the answer. "No, I was home to watch it," he says, cleaning up the kitchen in a "don’t youdaremake amess" way. Selfish bastard! This further proves my point that when a man asks you into his life, for whatever reason, he really means, "I want to live my life as I always have, with no compromises. You’ll just be around when andif I need you." NowonderI’m Gay! He woulddrive Pat Buchanan’s wife to Lesbianism. I pop my popcorn (the only thing I’ve had since noon today), and the only thing allowed to me. I once again listen to Melissa, who has a strangeway ofempowering me. I fall asleep, dreaming of using a stun gun on Vincent repeatedly. DAY THREE-Today’s finally Friday, and I might be allowed to watch some TV tonight. I’m fine all day until I enter Vincent’s abode. We’re eating pizza, and he’s buying, an obvious splurge. But we disagree on TV programming, so he watches something in his room while I have the living room all to myself to watch a Beatles special. I’ve figured out one thing - never trust anyone who hates the Beatles. It’s positively UnAmerican! Another night of silence until he comes into the living room to switch channels so he can watch the news. seeLesbian,p.11 by Lamont Lindstrom "Gifts make slaves just as whips make dogs," or so says one bit of Native American wisdom. Keep this in mind during the upcoming holiday orgy of giving and receiving. Grits aremorethan just tokens of affection. They are’als0 ~gminde~s of obligati’On ahdl du~. Giging is politiCak ~Pd]~h~ps~ I give you a present because °I like you. Butifyou accept mypresent,you also accept that you are indebted to me - at least until you can pay me back. Ihad, once, a studentfrom Saudi Arabia whose father was in the rug trade. "I’m contacting my father," he told me near the end of the term. "I’d like to give you a carpet." Oh no, I thought, visions of Baluchis and Kilims dancing inmy head. How amI going to g~vehim the "D" that he deserves? Luckily, he presented me with a cheap synthetic prayer rug decorated,with garish neon cameIs, worth only a few dollars down at yourlocal bazaar. I wasn’t that muchii~’his debt after all, and I graded him down with a lighter heart. l~erhaps we all have had an experience of over-receiving. Somebody g~ves us something that is waytoo much. What can he have in mind? What does he want in return?A pesky acquaintance surprises us with afine leatherjacket. But what does he expect?A closer friendship?A date? Need we give it up? The fancy anthropological word for gift giving is "reciprodty." I give something to you, and you give something back to me. Such exchange can be balanced or imbalanced. Either way,. this says something about power. If we engage in prolonged, imbalanced gift giving, we find ourselves in an enduring relationship of inequality. Those fine presents have made us into dogs and slaves. Parents, for instance, give a lot more to children thanchildren giveto parents. This exchangeimbalancefuels parental authority. Few morns and dads hand their children, on their 18th birthdays, a bill for $186,000. Ratherthan reciprocating the exact dollar cost of raising us, we repay parents in obedience. "As long as you live inMYhouse, you’ll do what I say!" Those gifts come with strings. . To avoid, obligfiroh~ we must balance gift giving. Only balanced exchange cre: ates equality. If some one gives us a holiday present, we feel pressured togive a present in return. Failure to reciprocate means either that we don’tmind shouldering this debt and its obligations, or that we want to break things off altogether. Does morn send out the family’ s holiday cards? What does she do when someone fails to reciprocate? Cross him off the list! Sometimes exchangeimbalancepersists ¯ for years, however. My dentist sends me a ¯ Christmas card annually. Butdo I sendone ¯ back? Nope. In this case, I amrude enough ¯ to take without giving. But I understand ¯" the deal implied by this imbalanced exchange~ I take my mouth around to his office every six months. My friends in the South Pacific go to huge efforts to raise and give away pigs just to get their neighbors’ pigs in return. If would be far easier for all villagers to eat their own pigs. But what of us? .We are madcap enough to enrich the Post Office every December by mailing, around a blizzard of Christmas cards. I send out about 60 each year, and in return I receive 60 back. But if I really am so desperate for cards to clutterupmymantelpiece, why don’t I just keep those that I buy? I’d save a 10t on postage that way. My island friends are fanatic giftbalancers. They keep exact records of how ] many pigs, baskets, and mats they receive ¯¯ so that they can give the same in return. Butthey sometimes over-give- just alittle. ¯ This iitfleextra gift, which al~O must be "... Perhaps we all ~have had an experhne¢ of over-reeelvlng. Somebody gives us something that is way too much. What can he have in mind? What does he want in return? A peshy aeq~intanee surp~ses us ~th a fine l~ther ~aeket. But w~t does he expect? A closer friendship? A ~te? Need we give it up... ?" repaid at some point, keeps the :relationship moving along. Balanced exchanges celebrate the fact that we are still investing in the relationship. Youremain important to me. Butif I amto stay your equal, I need to give you about what you give me. I am embarrassed if I return too little OR ff I return too much. Imbalance in either direction implies either that I don’t care about us as much as you do, or that I am trying to obligate you. Given the importance of exchange balance, it is perverse that we remove price tags and wrap presents. It’s a bit of a game. We see through these pretenses that "it’s the thought that counts." As experienced givers, we are pretty good at striking a balance despite the absence ofprice tags or the concealment of gift-wrap. When a friend drops off a gaily-wrapped present for you, shake that box! Make a mistake in what you give back and it could be the doghouse for you! Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropology at the University of Tulsa. and frommurdering each other. They have also managed to survive a business that chews you up and spits you out. It’s easy to makejokes at their expense, but you know, there is a magic there, that they’ve been able to survive that business - andremain together, whenI’m sure there were many times it wouldhavebeenmuch easier to split under the pressure. see Amuse, p. 11 Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic .Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appoinlrnenls are available. As Seen On Oprah Wireless E-Mail Send and receive Internet mail Exchange wireless notes Receive information updates Chat privately Only $99.99, Motorola T900 2-Way . after $50 mail-in rebate to order: www.acninc.com, Click on the pager icon. Rep. Ruid 0429895 IGTA member Call 341. 6866 International Toursformoreinformation. Fresh Start Seeking men & women to help with ,expansion in the area. Mustbe independent, goal-oriented; have a great attitude and excellent people skills. Call 663-5323. Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, .T,ues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm ody Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing College Hill -Presbyterian Church In response to God’s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a community of God’s people called to tell others the Gospd of-J~sus Christ through worship, - service, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living~ loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voice for peace and justice. Our congregation welcomes all persons who respohd in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Christ’s church. Membership is open:.to all people regardless of race, ethnic origin, worldly condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. Sunday Worship 1 lam- 712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800 (Ohe block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) This without saying a word to me. After - seeing how the candidates STILL can’t " decide this election, I put on my pajamas. " That’s all, I swear. When I come out at ¯ 9:20, the TV is turned off, along with the ¯ lights. My dorm mother has declared my curfew. One thought goes through my " head - I’m going to kill him; I’m going to ¯ kill him; I’m going to kill him. Big kitchen knives flash through my mind. I go to bed " at 9:20, again listening to Melissa. She’s " giving me the wrong kind of strength, : think. DAY FOUR- This is the last day, but I " have to spend it with HIM. I see my stu- ¯ dents at my Saturday class, knowing this : will probably be the last time I teachi I’ve ¯ made up my mind as I arrive at Vincent’s. " He ignores me, as usual, while he watches ¯ gymnastics on TV, laughing for some tea- ¯ son. Hewon’t laugh forlong. Even though ~ I hate the color and look bffd in it, orange : jumpsuits will be my style for the next 20 years. Hey, they let you write,letters~in ¯ prison. Ev~nLestian~olumns, I veheard. : "Goodbye Vincent!" 5" by Karin Gregor #2238769480, Cell BlockH ¯ ofthe"diversity" statement whichincluded : "sexual orientation," saying he wouldhave : noticed its inclusion. ¯ In response,’sev~al ~gregation have commi~ted to re=examining their endorse: ment of the document? College Hill Pres- ¯ byterian Church and’ Fellowship Congre- " gational Church will’bring the.issue back to theirgov.ernmg boards. ,Andsomemere- " bers of MCC~United, Tulsa s Metropoli: ¯ tan Community Church, members of predominatelyLesbianand Gay denomi- " nation, are concerned about their church’s ¯ endorsement of a statement which does not acknowledge the existence of Lesbian -" and Gay persons. : The welcoming committee of Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation ¯ has drafted a letter to TMM saying, "we erred in our endorsement of this state- " ment"because thefailure toinclude sexual ¯ orientation is in conflictwith the values of ¯ the congregation and the letter further says ," that they wilt not endorse any future state- " ments which are not inclusive. ¯ Other groups such as Holland Hall ¯ School, the Episcopal Diocese of Okla: " homa, and the Eastern Oklahoma : Presbytery -: Presbyterian Church USA, ¯ have been asked to explain their support : for a statement which is not compatible . with their policies. In the case of the Episcopal Diocese and. Holland Hall School, : staff and religious leaders were not sure if ¯ the organization’s names had been used " with permission. ¯ Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights : (TOHR), the state’s oldest civil rights or- ¯ ganization has discussed the issue at a " recentboardandmembershipmeeting and president, Greg Gatewood stated that he ¯ would seek a meeting with Rana and Day : to request an explanation of the exclusion of "sexual orientation" from the state- ¯ ment. Further action on the part of the organization will vary depending on their responses. Other congregations which signed the "diversity" statement, like the city’s Episcopal parishes and its Unitarian-Universalists congregations, all of whom have histories of being fair to Lesbian and Gay Tulsans are also being asked to consider withdrawing their support for the statement because of the failure to include "sexual orientation." And they’ve remained incredibly successful throughout the years andups anddowns that showbiz life provides. Living with someone 5 years is a major feat, much less working with them as well. And even in relative anonymity, it’s hard enough. To have survived and remain together as long as they have - 43 years - is a major feat. FYI, Royis 5 years younger thanSiegfried. About the biographical aspects of the film, Roy says "It’s ~way~ a difficult step to open yourself up beeauge ~ou make yourself very vulnerabl~. That fneans you have to let your guard down andeveryone has access to you." Scary iild~gd. The cameras were allowed full access to the home and grounds of theirestate’. He goes on to say "I have to say;~it’s~ been pretty good to do it. It goes way badk" to when I was a boy. I had a catching smile, but in reality I was a loner. I wa~ n0t too good with people. As a mattel: offact, I didn’t trustinpeople. I trustedmy animals more." I can relate to that. The interesting thing is that,-aozording to producer Bernie Yuman,’"Roy has a bond with these animals whereby there’s no force. Force createsforce. There’s alot of love. There’s a lot of.voice intonation and camaraderie - and a lot of meat - but affection and conditioning, Roy’s never trained an animal, and Siegfried and Roy have never been involved.in, training ammalsin their lives. Theymoldthings around the personality of their animals." And maybe, if the rest of us learned that tricklove without the need for control - we’d have longer lasting relationships .as well. Food for thought. And so, for all the nasty S&Rjokes I could make, I find I reallyjust have too much respect for what they’ve accomplished to make them. In the film, you get behind the scenes visits to their home - which is like designer overkill, given their taste_~or opulence. And you get to see their private wildlife sanctuary, where they live with and raise the white tigers used in the act. Their love of the animals is evident. It’s filmed in 3-D, so you’ll be able to see Siegfried and Roy up close and personal. Numerous digital techniques were used to recreate the Europe of their childhoods. As for the magic shots, they were specifically filmed uncut as master shots, so that the audience would no that no camera tricks were used. Andrew Dunlap, who plays young Roy, was also in the all male version of "Importance of Being Earnest," which was interesting to note. Also playing is Fantasia 2000 and 3D Mania: Encounter in the 3rd Dimension; 71st and Highway 169. Healing E E ECT IIII AIDS Memorial Quilt re.n.esS World AIDS Day Candlelight Memorial March Friday, December 1st, 6:30pm Tulsa Civic Center Plaza, 5th & Denver The NAMES Project Quilt Opening, 8pm This advertisement is donated by Tulsa Family News. TFN appreciates the opportunity to support this showing of the Quilt, and The NAMES Project. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, December 2000; Volume 7, Issue 12 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, November 2000; Volume 7, Issue 11 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/607 2000 AIDS drugs AIDS research aMUSEments anti-discrimination laws arts and entertainment Bayer Boy Scouts businesses Catholic Church Chris Kolb Christmas churches Fred Phelps gay bashing Gay Studies Gilcrease Museum harassment hate crimes HIV HIV testing holidays injection site Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm military inclusion Murder NAMES Project Native Americans Oklahoma Lambda Youth Scholarship Oklahoma Mr. Leather Openarms Youth Project Partner Benefits performing arts Raging Lesbian Red Cross Red Rock Tulsa restaurants Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Metro Chamber Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Tulsa Uniform Leather Seekers Association Westboro Baptist Church World AIDS day https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/c6222a5ded02f6f03ba212ed6ec4712f.jpg e72951848df73d29ab1eb4dff6fd5184 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/f307d0179742161b0a827222493d3bcd.pdf 01594456d3ed79d709782087b7762b39 PDF Text Text " Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families .+ Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community P~per A~vailable In More Than 75. City Locations !Teachers Credit Union: No :-Loan for Lesbians as Couple : Credit Union AskedAuto Dealer If They Were Gay ¯ TULSA- WhenTheresaand Joan Wright went toTulsaTeachers " Credit Union, they just wanted a car loan. The women are : expecting their second child and had found a van.at a local auto : collection. And since they have shared checking and savings accounts at Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, and good credit, they : naturally went there, expecting that getting a loan would be : relafivd~ painless. " .i.~ ~Wlmt they experienced they say, however, was hurtful and Bishop.Spong Retires TEANECK, N.J. (AP) - Bishop John Spong, an outspoken supporter of the ordination of Gays and women, and blessings of same-sex unions in the Episcopal church, retired in January as head of the Diocese of Newark. Spong, 68, celebrated one of his final services as bishop at the Glenpointe Marriott ballroom before hundreds of guests. His successor will be John Croneberger. Since his elevation to bishop in 1976, Spong has raised eyebrows and blood pressures for his beliefs_ ranging from women becoming priests to supporting same-sex marriages to the ordination of openly Gay ministers. ButSpong, a native of Charlotte, N.C. who speaks with the slightest ac~ut, left the diocese with few words of controversy. "It’s just the next stage of my life," said Spong. .’,. "Basically, I’ve been a bishop, but also an author and lecturer," he said. "But in all of my ordained life, it was participating in movements of people who’ve been diminished in society, like people of color and Gays, that the church has diminished where I’ve worked." Among those present at Friday’s 126th annual convention of the Diocese of Newark were the Rev. Ri chard Hollowayof Edinburgh; ~.-~- - See Spong~.p.lO ~ demeaning. ,According to the Wrights, Tulsa Teachers Credit ; Union (rITCU), not only refused to evaluate them as a couple, i.e. : basing alOan!on their combined income but someone from the : credit union even called the auto dealership asking if the dealership : staff"knew they were Gay?" ¯ And the Wrights characterized the behavior of their loan officer, Sandy Roth as very rude, particularly about the issue of : evaluating their joint income for loan purpose. Roth refused to ¯ look at their joint income saying it was because they are not ". married. In contrast to Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, a loan officer at i Tulsa Municipal Employees Credit Union stated that they accept ¯ unmarried couples with combined households as loan applicants, : noting that she’d assisted at least two Lesbian and two Gay : couples with loans. ¯ Bank of Oklahoma stated that they had not always accepted : couples whose relationships were not legally recognized but that : they now do so. And a senior officer at Spirit Bank encouraged ¯ Lesbian.and Gay couples to apply with her bank, noting that : Spirit Bank would not tolerate anti-Lesbian or Gay bias. ." Theresa Wright noted that Ms. Roth refused even to look her : in the eye when she went in to sign the loan papers. The Wrights : noted that the dealership, in contrast to the credit union, was very ¯ nice, and that irwas the manager assisting them in purchasing ¯ their new vehicle, who said, "I’m just going to say something. : Your bank called and wanted to know the nature of .your : re!ationship-are they Gay?" He assuredthem that his organization ¯ welcomed everyone and also had Gay people working for it. ¯ Ms. Rpth’s su_l~’visor-at TI’CU, David Snyder refused to comm~h~ and ref~ed’~ to Chuck Reed, ~ see Credit, p. 10 New Pastor Leads at Tulsa’s MCC-United ¯ TULSA - After a number of months with an ¯ interim pastor, Oklahoma’s oldest extant Lesbian ¯ and Gay organization, the MetropolitanCommunity ¯ Church United (MCCU), has a new pastor, the ¯ ReverendCathy l~liott, whojoinedthecongregation ¯ at theend of 1’999. ¯ Elliott,grew upin the midwest, but came to Tulsa ¯ from Florida where she was invoIved with two : Metropolitan Community Churches in the MCC Fellowship. However, prior to working in Florida, ¯ she served a Congregation in-Rochester, New York ¯ and some years ago, was associated with the MCC ¯ in Little Rock. Like many MCC pastors, Elliott came to the ¯ MCC Fellowship through a winding path, having ¯ become more serious about her faith while at university. There, she joined a church that was ¯ theologically evangelical, but after a fe~v years, as ¯ she acknowledged bring Lesbian, she foundherself ¯ becoming involved in an MCC that was about 40 miles away. And it was from this initial association, : that her calling to the ministry came. ¯ In a recent interview with TFN, Elliott praised ¯ theworkhernew congregation had done in merging ¯ the formerly two separate churches, MCC-Greater ¯ Tulsa and Family of Faith MCC. As she and they ¯ have begun to become acquainled, the congregation ¯ is looking at how they will grow, spiritually and otherwise. ¯ Some members of the congregation .have also ¯ become involved in a serious social action ¯ organization, called Soul Force. The group was ¯ founded by MCC pastor and writer, the Reverend ¯ Mel White. White, who once wrote for anti-Gay ¯ evangelical such as Jerry. Falwell, modeled Soul ¯ Force on the theories of non-violent confrontation " for social .change of Martin Luther King, Jr. and ¯ Mahatma oGhandi. see Elliott, p. 11. Southwest Air Adds, NonDiscrimination Policies ¯ Marriage Is Civil-Rights "Issue Says Vermonter DALLAS - Southwest Airlines has amended its nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies to include sexual orientation, according to Chief Executive Herb Kelleher. The move, announced Jan. 24, came after a spate of alleged anti-Gay harassment at the airline, which led some Southwest employees to raise safety concerns. The tensions boiled over when Southwest Airlines’ Pilots’ Associationpublished ahomophobic letter from one of its members in its December newsletter. The letter, by Capt. Gary S. Ward, urged Kelleher to reject calls for the airline to provide domestic partner benefits saying, ’Will there be a need to hire a department to check on who is shackin..e, t~p with whom?" The newsletterinstructedpilots to write their ownletters and deliver them to their S WAPA representati ve for deftv cry to Kelleher. Dean Hervochon, vice president of the Transport Workers Union Local 556 representing Southwest’s flight attendants, said the publication "institutionalized homophobia" and created a hostile work environment that "could jeopardize the safety of all persons on the aircraft." "If the front doesn’t talk to the back of the airplane, you’ve got a problem," Hervochon told WorkAlert. Kelleher and leaders of sWAPA and TWU met Jan. 17 to discuss how to respond. TWU representatives also pressed Kelleher to add sexual orientation to the antiharassment and non-discriminationpolicies. Meanwhile, the vice presidents for flight operations and in-flight services along with SWAPA and TWU officials sent a letter Jan. 20 to flight attendants and pilots attempting to defuse the situation. Howcver, Gay employees criticized the letter as inadequate and for using objectionable language, such as "lifestyle choices." Then Kelleher announced the change in company policy in a letter to all Southwest Airlines employees. "For some years, I have explidfly declined to amend our anti-harassment and see SW Air, p. 10 : MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)- One of the most painful : things about figuring out he was Gay as a teen-ager ¯ was coming to the realization that he would never : get married and have a family. Ed Flanagan came ¯ from an Irish-Catholic family, one of five kids, : "four straight and one Gay," he says. His father had : an alcohol problem and"the end resnlt was that we ¯ children were very, very closein terms of supporting : each other to get through that environment." His : relationships with his brother and three sisters : "have been very crucial in terms of all of the five of : us surviving and flourishing," Flanagan said. "It’s ¯ a very strong presence that we all feel with one : another and a source of important emotional ¯ Tulsa PFLAG & TOHR members marchedfor thefirst time in the ¯ Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Parade in January. TOHR Receives a. $10k Grant ¯ support." i TULSA- In mid-December, Tulsa Oklahomas for Human Rights ¯ (TOHR) received a $10,000 grant from the Colin Higgius : Foundation. Thegrantis for the Tnlsa Gay Community Services : Center programming, marketing and development expansion ¯ project. Specific goals of the project include the production and : distribution of a ommttnity referral guide, the enhancement of _" Lesbian Connection- a program that encourages increased : involvement from the women of our community, and an expanded ¯¯ Pride 2000 Festival. The marketing and development aspects of the project will focus on enhanced communication and media inaterial as well as ¯ increased membership and volunteer involvement. : The Colin Higgins Foundation is based in San Francisco, : California. Colin Higgins,screenwriter, director and producer, : established the Foundation in 1986. Mr. Higgins is remembered ¯ for his remarkable human comedies, including Harold and : Maude, Silverstreak, Foul Play and Nine To Five. : He created the Foundation in order to further his humanitarian : goals. OneoftheFoundation’smainprioritiesistoempowerGay men and Lesbians by supporting community-based organizations : that combat homophobia and foster leadership. : TOHRdirectors indicated thatitis honored to receive thegrant : and that they have ambitious goals for 2000 and beyond. Trying to find a place within the Gay comrmmity : of the 1960s and ’70s wasn’t easy for someone with : such strong family ties. "That culture back then did ¯ not accommodate the id_ea,,o,f family," he said in an interview this past week. In the midst of the Gay : culture I felt Very alien, for that reason and others." : Now that culture is changing, it’s "becoming more ¯ family-oriented, and longer-term relationships are ¯" becoming more prevalent," Flanagan said. And ¯ state law appears to be changing, too. ¯ Today, Flanagan sees a future in which getting married, perhaps even being aparent, may become : options for him and otherGaysandLesbians. There ." may be an oasis on the horizon for people who have ¯ wandered much of their lives in an emotional : desert. And as the first and still only openly Gay ¯ man in the country to hold a statewide elective : office, Flanagan believes he might be in the right ¯ time- the dawn of a new millennium - and place ". Vermont - to help bring that future about. ’~l’his is : the course of history in Vermont. Here i t is and here : I am," he said. From the windows of the office 6f state auditor of : accounts, see Ed, p. 11 �Tulaa Cluba & Reataumnta 712-2324 : *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 610-5323 : *CTg’s, 1737S. Memorial 583-6666. *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th 749-4511 :. *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria 749-1563 ~ -*The Mix, 2630 E. 15th *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square 744-4280 ¯ *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st- 745-9998 834-4234 *Silver Star. Saloon, 1565 Sheridan 835-2376 ~The Storm, 21,82S, Sheridan 585-3405 *Renegades/iRainbowRoom, 1649 S: Main.~Tdrl-’ BOX, 1338~13.>3ra ~ ~° : :: : :: :’"~84~ l~3"0g " 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: " " Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry H~nsley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, .Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers ~.. Member of The Associated Press " Gay Pro Lifers March On ¯ On january 24, 2000, about20 members :of the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays .and : Leshi.ans. (PLAGAL). did an am.P_y~ng :,~ at the annual Marcia ior Lit-e protesung :. the Roe vs. Wade decision on its i nnniversary despite being .tl~¯cate_n.e.d : .: March told PLAGAL that they~.~uta no_ ¯ march, s~n,,c~_, they. ,,w,ere Gay.-Now, if :. PLAGAL closet’ed themsd~ and just Issued on or before’the 1st ~af, cach~m0nth,-the enUre~contents.; of this publication: ar6 ptrt~t&l?l~tda:~yrightl~~ .... ~9 A%~e’Righ.t to t~te MarCH, an oth groups,_w, e aUow t0 .ma@be,. hind T~ ( F~,~ N~ ~ ~fid may ~6t ~ ~q~oducetl’,~ ~: whole orin part without written ~Ssion from th~ publisli&:. ~: b:~nners- refl~tingtheir various eiamcnes, Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s : organizations or states but if.PLAGA~ ¯ m~mbers carried its banner, they woma sexual orientation. Correspondence is, assumed to be. for ". be arrested and thrown in jail. publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed& be¯ This being known at the annual ¯ comes the sole property of T~J.~ ~ Nc~u÷ ~acli reader PLAGALmeefng onthe eve of the march, is entitled to 4 copies of each edidon at ,distribution " members decided to risk being arrested. "_ After all, they reasoned it would be points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. hypocritical ff PLAGAL hid at the March ~ ’:r ,TUl~a BUsinesses, Services, & Professionals ~: Advanced WireleSs & PCS, Digital Cellular.. 74%1508 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S.Harvard 743-1000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health& Life Insurance 747-9506 250~5034 *Barnes &Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 665-4580 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 523 1 E. 41 . 712=1122. Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 494-2665 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria ,Fufiends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 - -583-6611 582-0438 .~: .hardtobeincludedopenlyinprideevents for Life when for years they fought so *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria . HiVERCenter,4138Chas.PageBlv~a1 Cherry St Psy_cho~eralff, 1,51~5 S,. Lew*s .581-trot 834Z4194 : ~-indparadeswithinitsowncommunity.in Community Cleamng, heruy tsager ;,~..... , onK-~-~ 481-1111 ." addition, if PLAGAL bowed to the HollandC.A.R:E.S., Hall School,3507 5666 E. 81st :Tulsa Admi " Tim Daniel, Attorney 33z-~tr*, ~....-~ 749-3620 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention,.E~_u__ca~on _ 83~8378 : 0ressmesimposedbytheorganizers, they *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 587-2611 *House of the Holy Spirit Miustries, 3?~l,0e,,S,~%Nff~rw~oo~ 2437 .. : ~ do the Gay ~)mmunity no, g.oqd.. *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady lnt,~fslth IDSMinistries ’ ~..~6-/~-I,DI, OUU-~.~’I-z¢’~, ... By.not marching, they would be 744-5556 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria ~’l~"~mA’ted,i623 N, Maplewood ac~nowiedging that is was fight t~o hate 838:8503 .: g ~8-~ ~ ~ *Elite Books & Videos; 821 S. Sheridan ~, ~,~a~_~.~ ¯ and this would be a backward step. 584-0337, 7i2-9379 I~AMES Project,3507 E. Ad_mi,ml_ ~PI,: ..... *Ross Edward Salon :)to-o,, :. PLAGAL members do not want to be 592-O460 NOW, Nat’lOrg. forWomen~POB lqotas, t,H3y Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main . excluded from the Gay community just 744-9595 ¯ OK Spokes Club ~cyding), FOB 9i65, 74157 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria became of their pro-life beliefs and values, 610-0880 - *OSU-Tulsa . " Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI. 749-4901 628-3709 : PFLAG, FOB 52800, 74152 kmewise, they do want to be excluded Cathy Fmlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 58%7674 : the pro-life community just because 8O8-8O26 *Harmed parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 742-1460 they are Lesbian and Gay. Therefore, Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st ~ 749-4195 despite the threats, PLAGAL appegr,ex] _at 459-9349 *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network I_eanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 584-2325 ." themarch, and when the policebamcaneu 744-7440 *Red Rock Mental.Center, 1724 E. 8 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney : . them. PLAGAL .members maneuvered. 745-1111 .O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy~ 2865 E. Skelly " around the police and entered the parade 341-6866 O’RYAN, ~r. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth *International Toms ¯ 425-7882 further up the street marching under their 712-2750 St. Aid,art’s Episcopal Chinch, 4045N. Cincinnati 492-7140 " banner with the word "censored" taped Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 151h 582-3018 S,, r~,,-~tan’s EniScoval, 5635 E. 71st *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3088 " across so everyone would know what the 747-0236 ~t.Jer~--~me’s P~arish ~hurch, 205 W. King David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering vords were underneath. Their decision to *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 582-8460 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening ignore the arrest threats from the organizers 599-8070 *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 was noted in The Washington Post, The 747-5466 ?ulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Kdly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 Washington Times, and several others Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thmsdays only 585-1234 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady new s publications throughout the counlry. Tulsa Olda. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 584-3112 298-0827 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd The majority of Gays and Lesbians may 663-5934 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 not share the briefs of PLAGAL, but the~ 664-2951 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place should be proud of this small group within 838-7626 *Tulsa Community College Campuses Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 743 -4297 its community. PLAGAL’s presence was 743-4297 *~ulsa Gay Comn;unity Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 749-8833 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor a step toward bridging the gap between 747-5932 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696,74101 those individuals and the Gay community 834-0617 BARTLESVILLE Richard’s Carpet Cleaning as a whole. 834-7921,747-4746 *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors At the end of the march, members of 749-6301 *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN FemtmstforLife , Colleg~ates for Life , 260-7829 Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 Catholic priests and bishops, and others 481-0558 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis *Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 from all walks of life and religions 835-5563 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard ~ congratulated and thanked PLAGAL. TAHLEQUAH 743-1733 918-456-7900 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding see Letters, p.8 665-2222 *Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Chinch 592-0767 918-453-9360 An nouncements Policy *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis *Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities Tulsa Family News will provide space NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand 579-9593 for holy union ceremony, marriage HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 743-2363 ceremony, birth, adoption~ .and death All Sods Unitarian Chmch~ 2952 S. Peoria EUREKA SPRINGS,~ARKANSAS " 587-7314’ announcements on a space available basis. 501-253-7734 " Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 " Autumn Breeze Restamant, Hwy. 23 583-7815 501-253-7457 " Photos are welcome, though we cannot Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-9780 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-6807 ¯ promise placement o~r ,re~ttEn ~e~, so *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 585-1201 DeVito’s Restamant, 5 Center St. 501-253-5445 ¯ please send copies to I utsa ~ amtty ~vews, *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. POB 4140, Tulsa 74159. ~ 501-253-9337 ~Chapman Student:Ctr.; University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence MCC of the Living Spring ¯ ~. Letters Policy :~’ 501-253-2776 " *Church of the Resto~ationUU, 1314 N.Greenwood 587-1314 Geek to Go!,~ PC Specialist, FOB 429 ,C.-ommunity of Hope UnitedMethodist, 2545 S" Yale 747-6300 501-253~5332 i" Tulk~’Fam@ News welcomes letters 749-0595 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-624-6646 ¯ 0~ issfi~:,which we’ve covered or~on ,CommunityUnitafian-Universalist Congregation 748-3888 Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-253-6001 " issues you think need to be considered. Council Oak Men’s Chorale 712-1511 Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-4074 " You may request that your name be with*Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 742-2457 White Light, 1 Center St. *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 held but letters must be signed & have JOPLIN, MISSOURI Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics355-3140 & phone numbers, or be hand ddivered. 200 417-623-4696 *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 word letters are preferred. Letters to other Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 publications will be re-printed as is *Fellowship Congre,g. _Church, info" 58%4669 * is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but allare Gay-frlendly. *Free SpiritWomen s Center, cm appropriate. " 747-6827 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 ~o �byChristoptterGraff " ~ So lawmakers are faced with a division that is widening ¯ !dONTPF.l.lP.R, Vt,(AP)-DonnaLescoeofStarksb°r° ¯ at a time they are looking for .~...useus~s_;ReP.- T~o~. Little, : had a simple message for legislators when she testified the chairman of the.HouseJudidary COmm;ttee, ls aman ,,onGaymmriage."Beheroes~" ~ who has a keen ability to fmd common ground and to lawmakers tohavethe courage toextendi¯ stitch together=. divisions, He Js -a Repubfican who bv Tom Neal, puoltflg,r & eaztor from-both parfies~:~But he seemed : the nmrriage laws tOinclude Gays¯ and Lesbians. , commandS’.respeCt .... than ,r :, -~ ,,,~h, SO simule It is hard to be a hero , frustrated this past. week by the w~demng rather ¯ ¯ u ~t ~,~,. ,~ . . v _:.. ..... .... : ohab y most non-Gry O @Oma .".es,the o ti=.rew.lawmakers i _,. mp ..-...~ wmlesomeoi *_..m°nmemle’mmm-,emvm,~°-nsares°ucmP" la~. . . they had no Lesbian or Gay constfluents.. : . .... ...... them aresimply bigots, many of them know that they- . looked _li~..e .anything bu.~ ....... oughtto:~be mpportive of basic.civil fights for Gay "- heroe~ folio.wt~.g a re~,,.m " " " ........ ~aUzens.’But they are scared that,treating Gay people ¯ " ¯ " Tuesday__ mgIlk ¯ UUIIC P, ." . " ’~f’k,, ~-~..!. f~ogn6 lavcmaker~ ~. aaa,o ..~.~ .~--~.~ _ l~nw stron~ the evidence that _ " vgters.. : ~ that they., are=oft.m__:..,. _h-.~,g~!tgo~-a.~a-~.t ....... not ea@-. It ~s nothln~ less ,, other ~..,faidy. ..wall .... so, mcense. ,. " . ¯ " ’, , . ~.~lhdistta~ttishfibt~ fr0in Oldalaoma R~publicans. ,,-~ ~ " .. ~ .... shell’sn,°q~cm-a~Y-~ ~ : ~ ¯ will be~ deaded 0n TU~da.y; Match 14th. Some 0f,the " them9before. Per!laps : never races are dfeetivdy settled (Brady Pringledoes~have a i have .1..~0,l~.!e att_~dyd Democratic oppon~eatbut in thai~ heavily Republican . a pum~c nearing at me district, it likely doesn’t matter), but others ~ar~.. still : Statehouse.Andthenumber unsettled. " - ~ ¯ ~ " : ¯ would have been thousands Of particular interestto TulSa’s Lesbian and Gay - moreifasnowstormhadnot commlmities is Cound! District 4 .for which former ~ kept many away. ./ " w~’lling to casts: vote that . ouldbothdrlast.Nomatter * !* ..../ ....L .... o[ Freedomand Unlt-~. " How to ~ve Gays and Lesbians tl~elr ~xlom an~l yet preserve tl~e unity at the state~ - dmiedthdr dviln~ghts;~t~s t...a f~r a leoislator to cast a firestormot :polls in November. And even if lawmakers craft a package extending to Gays and Lesbians benefits such as having a say in the medical decisions of, their It is the stm~ heroes are madeo. [" Yes, eye.one who spoke parmers; they know there will Anna Falling. While _.Gay and ~tiian households a~ - wascivil.Butthecivilitydid foundthroughont thedty~-thisdistri¢t, mosflyMidtown, ; not mask the passion: Or the division. The tremors in " be a vote on the.floor on same-sex marriage - and that is. easily the most. heavily Gaylone. of the..dt~ For_ ~ people’s voices, a mixture of nerves .and emotion, spoke - tally, no matter what the outcome, will be used in .the fall examp!e, jnstonornextttlny_v~;shortbloek~thereare " volumes about-the depths of feeling.~ What became " elections. " Following .the hearing it seemed m the incumbent Gary W~tts is challenging currentincumbent .~ at least six Gay families2 . i-.~ ~ ~. - ,.. -. :. . One could argue, of course, that- Ms~ Fallingrs very -nubile lan.qe., in ,, oood < iudoment issues (win ~-" r..::-:~.,r.:-.,r-~-.,. onnon-Gav ..... ~. hnsband~s~ her recycling program pu.bfic or private,: her ......-_ ¯ n,mmdfi~ oroaniTatlon arml~n~f0~nUbfic funds on.which ¯" . ,~ ~.~’~l"~.---e7------rr:~--~, r , i . .snewastovote),areenoughtopersuaaeLesmananatJay - apparent’at theheming is thatthe two sides are moving :- Statehouse timton lawmakers would like to f’md way to avoid any vote this issue this year. Theidea ofacreating fresher aparL WhentheSupr_em~eC.o.urtissuedi~.~be.r. idec.i.’s.ion :.a special com~!ssio.n .to .craft. a solu~o~n ,~an~d .rgel~O~ht;o~ saymg Gays and Lesbians are eg.~fled tP the rights,. ". law.n~Kersnex[yearmt~mgatscus.ssa.tmt _P~r.napsua~ ¯ ¯ ¯ - ...... . o t the bendits and protecuons gtven roamed couples, e_veryone ¯ ~s just a mo.m~entar~. ,.a.nd, ex.p.ected hesitancy ¯foil w ng . ~_~__,= .t,d--.A ~,~,~teww P,,-a~e and I ~=~h~rt~ ~.q tile DUDIIC lleallnl~. e coul"t -" na~sion80t _r.t.~_.,~,,t,.nm,~tttiiiX~endnnhowthedebateis ’-~..’2p~. ""~"*,?." ""~ .’~"..~"~’.’.’-:...l.~a~s.ed the.. . ¯ p _ ~ex mamao ~.F2 ......... ,;~l,~t~i r~.,~.,~t~ nf ~.e -_.. , me. m __age al80 rimmed ¯ frmned m the comm~ _ weeks . Opponents llge . " andlnaole - s ultra-extreme rengto-ponucos, .... ¯ ¯ ¯ Largent ano - ¯..... " vr--........ " to" portray the Supreme Court deeimon as ,. ........ ........... ....... .~,.t.~, b~ause the court did not strike down the. state, s . are seeking . . . . . her rtosuu[y Io OUr t’I1oe evenls, it s Cl~ar Inat amlost . ,a,.~..j . ¯ mamage laws~ Bishop Kenneth Angell calle~_, the court . some_ra.di.’.ca.l, andug,com.ttm.~fio.na).mo.ye ,F~Ve.nnon.t.ers, ,,~....,,1,1 h~ ~,~tt,~ ¯ thoughdtlshardtotmagrnet~meIJusuceJenreyAmestoY, ~: ................ Thatbrings us toGaryWatts. Gary, like someOklahoma - ruling aadecisivevictoryfor.tradifionalmamage." : amuch beloved and eminently respected person who is as Democrats is not particularly prejudiced. Like those : R seemed at that moment that legislation creating : moderate and generally as cautious as they come, doing same Democrats, he’s not shown much leadership, He and they don’t hale us - they just don’.t want to deal with our issues. ,But sOi~eone "s got to.start, kno@ing that.we’ll lose the first or five engagements but that.each time our issues, like a city non-discrimination ordinance, or equal compensation (full benefits for our familiesas well as equal wages)for Gay cityemployees, or a city domestic partners registry, are debated,the public learns. I believe that-Oklahomans are basically fair and eventually will respond to a reasoned argument. And in the meantime, a fair-minded city councilor could push for administrative changes, like getting the "diversity" training for our police department to deal with more than just race. After all, it’s our city too. : domestic partnerships forsince Gaysthe anddecision Lesbians ~s~ ¯ something radical or unconstitutional. It was Amestoy through. But in the month thewould. two sloes : who wrote the court rnling. have’ staked out positions worlds aparL Andthe hearing didmuch toeducate notju~t lawmnkers, : Bishop An,g,ell recently-condemned domestic : : partnerships as steponetowardfullacceptanceofsame- " but also the public at large. ~Vermont Public Radio did a great service by broadcasting the hearing statewide. ¯ sex marriage" and has even challenged ~e validity ofthe Vermonters of all political and social back_groun.ds .got a Supreme C,o.~_~ ruling itseLf, saying ~.his ~ t.o ,arms,to . ¯ Catholics, q~ere are many sound legm minus WhO . chance to hear the scripture readings, the pasmon, the ¯ question the Supreme Court’s authority to even issue " division. They also got to hear from the real.people whose ¯ such mandates to the legislature.’" lives will be most affected by the legislative action. The task facing lawmakers is not easy. It is nothing less : At the same time, Gays and Lesbians are saying a ¯ system of domestic partnerships is insufficient to meet " than living up to the state’s motto of "’Freedom and the spirit of the Supreme Courtrtding. A domesticpartner " Unity." How to give Gays and Lesbians their freedom and yet preserve the unity of the state? sounds like someone who cleans the house, Jonathan It is the stuff heroes are made of. Radigan told lawmakers. : "Hometown Project", because it builds on the power of Thd challengeof being out has turned us inward before. by Dave Fleischer, Senior Fellow Policy Institute : Look around our community. Most of our organizations ¯ our relationships with family and friends, even when National Gay and Lesbian Task Force : are refuges -"safe space"- safe from meaningful ; we’ve been out of touch. We love coming out - except when we hate it. : If you have never lived in the hot-spots du jour, don’t We love reminiscing on and celebrating our past acts of ¯ encounters with straight people. We draw 200,000 to a ¯ feel neglected. Make a list of everyone you know who : pride parade to celebrate, yet only a relative handful to ¯ daring. Comingoutishow wediscoveredbothcommunity ¯ does live in one. You must know 20 people. Send them political campaigns to safeguard our fights. and freedom. It’s how we found both love and a life. ¯ this colnmn. Follow up on the phone. We need every vote, ¯ But relying on refuges is a risky strategy. It suggests to But it’s hard to snmmon the energy and courage to ¯ and you will help create a new habit of doing the one-oncome out 24/7 - to ask, tell, and pursue on a daily basis. :¯ our opponents that the rest of the world is theirs, and it " one ask. leaves us vulnerable topolitical attack. Soplease consider That’s why campaigns sidestep the "G" word. When 2. Host a house party to raise money for one of the ¯ afew specificcoming-outactionsthatbuildourcollective ~ we say~ person-to-person, "What do you think ,a,b~,ut tl~." s ¯ power and don’t unduly disrupt your everyday life. communities under attack. Invite 120 friends and anti-Gay ballot measure?", we are also asking, "What do ¯ 1. Join a campaign where you get to ask voters one-on- ." acquaintances to your home to hear about this new wave you think about me? Do you see me as a human being, ¯ of ballot measures. Call all 120 personally and ask each : one, preferably face-to-face, if we can count-on their although I’m Gay and you probably aren’tT’ ¯ to come. You will bring together 40 people, raise a ¯ ’. Most campaigns avoid coming out, way out_ They ¯¯ votes. In 2000, California, Miami-Dade County, Florida, ¯ minimum of $1000, and f’md at, least six new volunteers. rarely engage voters .perso.n-to-person, and of,te~, av~oid ¯ 3. Get training. If face-to-face voter contact sounds Maine, and possibly Oregon face ballot measures that mentioning sexual on~mtataon. Recent research oy ls.en ¯ affect your rights. If you live in one of these places, join : intimidating, seek out training, At the¯National Gay & ~eager (himself an openly-~ay candidate for office) ¯ ¯ Lesbian Task Force Creating Change conference ¯ ~uggests that 57% of candidate’~ who think of themselves ¯ your local campaign. If you used to live in one, make a list of everyone you ¯ November 10-14, we taught the nuts and bolts, went as "openly Gay" don’t actually disclose their sexual door-to-door talking with Oakland voters about the anti; know in your old hometown. Dig out your old address orientation to voters before the election. book or high school yearbook. Ask your siblings or -¯ Gay-marriage Knight Initiative. In one evening, we will Likewise, many campaigns to defeat anti-Gay ballot ¯ identified hundreds of our supporters, and educated measures twist themselves into p~etzels to avoid the ¯ parents to jog your memory. I’ll bet you know at least 50 undecided, voters. people you can call. Whea you reach them, explain the words "Gay", "Lesbian", or that new scare word ,. rput up the periscooI~..~::~t~sgreat that our community and ask if we can count on (rarely so clearly): - but reality i fax �II Court UpholdsPortl and Civil Rights Ordinance SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Gay rights advocates have won a round as the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a Portland ordinance against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The court, in a 9-1 ruling reversing a lower court, said the city had the power to give citizens the right to go to state courts to enforce the anti-discrimination ordinance. Even some,of,the appealsjudges in the.majority, tho~.igtr, ~orried-@ati tl~e~c0~ ~.i,,hav~ V~iatut~d roofs, toward giving private partigs new..avenues sUeiffSeateeo.ur~s overlocaHa~sx.The rightto sue-was tthet~yi ~su~-,N~bod~:oIai,m~ 4 ltmt !he city1 aek~ ~he ~weri lx~:iid0pt~:~e-ordinanee.in~t991., that bars disNNmati~n, i~ eniployment, housing, and public accommodations.. ,S~te.taws against employment discrimination don’t include sexual orientation. The city ordinance also outlaws discrimination based on sources of income, which is aimed at protecting welfare recipients. "This is a great day for civil rights in Oregon,P said Portland Mayor Vera¯ Katz. .... Portland ~s once agatn a leaderin efforts to protectthe rights of all our citizens." The case decided involved employment. A MultuomahCounty temporary judge, Monte Bricker, ~n .1.997 ruled against David Sims, who claimed he was fired as a cook at Besaw’s Cafe in .Portland because he is Gay. Owners of the business denied the accusations and have not made a decision-on whether to appeal to the oregon Supreme Court. Bricker said the city couldn’t givepeople apathway to state courts to seek enforcement of rights under a local law. But the appeals court said the city didn’t exceed its authority, giving Sims the chance to continue ............ with hislav~sttitin_which he.~6"nght either damages or In some cases, the registry document can provide further legal proof of a relationship, Roche said. It could come into play, for exhmple, when a Gay couple with jointly owned assets separates. The registry stirred relatively little opposition in Ashland, where it was approvea by a 4-1 vote of the City Council, Roche said. Nationally, registries have spurred voter initiatives and lawsuits. Courts validated Atlanta’s registry but overturned a registry in Minneapolis, according to the Lmnbda Legal Defense and Education Fund. The registries can be designed !o ~PP!~ ~ both Gays and t~f~rosextml~i~,as Seattle s i~,i[~i~ ~be purely ;~.~ml~6iic o{’~iV~ sp~i~...d tl~e-~ ’~ :: ~ :": " RTL N , Or . eit: of t’ortland and Multnomah County are ~nsiderir~ theadopdon of a domesdc partuefship registry as away~’pr Gay couples t6 Officially iog thdr ~;~i~onships, A jOint ~registry wotfld be ihe second ,~.::~gon ,ag_.d~ong three dozen nationwide. In Oc~be~AsKihhd approved a registry for s/tree-sex couples 18:or older. So did California. Seattle has had one since 1994. And New Orleans, Boston, New York and Iowa City, Iowa also have them. The registries stop far short of conferring marriage s-tatus- on- Gay -couples= "~Bul~, it’s~ ,still-. an acknowledgment of. a relationship that two people who are committed to one another have," said Maura Roche, spokeswoman for Basic Rights Oregon. "And it’~ s a way~to aeknoWiedge i-t in:a pt~bli~.forum~ which hopefally Wi~,leadito. ~g~puh!ie: understanding ¯~at~drmi~icaneedi:BotmJ~T~] cxec~ti:ve director Of She.-said the~Ialks are;.~.~st~p)i’~-thffright direction becaus,e a registry represent§ a chatNejn family. That s oae o~ the mNn..eoiicerns of Lou Bores exec~utive ~r...e.rgtor ~:;ffae:C~eg0ii chapter of the :.~)::: :~ais in Po~ilanO;and the na~9~’~, heL~aid: B eres added that he would try to organize h:pmtegt~a~ainst Katz and Naito if registries were e~(tended io homosexual MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathg.E~liot Pastor ~) 11:00 am 1623 N. Maplewood ’ .~ 918/838~715 "7.- ~.~,~ ~ i .Reform :Same-Gender Rituals Basic Rights Oregon, a leading Gay civil rights advocacy organization, also praised the decision. "We’re very pleased to hear that the court has upheld employees’ access to fight discrimination at the state courtle el, : stud spokeswoman Maura Roche. More than one appeals judge had mixed feelingson .. thecase, which had been before the~cottrt since fall of 1998. Only Judge Walter Edmonds Jr. dissented i entirely. But four others, including Chief Judge Mary ¯ Deits, said while they agreed with the outcome, the court went further than necessary. The decision : "sweeps too broadly" in deciding that cities can ¯¯ broaden the "duties and liabilities of private parties," Judge Virginia Linder wrote in a separate concurring opinion. Edmonds said the decision violated the concept of state sovereignty over local governments. Oregon City/Count,y May Try-Partners R gistry ~. -" United in God’s Love NEW YORK (AP).=-Two years after they postponed a contentious showdown over same-sex blessing rituals, the rabbis of Judaism "S liberal Reform branch will face a decision on the issue at this year’s convention. Leaders of the 200-member Women’s Rabbinic Network have agreed to force the issue by submitting a resolution sanctioning such ceremonies to the Central Conference Of American Rabbis, which holds-*its national convention, March 26-29 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The coqeaders of the women’s network, Rabbis Shira Stem and Susan-Stone, said the resolution agreed" to’recently will differ only slightly from a proposed text the same group published in January. " That text said: "The relationship of a Jewish, samegender couple is worthy ofaffirmation through appropriate Jewish ritual and. :-: .each rabbi should decide ab0ut-0l’ficiafio-n- a~,Ysfdin-g-t6 hig/her"own rabbinic conscience." The conference’s top two officials had signed a January declaration urging all American tdig~ons to normalize same-sex couples. And a conference Sexuality study committee in 1998 endorSed recognition rituals for such couples. The women’s net~brk cffes the sexuality C~mtifittee’s view that Judaism’s historic opposition to homosexual behavior no longer applies. But there is division within Reform rabbinic ranks. The conference’s "responsa comnuttee,’,whose rulings guide the practices of Reform rabbis, opposed thechangeinaT-2decision.Amemberoftheresponsa committee majority, .Rabbi .:Jeffrey Salkin of Port Washington, New Y ork, said Reform rabbi s are already free to conduct same-sex rituals if they want. But Salkin fears that officially approving the practice would "tear rdati,onships apart" amongReform rabbis, and hurt Reform s relations ~ith otl~[r branches and its hopes-.~fot full a-cce~tance.in {g~el?-Whatevet happens, Salkin said; ~’We:are looking at something that will ha¢e massive historical iml~pr~ce." ~ "¯ Me,mawhile, the Episcopal’Churchig~s to release a proposal on same-same rituals within a weekortwo Conventions ofthe Presb~[6ri~m Ch~Ch (U,S.~.) an~ United Methodist Church will also deb~!le the issue this year. .:. ~" ~ Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community of Hope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am .................. Wgd_._Bible- Study, ~7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly DriSe, Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa- O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Y0hng Adult Network i~’ Outreach Prografn Thurs: Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment ~. .: Call for.mee.ting tinies ~ind place: ~ 918-584:2325 Gay Club Embraced at Catholic College PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - When Dan Neuville started classes as a freshman at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish last year~ the Gay man felt very lonely. Considering the church’s stance on homosexuality, Neuville wasn’t suq:rrised that there was no Lesbian¯ Gay s tudent organization like.~ose at-secular colleges. "Tl~ere was-novd~ere form~to go.on, campus," Neuville said ........... Now Newzille has creati~d ~dmewhere to go.,~qaough Catholic ze~cNag bars ~homosex~mt¢ from tam’Gage and sexual activity, &e State’[ only Roman Cail~olic college has:f0~-med a stude~tdub where heterosexual and homosesua! smdcms The Gay/S t~ight stat~ff " as s~uden~ dozen Jennifer B@iiton;pres~d~nt~of: the student.senate; Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 K 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned& Operated - - - - -- ~" ~- --7--- - - - �rZ 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Commtmity Sen, ices Center .. 743-GAYS (743-4297) said the ~cp.llege’s administrators, staff and students have received the new group well. "On our campus, iwe’re open to all issues, and as students we’re encouraged to discuss issues in society. Gay issues are one of those," she said. The alliance has more heterosexual than homosexual members and is not intended to compel anyone to endorse homosexuality, Neuville said. "We’re not a ~ mili~ant group. We’re not protesting, pickefn,g, saying, "Damn it, we want you to accept us,"" he said. club 6=~ pm, Sunday - Friday.. Gay on "12-9~m, Saturday; all sales.benefit’the Center/~-.i. ¯ ." ." ¯ ." ." ¯ ." whether homosexuality is a choice or biological is irrelevant. "Gay and Lesbian people are not treated equally in many respects,’" sa~d Jane Marquardt, an attorney who donated to the Shepard scholarship fund. The scholarship is meant "to help a particular Gay student develop leadership skills, than people can realize Gay people are no different than anyone else," Marquardt said. : Gay Student Sues School RENO. Nev._ (AP) - A former Washoe County high i School studentclaims WashoeCounty school officials : failed t0 stop verbal and physica! harassmentinflicted i-liy classmates becaus~ h~,is.Gay... In afederal lawsuit .to talk andleam andbias against l to make :. fded recendy, Derek Henkle ailcges school officials tissues Of troths Local 1 : denied him ~i:~te~:~.~.elofhls sexual .. ofientation:~d ,d~died,’:.~ fr~:, ~li:rigllts by; ’: allegedly urging him tohide being ~ay. Tl~_e suit als0~ .. maizes claimsof negfigence andinfliclion ofemolional. ¯" distress. " ’" ...... :’=. ..... : .Saint Straight problematic For the sexual I-Ienkle:~suit is .being h~ndled.~by me:Lamb~a : Legal Defense and Eduction Fund, a New York¯ : : based Gay rights.o~ganiza~on, it seeks unspecified t .::damages, Namedas defendan.ts are prindpals;a vice : prin~pal, a.teache~, and ~pus poSce officers. : School district offi~:ials had no iimnediate comment. ¯ "we haven’t been served with anythin$ yet and unSl " we do, obvionsly we ~m’t comment on the spedfi~," district Spokesman~Steve Mulvenon said. Jon ,Derek thandled I and ,a~Gay .~"It’ s not a conditiOn at:the-hands .of who is But the Catholics, said. call: :.Henkle : a highway~ said his complaints to : shouidbe~ Catholic clearly what :the stated " administrators ~ -. Gay Scho|ershi - --KEVIN BURLESON Ke lle r ~Willgams R e a !ty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker OPENARMS, OPENMINDS-,OPENHEAKq’S Saint Aidan ,<. .Saint Dunstan 4045 N. Cincinnali,i ~7882 .ii~~East 71st 492~7140 Saint John :...... Td~ty 4200 S. Atlanta Pla~.~/42-7381 - " .,501: $.: Cincinnati, 582-4128 Welcomes You. including students ~and faculty at University have raised more than $50 ~e. Matthew Shepard Scholarship enaowment wil!.pro~ide $2,000 a year Bisexual or transg~ grade point average,.= "I think it makes":us a, Hinds,. a Weber: State staff member who lot while two campus At Washoe ! relatedlY : students to Davidson said the p_ri’ncipal pcople hewas Gay. students who tell Lesbians and Gay closet," Davidson said. ¯Gay Pride to. Happen pite vatican ROME (AP) - A Gay Pride week that comes smack --~, Wyo., in thethe middle of the Holy Year college student who was Severely pistol ’ i irked Vatican, butRoman,Catholic Rome s mayor insisted thathas the. .: left to die. The : ¯ " laws across the nation. with the .G,,a~y pride event, but it would be a ."_.-i .Scho!arshiplapplieants must be a sophQ~ or :: along eventwillbeallowedtotakeplace."Youmightnotgo : higher level, t~king 12 credit hours per s~es~er. A : mistake to ban it, Mayor Francesco Rutelli said. World Pride Roma 2000 is expected to bring 500 to 750 word essay, the .: hundredsofthonsandsofGaysandLeshianstoRome needs, academic performance ¯ at the same fire, the eityis overflowing with religions with or service to the pay, Lesbian, : pilgrims eomingto th~Jubileemillenniumcelebrations : calledby Pope J0hn Paul II."Romehas amillenninm: old code of welcome ~.and respect that won’t change in Organizers are working to finalize ¯ 2000." RutelEtold a city council meeting on Holy scholarship endowment with the : Year issues:,~:The. ~Vatican, which condemns there are no applications. : homosexual acts but.not homosexuality itself, had no "There are sexnal m~inorifies. And this is official comment ~ the July 1-9 event. Vatican "there’s a scliolarship here,"’ said Officials denied~.~.~ that the Holy See had tried to President But ÷:: get it cancele~.-,.~ii;~[~,~ti_.the officials, who Spoke on condition of anon~, also acknowledged that the said Weber State student Niki with culture Vafica was irritate, by the fact that the gathering t~mes ~: J~ee yeax. see News, p. 10 �Better.Drugs i Equal Fewer Pills i Oral Sex Not As Safe As Thought SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Powerful new ¯ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Many Gay men consider oral sex a safer alternative AIDS drugs in development should help to intercourse, but a new study finds it relieve one of the biggest problems of carries a real risk of spreading AIDS. treatment - the pill burden. Over the past Even without condoms, oral sex is four years, new treatment combinations widely regarded to be safe sex, even though have revolutionized AIDS care, changing HIV infection from a death sentence to a : health agencies have never officially disease that is treatable, if not curable. : conceded that. A new study conducted in San Francisco shows that frequent However, patients must adhere to a tedious i unprotected oral sex can also be risky, and exacting sehedule of downing pills, ." though certainly not as much as anal sex. .often more than 20 a day. "The message is not that everyone will Now, drugmakers are working on new : drugs that require m~ch smaller doses as ¯ get infected through oral sex," said Dr. wall as better versions of the old standbys -" Frederick Hecht of San Francisco General ." Hospital, a coauthor of the study. In fact, that can be taken less frequently. Experts say that if all goes well, over the ¯ analintercoursecouldbe 100timesriskier. Because of declines in unprotected anal next two or so years it may be possible to ¯ reduce the .pill burden to just four tablets : intercourse, therehas beenabigreduction taken once a day. "Most drugs are dosed ." in high-risk exposure, I-Iecht said. But twice or three times a day for a reason. ~ -~._~ere is still plenty of low-risk exposure Once a day is not enough. The Holy Grail ¯ tl~ough oral sex without condoms, "and would be to take all your medicines once ." that low risk adds up." His study found aday with as few capsules as possible. We : that oral sex was probably the cause of 8% are not so far from that, maybe in the next ¯¯ of recent HIV infections among a group of homosexual men examined in S~m couple of years," said Dr. Eugene Sun, head of antiviral drug research at Abbott ~ Francisco. ¯ In the past, there have been occasional Laboratories. About half of all patients who initially ¯ reports of people apparently catching HIV orally. But health investigators have had respond to treatment eventually find their ¯ difficulty being certain, since Gay men virus levels rebounding, and the most common reason for this is failure to stick ¯¯ who have do oral sex also may engage in to apill schedule. The pill-taking schedule ¯ other, riskier sex practices, such as anal intercourse. is more than just a nuisance. 71~ose who ¯ Now diagnostic tests allow doctors to miss even a few doses risk losing control over their virus. Without enough medicine ¯ narrow down the timing of HIV infections. in the bloodstream, HIV comes roaring ¯ They were used in the latest study, back, often generating mutant versions ." described as the most definitive on the subject to date. The work, conducted with that are resistant to the drugs. A keyingredient of most drug regimens ¯ the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and is a class of medicines called protease ¯¯ Prevention, was presented in San Francisco at the 7th Conference on inhibitors. They are often combined with ¯ Retrovirases and Opporttmistic Infectious. two or three older kinds of drugs, such as ¯ "’Wlfile oral sex may still be safer than ddI and AZT. At last month’s 7th Conference on .¯" anal intercourse or vaginal intercourse, it is not without risk and perhaps has higher Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections ¯ risk than we would have expected in San Francisco, doctors described results of testing with new varieties of prot.ease ¯ otherwise," said Dr. Helene Gayle, the CDC’s AIDS chief. inhihibors. Some of these medicines are The researchers sought to learn the 10 times more powerful than the ones that " transformed AIDS treatment. Protease ¯ meaus ofinfectionin 102 Gay and Bisexual inhibitors are by far the biggest lump in ¯¯ men who had recently caught HIV. When the pill burden. Typically patients must ¯ all other possible means of infection were ruled out, oral sex turned out to be the only take three of them three times a day - a total of nine pills -often on an empty ¯ risk behavior in eight of these men. Most 0 said they thought- oral sex had little or no stomach. ° risk. In the works areproteaseinhibitors that ° Because o~ the strict criteria used, the doctors hope will need to be taken twice or even just once a day. One of these is :° real number of cases resulting from oral Bristol-Myers Squibb’ s drug code-named ° sex may actually have been higher. For instance, two men said they had oral sex BMS-232632. In preliminary testing directed by Sanne, it appears that one or -" but not anal sex. But they also said they two of these pills once aday is as effective o° had blacked out once and could not be at suppressing HIV as the standard dose ¯ sure what had happened, so they were excluded from the total. of nelfinavir, an older protease inhibitor. All of the men apparently caught the Abbott presented promising results with . its experimental protease inhibitor ABT- ¯ virus by giving oral sex, rather than 378, showing it Seems to work against ¯ receiving it, and none used condoms. "We know that the only safe sex is total strains of virus that are already resistant to other drugs. The drug will be combined 0 abstinence or sex with a mutually withritonavir, another protease inhibitor, o monogamous,non-HIV-infectedparmer," into pills that willbo-taken three at a time, : ’~ Gayle said. "Everything else has some twic~:~a day. The comp.,.a~y?~.s working on ° degree of risk. The sense that oral sex is safe sex may have been an unfortunate smaller doses ~ wel! ..... ~ ~ message." .~’ Ufie~p~.cteff~ide et~l~b.cts can quickly Gayle said she a~sumes that the risk of derail deq~loptuent of these drugs -MerCk oral sex when properly using a condom is Research Laboratories was scheduled to close to zero. She also .said that if oral sex presentresultS of its new protease inhibitor alone has played a large role in the spread at the meeting. But two weeks ago, it of AIDS, that would already have become suspended human testing of the drug after obvious during the 20 years. rat experiments turned up possible kidney Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National damage. The medicine, called MK-944A, Institute of Allergy and Infectious is acombination of anew protease inhibitor Diseases, noted that some Gay men turned and an older one, called indinavir, into a to frequent unprotected oral sex after single pill that would be taken once or twice a day. Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. 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"People the riskfellatio," is low, but AIDS Virus First Emerged in 1930 SAN FRANCISCO (AP)-The worldwide AIDS pandemic has been traced to asingle viral ancestor who emerged perhaps around 1930. Earlier research had ¯ suggested that the ol~tbreak began in the ¯ first half of the 20th century, but the latest : analysis, done at the Los Alamos National ." Lab in New Mexico, appears to be the ¯ most definitive so far. -" Bette Korber, who keeps a’database of HIV genetic, information at the lab, calculated HIV’s family tree by looking at the rate the virus mutates over time. She assumed these genetic changes happen at a constant rate and used a supercomputer to clock the mutations back through time tO a common ancestor. Lesbians and Gay men face many special tax situations whether single or as couples. Electronic filing is ~yailable for faster refunds. 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 Are You-Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa s Two-Spirited Indian Mona Support Group is here for. you! _ / ~\~"~ .~i=-J.~Y LX~ ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218, Korber estimates that the current pandemic goes back to one or a small group of infected humans around 1930, though this ancestor virus could have emerged as early-as 1910 or as late as 1950. From this single source, she suggests, came the virus that now infects roughly 40 million people all over the .world. ’This offers a small piece in a larger puzzle concermng the origins of HIV," she said. Experts believe that HIV’ s ancestor is a virus that ordinarily infects chimpanzees. Somehow it spread to people - .perhaps thirough abite or hunting mishap -~n west equatorial Africa. Just when this happened, though, is .still a mystery, Korber Said. The leap from chimp to man could have been around 1930. Or it may have occurred much earlier and the virus stayed within a small group of humans. The work challenges a theory that AIDs actually began in the 1950s, when HIV was accidentally mixed with the polio vaccine. In last year’s book ’¢Fhe River," Edward Hopper theorizes that HIV contaminated batches of the vaccine that were grown in chimp dssue. This then spread when the vaccine was tested in the Belgian Congo. Korber said this is highly unlikely, since it would require the introduction of at least 10 genetically separate strains of the virus into the vaccine from different chimps. Dr. Steven Wolinsky of Northwestern University called Korber’s project "a computational tour de force." Korber based her work on the genetic codes of 160 different copies of the AIDS virus. She analyzed them on a Los Alamos supercomputer, called Nirvana, that can perform l trillion computations per second. The earliest existing sample of HIV was found in a blood specimen obtained in Leopoldville - now Kinshasa - in 1959. Virus Testing Helps AIDS Treatments SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Doctors say they can improve the chance of successfully treating AIDS by measuring how each patient’s virus stands up to the drugs intended to kill HIV. Through evolution, HIV can grow resistant to any of the standard AIDS drugs, and often it is invulnerable to several at once. The specific combination of viral resistance varies from patient to patient. In theory, doctors can brew up the most potent AIDS drug cocktails for their patients if they know the strengths and vulnerabilities of the viruses they carry. In the past, doctors have attempted to do this by checking the virus for the genefc mutations that make it impervious to various drugs. However, complex mixes of mutations are sometimes hard to translate into drug treatment plans.’ In a new approach called phenotypic resistance tesdng, doctors can check the virus against all of the standard drugs to see which ones can kill it, then .use~the results to tailor their strategy. "With this information, you can make better decisions," said Dr. Calvin Cohen. Understanding virus resistance is especially important w hen putting together new drug combinations after the initial drug cocktail fails to wipe out all visible signs of the virus. Doctors have 15 AIDS drugs to pick from, and the choice often amounts to an educated guess. Cohen and colleagues studied phenotypic testing at the Community Research Initiative of New England, an independent AIDS research organization in Brookline, Mass. He described the results Monday, in San Francisco at the 7th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. . The test was developed by Virco N.M., a European biotechnology company that financed the study with Glaxo Wellcome Inc., the pharmaceutical company. Doctors say an advantage ofp,henotypic testing is the simplicity of ~lle results. "The person’s virus is grown in a culture and then ,put into a test tube with each antiviral drug," Cohen said. "We monitor to see how wellitgrow s. If it stops growing, .that drug works. It’s that simple." The new test costs $800 per patient. Screening the genetic mutations in HIV to figure out drug resistance has been around longer and cOsts about $400 to $500 per patient. Doctors say that trying to understand how well drugs will work by analyzing viral genes can be daunting when the virus is resistant to several drugs. Sometimes resistance to one pill can help the virus withstand another, even though it does not specifically have resistance to that medicine. "Phenotypic resistance testing will be attractive because it is so much easier to interpret," said Dr. Douglas D. Richman of the University of California at San Diego. To check the test’s value, Cohen’s team studied 274 patients who had failed to respond to an initial round of AIDS drugs. Half were randomly assigned to receive phenotypic testing, while the rest got standard care without testing. After 16 weeks, 58% of the patients getting phenotypic-testing had responded so well to their new combination of drugs that the virus had fallen too low to measure. By comparison, 37% of those without testing did this wall. "Until this study, all of this was reasonable but unproven," Cohen said. "Now we can prove it." ~:~": Wa~ to get involved? Need to.get tested for HI~ or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor �~ J. Christjohn Happy Imbolc, Groundhog’s Time for ." ¯ y ." when ¯ : good month for staying in and riding out winter storms. Or giving into spring fever when possible. Now for those thirty-somethings that recall growing up to the sounds of the Partridge Family. with fondness, David ~sidy "As you may has aCD out entitled:"Old Dog, .Ne~ T~ck." notice, I’ve’-~: S~inging initsfirstt for some~ the of the~ show that fisten ~no on tS~ Partrid is so. it’s ok, ,~cultural is else, an and the list of events Of -interest and. relevance. ~ At thispoint, I ,dosed music or film and, childhood favorites in col~. Back to.the present.. VALENTINE’S DAYis 9oming!~Gift idea?i,.The ever handso.m~,<~piani~t’.:Jim Bric~ provide~ lovely~usic p~ect for,~elight dinners, an~ohn T,rones croo~,the perfect ballads t6~t]he m0od for ..~gh romance on [h~ir-~CDs, restively. ThelIX~rfect m~ic.to ~t the mood for a romantic ev~.... Ok, the moment you :re all-~n atting for. The S tevie Nicks mentioa.She’s back ¯" in the Studio working on the~W CD after ". the performing break i~’Vegas and Cafifomia. SherylCrow is agamproducing i - no mention of what happened to Mr. ." Hip-Hop producer. Thank G~oddess! Long b~fom multi:million-dollar book deals were the fashion~Alexandre Dumas’ son (yes, the "The Three Musketeers" author) converted his tonidLtomedqerminal love affair into a best sel~.~lhe~, composer Guisep.,pe Ve~: ~dpted. ~8r story for o~ra (hello, ka Travi~), Toda~ choreoorapher Val Canipamli flni~edthe job of turning. "La Traviata" into dance. Usino drama,. not melodrama. For understatement underscored. A full-lenoth Iovestory. v URL: : On with the , m,~chers it ¯ wereGay or straight, what mattered was he sl~ed.belief of those ~ching that t i day. ~dnow those Right to’Life March 13th. org~fi have Something to. think h!~out 18th ¯ for n~t ye,ar, : ~ . .::~. .Ch~..’rmanofPLAGALPA.C , . - Michael Fe~¢ns o~. : -~lie ~4~li~al Action Committ~for : ~.- i~: " .~.=~Lffe Lesbians and~ays . pretty . :.::~. SEASO~ SPON~: FRIDAY 8 PI~:EBRUARY 11 SATURDAY 8 PMFI:RRUARY1~ SUNDAY 3 PMFEDRUARY 1~ �:. ~ SUNDAYS ~Ble~qs the Lord At All Times Christian Center, Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 5837815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation S~rvice - i 1am, 2 ~5~.~5 &Yale, 749-05~ (WeicQ~ing) Church of theRestoration Unitarian Universaiist ropo Chapman Music Hall 3rd & Cincinnati .... ¯. Tickets: $12, 16 & 20 Call:-596-7111 Order on line: www~,tulsapac.com Irish Dance Company -The-original and the best.t Tulsa Performing ~rfs Center Trust World Treasures S~ason: Celtic Gems. ¯ -Si~0ns~rs: O.klah~ma Arts ~:.:ur~i~,..Urban T.u!sa - : " " ommumty C House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1 lain, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088 Unity Church of Christianity ServiceS: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance ~6:30 pm, Meets at the United Minis,try Cir., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 I~" MONDAYS lilY Testing Clinic, Fr~ & anonTmous testing. No appoinl~¢n[ r~zluired. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (~st o~ Hazard) HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Ceater 7:30pro, 220"7 E. 6th, 583-78t5 PFLAG, Parents., Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2nd Mo~/~ach too. 6:30pro,Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AB)S Committee, call ~or meeting date, aoon, 585-5551 Council Oak Meu’s Chorale, rehearsals - ca]! for times, imfo: 748-3888. ~ TUESDAYS AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call, ~or ne×t.m~ting date. 1430 S. BouJder, 585-5551 ~!~e=~d Let Liye, CommlmitT o~ ~0pe ~nitedMethodist, 7:~, 2,~5 S. ~ale JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL EVENIN~ ON THE SET OFMANON WINE AND HORS D’OEUVRES. ENTERT]~INMENT ...... ooooo o~60~oo o oo oo~.~_O~O oo~o o o o oo out o-o’o o~ooo o IYlultieultural ~I])S Coalitiou, call for ne×t m~ting date. ~rban L~ague, 240 E~st Apache, 584;0001 PrimeTimers, meus group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/IIOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pro, Pride Genter, 1307 E: 38th, irffo: 743-4297 I~" WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b~o. Norwood Tulsa-Native American Mens Support Group, more informatidJL. ~call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call fo_r..info: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. - -. I~’THURSDAYS FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 5:30 - 8:00 PM ON THE STAGE OF THE .......~UtLSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER $35 PER PERSON $75 PARTY AND ...... , H~PE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Edu~(ion "~:;~)~": _ Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing:,~ ~ 8:313pm 834-83.-7~ 3507’E. Ad~niral O~lahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’.RYAN) " Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health a~ 584-2325 Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, [nfo: 834-4194 I~" FRIDAYS Safe Haven,~iotm~AduJts Sc;ci~d Group, l st Eft/each ~no. 8pro, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th ~" SATURDAYS " ~ .... �Scotland, dozeus of prints, and Spong’s -" anti-discrimination policies, to. include second:wife; ChriSti~i~. ’When In~arried ," specifically :sexual- orienta’tion::~ Why?: Jack, I knew. what was ahead," said Christine, whomameA 1990... ncexled Kelleher wrote ’Perha " was ..... , ............ Spong. m........... ’When ~ou:-~up. (forGays)~,you~r¢~ =/Wrong going to ge~:hit. ?You cannot know Gay ." _ think so, at least with restart to theVast imd Lesbian people without wanting to .. maioriW of oar nconle." kelleher addrd hugthcm.Someofthcmhavebeenthr~wn ." he was modifying the pohcy to include out-of their h0mes~ ! can’t i~..gin~e throwing my Child out of;the hbu~e: ; The S~~m by Holloway, ~as ..¯ ~smge;whatcver or anxiety might uncertaint~,-ambiguity have existed-on this ." score." ¯ S~tan, wh0:cam¢.~s’s am~’ Who _" ’WVhat happened at. Southwdst is an ’ had been r6b~ andiron on the road. ¯ example In the story, the priest, afraid of being -" well-mcnningexecutives simplyto donor deemed unclean, passes by. But the _" give sexual orientation issues in the Samaritan stopped to care for the unknown workplace the consideration they mall. deserve, stud Kim I. Mills, HRC s "The point of the parable is that good ." education director. "We applaud refiglon, following, traditions in these ." Southwest Airlines for taking this_stcp developed systems, can now get in the toward creating an inclusive work Massage Therapy Services ¯ .,w.a.y. of us g~tting t,o~:~ saidI~oll0way..~ environmont~ for ih~ OayandLesbian e~. of us arc, w_all~g on the road to i amployees., While Southwest has added Jericho, andwem~t Iookf~ Him because along the s~d¢ of the road. ..... .’. offer dom=sticParm~r~:healthbenefits. priestandmothcr,stoodnexttoSpongas policies and e~pects sord~ missed,." saidDeats, whowas first ,." _ _ a sign language interpreter. "He will be :: announc=ment nO later the,, June. " ............. ago.~Imayn0tagreewithevcrythingh¢ ! [~]l=-Ie.ll -....- I says; but I truly minfi..~’re and respect him . . for stan,.d~n.gup,f0r~hat he believ~ in." ._. vice president orlon"di.ng, andI_~s Rector, Deats said she believed in more ." president, neither of.whom had returned traditional routines of-prayer. "It can be ¯ calls by press time. Dr. Jerry. Carr611, boring, I know. And I’m not saying the -" chairperson of the TTCU board of bisho~ does.n’t pray, bu~ I believe ~-nore ." directors, andpr0vostatOSU-Oldahoma .strongly in the mystical practices ofprayer in the ~hurch," said De~ts. Croneberger was rector of the Church of the Atonement in Tenafiy for i8 years, and a priest for more thsn 34 years. Croneberger~ 60, was oneofsix candidates - all of whom favor ordaining noncelibate Gays and blessing same-sex unions - in a field that included the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who missed becoming the first openly Gay Episcopal bishop in the nation by several votes. As for Spong, he willlecture at Harvard University starting next month, but has no plans to move from Morris County. His latest book, "Here I Stand," was published this year. Spong, father of three daughters, said he found talking to students a great pleasure, Last week, Spong lectured at Lewis & Clark University in Portland, Ore.- "I love the minds of 18- to 23-yearolds," Spong said. "Nothing is sacred and they asked all kinds of questions." There were no,,questions asked here during the service, butthere was amomen! of fear when the Rev. Dana Rose slipped off the back of the riser as Spong and others wereblessing bread and wine. Rose was helped to his feeti and Spong quickly gave him the sign of the cross. Rose, a Gay priest who’s also black, was ordained first as a deacon by Spong in May 1998. "People say, ’You’re a priest and you’re GayT" said l~ose, who works for the Gay and Lesbian ministry in the diocesez "Now, there are ;many, priests who are Gay, but black? I believe in inclusion of all people, like me, into .the church, just like the bishop." Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 " City, did callback andsaid he thought there mustbe "a major misunderstanding" and that the "professional loan officers would not do that [make inquiri~,into. Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women DavidKauskey 33i0 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm loan applica=s sex~.orientation]~. .- as saying that the Vatican "expects from the premier a gesture of common sense," an apparent call for the Italian government to intervene to cancel the Gay event. Sodano also was quoted as saying the controversy "puts into question" the concordat, a document regulalingrelafions . between Rome and the Vatican that was first signed in 1929 and was revised in the 1980s. A pro-Vatican member of parliament, Mario Baccini, called the mayor’s decision’a "moral and material slap" in the face of the Holy See. Vatican officials said the Holy See was displeased by the city’s cooperation with the organizers, including allocation of $180,000 to cover municipal costs like security. Rutdli has been a big Jubilee booster, shepherding the city through major constructionprojects-includingaVatican garage-to spruce itup for an estimated 30 million pilgrims. Gays have criticized the pope’s teachings on homosexuality, but Italian Gay leaders denied any disrespect is intended by holding World Pride during the Jubilee. "It’s not an anti-Jubilee event nor an event against the pope," said Francesco Falsetta, an official of the Mario Mieli Homosexual Cultural Association, one of the organizing groups. World Pride’s main event will be a July 8 march through the city. Organizers say it will also feature conferences, sporting events and parties.. -~Spri~t. Sprint PCS" The Clear A~terna’dve to Cellular Spdnt PCS" Select Retailer New Sprint PCS Phone :25.00 Less instore rebate $7435 Net cost Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 off!* Everyone is approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include.;" .... o. ¯ Free Voicemail o Free Caller ID ¯ Free Call Waiting ¯ Free 3 way calling ¯ No activat~oalfee ¯ N~contract required~ 100 ~o Sprin(P~sN~nwide Network." Tulsa Loeation~ ~-: ..... 2001 S. GarneR, 43%2~.~.~. 3733 S. Memorial, 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: 109 N. 22 �" be," he added. "’It’s been this norm that .: they grew up with: And in so many. ways, : pamcularlym~nt, we vebeen, ery Do something that brings yoU lhto serio~s°. sensitized to ~~ity, humannghts, conversation with people who-aren’t just : but.there’.s~i~sg~.,a~i,’ng,.darke,,xception likeyou. : tot~tw~thGaY~i:~Lesbiaus._ .. For some of you, this will feel like a : ~ Whenlegis~,’~kFl .a~gan wl~.t.he leap of faith-l~rhaps in God, orat least ; thinks.ofa~ys~d!domest=cparm..ershi.ps in other people. ",- ..... . as an alternafi~t0same-sex mamage, ne ¯ Maybe this runs counter’ to all the : tells them "it~a~t tap into all of the cultural conditioning you’ve received ¯ wonde_r,,ful, ~fic and em~o.tion.al about self-sufficiencyi abouthow wrong ! impacts that~conveys. ~nenlze itistoaskforhelp.MaybethiSchaHeages . asksaqu~..fio.n~."~~:t~te, isabl~.°ffi~ally prized coph~g m~l~nisms ~t Ser~_e you : t.o rec0~ ila..~i’~,s,e,.p~nng re,a, well when excepti-o~d individualeffort is , domesf!_c-p~.e~!:aw;.-w ny men wgmu enough ..... " ;-y0ufeelgt~fig~ed:t.0makeit’diff~emtrom ¯Bu~aoindividualwinsanelection;alone i ~ theCivil m~a~e’ 6flexed to ~ght Meet ,Local If!we don’t engage oth~r humanb~ings, ; VermonterS?" ~ " ¯ ~. we remain tempting targets to-the :bullies : Hanagan said :he believes there’s an ontheright:IfwewanttoendGay-baiting " analogy to be drawn from the experience many Gays and’ Lesbians had coming to in public life, we have ~o use what we grips with themselves 20 or 30 years ago, know: the power of one h,man being to the straggle many straight people are talkln£ to another human berg about having now When thinking about what matters. something like same-’sex marriage. "When We need to be outward bound, despite you foste~ real bigotry against someone the discomfort. Because, in elections, the a i.d of greatest thing we have to fearis fearitself. "That’s-the he said. of bigotry.. It weighs ~guys you like years, but Hanagan can see diagonally across-State Street to the Statehouse, where the Vermont Legislature this year is crafting a response to ahistofic decision from the .stat~-~ i :~Supreme " ~ i ,:.~.Court. That decision said i~"~iola~d the "For me, some time tc mamage Vermont Constitution to deny~tted Gay-and Lesbian couples the~i~health of other benefits heterosexuaV~ed stress couples take for granted. .=.!i!:."ii( Hanagan, 49, is in his fourth i~year term as ~mditor and long has beea.,kn~_w,.n_ come when to harbor loftier potitical ambiO~,He s ~md~,ttaking 0ae long-expected:~i~tfo_r ~X3rigin. 18+. Additional features from 67 higher office this year, and has.raised more than$400,000" alotfor achallenger in Vermont - so far in his campaign for the Democratic U.S.. Senate nomination. He’s been able to raise money around the country from supporters of Gay men and Lesbians, but even more so from former Harvard Law School classmates who have found themselves in lucrative careers and can afford to be generous. Flanagan took a risk five years ago when he acknowledged for the first time publicly that he was Gay, and he’s taking a risk now in being such a strong advocate for same-sex marriage. "I assume any professional political consultant would advise against it," he said. "But some issues are so compelling and so pure that political considerations become trivial and inappropriate. This is at the core of my beliefs. I’mnot going to equivocate in the slightest and I hope Vermonters will respect my commitment to prmcipl,,e, even if they may not thoroughly agree. More often than the campaign trail, Flanagan is drawn these days to the Statehouse, because he senses history in the making, because he relishes and is fascinated by legislative deliberation and because he knows that, for many lawmakers, he can put ahuman face on an abstract set of issues. As he’s walked the Statehouse halls lately, Flanagan sm.’d he’ s noticed "people tend to move ~n my direction more often than normal. I’m a person they know and most often like quite a bi~ and relate to. I’m real. I have a real personality that they’re familiar with, so there isn’t that fear component of something foreign. "I don’t think often people are as homophobic as they think they should and "one’s private life will be put back into its private place." Flanagan, who said he has "a great capacity tolove," also offered a glimpse into what a personal heaven on earth might look like. "I would love to be a dad. I’ve always cherished the idea of being a dad and I think I would be a good dad?’ Locally, members of MCC United have created a chapter of Soul Force and at least one member joined White and 200 other Gay and Lesbian (or friendly) Christians in a meeting with FalWell. Elliott has as a personal goal, the development of the Community of the church, not the building or the number of members as much as the network of support for the members - much like the model of the earliest Christian communities. However, Elliott and other congregational leaders do discuss the possibilities of physical change for the group. Acknowledging the s~ ,newhat isolated location of the church build~ z (off major streets in a ver) q~ neighborhOod)~, they consider that t tufty-sell this building and find a more visible .and central location. But Elliott emphasizesthat these things are ouly just possibilities and are not anything which will happen soon. The spiritual life comes first and the rest will follow as the Spirit calls MCC-United to be. For more information about the Metropolitan Community Church United or about the Soul Force efforts, call 838!715. �The Eight Annual 2000 Saturday, March 4 Cocktails, 7pm, Dinner, 8:15 Myriad Convention Center, Grand Ballroom Auction & Dancing, Blacl( or Red Tie to benefit the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund 1999 Beneficiaries: AIDS Support Program, Inc. American Red Cross, Oklahoma County Chapter CarePoint, Inc. Cimarron Alliance Foundation LegalAi6of Westem Oklahoma, Inc. Northern Lights Altematives Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund, Individual Assistance Fund Oklahoma Hemophilia Foundation Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Oklahoma Mental Health Council Red Rock Behavioral Health Service Other Options, Inc. Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Bishop.Spong Retires TEANECK, N.J. (AP) - Bishop John Spong, an outspoken supporter of the ordination of Gays and women, and blessings of same-sex unions in the Episcopal church, retired in January as head of the Diocese of Newark. Spong, 68, celebrated one of his final services as bishop at the Glenpointe Marriott ballroom before hundreds of guests. His successor will be John Croneberger. Since his elevation to bishop in 1976, Spong has raised eyebrows and blood pressures for his beliefs_ ranging from women becoming priests to supporting same-sex marriages to the ordination of openly Gay ministers. ButSpong, a native of Charlotte, N.C. who speaks with the slightest ac~ut, left the diocese with few words of controversy. "It’sjust the next stage ofmy life," said Spong. .’,. "Basically, I’ve been a bishop, but also an author and lecturer," he said. "But in all ofmy ordained life, it was participating in movements of people who’ve been diminished in society, like people of color and Gays, that the church has diminished where I’ve worked." Among those present at Friday’s 126th annual convention of the Diocese of Newark were the Rev. Richard HollowayofEdinburgh; ~.-~- - See Spong~.p.lO Southwest Air Adds, Non- Discrimination Policies DALLAS - Southwest Airlines has amended its nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies to include sexual orientation, according to Chief Executive Herb Kelleher. The move, announced Jan. 24, came after a spate of alleged anti-Gay harassment at the airline, which led some Southwest employees to raise safety concerns. The tensions boiled over when Southwest Airlines’ Pilots’ Associationpublished ahomophobicletterfrom one of its members in its December newsletter. The letter, by Capt. Gary S. Ward, urged Kelleher to reject calls for the airline to provide domestic partner benefits saying, ’Will therebeaneedto hireadepartment to check on who is shackin..e, t~p with whom?" The newsletterinstructedpilots to write theirownlettersand deliverthemto their SWAPArepresentativefordeftvcry to Kelleher. Dean Hervochon, vice president of the Transport Workers Union Local 556 representing Southwest’s flight attendants, said the publication "institutionalized homophobia" and created a hostile work environment that "could jeopardize the safety of all persons on the aircraft." "If the front doesn’t talk to the back of the airplane, you’ve got a problem," Hervochon told WorkAlert. Kelleher and leaders of sWAPA and TWU met Jan. 17 to discuss how to respond.TWUrepresentatives also pressed Kelleher to add sexual orientation to the antiharassment andnon-discriminationpolicies. Meanwhile, the vice presidents for flight operations and in-flight services along with SWAPA and TWU officials sent a letter Jan. 20 to flight attendants and pilots attempting to defusethe situation. Howcver, Gayemployees criticized the letter as inadequate and for using objectionable language, such as "lifestyle choices." Then Kelleher announced the change in company policy in a letter to all Southwest Airlines employees. "Forsomeyears, I have explidfly declined toamendour anti-harassment and see SWAir, p. 10 " Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families .+ Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation CommunityP~perA~vailable In More Than 75. City Locations !Teachers Credit Union: No :-Loan for Lesbians as Couple : Credit Union AskedAuto Dealer If They Were Gay ¯ TULSA- WhenTheresaandJoanWrightwenttoTulsaTeachers " Credit Union, they just wanted a car loan. The women are : expecting their second child and had found a van.at a local auto : collection. And since they have shared checking and savings accounts at Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, and good credit, they : naturally went there, expecting that getting a loan would be : relafivd~ painless. " .i.~ ~Wlmt they experienced they say, however, was hurtful and ~; dUenmioenan(riInTgC. U,A)c, cnoortdoinnlgytroeftuhseedWtoriegvhatlsu,aTteutlhsaemTeaascahceoruspCler,eid.ei.t : basing alOan!on their combined income but someone from the : creditunion evencalled theauto dealershipaskingifthedealership : staff"knew they were Gay?" ¯ And the Wrights characterized the behavior of their loan officer, Sandy Roth as very rude, particularly about the issue of : evaluating their joint income for loan purpose. Roth refused to ¯ look at their joint income saying it was because they are not ". married. In contrast to Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, a loan officer at i Tulsa Municipal Employees Credit Union stated that they accept ¯ unmarried couples withcombinedhouseholds as loan applicants, : noting that she’d assisted at least two Lesbian and two Gay : couples with loans. ¯ Bank of Oklahoma stated that they had not always accepted : couples whose relationships were not legally recognized but that : they now do so. And a senior officer at Spirit Bank encouraged ¯ Lesbian.and Gay couples to apply with her bank, noting that : Spirit Bank would not tolerate anti-Lesbian or Gay bias. ." Theresa Wright noted that Ms. Roth refused even to look her : in the eye when she went in to sign the loan papers. The Wrights : noted that the dealership, in contrast to the credit union, was very ¯ nice, and that irwas the manager assisting them in purchasing ¯ their new vehicle, who said, "I’m just going to say something. : Your bank called and wanted to know the nature of .your : re!ationship-are they Gay?" Heassuredthemthathis organization ¯¯ welcomed everyone and also had Gay people working for it. Ms. Rpth’s su_l~’visor-at TI’CU, David Snyder refused to comm~h~ and ref~ed’~ to Chuck Reed, ~ see Credit,p. 10 ¯ TulsaPFLAG & TOHRmembersmarchedfor thefirst time in the ¯ Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Parade in January. TOHR Receives a. $10k Grant i TULSA-Inmid-December, TulsaOklahomasforHumanRights ¯ (TOHR) received a $10,000 grant from the Colin Higgius : Foundation. Thegrantis for the Tnlsa Gay Community Services : Center programming, marketing and development expansion ¯ project. Specific goals of the project include the production and : distribution of a €ommttnity referral guide, the enhancement of _" Lesbian Connection- a program that encourages increased : involvementfromthewomenofourcommunity, and anexpanded ¯¯ Pride 2000 Festival. The marketing and development aspects of the project will focus on enhanced communication and media inaterial as well as ¯ increased membership and volunteer involvement. : The Colin Higgins Foundation is based in San Francisco, : California. Colin Higgins,screenwriter, director and producer, : established the Foundation in 1986. Mr. Higgins is remembered ¯ for his remarkable human comedies, including Harold and : Maude, Silverstreak, Foul Play and Nine To Five. : He created the Foundation in order to further his humanitarian : goals. OneoftheFoundation’smainprioritiesistoempowerGay menand Lesbiansby supporting community-based organizations : that combat homophobia and foster leadership. : TOHRdirectors indicated thatitis honored to receive thegrant : and that they have ambitious goals for 2000 and beyond. New Pastor Leads at Tulsa’s MCC-United ¯ TULSA - After a number of months with an ¯ interim pastor, Oklahoma’s oldest extant Lesbian ¯ andGayorganization, theMetropolitanCommunity ¯ Church United (MCCU), has a new pastor, the ¯ ReverendCathy l~liott, whojoinedthecongregation ¯ at theend of 1’999. ¯ Elliott,grewupin themidwest, butcame toTulsa ¯ from Florida where she was invoIved with two : Metropolitan Community Churches in the MCC Fellowship. However, prior to working in Florida, ¯ she served a Congregation in-Rochester, New York ¯ and some years ago, was associated with the MCC ¯ in Little Rock. Like many MCC pastors, Elliott came to the ¯ MCC Fellowship through a winding path, having ¯ become more serious about her faith while at university. There, she joined a church that was ¯ theologically evangelical, but after a fe~v years, as ¯ sheacknowledgedbring Lesbian, she foundherself ¯ becoming involved in an MCC that was about 40 miles away. Anditwas fromthis initial association, : that her calling to the ministry came. ¯ In a recent interview with TFN, Elliott praised ¯ theworkhernew congregationhaddoneinmerging ¯ the formerly two separate churches, MCC-Greater ¯ Tulsa and Family of Faith MCC. As she and they ¯ havebeguntobecomeacquainled, thecongregation ¯ is looking at how they will grow, spiritually and otherwise. ¯ Some members of the congregation .have also ¯ become involved in a serious social action ¯ organization, called Soul Force. The group was ¯ founded by MCC pastor and writer, the Reverend ¯ Mel White. White, who once wrote for anti-Gay ¯ evangelical such as Jerry. Falwell, modeled Soul ¯ Force on the theories of non-violent confrontation " for social .change of Martin Luther King, Jr. and ¯ MahatmaoGhandi. see Elliott, p. 11. ¯ Marriage Is Civil-Rights "Issue Says Vermonter : MONTPELIER,Vt. (AP)-One ofthemostpainful : things about figuring out he was Gay as a teen-ager ¯ was coming to the realization that he would never : get married and have a family. Ed Flanagan came ¯ from an Irish-Catholic family, one of five kids, : "four straight and one Gay," he says. His fatherhad : an alcohol problem and"the end resnlt was that we ¯ childrenwerevery, very closein terms ofsupporting : each other to get through that environment." His : relationships with his brother and three sisters : "have been very crucial in terms of all of the five of : us surviving and flourishing," Flanagan said. "It’s ¯ a very strong presence that we all feel with one : another and a source of important emotional ¯ support." Trying to find a place within the Gay comrmmity : ofthe 1960s and ’70s wasn’t easy for someone with : such strong family ties. "That culture back then did ¯ not accommodate the id_ea,,o,f family," he said in an interview this past week. In the midst of the Gay : culture I felt Very alien, for that reason and others." : Now that culture is changing, it’s "becoming more ¯ family-oriented, and longer-term relationships are ¯" becoming more prevalent," Flanagan said. And ¯ state law appears to be changing, too. ¯ Today, Flanagan sees a future in which getting married, perhaps even being aparent, may become : options forhimandotherGaysandLesbians. There ." may be an oasis on the horizon for people who have ¯ wandered much of their lives in an emotional : desert. And as the first and still only openly Gay ¯ man in the country to hold a statewide elective : office, Flanagan believes he might be in the right ¯ time- the dawn of a new millennium - and place - ". Vermont - to help bring that future about. ’~l’his is : the course ofhistory inVermont. Here it is andhere : I am," he said. Fromthe windows oftheoffice 6fstate auditorof : accounts, see Ed, p. 11 Tulaa Cluba & Reataumnta *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CTg’s, 1737S. Memorial *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria -*The Mix, 2630 E. 15th 712-2324 : 610-5323 : 583-6666. 749-4511 :. 749-1563 ~ *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square 744-4280 ¯ *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st- 745-9998 *Silver Star. Saloon, 1565 Sheridan 834-4234 ~The Storm, 21,82S, Sheridan 835-2376 *Renegades/iRainbowRoom, 1649 S: Main- 585-3405 .~Tdrl-’ BOX, 1338~13.>3ra ~° : :: : :: :’"~84~ l~3"0g " ~ ~ ’:r ,TUl~a BUsinesses, Services, & Professionals ~: Advanced WireleSs & PCS, Digital Cellular- .. 74%1508 *Assoc. in Med. &Mental Health, 2325 S.Harvard 743-1000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health& Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes &Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250~5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 523 1 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 . 712=1122. *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale - 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria . Cherry St Psy_cho~eralff, 1,51~5 S,. Lew*s .581-trot Community Cleamng, heruy tsager ;,~....., onK-~-~ Tim Daniel, Attorney 33z-~tr*, ~....-~ *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 749-3620 587-2611 744-5556 838:8503 584-0337, 7i2-9379 592-O460 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos; 821 S. Sheridan *Ross Edward Salon Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI. Cathy Fmlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st I_eanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy~ 2865 E. Skelly *International Toms ¯ Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 151h *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kdly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor Rainbowz on the River B+B,POB 696,74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 744-9595 ¯ 610-0880 - 628-3709 : 8O8-8O26 742-1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 712-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 664-2951 838-7626 743-4297 747-5932 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard ~ Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 834-7921,747-4746 749-6301 260-7829 481-0558 835-5563 743-1733 665-2222 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Sods Unitarian Chmch~ 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 " 587-7314’ Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 ~Chapman Student:Ctr.; University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence *Church of the Resto~ationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 ,C.-ommunity ofHopeUnitedMethodist, 2545 S" Yale 747-6300 ,CommunityUnitafian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congre,g. _Church, info" 58%4669 *Free SpiritWomen s Center, cm " 747-6827 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: " " Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry H~nsley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, .Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers ~.. Member of The Associated Press : Issued on or before’the 1st~af,cach~m0nth,-the enUre~contents.; of this publication: ar6 ptrt~t&l?l~tda:~yrightl~~ T~€( F~,~ N~€~ ~fid may ~6t~ ~q~oducetl’,~ ~: wholeorin partwithoutwritten~Ssionfromth~publisli&:. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is, assumed to be. for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed& becomes the sole property of T~J.~~Nc~u÷ ~acli reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edidon at ,distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. " Gay Pro Lifers March On ¯ Onjanuary24,2000,about20members :of the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays .and : Leshi.ans. (PLAGAL). did an am.P_y~ng :,~ at the annual Marcia ior Lit-e protesung :. the Roe vs. Wade decision on its i nnniversary despite being .tl~¯cate_n.e.d .: March told PLAGAL that they~.~uta no_ ¯ march, s~n,,c~_, they. ,,w,ere Gay.-Now, if :. PLAGAL closet’ed themsd~ andjust ....~9A%~e’Righ.t to t~te MarCH, an oth groups,_w, eaUow t0.ma@be,. hind ~: b:~nners- refl~tingtheir various eiamcnes, : organizations or states but if.PLAGA~ ¯ m~mbers carried its banner, they woma ". be arrested and thrown in jail. ¯¯ This being known at the annual PLAGALmeefngontheeveofthemarch, " members decided to risk being arrested. "_ After all, they reasoned it would be hypocritical ffPLAGALhid at the March ,FHufiieVndEsRinCUennitteyr,S4o1c3ia8lCOhrags.,.PPaOgBeB85lv4~2a, 174101 - -558832--60641318 .:~ .fhoarrdLtiofebewinhcelnudfoerdoypeearnslytihnepyrifdoeuegvhetnstos :Tulsa C.A.R:E.S., 3507 E. Admi 834Z4194 : ~-indparadeswithinitsowncommunity.in Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st " 481-1111 ." addition, if PLAGAL bowed to the HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention,.E~_u__ca~on _ 83~8378 : 0ressmesimposedbytheorganizers, they *House of the Holy Spirit Miustries, 3?~l,0e,,S,~%Nff~rw~oo~ 2437 .. : ~do the Gay ~)mmunity no, g.oqd.. lnt,~fslth IDSMinistries ’ ~..~6-/~-I,DI, OUU-~.~’I-z¢’~, ... By.not marching, they would be ~’l~"~mA’ted,i623 N, Maplewood - .: g ~8-~~ ~ ac~nowiedging that is was fight t~o hate I~AMES Project,3507 E. Ad_mi,ml_ ~PI,: ..... ~, ~,~a~_~.~ ¯ and this would be a backward step. NOW, Nat’lOrg. forWomen~POB lqotas, t,H3y :)to-o,, :. PLAGAL members do not want to be OK Spokes Club ~cyding), FOB 9i65, 74157 . excluded from the Gay community just *OSU-Tulsa . " PFLAG, FOB 52800, 74152 749-4901 - *Harmed parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 58%7674 : Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network ~ 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental.Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 ." .O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults : O’RYAN, ~r. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth " St. Aid,art’s Episcopal Chinch, 4045N. Cincinnati 425-7882 S,, r~,,-~tan’s EniScoval, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 " ~t.Jer~--~me’s P~arish ~hurch, 205 W. King 582-3088 " *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 ?ulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thmsdays only Tulsa Olda. for HumanRights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *~ulsa Gay Comn;unity Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Churchof Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN *Borders Books &Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667 *Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH *Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Tahlequah Unitarian-UniversalistChinch 918-456-7900 *Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS,~ARKANSAS " - Autumn Breeze Restamant, Hwy. 23 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’s Restamant, 5 Center St. Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!,~ PC Specialist, FOB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 501-253-7734 " 501-253-7457 " 501-253-6807 ¯ 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 ¯ 501-253-2776 " 501-253~5332 501-624-6646 ¯ 501-253-6001 " 501-253-4074 " 417-623-4696 * is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned butallare Gay-frlendly. becameoftheirpro-lifebeliefs andvalues, ~okmewise, they do want to be excluded the pro-life communityjustbecause they are Lesbian and Gay. Therefore, despite the threats, PLAGALappegr,ex]_at themarch,andwhenthepolicebamcaneu . them. PLAGAL .members maneuvered. around the police and entered the parade further up the street marching under their banner with the word "censored" taped across so everyone would know what the vords were underneath. Their decision to ignorethearrestthreatsfromtheorganizers was noted in The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and several others news publications throughoutthe counlry. Themajority ofGays and Lesbians may not share the briefs ofPLAGAL,but the~ shouldbeproud ofthis small group within its community. PLAGAL’s presence was a step toward bridging the gap between those individuals and the Gay community as a whole. At the end of the march, members of FemtmstforLife , Colleg~ates for Life , Catholic priests and bishops, and others from all walks of life and religions congratulated and thanked PLAGAL. see Letters, p.8 An nouncements Policy Tulsa Family News will provide space for holy union ceremony, marriage ceremony, birth, adoption~ .and death announcements ona space availablebasis. Photos are welcome, though we cannot promise placement o~r ,re~ttEn ~e~, so please send copies to I utsa ~ amtty ~vews, POB 4140, Tulsa 74159. ~ ¯ ~. Letters Policy :~’ i" Tulk~’Fam@ News welcomes letters 0~ issfi~:,which we’ve covered or~on issues you think need to be considered. You may request that your name be withheld but letters must be signed & have phonenumbers, or be hand ddivered. 200 word letters are preferred. Letters to other publications will be re-printed as is appropriate. byChristoptterGraff " ~ Solawmakers arefaced withadivision thatis widening ¯ !dONTPF.l.lP.R, Vt,(AP)-DonnaLescoeofStarksb°r° ¯ atatime they are looking for .~...useus~s_;ReP.- T~o~. Little, : had a simple message for legislators when she testified the chairman of the.HouseJudidary COmm;ttee, ls aman ,,onGaymmriage."Beheroes~" ~ who has a keen ability to fmd commonground and to lawmakers tohavethe courage toextendi¯ stitch together=. divisions, He Js -a Repubfican who : the nmrriage laws tOincludeGays¯ and Lesbians. , commandS’.re.speCt.from-b.oth par.fies~:~But he seetmhaend ,r :, -~ ,,,~h, SO simule It is hard to be a hero , frustrated this past. week by the w~demng rather bv Tom Neal, puoltflg,r & eaztor .... . u ~t ~,~,. ,~ v _:.. ..... ¯ ¯ . ohab y most non-Gry O @Oma : i .".es,the o ti=.rew.lawmakers they had no Lesbian orGcoa:ynstfl.uents.. wmlesomeoi *_..m°nmemlle’mmma-,em. vm,.~°~-nsare.s°ucmP."......... _,. mp ..-...~ . " w~’lling to casts: vote that them aresimply bigots, many of them know that they- . looked _li~..e .anything bu.~....... . €ouldbothdrlast.Nomatter oughtto:~be mpportive of basic.civil fights for Gay "- heroe~ folio.wt~.g a re~,,.m " ’~f’k,, ~-~..!. f~ogn6 lavcmaker~ ~. - l~nw stron~ the evidence that ........ " " " ¯ Ilk UUIIC aaa,o ..~.~ .~--~- .~ ~aUzens.’But they are scared that,treating Gay people Tuesday__ mg P, . _ _ ¯ ,. " . ¯ " ’, , . " " ¯ " .. " * " ~..,faidy. ..w..a.l.l so, mc,e,nse. othvegr te:rs~.. that they., are=oft.m__:..., _h-.~,g~!tgo~-a.~a-~.t ....... not ea@-. It ~s nothln~ less dmiedthdr dviln~ghts;~t~s ~.~lhdistta~ttishfibt~ fr0in Oldalaoma R~publicans. ,,-~ ~ ~ ....shell’sn,°q~cm-a~Y-~ ~ : ~ ./ !* ..../ ....L .... - t...a f~ra leoislator to cast a ¯will be~ deaded 0n TU~da.y;Match 14th. Some 0f,the " them9bPere:!lapfs noeverr e. o[ Freedomand Unlt-~. firestormot races are dfeetivdy settled (Brady Pringledoes~have a i have .1..~0,l~.!e att_~dyd Democratic oppon~eatbut in thai~ heavily Republican . a pum~c nearing at me " How to ~ve Gays and Lesbians :polls in November. district, it likely doesn’t matter), but others ~ar~.. still : Statehouse.Andthenumber unsettled. " - ~ ¯ ~ " : ¯ would have been thousands Of particular interestto TulSa’s Lesbian and Gay - moreifasnowstormhadnot commlmities is Cound! District 4 .for which former ~ kept many away. .~ Yes, eye.one who spoke And even if lawmakers tl~elr ~xlom an~l yet preserve tl~e craft a package extending to unity at the state~ Gays and Lesbians benefits such as having a say in the It is the stm~ heroes are madeo[." medical decisions of, their incumbent Gary W~tts ischallengingcurrentincumbent parmers;theyknow therewill Anna Falling. While _.Gay and ~tiian households a~ - wascivil.Butthecivilitydid foundthroughont thedty~-thisdistri¢t,mosflyMidtown, ; not mask the passion: Or the division. The tremors in " be a vote on the.floor on same-sex marriage - and that is. easily the most. heavily Gaylone.of the..dt~ For_ ~ people’s voices, a mixture of nerves .and emotion, spoke - tally, no matter what the outcome, will beused in .the fall examp!e,jnstonornextttlny_v~;shortbloek~thereare " volumes about-the depths of feeling.~ What became " elections. " Following .the hearing it seemed m the at least six Gay families2 . i-.~~ ~. - ,.. -. :. apparent’at theheming is thatthe two sides are moving : Statehouse timt lawmakers would like to f’md a way to . One could argue, of course, that- Ms~ Fallingrs very -- fresher aparL - avoidany voteonthis issue this year.Theideaofcreating nubile lan.qe., in oood iudoment onnon-Gav issues (win ~-" WhentheSupr_em~eC.o.urtissuedi~.~be.r.idec.i.’s.ion :.a special com~!ssio.n .to .craft. a solu~o~n ,~an~d .rgel~O~ht;o~ r..::-:~.,r.:-- ,, < .,r-~-.,. ..... : ~. nsband~s~ -_ sa g Gays and Lesbians are eg.~fled tP the rights,. ". law.n~Kersnex[yearmt~mgatscus.ssa.tmt _P~r.napsua~ her recycling program pu.bfic or private, her h ...... ym ¯ ¯ ¯ - - ...... . o t the ¯ n,mmdfi~oroaniTatlon arml~n~f0~nUbficfundson.which ¯ bendits and protecuons gtvenroamedcouples, e_veryone ¯ ~sjustamo.m~entar~. ,.a.nd, ex.p.ected hesitancy foil w ng ~.~’~l"~.---e7------rr:~--~, r , i . - . ,~ " .t,d--.A ~,~,~teww P,,-a~e and I ~=~h~rt~ ~.q e coul"t -" na~sion80t tile DUDIIC lleallnl~. ¯ . .snewastovote),areenoughtopersuaaeLesmananatJay - ’-~..’2p~. ""~"*,?." ""~ .’~"..~"~’.’.’-:...l.~a~s.ed the.. . ~_~__,= _r.t.~_.,~,,t,.nm,~tttiiiX~endnnhowthedebateis _ " ~.F2.-............¯,.;~.l,~.t~.i .r~v.r,~--..,~.t.~.n.f.~..e.-~_e.x. mam__aaoge al80 rimmed ¯ frmned m the comm~_ weeks. Opponents ll,ge me. m. p ,L. arg.en.t a.n.dl.na.ol.e .sul.tra.-e.xtr.em.e.re.ng.to.-po.n.u.co.s,.a.no..-..~,¯ .t.~, b~" ause the court di¯d not stri¯ke down the state,s .¯ are seeki"ng to" portray the Supreme Court deeimon as her rtosuu[y Io OUr t’I1oe evenls, it s Cl~ar Inat amlost . ,a,.~..j . . . . . . . ,,~....,,1,1 h~ ~,~tt,~ ¯ mamage laws~ Bishop Kenneth Angell calle~_, the court . some_ra.di.’.ca.l, andug,com.ttm.~fio.na).mo.ye ,F~Ve.nnon.t.ers, ~:................ - ruling aadecisivevictoryfor.tradifionalmamage." ¯ thoughdtlshardtotmagrnet~meIJusuceJenreyAmestoY, Thatbringsus toGaryWatts. Gary,likesomeOklahoma - Democrats is not particularly prejudiced. Like those : R seemed at that moment that legislation creating same Democrats, he’s not shown much leadership, He : dthormouegshti.cBpuatritnnetrhsehmiposnftohrsGinacyestahneddeLceissbioianntshewtowuolds.l~ose~s and they don’t haleus - theyjust don’.t want to deal with - our issues. have’ staked out positions worlds aparL ,But sOi~eone"s got to.start, kno@ing that.we’ll lose the first or five engagements but that.each time our issues, like a city non-discrimination ordinance, or equal compensation (full benefits for our familiesas well as equal wages)for Gay cityemployees, or a city domestic partners registry, are debated,the public learns. I believe that-Oklahomans are basically fair and eventually will respond to a reasoned argument. And in the meantime, a fair-minded city councilor could push for administrative changes, like getting the "diversity" training forourpolice departmentto deal with more than just race. After all, it’s our city too. : Bishop An,g,ell recently-condemned domestic : partnerships as steponetowardfullacceptanceofsame- " ¯ sex marriage" and has evenchallenged ~evalidity ofthe ¯ Supreme C,o.~_~ ruling itseLf, saying ~.his~t.o ,arms,to . Catholics, q~ere are many sound legm minus WhO . ¯ question the Supreme Court’s authority to even issue " ¯ such mandates to the legislature.’" : At the same time, Gays and Lesbians are saying a ¯ system of domestic partnerships is insufficient to meet " the spiritofthe Supreme Courtrtding. Adomesticpartner " sounds like someone who cleans the house, Jonathan Radigan told lawmakers. : amuchbeloved andeminentlyrespectedpersonwhois as : moderate and generally as cautious as they come, doing ¯ something radical or unconstitutional. It was Amestoy : who wrote the court rnling. : Andthe hearingdidmuchtoeducatenotju~tlawmnkers, but also the public at large. ~Vermont Public Radio did a great service by broadcasting the hearing statewide. Vermonters of all political and social back_groun.ds .got a chance to hear the scripture readings, the pasmon, the division. They also got to hearfrom the real.people whose lives will be most affected by the legislative action. The task facing lawmakers is noteasy. It is nothing less than living up to the state’s motto of "’Freedom and Unity." How to giveGays andLesbians theirfreedomand yet preserve the unity of the state? It is the stuff heroes are made of. by Dave Fleischer, Senior Fellow Policy Institute National Gay and Lesbian Task Force We love coming out - except when we hate it. Welovereminiscing onand celebrating ourpast acts of daring. Comingoutishow wediscoveredbothcommunity and freedom. It’s how we found both love and a life. But it’s hard to snmmon the energy and courage to come out 24/7 - to ask, tell, and pursue on a daily basis. That’s why campaigns sidestep the "G" word. When we say~ person-to-person, "What do you think ,a,b~,ut tl~."s anti-Gay ballot measure?", we are also asking, "What do you think about me? Do you see me as a human being, although I’m Gay and you probably aren’tT’ ’. Most campaigns avoid coming out, way out_ They rarely engage voters .perso.n-to-person, and of,te~, av~oid mentioning sexual on~mtataon. Recent research oy ls.en ~eager (himself an openly-~ay candidate for office) ~uggests that57% of candidate’~ who think of themselves as "openly Gay" don’t actually disclose their sexual orientation to voters before the election. Likewise, many campaigns to defeat anti-Gay ballot measures twist themselves into p~etzels to avoid the words "Gay", "Lesbian", or that new scare word (rarely so clearly): ifax Thd challengeofbeing outhas turned us inward before. : Look around our community. Most of our organizations : are refuges -"safe space"- safe from meaningful ¯ encounters with straight people. We draw 200,000 to a : pride parade to celebrate, yet only a relative handful to ¯ political campaigns to safeguard our fights. ¯ But relying onrefuges is a risky strategy. It suggests to : our opponents that the rest of the world is theirs, and it ¯ leaves us vulnerable topolitical attack. Soplease consider ¯ afew specificcoming-outactionsthatbuildourcollective ¯ power and don’t unduly disrupt your everyday life. ¯ 1. Join acampaign where you get to ask voters one-on- : one, preferably face-to-face, if we can count-on their ¯ votes. ¯ In 2000, California, Miami-Dade County, Florida, ¯ Maine, and possibly Oregon face ballot measures that ¯ affect your rights. If you live in one of these places, join ¯ your local campaign. ¯ If you used to live in one, make a list of everyone you ; know in your old hometown. Dig out your old address book or high school yearbook. Ask your siblings or ¯ parents to jog your memory. I’ll bet you know at least 50 ¯ people you can call. Whea you reach them, explain the and ask if we can count on : "Hometown Project", because it builds on the power of ¯ our relationships with family and friends, even when ; we’ve been out of touch. : If you have never lived in the hot-spots du jour, don’t ¯ feel neglected. Make a list of everyone you know who ¯ does live in one. You must know 20 people. Send them ¯ this colnmn. Follow uponthephone.Weneedevery vote, ¯ and you will help create a new habit of doing the one-on- " one ask. ~ 2. Host a house party to raise money for one of the communities under attack. Invite 120 friends and ." acquaintances to your home to hear about this new wave ¯ of ballot measures. Call all 120 personally and ask each ¯ to come. You will bring together 40 people, raise a ¯ minimum of $1000, and f’md at, least six new volunteers. ¯ 3. Get training. If face-to-face voter contact sounds : intimidating, seek out training, At the¯National Gay & ¯ Lesbian Task Force Creating Change conference ¯ November 10-14, we taught the nuts and bolts, went ¯ door-to-door talking with Oakland voters about the anti- -¯ Gay-marriage Knight Initiative. In one evening, we will identified hundreds of our supporters, and educated undecided, voters. ,. rput up the periscooI~..~::~t~sgreat that our community - but reality In some cases, the registry document can provide further legal proof of a relationship, Roche said. It could come into play, for exhmple, when a Gay couple with jointly owned assets separates. The registry stirred relatively little opposition in Ashland, where it was approvea by a 4-1 vote of the City Council, Roche said. Nationally, registries have spurred voter initiatives and lawsuits. Courts validated Atlanta’s registry but overturned a registry in Minneapolis, according to the Lmnbda Legal Defense and Education Fund. The registries can be designed !o ~PP!~ ~ both Gays and t~f~rosextml~i~,as Seattle s i~,i[~i~ ~bepurely ;~.~ml~6iic o{’~iV~ sp~i~...d tl~e-~ ’~ :: ~ :": " ~. -" ’ .~ i .Reform :Same-Gender Rituals NEW YORK (AP).=-Two years after they postponed a contentious showdown over same-sex blessing rituals, the rabbis ofJudaism"S liberal Reform branch will face a decision on the issue at this year’s convention. Leaders of the 200-member Women’s Rabbinic Network have agreed to force the issue by submitting a resolution sanctioning such ceremonies to the Central Conference OfAmerican Rabbis, which holds-*its national convention, March 26-29 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The coqeaders of the women’s network, Rabbis Shira Stem and Susan-Stone, said the resolution agreed" to’recently will differ only slightly from a proposed text the same group published in January. " That text said: "The relationship of a Jewish, samegender couple is worthy ofaffirmation through appropriate Jewish ritual and. :-: .each rabbi should decide ab0ut-0l’ficiafio-n- a~,Ysfdin-g-t6 hig/her"own rabbinic conscience." The conference’s top two officials had signed a January declaration urging all American tdig~ons to normalize same-sex couples. And a conference Sexuality study committee in 1998 .. endorSed recognition rituals for such couples. The women’s net~brk cffes the sexuality i C~mtifittee’s view that Judaism’s historic opposition ¯ to homosexual behavior no longer applies. But there is division within Reform rabbinic ranks. : The conference’s "responsa comnuttee,’,whose ¯¯ rulings guide the practices of Reformrabbis, opposed thechangeinaT-2decision.Amemberoftheresponsa committee majority, .Rabbi .:Jeffrey Salkin of Port Washington,NewYork, saidReformrabbis arealready free to conduct same-sex rituals if they want. But Salkin fears that officially approving the practice would"tearrdati,onships apart" amongReformrabbis, and hurt Reform s relations ~ith otl~[r branches and its hopes-.~fot full a-cce~tance.in {g~el?-Whatevet happens, Salkin said; ~’We:are looking at something that will ha¢e massive historical iml~pr~ce." ~ "- ¯ Me,mawhile, the Episcopal’Churchig~s to release a proposal on same-same rituals within a weekortwo Conventions ofthe Presb~[6ri~m Ch~Ch (U,S.~.) an~ United Methodist Church will also deb~!le the issue this year. .:. ~- " ~ Gay Club Embraced at Catholic College United in God’s Love MCC-United Reverend Cathg.E~liot Pastor ~) Sunday Worship 11:00 am 1623 N. Maplewood 918/838~715 ~.~,~ ~ "7.- Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am .................. Wgd_._Bible- Study, ~7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly DriSe, Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa- O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Y0hng Adult Network i~’ Outreach Prografn Thurs: Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment ~. .: Call for.mee.ting tinies ~ind place: ~ 918-584:2325 Mingo Valley Flowers II Court UpholdsPortl and Civil Rights Ordinance SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Gay rights advocates have won a round as the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a Portland ordinance against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The court, in a 9-1 ruling reversing a lower court, said the city had the power to give citizens the right to go to state courts to enforce the anti-discrimination ordinance. Even some,of,the appealsjudges in the.majority, tho~.igtr, ~orried-@ati tl~e~c0~ ~.i,,hav~ V~iatut~d roofs, toward giving private partigs new..avenues sUeiffSeateeo.ur~s overlocaHa~sx.The rightto sue-was tthet~yi~su~-,N~bod~:oIai,m~4ltmt!hecity1aek~ ~he ~weri lx~:iid0pt~:~e-ordinanee.in~t991., that bars disNNmati~n, i~ eniployment, housing, and public accommodations.. ,S~te.taws against employment discrimination don’t include sexual orientation. The city ordinance also outlaws discrimination based on sources of income, which is aimed at protecting welfare recipients. "This is a great day for civil rights in Oregon,P said PortlandMayor Vera¯ Katz..Port.land ~.s once.agatn a leaderin efforts to protecttherights ofall our citizens." The case decided involved employment. A MultuomahCounty temporaryjudge, MonteBricker, ~n .1.997 ruled against David Sims, who claimed he was fired as a cook at Besaw’s Cafe in .Portland because he is Gay. Owners of the business denied the accusations and have not made a decision-on whether to appeal to the oregon Supreme Court. Bricker said the city couldn’t givepeopleapathway to state courts to seek enforcement of rights under a local law. But the appeals court said the city didn’t exceedits authority, giving Sims the chance to continue ............with hislav~sttitin_which he.~6"nght either damages or Basic Rights Oregon, a leading Gay civil rights advocacy organization, also praised the decision. "We’re very pleased to hear that the court has upheld employees’ access to fight discrimination at the state courtle el, : stud spokeswoman Maura Roche. More than one appealsjudge hadmixed feelingson thecase, which had been before the~cottrt since fall of 1998. Only Judge Walter Edmonds Jr. dissented entirely. But four others, including Chief Judge Mary Deits, said while they agreed with the outcome, the court went further than necessary. The decision "sweeps too broadly" in deciding that cities can broaden the "duties and liabilities of private parties," Judge Virginia Linder wrote in a separate concurring opinion. Edmonds said the decision violated the concept of state sovereignty over local governments. Oregon City/Count,y May Try-Partners R gistry RTL N , Or . eit: of t’ortland and Multnomah County are ~nsiderir~ theadopdon of a domesdcpartuefship registry as away~’prGay couples t6 Officially iog thdr ~;~i~onships, A jOint ~registry wotfld be ihe second ,~.::~gon ,ag_.d~ong three dozen nationwide. In Oc~be~AsKihhd approved a registry for s/tree-sex couples 18:or older. So did California. Seattle has had one since 1994. And New Orleans, Boston, New York and Iowa City, Iowa also have them. The registries stop far short of conferring marriage s-tatus- on- Gay -couples= "~Bul~, it’s~ ,still-. an acknowledgment of. a relationship that two people who are committed to one another have," said Maura Roche, spokeswoman for Basic Rights Oregon. "And it’~ s away~to aeknoWiedge i-t in:a pt~bli~.forum~ which hopefally Wi~,leadito. ~g~puh!ie: understanding ¯~at~drmi~icaneedi:BotmJ~T~] cxec~ti:ve director Of She.-said the~Ialks are;.~.~st~p)i’~-thffright direction becaus,e a registry represent§ a chatNejn family. That s oae o~ the mNn..eoiicerns of Lou Bores exec~utive ~r...e.rgtor ~:;ffae:C~eg0ii chapter of the :.~)::: :~ais in Po~ilanO;and the na~9~’~, heL~aid:Beres added that he would try to organize h:pmtegt~a~ainst Katz and Naito if registries were e~(tended io homosexual PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - When Dan Neuville started classes as a freshman at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish last year~ the Gay man felt very lonely. Considering the church’s stance on homosexuality, Neuville wasn’t suq:rrised that there was no Lesbian- ¯ Gay studentorganizationlike.~ose at-secular colleges. "Tl~ere was-novd~ere form~to go.on,campus," Neuville said........... Now Newzille has creati~d ~dmewhere to go.,~qaough Catholic ze~cNag bars ~homosex~mt¢ from tam’Gage and sexual activity, &e State’[ only Roman Cail~olic college has:f0~-med a stude~tdub where heterosexual and homosesua! smdcms The Gay/St~ight stat~ff "as s~uden~ dozen Jennifer B@iiton;pres~d~nt~of: the student.senate; 9413 K 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned& Operated - - - - -- ~" ~- --7--- - - - 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Commtmity Sen,ices Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6=~pm, Sunday - Friday.. "12-9~m, Saturday; all sales.benefit’the Center/~-.i. Local - --KEVIN BURLESON Keller ~Willgams Rea!ty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker OPENARMS,OPENMINDS-,OPENHEAKq’S Saint Aidan ,<. .Saint Dunstan 4045 N. Cincinnali,i~7882 .ii~~East 71st 492~7140 Saint John :......Td~ty - " 4200 S. Atlanta Pla~.~/42-7381 .,501: $.: Cincinnati, 582-4128 Welcomes You. said the ~cp.llege’s administrators, staff and students have received the new group well. "On our campus, iwe’re open to all issues, and as students we’re encouraged to discuss issues in society. Gay issues are one of those," she said. Thealliancehasmoreheterosexual than homosexual members and is not intended to compel anyone to endorse homosexuality, Neuville said. "We’re not a .. ~ mili~antgroup. We’renotprotesting,pickefn,g, saying, "Damn it, we want you to accept us,"" he said. club Gay on .to talk andleam tissues andbias against l to make Of troths .Saint Straight For the problematic sexual ¯ whether homosexuality is a choice or biological is ." irrelevant. "Gay and Lesbian people are not treated ." equally in many respects,’" sa~d Jane Marquardt, an ¯ attorney who donated to the Shepard scholarship ." fund. The scholarship is meant "to help a particular ." Gay student develop leadership skills, than people ¯ can realize Gay people are no different than anyone ." else," Marquardt said. :: Gay Student Sues School RENO. Nev._ (AP) - A former Washoe County high i School studentclaimsWashoeCounty school officials : failed t0 stopverbal andphysica!harassmentinflicted i-liy classmates becaus~ h~,is.Gay... In afederal lawsuit :. fded recendy, Derek Henkle ailcges school officials 1 : denied him~i:~te~:~.~.elofhls sexual .. ofientation:~d ,d~died,’:.~ fr~:, ~li:rigllts by; ’: allegedly urging him tohide being ~ay. Tl~_e suit als0~ .. maizes claimsofnegfigenceandinfliclionofemolional. ¯" distress. " ’" ...... :’=. ..... : I-Ienkle:~suit is .being h~ndled.~by me:Lamb~a : Legal Defense and Eduction Fund, a New York- ¯ : : based Gay rights.o~ganiza~on, it seeks unspecified t .::damages, Namedas defendan.ts are prindpals;a vice : prin~pal, a.teache~, and ~pus poSce officers. : School district offi~:ials had no iimnediate comment. ¯ "we haven’t been served with anythin$ yet and unSl " wedo,obvionsly we~m’tcommenton thespedfi~," district Spokesman~Steve Mulvenon said. Jon ,a~Gay .~"It’s not a conditiOn who is But the Catholics, : shouidbe~ Catholic ,Derek thandled I and at:the-hands .of said. call: :.Henkle clearly what :the stated -.Gay Scho|ershi including students ~and faculty at University have raised more than $50 ~e. Matthew Shepard Scholarship enaowment wil!.pro~ide $2,000 a year Bisexual ortransg~ grade point average,.= "I think it makes":us a, Hinds,. a Weber: State staff member who : a highway~ " administrators ~ At Washoe ! relatedlY : students to said his complaints to lot while two campus Davidson said the p_ri’ncipal pcople hewas Gay. students who tell Lesbians and Gay closet," Davidson said. ¯Gay Pride to. Happen pite vatican --~, Wyo., ROME (AP) - A Gay Pride week that comes smack .: college studentwho was Severely pistol ’ i iirnktehdetmheidVdalteicoafnt,hbeuRt Roommane,CsmatahyoolircinHsoislytedYtehaarththaes. left to die. The - ¯ " laws across the nation. : ."_.-i .Scho!arshiplapplieants must be a sophQ~ or :: aelvoenngtwwiiltlhbethalelo.Gw,,ae~ydptoritdaekeepvleancte,."bYutoiutmwioguhltdnobtegoa : higher level, t~king 12 credit hours per s~es~er. A : mistake to ban it, Mayor Francesco Rutelli said. 500 to 750 word essay, the World Pride Roma 2000 is expected to bring needs, academicperformance .: hundredsofthonsandsofGaysandLeshianstoRome with or service to the pay, Lesbian, Organizers are working to finalize scholarship endowment with the there are no applications. "There are sexnal m~inorifies.Andthis is "there’s a scliolarship here,"’ said President But said Weber State student Niki with culture ¯ at the same fire,the eityis overflowing with religions : pilgrims eomingto th~Jubileemillenniumcelebrations : calledby PopeJ0hnPaul II."Romehas amillenninm- : old code of welcome~.and respect that won’t change in ¯ 2000." RutelEtold a city council meeting on Holy : Year issues:,~:The. ~Vatican, which condemns : homosexual acts but.not homosexuality itself, had no official comment ~the July 1-9 event. Vatican Officials denied~.~.~ that the Holy See had tried to ÷:: cgoent diitticoanncoelfe~a.-,.n~iio;~[n~,~~ti_.,thae lsooffaiccikanlso,wwlehdogeSdptohkaet tohne Vafica was irritate, by the fact that the gathering t~mes ~:J~ee yeax. seeNews,p. 10 rZ Better.Drugs i Oral Sex Not As Equal Fewer Pills i Safe As Thought SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Powerful new ¯ AIDS drugs in development should help relieve one of the biggest problems of treatment - the pill burden. Over the past four years, new treatment combinations have revolutionized AIDS care, changing HIV infection from a death sentence to a disease that is treatable, if not curable. However,patientsmustadhereto atedious and exacting sehedule of downing pills, .often more than 20 a day. Now, drugmakers are working on new drugs that require m~ch smaller doses as wall as better versions of the old standbys that can be taken less frequently. Experts say that if all goes well, overthe next two or so years it may be possible to reduce the .pill burden to just four tablets taken once a day. "Most drugs are dosed twice or three times a day for a reason. Once a day is not enough. The Holy Grail would be to take all your medicines once aday with as few capsules as possible. We are not so far from that, maybe in the next couple of years," said Dr. Eugene Sun, head of antiviral drug research at Abbott Laboratories. About half of all patients who initially respond to treatment eventually find their virus levels rebounding, and the most common reason for this is failure to stick to apill schedule. Thepill-taking schedule is more than just a nuisance. 71~ose who miss even a few doses risk losing control overtheir virus. Withoutenoughmedicine in the bloodstream, HIV comes roaring back, often generating mutant versions that are resistant to the drugs. Akeyingredient of mostdrug regimens is a class of medicines called protease inhibitors. They are often combined with two or three older kinds of drugs, such as ddI and AZT. At last month’s 7th Conference on Retroviruses andOpportunistic Infections in SanFrancisco, doctors describedresults of testing with new varieties of prot.ease inhihibors. Some of these medicines are 10 times more powerful than the ones that transformed AIDS treatment. Protease inhibitors are by far the biggest lump in the pill burden. Typically patients must take three of them three times a day - a total of nine pills -often on an empty stomach. In the works areproteaseinhibitors that doctors hope will need to be taken twice or even just once a day. One of these is Bristol-Myers Squibb’s drugcode-named BMS-232632. In preliminary testing directed by Sanne, it appears that one or two ofthese pills once aday is as effective at suppressing HIV as the standard dose of nelfinavir, an older protease inhibitor. Abbottpresentedpromising results with its experimental protease inhibitor ABT- 378, showing it Seems to work against strains of virus that are already resistant to SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Many Gay men consider oral sex a safer alternative to intercourse, but a new study finds it carries a real risk of spreading AIDS. Even without condoms, oral sex is widelyregardedtobe safe sex, eventhough : health agencies have never officially : conceded that. A new study conducted in i San Francisco shows that frequent unprotected oral sex can also be risky, ." though certainly not as much as anal sex. : "The message is not that everyone will ¯ get infected through oral sex," said Dr. -" FrederickHechtofSanFrancisco General ." Hospital, a coauthor of the study. In fact, ¯ analintercoursecouldbe 100timesriskier. ¯ Because of declines in unprotected anal : intercourse, therehas beenabigreduction ." in high-risk exposure, I-Iecht said. But ~ -~._~ere is still plenty of low-risk exposure ¯ tl~ough oral sex without condoms, "and ." that low risk adds up." His study found : that oral sex was probably the cause of8% ¯¯ of recent HIV infections among a group of homosexual men examined in S~m ~ Francisco. ¯ In the past, there have been occasional ¯ reports ofpeopleapparently catching HIV orally. But health investigators have had ¯ difficulty being certain, since Gay men ¯ who have do oral sex also may engage in ¯ ¯ other, riskier sex practices, such as anal intercourse. ¯ Now diagnostic tests allow doctors to ¯ narrow downthe timing ofHIV infections. ¯ They were used in the latest study, ." described as the most definitive on the subject to date. The work, conducted with ¯ the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and ¯ Prevention, was presented in San ¯ Francisco at the 7th Conference on ¯ Retrovirases and Opporttmistic Infectious. ¯ "’Wlfile oral sex may still be safer than ." anal intercourse or vaginal intercourse, it ¯ is not without risk and perhaps has higher ¯ risk than we would have expected ¯ otherwise," said Dr. Helene Gayle, the CDC’s AIDS chief. " The researchers sought to learn the ¯ meaus ofinfectionin 102 GayandBisexual ¯ men who had recently caught HIV. When ¯ all other possible means of infection were ¯ ruled out, oral sex turnedout to be the only ¯ risk behavior in eight of these men. Most 0 said they thought- oral sex had little or no ° risk. ° Because o~ the strict criteria used, the : real number of cases resulting from oral ° sex may actually have been higher. For ° instance, two men said they had oral sex -" but not anal sex. But they also said they o had blacked out once and could not be ° sure what had happened, so they were ¯ excluded from the total. . All of the men apparently caught the ¯ virus by giving oral sex, rather than receiving it, and none used condoms. ¯ "We know that the only safe sex is total other drugs. The drug will be combined 0 abstinence or sex with a mutually smaller doses~ wel!..... ~ ~ .~’ Ufie~p~.cteff~ide et~l~b.cts can quickly derail deq~loptuent of these drugs -MerCk Research Laboratories was scheduled to presentresultS ofits new protease inhibitor at the meeting. But two weeks ago, it suspended human testing of the drug after rat experiments turnedup possible kidney damage. Themedicine, called MK-944A, is acombination ofanew protease inhibitor and an older one, called indinavir, into a single pill that would be taken once or Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. January April July October December Even OutYour Monthly Electric Bills. withritonavir, another protease inhibitor, o monogamous,non-HIV-infectedparmer," into pills that willbo-taken three at a time, : ’~ Gayle said. "Everything else has some twic~:~a day. The comp.,.a~y?~.s working on ° degree of risk. The sense that oral sex is safe sex may have been an unfortunate message." Gayle said she a~sumes that the risk of oral sex when properly using a condom is close to zero. She also .said that if oral sex alone has played a large role in the spread ofAIDS, that wouldalready havebecome obvious during the 20 years. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head ofthe National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that some Gaymenturned to frequent unprotected oral sex after At PSO, we knowthat changing weather conditions throughout the year can cause your monthly electric bills to_riseand fall dramatically. Which can make it hard to plan your household budget. That’s whyAME~ our Average Monthly Payment plan, could be your budgeting solutior~ With AME, you pay about the same each month, because it’s based on your previous 12 months usage. That makes budgeling a breeze. And best of all, it’s free. AMP is just one of several ttemq~le payment optionSPSO offers yot~.F0r more information, we’re@ble 24 hours a day. Or S’lgn-:~~.~on our website at ~.csw,com. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South West Company twice a day. Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation Lesbians and Gay men face many special tax situations whether single or as couples. Electronic filing is ~yailable for faster refunds. 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 Are You-Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa s Two-Spirited Indian Mona _ / ~\~"~ Support Group is here for. you! .~i=-J.~Y LX~ ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218, giving up anal intercourse. "A lot of us in the public health field havebeen saying all along to be careful of ~akrottehceteridskfieslllaotwio,,"buhtewshaaitd.s l"oPwe?o"ple AIDS Virus First Emerged in 1930 SANFRANCISCO (AP)-Theworldwide AIDS pandemic has beentraced to asingle viral ancestor who emerged perhaps around 1930. Earlier research had ¯ suggested that the ol~tbreak began in the ¯ first half of the 20th century, but the latest : analysis, doneat the Los Alamos National ." Lab in New Mexico, appears to be the ¯ most definitive so far. -" Bette Korber, who keeps a’database of HIV genetic, information at the lab, calculatedHIV’s family treebylooking at the rate the virus mutates over time. She assumed these genetic changes happen at a constant rate and used a supercomputer to clock the mutations back through time tO a common ancestor. Korber estimates that the current pandemic goes back to one or a small group of infected humans around 1930, though this ancestor virus could have emerged as early-as 1910 or as late as 1950. From this single source, she suggests, came the virus that now infects roughly 40 million people all over the .world. ’This offers a small piece in a larger puzzle concermng the origins of HIV," she said. Experts believe that HIV’s ancestor is a virus that ordinarily infects chimpanzees. Somehow it spread to people - .perhaps thirough abite or hunting mishap -~n west equatorial Africa. Justwhenthis happened, though, is .still a mystery, Korber Said. The leap from chimp to man could have beenaround 1930. Oritmayhaveoccurred much earlier and the virus stayed within a small group of humans. Theworkchallenges atheory thatAIDs actually began in the 1950s, when HIV was accidentally mixed with the polio vaccine. In last year’s book ’¢Fhe River," Edward Hopper theorizes that HIV contaminated batches of the vaccine that were grown in chimp dssue. This then spread when the vaccine was tested in the Belgian Congo. Korber said this is highly unlikely, since it would require the introduction of at least 10 genetically separate strains ofthe virus into the vaccine from different chimps. Dr. Steven Wolinsky of Northwestern University called Korber’s project "a computational tour de force." Korber based her work on the genetic codes of 160 different copies of the AIDS virus. She analyzed them on a Los Alamos supercomputer, called Nirvana, that can perform l trillion computations per second. The earliest existing sample of HIV was found in a blood specimen obtained in Leopoldville - now Kinshasa - in 1959. Virus Testing Helps AIDS Treatments SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Doctors say they can improve the chance of successfully treating AIDS by measuring how each patient’s virus stands up to the drugs intended to kill HIV. Through evolution, HIV can grow resistant to any of the standard AIDS drugs, andoftenitis invulnerable to several at once. The specific combination of viral resistance varies from patient to patient. In theory, doctors can brew up the most potent AIDS drug cocktails for their patients if they know the strengths and vulnerabilities of the viruses they carry. In the past, doctors have attempted to dothisbychecking the virus forthegenefc mutations that make it impervious to various drugs. However, complex mixes of mutations are sometimes hard to translate into drug treatment plans.’ In a new approach called phenotypic resistance tesdng, doctors can check the virus against all of the standard drugs to see which ones can kill it, then .use~the results to tailor their strategy. "With this information, you can make better decisions," said Dr. Calvin Cohen. Understanding virus resistance is especiallyimportantwhenputting together new drug combinations after the initial drug cocktail fails to wipe out all visible signs of the virus. Doctors have 15 AIDS drugs to pick from, and the choice often amounts to an educated guess. Cohen and colleagues studied phenotypic testing at the Community Research Initiative of New England, an independent AIDS research organization in Brookline, Mass. He described the results Monday, in San Francisco at the 7th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. . The test was developed by Virco N.M., a European biotechnology company that financed the study with Glaxo Wellcome Inc., the pharmaceutical company. Doctors say anadvantage ofp,henotypic testing is the simplicity of ~lle results. "The person’s virus is grown in a culture and then ,put into a test tube with each antiviral drug," Cohen said. "We monitor to seehow wellitgrows. Ifitstops growing, .that drug works. It’s that simple." The new test costs $800 per patient. Screening the geneticmutations inHIV to figure outdrug resistance has beenaround longer and cOsts about $400 to $500 per patient. Doctors say that trying to understand how well drugs will work by analyzing viral genes can be daunting when the virus is resistant to several drugs. Sometimes resistance to one pill can help the virus withstand another, even though it does not specifically have resistance to that medicine. "Phenotypic resistance testing will be attractive because it is so mucheasier to interpret," said Dr. Douglas D. Richmanofthe University ofCalifornia at San Diego. To check the test’s value, Cohen’s team studied 274 patients who had failed to respond to an initial round ofAIDS drugs. Half were randomly assigned to receive phenotypic testing, while the rest got standard care without testing. After 16 weeks, 58% of the patients getting phenotypic-testing had responded so well to their new combination of drugs that the virus hadfallentoolow tomeasure. By comparison, 37% of those without testing did this wall. "Until this study, all of this was reasonable but unproven," Cohen said. "Now we can prove it." ~:~":Wa~ to get involved? Need to.get tested for HI~ or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor ~ J. Christjohn Happy Imbolc, Groundhog’s Time for initsfirstt for some~ the ,~cultural list of events and. relevance. ~ At thispoint, I or film and, : On with the ." good month for staying in and riding out ¯ winter storms. Orgiving into spring fever y ." when possible. when ¯ Now for those thirty-somethings that : recall growing up to the sounds of the Partridge Family. with "As you may fondness, David ~sidy hasaCDoutentitled:"Old notice, I’ve’-~: Dog, .Ne~ T~ck." S~inging ~no is so. it’s ok, is else, an and the Of -interest ,dosed music v URL: it 13th. 18th pretty of the~ show that fisten on tS~ Partrid childhood favorites in col~. Back to.the present.. VALENTINE’S DAYis 9oming!~Gift idea?i,.The ever handso.m~,<~piani~t’.:Jim Bric~provide~ lovely~usic p~ect for,~elight dinners, an~ohn T,rones croo~,the perfect ballads t6~t]hem0od for ..~gh romance on [h~ir-~CDs, restively. ThelIX~rfect m~ic.to ~t the moodfor a romanticev~.... Ok,themomentyou :reall-~n atting for. TheStevie Nicks mentioa.She’s back ¯" in the Studio working onthe~W CDafter ". the performing break i~’Vegas and i Cafifomia. SherylCrow isagamproducing - no mention of what happened to Mr. ." Hip-Hop producer. Thank G~oddess! , m,~chers ¯ wereGay or straight, what mattered was i the sl~ed.belief of those ~ching that day. ~dnow those Right to’Life March org~fi have Somethingto. think h!~out ¯ for n~t ye,ar, : o~~. . .::~. .Ch~,..’.rman-oMfPicLhAaGelAFLeP~A¢.nCs : : -~lie ~4~li~al Action Committ~for ~.- i~: " .~.=~Lffe Lesbians and~ays . . :.::~. Long b~fom multi:million-dollar book deals were the fashion~Alexandre Dumas’ son (yes, the "The Three Musketeers" author) converted his tonidLtomedqerminal love affair into a best sel~.~lhe~, composer Guisep.,pe Ve~: ~dpted. ~8r story for o~ra (hello, ka Travi~), Toda~ choreoorapher Val Canipamli flni~edthe job of turning. "La Traviata" into dance. Usino drama,. not melodrama. For understatement underscored. A full-lenoth Iovestory. FRIDAY 8 PI~:EBRUARY 11 SATURDAY 8 PMFI:RRUARY1~ SUNDAY 3 PMFEDRUARY 1~ SEASO~ SPON~: Irish Dance Company -The-original and the best.t Chapman Music Hall 3rd & Cincinnati.... ¯. Tickets: $12, 16 & 20 Call:-596-7111 Order on line: www~,tulsapac.com Tulsa Performing ~rfs Center Trust World Treasures S~ason: Celtic Gems. ¯-Si~0ns~rs: O.klah~ma Arts ~:.:ur~i~,..Urban T.u!sa JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL EVENIN~ ON THE SET OFMANON WINE AND HORS D’OEUVRES. ENTERT]~INMENT ...... ooooo o~60~oo o oo oo~.~_O~O oo~o o o o oo out o-o’o o~ooo o FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 5:30 - 8:00 PM ON THE STAGE OF THE .......~UtLSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER $35 PER PERSON $75 PARTY AND :. ~ SUNDAYS ~Ble~qs the Lord At All Times Christian Center, Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 5837815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation S~rvice - i 1am, 2~5~.~5 &Yale, 749-05~ (WeicQ~ing) - : " " Church of theRestoration Unitarian Universaiist ropo ommumty C House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1 lain, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088 Unity Church of Christianity ServiceS: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown, 749-8833 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gay/Transgendered Alliance ~6:30 pm, Meets at the United Minis,try Cir., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 I~" MONDAYS lilY Testing Clinic, Fr~ & anonTmous testing. No appoinl~¢n[ r~zluired. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378) 3501 E. Admiral (~st o~ Hazard) HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Ceater 7:30pro, 220"7 E. 6th, 583-78t5 PFLAG, Parents., Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2nd Mo~/~ach too. 6:30pro,Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AB)S Committee, call ~or meeting date, aoon, 585-5551 Council Oak Meu’s Chorale, rehearsals - ca]! for times, imfo: 748-3888. ~ TUESDAYS AIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call, ~or ne×t.m~ting date. 1430 S. BouJder, 585-5551 ~!~e=~d Let Liye, CommlmitT o~ ~0pe ~nitedMethodist, 7:~, 2,~5 S. ~ale IYlultieultural ~I])S Coalitiou, call for ne×t m~ting date. ~rban L~ague, 240 E~st Apache, 584;0001 PrimeTimers, meus group, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/IIOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pro, Pride Genter, 1307 E: 38th, irffo: 743-4297 I~" WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b~o. Norwood Tulsa-Native American Mens Support Group, more informatidJL. ~call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call fo_r..info: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pro, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. - -. ...... I~’THURSDAYS , H~PE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Edu~(ion "~:;~)~": _ Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing:,~ ~ 8:313pm 834-83.-7~ 3507’E. Ad~niral " ~ O~lahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’.RYAN) " - Support/social group for 18-24’s, call Red Rock Mental Health a~ 584-2325 .... Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, [nfo: 834-4194 I~" FRIDAYS Safe Haven,~iotm~AduJts Sc;ci~d Group, l st Eft/each ~no. 8pro, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th ~" SATURDAYS out-of their h0mes~ ! can’t i~..gin~e throwing my Child out of;the hbu~e: ; TheS~~mby Holloway, ~as ¯S~tan,wh0:cam¢.~s’s am~’Who ’ had been r6b~andiron on the road. In the story, the priest, afraid of being deemed unclean, passes by. But the Samaritan stoppedtocarefortheunknown mall. "The point of the parable is that good refiglon, following, traditions in these Scotland, dozeus of prints, and Spong’s -" anti-discrimination policies, to. include second:wife; ChriSti~i~. ’When In~arried ," specifically :sexual- orienta’tion::~ Why?: Jack, I knew. what was ahead," said Christ.i.ne.,.w.,h..o..m..a..m..e.A. Spong. m..19.9.0......nc.e.xl.ed. Kelleher wrote ’Perha " was ’When ~ou:-~up. (forGays)~,you~r¢~ =/Wrong going to ge~:hit. ?You cannot know Gay ." _ think so, at least with restart to theVast imd Lesbian people without wanting to .. maioriW of oar nconle." kelleher addrd hugthcm.Someofthcmhavebeenthr~wn ." he was modifying the pohcy to include ¯.. o~rsmagnex;iewthyatmcivgehrtuhncaevretaeixnits~t,e-dam-boingutihtiys ." score." _" ’WVhat happened at. Southwdst is an ¯ example -" well-mcnningexecutives simplyto donor _" give sexual orientation issues in the workplace the consideration they deserve, stud Kim I. Mills, HRC s ." education director. "We applaud ." Southwest Airlines for taking this_stcp developed systems, can now get in the toward creating an inclusive work .,w.a.y. ofus g~tting t,o~:~ saidI~oll0way..~ environmont~ for ih~ OayandLesbian e~. of us arc, w_all~g on the road to i amployees., While Southwest has added Jericho,andwem~tIookf~Himbecause along the s~d¢ of the road...... .’. offer dom=sticParm~r~:healthbenefits. priestandmothcr,stoodnexttoSpongas policies and e~pects a sign language interpreter. "He will be :: announc=ment nO later the,, June. " sord~ missed,." saidDeats, whowas first ,." _ _ " ............. ago.~Imayn0tagreewithevcrythingh¢ ! [~]l=-Ie.ll -....- I says; but I truly minfi..~’re and respect him . . for stan,.d~n.gup,f0r~hat he believ~ in." ._. vice president orlon"di.ng, andI_~s Rector, Deats said she believed in more ." president, neither of.whom had returned traditional routines of-prayer. "It can be ¯ calls by press time. Dr. Jerry. Carr611, boring, I know. And I’m not saying the -" chairperson of the TTCU board of bisho~ does.n’t pray, bu~ I believe ~-nore ." directors,andpr0vostatOSU-Oldahoma .stronglyin themystical practices ofprayer in the ~hurch," said De~ts. Croneberger was rector of the Church of the Atonement in Tenafiy for i8 years, and a priest for more thsn 34 years. Croneberger~60,was oneofsix candidates - all ofwhomfavor ordaining noncelibate Gays and blessing same-sex unions - in a field that included the Rev. Canon Gene RobinsonofNewHampshire,whomissed becoming the first openly Gay Episcopal bishop in the nation by several votes. Asfor Spong, he willlecture at Harvard University starting next month, buthas no plans to move from Morris County. His latest book, "Here I Stand," was published this year. Spong, father of three daughters, said he found talking to students a great pleasure, Last week, Spong lectured at Lewis & Clark University in Portland, Ore.- "I love the minds of 18- to 23-yearolds," Spong said. "Nothing is sacred and they asked all kinds of questions." There were no,,questions asked here duringthe service, buttherewas amomen! of fear when the Rev. Dana Rose slipped off the back of the riser as Spong and others wereblessing breadandwine. Rose was helped to his feeti and Spong quickly gave him the sign of the cross. Rose, a Gay priest who’s also black, was ordainedfirstas adeaconby Spongin May 1998. "People say, ’You’re a priest and you’re GayT" said l~ose, who works for the Gay and Lesbian ministry in the diocesez "Now, there are ;many, priests who are Gay, but black? I believe in inclusion of all people, like me, into .the church, just like the bishop." City, did callback andsaid he thought theremustbe"amajormisunderstanding" and that the "professional loan officers would not do that [make inquiri~,into. loan applica=s sex~.orientation]~. .- as saying that the Vatican "expects from the premier a gesture ofcommon sense," anapparentcallforthe Italiangovernment to intervene to cancel the Gay event. Sodano also was quoted as saying the controversy "puts into question" the concordat, adocumentregulalingrelafions . between Rome and the Vatican that was first signed in 1929 and was revised in the 1980s. A pro-Vatican member of parliament, Mario Baccini, called the mayor’s decision’a "moral and material slap" in the face of the Holy See. Vatican officials said theHoly See was displeased by the city’s cooperation with the organizers, including allocation of $180,000 to cover municipal costs like security. Rutdli has been a big Jubilee booster, shepherding the city through major constructionprojects-includingaVatican garage-to spruce itupforan estimated30 million pilgrims. Gays have criticized the pope’s teachings on homosexuality, but Italian Gay leaders denied any disrespect is intended by holding World Pride during theJubilee. "It’s not an anti-Jubilee event nor an event against the pope," said Francesco Falsetta, an official oftheMario Mieli Homosexual Cultural Association, one of the organizing groups. World Pride’s main event will be a July 8 march through the city. Organizers say it will also feature conferences, sporting events and parties.. Massage Therapy Services ¯ Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women DavidKauskey 33i0 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm -~Spri~t. Sprint PCS" :25.00 $7435 Net cost The Clear A~terna’dve to Cellular Spdnt PCS" Select Retailer New Sprint PCS Phone Less instore rebate Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 off!* Everyone is approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include.;" ¯ Free Voicemail o Free Caller ID .... ¯ Free Call Waiting ¯ Free 3 way calling o. ¯ No activat~oalfee ¯ N~contract required~ 100 ~o Sprin(P~sN~nwide Network." Tulsa Loeation~ ~-: ..... 2001 S. GarneR, 43%2~.~.~. 3733 S. Memorial, 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: 109 N. 22 Meet ,Local ~X3rigin. 18+. Additional features from 67 ~guys you like " be," he added. "’It’s been this norm that .: they grew up with: Andin so many. ways, : pamcularlym~nt, we vebeen, ery Do something that brings yoUlhto serio~s°. sensitized to~~ity,humannghts, conversation with people who-aren’t just : but.there’.s~i~sg~.,a~i,’ng,.darke,,xception likeyou. : tot~tw~thGaY~i:~Lesbiaus._ .. For some of you, this will feel like a : ~ Whenlegis~,’~kFl.a~gan wl~.t.he leap of faith-l~rhaps in God, orat least ; thinks.ofa~ys~d!domest=cparm..ershi.ps in other people. ",- ..... . as an alternafi~t0same-sex mamage, ne ¯ Maybe this runs counter’ to all the : tells them "it~a~t tap into all of the cultural conditioning you’ve received ¯ wonde_r,,ful, ~fic and em~o.tion.al about self-sufficiencyi abouthow wrong ! impacts that~conveys. ~nenlze itistoaskforhelp.MaybethiSchaHeages . asksaqu~..fio.n~."~~:t~te, isabl~.°ffi~ally prized coph~g m~l~nisms ~t Ser~_e you : t.o rec0~ila..~i’~,s,e,.p~nng re,a, well whenexcepti-o~d individualeffortis , domesf!_c-p~.e~!:aw;.-wny men wgmu enough..... " ;-y0ufeelgt~fig~ed:t.0makeit’diff~emtrom ¯Bu~aoindividualwinsanelection;alone i ~ theCivil m~a~e’ 6flexed to ~ght If!we don’t engage oth~r humanb~ings, ; VermonterS?" ~ " ¯ ~. we remain tempting targets to-the :bullies : Hanagan said :he believes there’s an ontheright:IfwewanttoendGay-baiting " analogy to be drawn from the experience in public life, we have ~o use what we know: the power of one h,man being talkln£ to another human berg about what matters. We need to be outward bound, despite the discomfort. Because, in elections, the greatest thing wehave to fearis fearitself. Hanagan can see diagonally across-State Street to the Statehouse, where the Vermont Legislature this year is crafting a response to ahistofic decision from the .stat~-~ i :~Supreme " ~ i ,:.~.Court. That decision said i~"~iola~d the VermontConstitution todeny~tted Gay-and Lesbian couples the~i~health of other benefits heterosexuaV~ed couples take for granted. .=.!i!:."ii( Hanagan, 49, is in his fourthi~year term as ~mditor and long has beea.,kn~_w,.n_ to harbor loftier potitical ambiO~,He s ~md~,ttaking 0ae long-expected:~i~tfo_r higher office this year, and has.raised morethan$400,000" alotforachallenger inVermont- so farinhis campaignfor the Democratic U.S.. Senate nomination. He’s been able to raise money around the country from supporters of Gay men and Lesbians, but even more so from former Harvard Law School classmates who have found themselves in lucrative careers and can afford to be generous. Flanagan took a risk five years ago when he acknowledged for the first time publicly that he was Gay, and he’s taking arisk now in being such a strong advocate for same-sex marriage. "I assume any professional political consultant would advise against it," he said. "But some issues are so compelling and so pure that political considerations becometrivialand inappropriate. This is at the core of my beliefs. I’mnot going to equivocate in the slightest and I hope Vermonters will respectmycommitmentto prmcipl,,e, even if they may not thoroughly agree. More often than the campaign trail, Flanagan is drawn these days to the Statehouse, because he senses history in the making, because he relishes and is fascinated by legislative deliberation and because he knows that, for many lawmakers, he can put ahumanface on an abstract set of issues. As he’s walked the Statehousehalls lately, Flanagan sm.’dhe’ s noticed "people tend to move ~n my direction more often than normal. I’m a person they know and most often like quite a bi~ and relate to. I’m real. I have a real personality that they’re familiar with, so there isn’t that fear component of something foreign. "I don’t think often people are as homophobic as they think they should "For me, some time tc mamage stress come when many Gays and’ Lesbians had coming to grips with themselves 20 or 30 years ago, to the straggle many straight people are having now When thinking about somethinglike same-’sexmarriage. "When you foste~ real bigotry againast iso.mdeonoef he said. "That’s-the of bigotry.. It weighs years, but and "one’s private life will be put back into its private place." Flanagan, who said he has "a great capacity tolove," also offered a glimpse into whatapersonal heavenonearthmight look like. "I would love to be a dad. I’ve always cherished the idea of being a dad and I think I would be a good dad?’ Locally, members ofMCCUnited have created a chapter of Soul Force and at least one member joined White and 200 other Gay and Lesbian (or friendly) Christians in a meeting with FalWell. Elliott has as a personal goal, the development of the Community of the church, not the building or the number of members as much as the network of support for the members - much like the model of the earliest Christian communities. However, Elliott and other congregational leaders do discuss the possibilities of physical change for the group. Acknowledging the s~ ,newhat isolated location of the church build~ z (off major streets in a ver) q~ neighborhOod)~, they consider that t tufty-sell this building and find a more visible .and central location. But Elliott emphasizesthat these things are ouly just possibilities and are not anything which will happen soon. The spiritual life comes first and the rest will follow as the Spirit calls MCC-United to be. For more information about the Metropolitan Community Church United or about the Soul Force efforts, call 838- !715. The Eight Annual 2000 Saturday, March 4 Cocktails, 7pm, Dinner, 8:15 Myriad Convention Center, Grand Ballroom Auction & Dancing, Blacl( or Red Tie to benefit the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund 1999 Beneficiaries: AIDS Support Program, Inc. American Red Cross, Oklahoma County Chapter CarePoint, Inc. Cimarron Alliance Foundation LegalAi6ofWestem Oklahoma, Inc. Northern Lights Altematives Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund, Individual Assistance Fund Oklahoma Hemophilia Foundation Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Oklahoma Mental Health Council - RedRockBehavioral Health Service Other Options, Inc. Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) Tulsa CommunityAIDS Partnership Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, February 2000; Volume 7, Issue 2 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, January 2000; Volume 7, Issue 6 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/597 AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS research aMUSEments arts and entertainment Bars businesses Chatholic Church churches civil rights Colin Higgins Foundation community Dave Fleischer Episcopal Church Gary Watts Gay marriage HIV homophobia Jim Christjohn Judaism Karin Gregory lawsuits marriage equality Metro Communtiy Church Unted National Gay and Lesbian Task Force non-discrimination policies Partner Benefits partners registry performing arts Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants Saint Joseph's College scholarships Soulforce Southwest Airlines Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Tulsa Teacher's Credit Union Vatican https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/720496a377bccd13c6fb428da9276de3.jpg 6e3a2c10512312879ac3bf406c137ebd https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/e3a834ef864d1accd5ea57b69700278e.pdf 4764679f2a18d394d6c619b8615600cc PDF Text Text Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community Paper Available In More Than 75 City Locations V rmont Marriage Victory SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - By the time Nina Beck and " Friends Rally Around Accused Musician District Attorney Suspected of Bias by Tom Neal, editor & publisher Around Tulsa’ s Gay community, the reaction is one of dismay and disbelief at the allegations of indecent exposure made against musician and chorale leader, Rick Fortner. According to a Dec. 3rd Tulsa Worm story, a 16 year old man has accused Former of masturbating in front of him in a sauna of All-American Fitness Center in Broken Arrow. A spokesperson for the Broken Arrow p01ice noted that the man and Former were the onl y ones in the sauna. Friends and acquaintances note that F,grmer maintains his innocence, and have stated their suplJort for Former. Mitchell Savage, spokesperson for the Council Oak Mens Chorale (COMC) for which Former is music director, said that the board of directors of the organization has voted to express its support for Former and their belief that his innocence will be established. - The COMC board position was endorsed by the group’ s general membership also. Savage added that he has been acquainted for 15 years see Fortner, p. 10 ¯ Stacy Jolles got the news, it seemed like everyone already knew: ¯ The Vermont Supreme Court had issued its long-awaited ruling ¯ on Gay marriage. They had won. ¯ The court ruled unanimously that Gay and Lesbian couples in ¯ Vermont should enjoy all benefits and privileges afforded to ¯ heterosexual couples who can legally marry. It is the first court : in the nation to make such a sweeping ruling on the question. ’ But the justices split on whether it should amount to marriage. ¯ Onejustice split from the majority’ s view that the state Legislature ¯ should decide whether Gays and’Lesbians should actually be ¯ allbwed to marry or should be given domesticpartnership benefits ¯ equivalent to heterosexual marriage. The split was of no immediate concern to Beck and Jolles and ¯ the other two couples who sued in 1997 when their town clerks denied them marriage licenses. "It’s just fantastic this decision ¯" could come following his birth," Beck said as Jolles stood ¯ alongside her holding their month-old son Seth. The issue now will be the subject of debate before the : Legislature, which convenes on Janl 4. "I think the court has ¯ broken all barriers by dearly riding that we have a class of ¯ individuals in Vermont who are being denied their rights and I think it is the Legislature’ s responsibility to correct that injustice ," ¯ said Peter Shumlin, Senate president pro tern. ¯ But the question will be how. Should Vermont statutes be ¯ amended to permit two men or two women to marry? Should a ¯ domestic partners registry be established for Gay couples to ¯ record their relationships and therefore qualify for the benefits ¯ now accorded heterosexual mamed couples? ¯ "I think it’ s going to take a couple of weeks, anyway, for people ¯ tounderstand what this means," said Rep. Thomas Little, chairman ¯ of the House Judiciary Committee. "Everyone wants to have a : virtually immediate informed reaction to it, but I think it takes ¯ longer than.that." : Gov. Howard Dean said same-sex marriage "makes me ¯ uncomfortable, the same as anybody else." He predicted the ¯ Legislature would comply with the court decision by enacting a ¯ domestic partners law rather than making marriage legal for : same-sex couples. House Speaker~Michael Obuchowski, who Anti-Gay Harassment ¯ Evergreen Awards Recognize Alleged in Public Schools i Beal, Campbell, and Others TULSA -Allegations of anti-Gay harassment have risen at two Tulsa high schools. On two campuses, teachers contend that they and some students have been singled out for inappropriate attention. While Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) does have a nondiscrimination policywhich TPS’s attorney interprets as protecting Gay teachers, staff and students from discrimination, that policy does not explicitly ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. It "The Board is committed-to-the concept of nondiscrimination in relation to race, religion, sex, age national origin, handicap and other human differences. This policy will prevail in al matter concermng staff, students and the public." However, in the interests of protecting these teachers from possible further harassment, their names are being withheld. One teacher, who is active in a local Gay mens’ singing group, was called into his principal’ s oftrme and was shown a copy of the group’ s concert program. His participation in the group was highlighted with a - comment, -*’is -this~ legal .w’ Another teacher who helps, With a support group for Gay kids. had a self-identified "Christian" fundamentalist teack-zr attending support group meetings and the teacher who does not identify as Gay but as Gay-friendly felt there was an intent to identify her as Gay and therefore to threaten her job. Andat one campus;two young women were suspended for a public display of affectkm. A Gay teacher and other students whb were familiar with the incident claim that the two women were not behaving with any less discretion than heterosexual students use in the same circumstances, They do claim that the administration response w~:much more harsh than for heterosexuals. However,~ TPS spokesperson, Tiffany. Bruton responded to TFN inquiries, saying that the students’ conduct was well beyond socially acceptable behavior even for heterosexuals. The students involved did not respond to TFN requests for an interview. TULSA - The 1999 Evergreen Awards recognized the work of a number of Tulsans involved in HIV/AIDS issues. Prominent among these were Dr. Jeffrey Beal and his parmer Ted Campbell for their years of service as Tulsa’s principal physician treating HIV and AIDS related illness and for Campbell’s mental health practice around those issues. The lunch ceremony was held at the offices of the Community Service Council (CSC) on Dec. 7th, and opened with a remarks previously said he would support Gay mamage, : said politics might prevent that. "What I’m hearing ¯ from my colleagues is that they’re saying that ¯ domestic partnership is a more politically attainable situation and I think I’d have to agree with that ¯ analysis,"saidObuchowski,aDemocratlikeDean. ¯ Though they were ecstatic, the three couples who sued will hold off on their celebrations until they ¯ get an opportunity actually to say their vows in a ¯ wedding ceremony. "I think the acttml celebration ¯ will be when we get married," said Stan Baker, standing withhis arm around partner Peter Harrigan. Winnie Stachelberg, Political Director with the ¯ Human Rights Campaign, one national Gay ¯ organization noted,"we are thrilled that the Vermont ¯ Supreme Court had the wisdom and courage to hand down this historic, landmark decision. There ¯ has never been a logical or justifiable reason to exclude same-sex couples from marrying, and ¯ decision validates the unfairness of exclusion. This ¯ is a tremendous victory for Gay and Lesbian couples ¯ in Vermont who are now one-step closer to being ¯ considered equal in the eyes of the law." Paula Ettelbrick, attorney and Family Policy ¯ Director at the National Gay and Lesbian Task ¯: Force Policy Institute said, "the court’s decision is unique in that it commands that the state give samesex couples every benefit and protection that : currently provides to married couples." ¯ "However, by stopping short of fully recognizing : the freedom to marry, the court has opened the door ¯ to complete equality but has not constitutionally ¯ guaranteed it. Now the batde progresses to the : Vermont Legislature," Ettelbrick continued. "We ¯ have the opportunity as a community to convince lawmakers to provide the full badge of citizenship ¯ by recognizing the freedom to marry." ¯ Ettelbrick noted that Vermont is a logical state to ¯ become the first see Vermont, p. 12 New Leather Contest TULSA- Ric Poston, Oklahoma Mr Leather 1999 and his partner James Murray _Mr Tulsa Leather 1997 have announced they are producing a new leather contest, Mr. Sooner State Leather. The contest will be a preliminary event to the StateTitle of "Oklahoma Mr Leather" and is open to any Oklahoma resident. This first event will be held in Oklahoma City on the weekend of April 21 - 23, 2000 and any profits from the contest will benefit the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago.. The event will provide education and information about the community, "demonstrations," opportunities for brotherhood, a brunch on Sunday, and the contest itself on Saturday night April 22, 2000. Judges for the contest .will be Dave Rhodes, owner and editor of The Leather Journal, Terrell Brown, Oklahoma Mr Leather 2000, Oklahoma Drummer 2000 (to be announced in February 2000), and Michael Vrooman, the current International Miss Gay Rodeo and a former International Mr ayRodeo, MarkMalonInternational Mr. Leather, tRunner Up-t997;and alternate judge, Ed Smith who is an avid supportor of local and nadonal Leather and Drummer events. The contest will be held at the Habana Inn, Oklahoma’s all Gay hotel and bar complex. For reservations (be sure to mention the contest for special rates), contact the Habana Inn, 2200 Northwest 39th Expressway, OklahomaCity, 73112 1-800-988-2221, www.habanainn.com. For any further information about the contest, applications, and weekend packages contact: ms.oonerstatelthr @aol .com. ~s Ted Campbell & Dr. Jeffrey Beal by ~chael Conley of Tulsa CARF~, Melanie Speetor of Tulsa ’County Health Dept. and John Hawk Cocke of Indian Health Services. Presenters and the recipients of the awards included many of Tulsa’ s most prominent activist/workers around HIV/AIDS care and prevention. Sharon Thoele, exeentive director of Tulsa CARES, Erie Ramirez of Planned Parenthood, Kathy Bird of Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, Tulsa office w ere a few of the presenters and recipients included videographer Allison Cosslett, Wendy Weisberg, Audra Sommers for her fundraising work, Kay Rollins for NAMES PROJEC~ leadership, and Jeremy Simmons for prevention education. The Evergreen Awards are presented by the Tulsa AIDS Coalition which was introduced at this event by Tim Gillean and represented by CSC staffer, Janice Nicklas. �" It’s Elementary + more... Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants . December 22, 1999 712-2324 *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 " On the heels of a tremendously 610-5323 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial successful campaign to get It "s Elementary 583 -6666 Publisher + Editor: *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th " aired on public television, we are thrilled~ 749-4511 Tom Neal " *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria ¯ to announce our new media series for Writers + contributors: 749-1563 *The Mix, 2630 E. 15th " kids. We are writing to you today to tell James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lament 744-4280 *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square Lindstrom, Bob Rounsavell, Esther Rothblum. Mary Schepers you a little about the project and to ask for *St. Michael’s .Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 834-4234 yo~help: .W.e. hope yo.u’!l eonside.r m.~king *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan ~dember o! The AssociatedPress ........... a year-end contribution toward its 835-2376 *The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan completion and distribution. 585-3405 *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main We’ve been asked repeatedly by It’s 660-0856 *TNT’s, 2114S..Memorial Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents -" o Elementaryfans, "When are you going to 584-1308 *Tool Box,. 1338. E, .3rd :of this publication are protected by :US copyright 1998 by Tulsa Businesses, Services, &:Pr~fe~si6nais Nta, and may not be repr-oduced either.in : make sombthing we can show to kids?"" .Finally wehave an answer -- THAT’S A. 747-1508 Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular whole orinpar~ without written permission from the publisher. FAMILY! -- a video for elementary 743-1000 : *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard . school children about family diversity. Publicationof a name or photo does not indicate a pers0n’s Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747:9506 : : .sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for To learn more about THAT’S A 250-5034-," *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 " FAMILY! and to make a donation to publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed’& be: 665-4580 ¯ *Barnes &Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41. " ensure its successful completion, please Eachreaaer comes:the ~ole property of T,J 712-1122 " Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 ~s entitled :to 4 copies of each editton at distribution ", read the rest of this email, or go to: 712-9955" 2 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 http:.//www.womedia.org/support.html 494-2665 ~ points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale on the internet. 743-5272 ¯ Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria THAT’S A FAMILY! is the first video 746,0313 : Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542,74101 582-0438 ¯ *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria in our. long-awaited media series for Cherry St: Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 583-6611 ¯ HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 622-0700 Community Cleaning, Kerby..Baker 834-4194 " children, "Respect for All." THAT’S A ¯ Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral FAMILY ! introduces children to different 352-9504, 800-742-9468 Tim Daniel, Attorney 481-1111 : ¯ Holland Hall School,5666 E. 81st 749-3620 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 834-8378 ¯ kinds of families, while the second and HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 587-2611 *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady ¯ House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood : third videos~in the series center on dispelling Gay and Lesbian stereotypes 744-5556 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438=2437, 800-284-2437 " and confronting anti-Gay name-calling. 838-8503 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-1715 ." ¯ MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood In THAT’S.A FAMILY! you’ll meet 712-9379 ,~,: 584-0337, *Ross Edward Salon 748-3111 ¯ NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. children’ who were adopted; are 592-0460 365-5658 " Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main NOW, Nat’lOrg. for Women; POB 14068,74159 multiracial; have parents who are divorced; 744-9595 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 are being raised by step-parents, single ° 610-0880 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. ¯ OSU-TUlsa morns or dads, or by grandparents and 628-3709 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 749-4901 ¯ PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 guardians. There also are children with 808-8026 587-7674 ’ Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare ¯ Planned Parenthood~ 1007 S. Peoria Gay dads or Lesbian morns, and their 742-1460 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 stories are intertwined with those of the 459-9349 749-4195 Learme M: Gross, Insurance & financial planning .*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network other families. 744-7440 " Mark T: Hamby,.At.tomey ¯ .. 584,2325 ¯ Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 THAT’ S A FAMILY ! is scheduled for *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E Skelly 745-1111 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults : release in the spring of 2000. It has the 341-6866 *International Tours O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth potential to reach hundreds of thousands 712-2750 425-7882 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th_ St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N.Cincinnati of children, giving elementary schools a 582-3018 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 492-7140 " St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 747-0236 David Kanskey, Country Club Barbering 582-3088 " truly inclusive, respectful teaching tool ¯ St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King that children will love to watch. We have 582-8460 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening ¯ Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583=7171 no doubt that the long-term impact of this 599-8070 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 ¯ TNAAPP (Native AmeriCan men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 " project will be tremendous. Giving 747-5466 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 595-4105 : Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 elementary school students the opportunity 585-1234 *Living Al"tSpace, 19 E. Brady Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only : to hear the words "Gay" and "Lesbian" 584-3112 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd TulsaOkla.forHumanRights,c/oThePrideCenter 743-4297 : described in a matter-of-fact way by their 663 -5934 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 ¯ peers, and experience Gay and Lesbian 664-2951 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place ¯ Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule families in the context of such anincredibly 838-7626 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo ," ¯Tulsa Community College Campuses diverse group of other families, could 743 -4297 743-4297 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor ¯Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 have a profound effect on their values and 747-5932 749-8833 Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown behavior for the rest of their lives. 834-0617 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning ¯ BARTLESVILLE To kick off this ambitious media series 834-7921,747-4746 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 918-337=5353 ¯ for children, we need your help. We need ¯ Bardesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 749-6301 *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square ." to raise additional funds to finish THAT’ S OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN 260-7829 Paul Tay, Car Salesman ¯ A FAMILY! this winter and to launch its Borders Books &Music, 3209 NWExpressway 405-848-2667 -" 481-0558 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis ¯ Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 ¯ distribution. Our work is not com835-5563 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard " missioned- instead we independently 743 - 1733 TAHLEQUAH Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 665-2222 918-456=7900 " produce and distribute our medi a projects. *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan ¯ Stonewall League, call for information: see It’s... p. 14 592-0767 918-456-7900 : ¯ Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 918-453-9360 : ¯ Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 Announcements Policy Tulsa Agencies~ Churches, Schools & Universities ¯ NS.U School of Optometry, 1001.N, Grand ......... : 579-9593 Tulsa Family Newswitl provide-space AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 741-0L .... HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates " for holy union ceremony, marriage 743-2363 All Sods Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 587-7314 ¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS ceremony, birth, adoption and death Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 ¯ 501-253-7734 ," announcements on a space available basis. Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 ¯ 501-253-7457 ¯ Photos are welcome, though we cannot *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 585-1201 ¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-6807 ¯ promise placement or return them, so *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616-S. Boston ¯ 501-253-5445 " please send copies to Tulsa Family News, *Chapman. Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence ¯ Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-9337 " POB 4140, Tulsa 74159. *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 MCC of the Living Spring 501-253-2776 " *Community of Hope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 : Geekto Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 Letters Policy 501-253-5332 ¯ *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 ¯¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Tulsa Family News welcomes letters 748-3888 501-624-6646 " on issues which we’ve covered or on Positive Idea Marketing Plans Council Oak Men’s Chorale 712-1511 ¯ Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 -’. issues you think need to be considered. *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 742-2457 : White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074 " You may request that your name be with*Democratic Headquarters,3930 E. 31 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & held but letters must be signed & have ." JOPLIN, MISSOURI 355-3 t40 Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74!70-1475 *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 " phone numbers, or be hand delivered. 200 ¯ 747-7777 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard word letters are preferred. Letters to other *Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call for location & info: 587-4669 publications will be re-printed as is * is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay- friendly. Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 appropriate. �by Tom Neal, editor & publisher January is National Volunteer Blood Donor Month and most newspapers in the city have received press releases exhorting Tulsans to donate blood. According to Tulsa’s chapter of the American Red Cross’ communications manager, Maggie Jewell, "the winter time is a crucial time for blood donations and that many new donors are needed to help meet patient needs in local hospitals...many donors who regularly give find that they cannot during the winter months because of a cold or the flu.., the nation’ sblood supply... [is] just a few hours ahead of demand. As it stands today, if everyone stopped donating blood, our nation’s supply would disappear within only two days..." So you’d think that the Red Cross would welcome all donors. In the Red Cross" press releases, they state, "to donate, one must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be feeling wall the day of the donation..." What they don’t say is that ff you are Gay, you don’ t lie about it, and you give blood, they throw your blood away - even though ALL blood is tested for HIV antibodies anyway! Anyone who’s had sex with someone of the same gender since,if memory serves me, 1984, is banned. To reframe a 19th century prejudice: "Irish need not apply" becomes "Faggots need not apply." The local Red Cross shrugs off responsibility, saying it’s a national policy. The national Red Cross places the blame on the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). They all know that thisis bad science. " Once one might have presumed-a tight correlation between sexual orientation/behavior and HIV status. Today, those exposed to the HIV virus can just as easily be heterosexual. Infact, one of the parts of our population which has disproportionately highinfection rates is young Mrican-Americans. Does anyone think we’d see the Red Cross or FDA saying, "Young Blacks need not apply"? The reality is that this discrimination is socially wrong as well as bad public health policy. Tulsa Area Red Cross can’ t:change it by itsdf but its Board of Directors can go on record to call for a change in the policy (it wouldn’t hurt if they added a non-discrimination pohcy too). And it can stop trying to sweep this prejudice under the rug. Until it and the FDA change their policies, its press releases should read, "to donate, one must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be feeling well the day of the donation.., and not be a Gay or Bisexual man." himself can 0nly be costly even if the charges are without by Tom Neal, editor/publisher merit. Early on the morning of Dec. 3rd, like many others, I So why is this haptmning? Political and other observers was shocked to see the face of a friend, someone whom. have known for some dme that Tulsa District Attorney I respect and like, in The Worl d accused of a v cry unlikely Tim Harris is closely associated with right wing political act. extremists who call themselves "Christian." Reading the article and knowing the man, my first Tulsa’s DA’s earlier demonstrated their willingness to reaction was to wonder that the charges had been brought abuse the powers of the office to promote a ultra rightat all. It is a classic, "he said, she said" recast as "the wing agenda when they failed to prosecute seriously the straight ’boy’ said, the Gay man said." brutal hate assault against Tony Orr and Tim Beauchamp According to comments made to the Tulsa World by until after prim media had Broken Arrow police, the written about the DA’s bias, only persons present at the " Fortner says he is innocent and I failing even to get them alleged act were Rick Fortner victim’s compensation for believe him... But even when his and the man who has accused their medical injuries as the him of lewd behavior (I say innocence is proven, and these DA’s office does for other man who accused because at crime victims. charges likely are shown to be 16 if he were a murderer, Local attorney and he’d be considered an adult shameless politlea! opportunism by TOHR board member Kerry and 16maynotbevery wise, Lewis suggests that Harris is Tulsa County District Attorney but it’s hardly a child in this shamelessly using this day and age). Tim Harris, Fortner remains accusation to appeal to the I then wondered at part of his electorate who are victimized by the accusation .... " possible motivations for his rabidly prejudiced, to appear accuser. Was this the sick as though Hams is "fighting crime" and just incidentally behavior of a young man struggling with his own destroying Rick Fortner’s lifein the process. homosexuality and projecting his self-hatred onto another We can likely anticipate that much of our District target? Attorney’ s strategy, if they have the nerve to push such a Or is he yet another young American man warped into seemingly meritless case so far, is going to be to engage mindless hatred Of men who love other men by a society in blatant legal "Gay-bashing." It will be suggested that, whose need for some hated "other’ dates back to before ipso facto, Rick’s a"homo" and therefore capable of any the Republic was founded (let me see: we Americans evil, and that any accusation by a red-blooded, allhavehated Indians in the East, we’ ve hated Blacks, we’ve American boy is, of course, God’s own Truth! hated Jews, we’ve hated Germans, we especially hated But what’s really on trial here, is American justice the Irish, we’ve hated Catholics, and Poles, and again itself. As has played out generation after generation, with Indians in the West, and Asians: Chinese, Japanese, Fast minority after minority, the reality has been that our Indians, we’ve hated Commumsts, Socialists, Unionists, justice, at its best- is uneven, and more often than not is women who dared to vote -or merely not be endless wildly unfair, favoring wealth, whiteness and heterobaby-factories, hell, we’ ve even hated some Republicans maleness. - I personally have thought that Ronnie Reagan was one And all the problem is not in the DA’s office. Some of the most profoundly and blandly evil men of our time Tulsa police, year after year, engage in varieties of antibut I digress). Gay bias, including breaking the very law, with no Former says he is innocent and I believe him as do his restriction nor anti-bias training from Chief Palmer nor friends and colleagues at his work, All Souls Unitarian the elected official to whom he answers, Mayor Savage. Church andin Council Oaks Mens Chorale which Fortner But right now, what matter is that Rick Former is founded and leads, and I hear his family, thank God. treated fairly. I don’ t know if he’ s got alegal defense fund But even when his innocence is proven, and these set up but he may need it. charges likely are shown to be shameless political I’d suggest that any help readers might give, be sent to opportunism by Tulsa County District Attorney Tim the Rev. Suzanne Meyers at All Souls Unitarian Church. Harris, Fortuer remains victimized by the accusation. His They’re in the book. reputation has been called into question and defending ¯ : trying to decide how quickly to exit. When he stopped ¯ ourselves, we build communities and organizations by Dave Fleischer designed to shelter us. But we thenmiss genuine, reciprocal : talking, we paused and looked at each other. Then I said, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force "Well, I’m Gay. I like my life, and if IYm doing a good job ¯ connection with other people, especially those who aren’ t Ask voters a question - then listen to their answers - ¯ at my job, do you think my boss should be able to fire me ¯ just like us. We rarely ask them what they think of us. We and you get what Lily Tomlin calls a "goosebump assume we know. ¯ just because I’m Gay?" experience." Why the adrenaline rush? Because you When we don’ t ask real questions - like "What do you ¯ The voter looked astonished: "Wall of course, no one ¯ challenge not only your cherished ideas about the voters, ¯ think?"- we rely on Our past experience. No wonder that should fire you for that." That started a back-and-forth ¯ but also what you believe about yourself. ¯ that surprised both of us. We disagreed about why people we hold onto ahigh level of paranoia. We can’ t forget the ¯ feelings we knew when we were young. We can’t miss I was reminded of this while campaigning in Carol are Gay. We agreed that discrimination against G.ays is City, an African-American, working-class Miami ¯ the hostility expressed by right-wing extremists now. that neighborhood. I was with a team of volunteers from ¯¯ unacceptable. After a few minutes, as he was prepanng to ¯ we are older. SAVE Dade, the group preparing to defend their county ¯ read to me from the Bible, I called a halt, thanked him, and ¯ But, guess what? Neither has much to do with where moved to the next door. Human Rights Ordinance. : What I learned about myself was how hard itis to ask ¯ most Americans stand today. When we lack confidence Scene: short, bald, Jewish me at.the door, talking to a ¯ in other people, it is no wonder we struggle in campaigns. voter: "The Ordinance protects all of us from : a question and hear the answer. Both times, it only took ¯ Ourlifeis a niche, but in elections we need 50% + 1 of the discrimination, whether we’~re a man or woman, black or : three words before I thought I knew what was coming. ¯ participating voters on our side. ¯ Both times, I was Wrong but I realized why asking white, Gay or non-Gay. The newest part of the law is the ¯ It is understandably scary to put aside our past hurts to part that includes Gay people. Some people want to take ~¯ questions is uncomfortable. When we ask a question, and test the possibilities in the present. It’s easier to avoid really wait to hear the answer, we are not Controlling the the law .apart and remove Gay people from it. But we ¯ situation. We are sharing control with the other person. person-to-person campaigning; it’s tempting instead to think that s wrong- we think everyone ought to be treated ¯ rely on every other possible form of communication, all American culture teaches us all to like control. To with dignity and respect. What do you think?" which have at least some value. But what price do we ¯ our individuality - to believe that one pe.rson [ of ,,W,_ith barely a pause, the voter began "My church says. ¯ celebrate pay for our lack of curiosity, our unwillingness to risk can make a difference to have it our way--is as ¯. Oy ray. I figured I knew where we were headed, and ¯ : authentic exchange? Are we, without meaning to, buying American as a.microwaved Mcwhopper. it wasn’t the promised land. "My church says--Jesus ¯ intothelargerculture’stoleranceofstereotypicalthinking? But growing up Gay raises the stakes. Many of us loves everybody. Diseriminadon is always wrong." She ~ Who is most imperiled when it’ s a deviant act to ask a realize early on that we’ re different, subject to ridicule or and I had a brief, affirming discussion. ¯ ¯ question - or to question a stereotype? Let’s rescue hurt. So we crave control as a way to protect ourselves, ¯ I went to door #2, said my piece, and the voter ¯ ourselves. Goosebumps are ours, for the asking. and to survive. We pump up our talent for isolated immediately began,"My church says..." I listened. "My ¯ individual achievement, sometimes neglecting teamchurch says homosexuality is a sin. It’s wrong. Read Dave Fleischer is a seniorfellow at the Policy Institute your Bible, and you’ll see the Lord has a plan for a better " building and our curiosity about others. of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Our life becomes a search for refuge. To protect : life for you." As he amplified his point of view, I was �Nationwide Insurance : Allen said. Allen said much of the group’s time is ¯ teachers can ha,,v.e a tough time discussing even with Adds Partners’ Benefits: COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Nationwide Insurance those~who don t have a disability. Company has just begun to offer employees a new : The Arc, formerly known as th.e .Associatio~ benefits package that will recognize same-sex : Retarded Citizens, adopt,e~,.. a posmon paper mr d0mestic partners. The plan also .will cover relatives " " year~ ago affirmin_g that. indiv]~du,~.s with m~enn~ _ including extended family members~uch as : retardationarepe°plew~tlasexualIeel.mgs’~nhee~n~} ’grandparents - roommates and unmarriedpartners ~vho live w, ith the .employees, Donna. James; [ the 7:2 million people with,,mental retardation in the United States, s~ys people have fundamental ri,g,h,ts Nationwide s senior vice president :of ihuman ¯ resources, told The Outlook, an iaiiependent [ as individuals to have privacy, love and be loved. Sfill,. Gay people with mental disabilities are often ¯ eater Columbus Ga,c community. ~ newsPaper°f,thegr.: - . . .,’.= ~,-~-’--,=-1= ¯ o,;~,~: "zed somefimesb arents,orcaretakers-the . o~,~att_ ,, Those covcreamustt~aepenaentonme~’~auP~..’u~ ,:_ ...~i . :..,o..... . " em lo eeforsupp0rtorsnarelmanclalrespOn~t°mq¢ v~"v *~ a r . P Y. ........... .... ¯ . ¯ _ . .’. .--. ¯ .... ’ r-All of - Nationwide s 28,000 . w~ththewor.k.e..... ~ formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC Joined as one body of believers. Come celebrate with us. Sunday Services, 11 am ~aplewood, 8~18-1715 ’. " : ’ " ¯: ~lrglfllfl CoHrt to lalevleW employeesareeligib!ef0rth,eplan.Byearly~mber’ A recentForbesMagazine sur~ey, mo! area: unmarried parmers .are ovyr~..byh~e’~l~9.ben,efitS ~ :: ’ ROANOKE, Va. (AP)-A Virginia.appe~ s court,has Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant 10% of .the businesses with :at least zoo em~toy~.. : agreed"to review the constitutionality oI a state taw Companies that.pr0vide.same-sex P.-aFtner~e3Its .: tl~t ~nalizes oral sex between consenting adults. indtide:Lotus!.De~vd0pment Corp.,MicrosoRtsorp:, .. The.Virginia Court of Appeals agreed to ~ear. the -IBM, Walt Disney Co.,Honeywell and Xerox. ¯ ~i~s ~)f nine men convicted of soliciting sodomy . from undercover police posing as Gay me~... ¯ " " Forbes:Endors e :: The case will test alaw that some autho~taes say ~ McCam, a legitimate way to deter public sex acts. opponen ’Don’t Ask, DOn’t-Tell’- ": 0fthelawarguethatit’sanarchaicinvasionofprivacy .... ......... si .that targets homosexu~,,s. The law, referred to as WASHINGTON(AP)- The Clinton a~stxatto.n polieybarfing0penh0mosex.ual~sfro,m,..military~e_ ; ,crimes against nature, applies to all consenting ~vorksandshouldbepreserYed,Kepumtcancanoauate~ ’" adults, homosexual and heterosexual, who engagem " oral sex in public or private. Violating the law is a Sen. JohnMcCain anffSteveForbes s~din Decem~ber; felony, plmishable ,by up to five years in prison. ¯ McCain~ a former naval officer and prisoner oI war Those who say it s time for Virginia to join the list inVietnam, Saiahewo,~dhave sen.1. °r o,f.fieer,s,re,v]ew of states that have abolished their alifi-sodgmy laws the p0ffcy, but ad,d,ed, I support me poncy, i oeueve i are. encouraged that the appeals court has agr.e.e,d to that it;s working. ’ , " ¯ hear the case. The sodomy law also was invoked m the ,, On"Fox Ne~s Sunday, Forbes said: ’The military ¯ case of Sharon Bottoms, a Richmond-area woman is not an institution for socialengineering. It has. a " who lost custody of her son in 1993 when a judge said ~:ery real,role of protectingus. It... operates in very " she was an linfit mother because she and her female speJzial circumstance§, and theref0reapresident must ¯ lo~er engaged in oral sex. take heed of leaders such as Gen. Powell and G.en. inhispetitiontothe.appealscourt, Garrison said,, ,the Scfiwarzkopf Who s,a,y that you cannot have open ’ : case is not just a Gay issue, but one that affects me ri ht to 4 5 million adult Virginians to be Gays in the military.. The Repu.bh,ca~,~ fro,nt-ru~n~ar~ Texas Gov George W.-Bush, also nas. enaorseu " Clinton policy. , they have a reasonable expectataon to privacy, t ne The position of Vice President A1 Gore, a,Viemam appeal attacks the law from several angles: that it veterat~, and.his Democratic Opponent Bill Bradle~ is ¯ violates privacy rights guaranteed by both state and that people who.can be firefighters, police officers federal Constitutions; that it is based on religious andmembe~s,ofColigress shouldhaVeopenaccess to grounds and thus violates the separation of church and .military service as wall. Gay civilrights activists who ¯ state; and that its potential five-year prison sentence met with Clinton ¯last week said the president¯ told " subjects defendants to cruel find unusual punishment. them the ~’don’.t ask, dOn~t.tell’’ policy was a failure.. Eighteen men were charged under the law-in the Roanoke Police Depfirtment;s sting. The biggest challenge for those appealing .their convictions may be convincing the appealS.court that they have legal standing to overturn a’law that affects not just them, but all adult Virgimans. In 1979 - the-last’ time a NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP)- For decades, the ¯ higtier state court heard a challenge of the sodomy_. sexuality of people with mental, dis~abi!i_ti_e_s,^W_~e]~ ¯ law, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that a man taboo a subject that parents ann prolesslonm~ ,o~ ~ arrested in Richmond had no such standing2 ’ acknowledged its ..ex~stence. The disabl.ed were o~ften ¯ Since then, several states have recoglfized that treatedas if they Were eternal children; immune irom defendants arrested for alleg.ed public ~.ex acts are desire. Bu,t as people with mental disabilities come of : entitled to fight the law not just as it was applied to age in a more accepting’atmosphere, they are’: them, but as it potentially co~d be applied to bthers.i experiencing an open discussion abom relationships ¯ an~’s~x ~and for Some, acknowledging that .they may Thirty years ago, all 50 states had laws that forbade be homosexual.. " f eo le witl~ " consensual oral sex. Today, Virginia is one of. 17 a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIq R.., ,rded-Gays and ¯ Lesbians" "" "Find Support. For the past.year, a small group’o P P : statesthat’stillhassu~halawmental disabilities has be~n ga~hexqng ~- transported ¯ ¯ from group home~ and independentl~ving facilities ". .byth~ircareta~ers+-to,djs~us~the~-r¢-d[c~’ue~nt°fn°~t~ : o~y beingmenta~iy ~a~d~ea~i~ed, but being Gay ~or ¯ ’ Court Bars Child Visitation, Rights On a monthly basis, ~ey meet a~ a group with a : CHICAGO (AP) ~ Shelived with her Lesbian parme,r- Sun. Worship, ~0:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 prn 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill M.S. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Cel:tifled Hypnotherapist .,Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745~111 Community Unitarian UniversalL’ Congregation at Community of Ho~p~ South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0S9! A Welcoming.Congregation Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E, 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663:583~,1800-444-592 milr . . Child.i Family, IndividualA.,Couple Psychother~ advocates for:the disabled say:more’ " n . ,-., " ¯ .................... -~-~- ~,~ ri~rtii "~ate lust not covered under a. . ~nvacy ; .............. state law-governing Visitaaon rights. ~ne oec, slon NewHaven group:~d the meetings are niSt a dating ": service. Ratl~er;the sessions’are an opporttmity for a~. upjhue~ud.~j:~a~il~r CH’~u~ntaCn:~l ~ul.~gg:e opinionii~t~d ¯ segment of the populati°n that is d°ubl:y ils°)ated.t°, : th~illin0islaw.~pecifi~i~]iame~i~i~?eS.’~.~e~ : ~lk oper~y about feelings, ,pressures,~ana" socm~ ¯ situations. Left.unaddressed; ~exu~iiy in.,a person :’ as.fotmerspous~sandgran.dparen ~,. -~ i ~i. ~;.’ With a m~nL~i :disability can ,manifeSt itself in : to Visitation rights with children. If.is silent fin me inappropriate, and...s0metimes,, ,s~lf-destructive, . ways; : issue of former same-sex p.armer~,: " 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 l,li-,~ , 12~21’.S~uttlCo~umbialSuRe420 ,~ 1~q~4-351.8 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 ~’’~ �TulSa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) .6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 prn~ Saturday, all sales benefit the Center OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local - Long Distance Cellular -Paging 747.1508 Free Car Adaptor & Leather Case with New Cell Phone Help Celebrate A Great American Hero Join TOHR . PFLAG and Soul Force for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade Monday, danuary 17 From Pine & Greenwood to the Greenwood Cultural Center Gather at9 am, Parade at 11 am KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker OPENARMS, OPENMINDS, OPENHF_AKrs i Saint Aidan Saint Dunstan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Saint John Tdnity 4200 S; Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati-, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Amanda met her partner, "Helen," in 1984 when they were living in Georgia. Helen was artificially inseminated in 1993 and gave birth to a daughter that December. Amanda was involved in the preparations for the birth and helped take care of the little girl for a year and a half. The relationship ended in 1995. The next year, Helen moved to Chicago with her daughter and has refused to allow Amanda any contact with the child since 1997, the court said. Amanda’ s suit argued that even though she was not married to Helen, She Should have the same rights parents have under common law. Sawyer, an attorney for the Eainbda Legal Foundation, said a decision would be made later on. whether to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. Helen’s attorney, Leon Finkel, noted that Illinois does not recognize common law in such cases’~ He said boyfriends, aunts and uncles and in some cases even stepparents are among those who are not entitled to visitation rights under Illinois law. Finkel also said limiting the list was a good idea. because parents should only m special instances be forced to give up the power to determine who is allowed to visit their children. He added that while Illinois doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages, it does recognize same-sex adoptions. Had Amanda legally adopted the girl, she would have had visitation rights and the dispute would never have taken place, he said. Study Says Marriage Ban Would Hurt Children SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - At least 40,000 children living with Gay couples and 100,000 more with Gay single parents would be affected by a proposed state ban on same-sex marriages, according to a new study. Those children could feel ostracized by. society if their parents’ Unions were considered invalid, concludes the review by Michael Wald, a Stanford University law professor who specializes in public policy’s effect on children. Proposition 22 would let California recognize only marriages performed between a man and a woman. It will be voted on in March. ’q’his alleged study, which promotes homosexual marriages, is nothing more than a bogus political campaign hit piece against Proposition 22 and the institution of marriage," said Robert Glazier, a spokesman for the Yes on Proposition 22 campaign. Wald’s review used findings by the American Psychological Association and several research studies on same-sex parents. "By all reports, these families are doing very wall," Wald said. "It is different, obviously, growing up in a family with two parents of the same sex, but children adjust to it." Studies have shown that the children of Gay parents are welladjusted and do wall in school, but often face intolerance, he said. The report drew criticism from David Orgon Coolidge, director of the Marriage Law Project at The Catholic University of America inWashington, D.C., who called it "an attempt to mislead voters." "prop 22 is not about same-sex couples," Coolidge said in a written statement. "Prop 22 is about whether Californians will be allowed to decide for themselves how marriage will be defined in this state." reputation as a place of intolerance." Candace McCune, an Englewood lawyer representing proponents of the measure who formed the group Coloradans for Traditional Marriage, said the measure would close a loophole in the state Constitution. The Legislaturelast year rejected an attempt by Sen. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan, to pass a statute similar to the proposed amendment. Opponents of the initiative have 30 days to challenge it. If it survives, signatures of nearly 64,000 registered voters. W~ould have to be collected tO.l~m the ~easure off ~1i~ ~6all0t. Coloradatis- for Tradiu6nal" Marriage also withdrew a proposal to ban same-sex marriages. Hank Aaron Slams Pitcher’s Comments ATLANTA (AP)- Hall of Famer Hank Aaron joined the barrage of criticism against Atlanta Braves pitcher Johp_ Rocker, despite his apology for making derogatory comments about Gays and minorities. Aaron said he was "very sick and disgusted about the whole situation" and questioned how Rocker could continue in baseball. "I have no place in my heart for people who feel that way," the all -time home run king, who is the Braves’ senior vice president, told syndicated radio host Jay Mariotti. About 15 activists protested outside Turner Field, urging the Braves to fire Rocker for the comments, which were published i~n a recent Sports Illustrated. "There may be some room for redemption, but not as an Atlanta Brave," said Michael Langford, president of the United Youth-Adult Conference. "We encourage him to enter his resignation right now and go into an early retirement." Rocker told Sports Illustrated he would never play for a New York team because he didn’t want to ride a subway train "next to some queer with AIDS." He also bashed immigrants, saying, "I’m not a very big fan of foreigners... How the hell did they get in this country?" While driving in Atlanta during the interview, Rocker criticized Asian women: Look. Look at this idiot," he said of another driver. "I guarantee you she’s a Japanese woman. How bad are Asian women at driving?" He also called an overweighl black teammate "a fat monkey." Rocker apologized in a ffritten statement, saying he was carried away by his "competitive zeal" against New York Mets fans. He said heis not a racist mad the comments do not reflect his true feelings. Civic groups and a member of the Atlanta city Council delivered aletter to Braves owner Ted Turner and general manager John Schuerholz demanding Rocker’s immediate firing. "We would have hoped there would have been a more scathing condemnation of these comments," said Councilman Derrick Boazman. "This was more than just rhetoric. This was hate." There was no answer at Turner’ s office, and his publicist did pot return a telephone call. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called Rocker’s remarks "inappropriate and offensive." He said baseball is reviewing the matter and would take "appropriate action." There is precedent: Former Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott was suspended from baseball for the 1993 season for her use of racial and ethnic slurs. Colorado Anti-Marriage ¯ Pentagon .Seeks Tougher Amendment Progresses : Stand Aga, nst Harassers ¯ DENVER (AP) - A proposed constitutional ¯ amendment to restrict same-sex marriages in Colorado ¯ has been approved by the .secretary of state’s office ¯ and now advances to a 30-day challenge period, if- : approved by voters, the measure would recognize : only marriages between, a man and a woman and would make same-sex marriages performed in other : states invalid in Colorado. : The measure, which cleared the secretary of state’s : ritle-setting board in December, will face opposition. ¯ "As a statewide agency, we are eommi tted to fighting ¯ this every step of the way," said LoriAnn Girvan, ¯ executive director of Equality Colorado. "We feel ¯ that the taxpayers of Colorado don’t need another ¯ anti-Gay ballotinitiative that will re-ignite our state’s ". WASH!NGTON (AP) -The U.S. Defense Department is piessing armed services leaders to re-emphasize to commanders that harassment of troops based on their sexual orientation will not be tolerated. The Pentagon has drawn fire recently for its "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. Critics say an increasing number of Gay and Lesbian service members are being harassed, contrary to the stated policy of permitting them to serve so long as they do not declare their sexual orientation. The criticism sharpened after a court-martial in which an Army private was convicted of murdering a Gay ,soldier harassed with the knowledge of his superiors. President Bill Clinton said earlier last month that the Pentagon’s policy on Gays was "out of whack." see Briefs, p. 14 �Older Americans With HIV Increasing such as AIDS, medical researchers say. ~esearchers doing work at St. Petersburg’s All Children’s Hospital published their findings in this week’s HOUSTON (AP) - An aging population, Proceedings of the National Academy of life-extending treatments, and a Sciences, an academic journal. misperception that AIDS is a disease of Despite the finding, researchers do not the young have fostered an increase in know what the newly found gene does, AIDS infections among older Americans, said Gary Litman, the University of South the Houston Chronicle reported recently. Nationally, about 11% of reported AIDS : qoridaimmunologist who led the research effort. cases are in people 50 or older, the However, they do know the gene plays newspaper reported. a major role in the immune system because Seniors are the age group with the of its complex structure. fastest-growing AIDS rates - up 22% In addition to the puffer fish, the between 1991 and 1996, compared with a ~mportant gene is found in other bony 9% increase among people age 13-49, fish, including zebra fish and sharks. according to the U.S. Centers for Disease "The hunt is on for this gene in man," Control and Prevention in Atlanta. said Litman, who is working with eight However, health officials warned that other researchers in Florida and in the increases seem dramatic because the California and Massachusetts. "Now we numbers are small. A 106% increase in know where to look." the number of older women infected Researchers are using computers .to through sex, for example, is based on an search human DNA for the identical or increase from 340 eases to 700 eases. similar sequence of 114,000 amino acids "’At this point, the numbers are so small found in the fish DNA. There are about 3 that they really have not been perceived as million amino acids in the human body. a problem," said Dr. Rose Brownridge, Discoveries about the immune system acting bureau chief of the Texas can affectnew developments in treatments Department:of Health division that deals for diseases ranging from common with AIDS and other sexually transmitted allergies to cancer and Alzheimer’s diseases. She added, however, that the disease. issue needs further study. Litman said the new gene mightprovide About 72,000 .americans age 50 and clues to an additional type of immunity over and about 4,50(3 Texans have been. that doctors might not have realized. diagnosed withAIDS. N~gneknows how many seniors are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, because not all states require HIV reporting and because older people arethought to be tested far less often than their younger counterparts. HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP)- The According to the CDC, slightly more than discovery of and ongoing efforts to treat one-third of older people with AIDS are and find a cure for AIDS was the top story Gay or Bisexual men. About one of five of the century, according to a survey of a was infected by using a dirty needle to group of high school history students. The inject drugs. students surveyed by The Hutchinson While popular attention has been News otherwise generally agreed with focused on declining infection rotes among adult readers surveyed by the newspaper, children, AIDS among seniors has been but, adults gave AIDS barely a mention. virtually ignored. That must change, said ’ It had such a high impact on what they Marcia try, chief of social science thought about their own mortality," said research on aging at the National Institute Susan Smith, a teacher at Hutchinson High on Aging. "The pointis that society cannot School. "They didn’t think they could die, ignore AIDS in that pediatric population, and they certainly didn’t think having sex in the young adult population or the older could make them die." population," Ms. try said. "For people Lindsey Derr, 16, said news aboutAIDS living longer or getting infected at_ an is evenmore important now that the disease older age, these people are incredibly is generally understood by experts and isolated, and they may not get the treatment millions of people have been identified as they need." AIDS,positive. Jacqui Faber, 16, said a That is likely to change with the lot of people still don’t know enough onslaught of baby boomers nearing about where and how to get tested. retirement age, said Kathy Nokes, a New Some issues identified by students as York nurse who works with infected older most important occurred long before their patients and editor of a book on seniors lifetimes, such as women gaining theright with AIDS. "Baby boomers talk about to vote in America. Other issues that are everything, try everything, demand again xn the news, such as the Scopes everything," she said. "To a 60- or 70"Monkey" trial pitting evolutionary theory year-old, that’s not polite." against creationism, weren’t seen as Ironically, the drug Viagra that has important. allowed many older men to revive dormant Other stories that were big during their sex lives also has heightened concern lifetimes, such as the explosion of the about the spread of AIDS. "They are pretty space shuttle Challenger and the meltdown AIDS-unaware as they venture out into ¯ of the Russian nuclear power plant at the world of sexual activity," said Sara Cheruobyl, were neat the bottom of the Selber, executive director of AIDS high-school list. Foundation Houston. "AIDS wasn’ treally The bombing of Pearl Harbor that led to on their screen at the time they were U.S. entry into World War II, top of the (previously) sextmlly active." general readership’ s li st, w as in fifth pl ace among the students. A high-ranking story on the students’ list that ranked low among the gener~ readership was the "I Have a Dream speech given by the Rev. Martin Luther TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A gene discovered King Jr. Talesha Brassield, a 16-year-old in puffer fish - which have immune junior, said King’s speech was still a systems similar to humans - may hold reminder that Americans have a lot to secrets to learning more about diseases learn about respecting each other. "There that affect the human immune system, AIDS Most Important Story Fish Gene Key to Immune System The Second Annual Progressive Alliance Summit The State Capitol Oklahoma City Saturday Januar 15th, 2000 Join activists from many different progressive movements from across the state for skills and coalition building. Keynote Speaker: Frosty Troy The Oklahoma Observer For more information or for reservations contact Planned Parenthood in Tulsa at 918-587-7674 or Keith Smith at The Smith Group: 405-840-2219 Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here for you! ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218 Dial-Up Accounts Dedicated ISDN Con nections Virtual Hosting Visit our web page wwwag~sweb.net (918) 622-4965 Internet Marketing E-Commerce Web Page Design On-Site Setu p Avail able �Medical Excellence And Compassionate Since 1926. ST. JOHN.MEDICAL CENTER THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION PRESENTS Equality Rocks Saturday, April 29, 2000 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, DC are still people that believe people have to ¯ Talking on the telephone with her think the same, look the same and believe : grandmother was OK, Annisha pointed ¯ out, or going rollerblading together. the same things," Talesha said. ¯ Thus was born "My Grandma Has : AIDS: Annisha’s Story," a 14-page ¯ illustrated children’s book that was ¯ published this year by a pharmaceutical " ¯ company and distributed at the U.S. BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Some 120 Conference on AIDS in Denver and a Thai activists and HIV-AIDS patients World AIDS Day commemoration in camped Wednesday outside the Health ¯ Boston. Ministry demanding an end to a U.S. "Annisha and her grandmotherare both pharmaceutical monopoly thatmakes antilisted as authors, but thebookis writtenin ¯ viral drugs too expensive for most in ¯ Annisha’s voice. "Hi. My name is Thailand. They want the Thai government ¯ Annisha. This is a story about my to enforce a patent act to legalize local grandma," the book begins. "She is real manufacture of Didanosine or DDI, a : special to me. Mygrandmaisjustlikeany medicine that suppresses the deadly HIV ¯ other grandma. My grandma has AIDS." virus in a patient’s blood, delaying the The book goes on to describe the various onset of AIDS. things they do together. "I know that if my Few. of the more than 1 million HIV friend has AIDS, I cannot catch it by being postive individuals in Thailand, a country ~ their friend," Annisha says in the book. of 62 million people, can afford drugs ~ Reeder-Bey, who also lives with her such as DDI and AZT, imported to ¯ husband, Tommy, is excited about the Thailand from overseas,mainly from U.S. : book’s distribution and hopes parents will manufacturers. ¯" use it to introduce the subject of AIDS to DDI,manufacturedby U.S. ftrmBristolchildren. She is also the founder of Myers S quibb, is sold at50 baht ($1.25) a i¯ their Heavenin View,anonprofit that provides tablet in Thai hospitals. Patients need at : health counseling and support groups for least four tablets a day, costingin all about ¯ people living with AIDS. "I would love 6,000 baht-10,000 baht ($160-250) a to be in ev,,e~y household. That’s ~e month. A Thai office worker earns about ¯ forit ultimate dream,’ she said. "Even if it s 4,400 baht($110) amonth. The drugprice ¯ not in every household, I want everyone would be halved if Thailand produce it ~ to know about it." locally. The road to "My Grandma Has-AIDS: : Last month, Medecins Sans Frontieres, ¯ Annisha’s Story" was along one. It began ¯ the Nobel Peace Prize-winnlng emergency whenReeder-Bey went to herownmother, healthcare group, said U.S. trade pressure ¯ looking for solace after she learned she has made proper health care for H!V/ ¯" was HIV-positive. Reeder-Bey said she AIDS patients nnaffordable in Thailand ¯ spent 22 years as an alcoholic and drug and other less developed countries. ¯ addict. Her mother could not accept the Activists said access to DDI, used by : diagnosis and sent her daughter away, she around 5% of people living with HIV in : said: "I forgive my mother now, but then, 1997, declined over the past two years due ¯ I couldn’t take it," she recalled. to Thailand’s economic recession. Since ¯ Six years later, Reeder-Bey was alcoholthe HIV epidemicbeganin the early 1990s, . and drug-free and embarking onanew life more than 260,000 Thais have contracted ¯ as an AIDS activist and drug counselor. full-blown AIDS. ¯ Then her daughter, who has had her own ’q’he government has full legislation to : struggles with addiction, asked her to take enforce the act butit fears the U.S. will be in Annisha. "We had already spent a lot of angry andit mightlead to trade sanctions," ." time together," Reeder-Bey said of said Paisal Tan-ud, spokesman of the Thai ¯ Annisha. "She just became a part of my Network For People Living With HIV- : life." AIDS. The activists plan to camp outside When Annisha was 6, Reeder-Bey the ministly in Bangkok until they get an thought the two of them had a book worth ¯ answer from the government. ¯ sharing. She went to several well-known Earlier this year, campaigners succeeded : children’s book publishers, who told her in demanding local manufacture of ¯ that the subject matter was inappropriate Diflu.can, a drug used to treat cryptococcat ¯ or didn’t fit their needs. memngitis, a fungal infection of the brain ¯ But the book did catch the eye of officials which occurs in HIV-AIDS patients. ." at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, a La Jolla, The government has allowed two local ." Calif.-based company that makes the pharmaceutical compames to produce the ." AIDS drug Viracept, and Agouron drug, originally manufactured by the U.S. ¯ published it. Agouron has an active drug company Pfizer. : outreachprogramthatfocuses particularly ¯" on minority communities, and the book ¯ worked well with that program, said Joy ¯ Schmitt, a company spokeswoman. : Reeder-Bey also made sure that Prince WOODBRIDGE, Va. - When Annisha ¯ William County school administrators got Wilbum was 4 years old, she went to live : a copy of"Annisha’s Story." Annishais a with her grandmother, Valerie Reeder- ¯¯ third-grader at Featherstone Elementary. Agouron said it plans to distribute the Bey, who is HIV-positive. Reeder-Bey knew she had to talk about her condition ~ book at other AIDS conferences, with the with her granddaughter. The hard part ¯¯ authors’ permission. In the meantime, was finding a way to do it without ¯ Reeder-Bey is a one-woman distribution machine, bringing books to her doctor’s frightening her or delving into uncomfortable details. "I was living in ¯ office, to work, to wherever she thinks fear that anything could happen," said ¯ someone would pick one up. "I want Reeder-Bey,46,wholives inWoodbridge. : people to open up and start talking to kids "I wanted to tell her. I just really had to : about it. Kids want you to be open with : them," Reeder-Bey said. find the way without being graphic." And Annisha said she plans to keep She started by jotting down things that ¯¯ writing. She has advice for other wouldAnnisha shouldn’ t worry about: "It’ s okay to hug," she wrote. "It’s okay to hold ~ be authors: "I think they should write hands." As the girl got older, she started ¯ what’s in their imagination, and write making her own contributions to the list. : what’sin their heart." Thais Protest US Drug Monopoly Girl + Grandmother Tell Their Story Hear Our Voices Our Vision For the New Millennium IsAWorld Where Peopl.e Can Live With Hope, Equality and Safety. Join Melissa Etheridge, Ellen Degeneres, Anne Heche and a Host of other Stars as They Rock. the New Millennium and Take a Stand for a Safer, BetterWorld for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People Everywhere. Tickets on Sale at 800..551.SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com �Happy New Year and Century to " hit Broadway, running for 2 years. This everyone! "If you’re with me, next year : ground breaking drama about 9 Gay men willbe... The perfect year!" Sorry, Petula ¯ gathering for a birthday party with catty, left a little Norma Desmond behind. (The ¯ emotionally trying results spawned a film line is from a song that features ~ -by William Friedldn (who went on to prominentlyinthemusical, direct "the Exorcist", and "Sorcerer") and nnhinged "Sunset Boulevard".) the closet door that held Actually, there were afew Gay theater locked inside days I couldn’ t tell the two and blew it down the apart. What, me catty? I hallway. don’t know what you . Fort Worth Theatre has mean. . . (Eyes bat already produced two iunocenfly. Well, as close shows this season that had as I can get... Shaddup! to do with some aspect of Stop snickering amongst homosexuality: yoursdves!) "Seducing Sally" and January at the PAC: Ben "The SantalandDiaries". E. King performs with the Folks, this is a city Tulsa philharmonic the 7 nicknamed "Cowtown". & 8. The armchair traveler Hello? It’ s about the size goes to France on the 10; of Tulsa. They have 3 and the All State Music theatres there that are Festival happens on the 15. unafraid to try something "Gaelic Storm," the Irish new -Circle Theatre, Stage band that played in the 3rd West, and now, the most class steerage section of staid of the Fort Worth the Titanic appears at the Theatres. PAC January 19 &20. Leo We have Heller, and danced a jig to their tunes : sometimes TU, and the quality of theatre in the film. Latin music is played by Scarles, Allen and River on the 22, and a ¯ in this town is very hit and miss. I know concurrent concert hapl~L’ns with Janina : that’ll tick some folks off, but it’s true. Fialkowska at the piano. On the 23, Das ¯ And more often than not, it’s missing. Puppenspeil (I love that name!) puppet : Let’s work on that, shall we? I mean, theatre performs with the Philharmonic, ¯ Cowtown, really! Tickets are $10 - $12 dollars, and a and the month closes with "Buddy," the ¯ percentage of ticket sales goes to AIDS Buddy Holly musical from the 25 through the 30. "Crossing Delancy" opens on the ~ Resources of Rural Texas. And from the 28. More info on these artists to come. If : pics of the cast, it looks like it would be a ~ou lust can’t wait, you can always call ¯ handsome evening, indeed. Thanks to e f~iendly folks at the PAC ticket office : Mark Lowry of the Fort Worth Star Telegram for some of the info used in this at 596-7111. : tern. For those a bit more venturesome, Dallas Usually, when I write of an album seems to be the place of interest in wherein the songs, music and lyrics, tend upcoming months. George Winston plays to eerily reflect events in my own time Majestic Theatre Jan 7; and for those who space, it’ s a safe bet that I’m writing about recall a rather large member of the Rocky Stevie Nicks. She just does thht sort thing. Horror Picture Show cast, Meat Loaf I got walloped this last week by an album performs at McFarlin Auditorium Jan 16. my best friend Karin (who’ s straight, by My, they’re really bringing in the class the way) made me listen to. She started off acts now, aren’t they? by saying some of the songs reminded her For the more modem crown, Counting of me and one of my last major romantic Crows plays the Bronco bowl Jan 25, and entanglements. Then she started playing Beck plays there Jail 26. Kids in the Hall, it, and I was just about knocked out of the the all male cross dressing comedy troupe car. The album is by an artist I never gave of some fame in the mid-90’s plays the much ~hought to, except to wish that I’ d Bronco bowl Feb 3. The Pretenders, with never hear the phrase "I Wanna Come opening act "Gay Dad", perform at the Over" again. Yes, I was ~,valloped by a Bronco Bowl Feb 6. The Chieftains, for Lesbian MdissaEtheridge slat~stalbum, those who like their Irish music Irish, are "Breakdown" (an ironic rifle, given the at the Fort Worth Bass Performance Hall album’ s previously stated significance) is Feb 6. Back in Dallas, Diana Krall plays a treasure trove of powerful lyrics and the Majestic Theatre Feb 18. And for dynamite music. those into boy bands, Backstreet Boys The song "Stronger Than Me" is one of (almost has-beenS) are at Reunion Arena the ones my best friend Karin related to March 3-4. For the more folksy set, Crosby, : my experience from her viewpoint. The Stills, Nash and Young are playing ~ lyrics are dark and intense, and the music Reunion Arena March 7th. For those pining for some decent theatre ; echoes their intent. "I don’t know how - and I know many of you are, even if you : you can take it / invest your heart and then don’t attend it- Mort Crowley’ s seminal ¯ you breakit / I don’ tknow how you can set work, "The Boys in the Band", runs : it free / you must be stronger than me" through January 29 at the Fort Worth : certainly sums up my somewhat ¯ overoptimistic romantic enthusiasms Theatre (817-921-5300). It rated a full according to Karin. page storyin theFort WorthStar Telegram. "Breakdown" is a power ballad about a Apparently, Fort Worth has become a progressive town, in that one of its oldest ~ love gone so wrong one has left, but the p~rson keeps pulling you back like and most prestigious theatres has started a ¯~ other a pit of quicksand. "I’m coming to your series of Gay plays called the "Labor of ~ breakdown tonight.""Enough of Me" was Love" series. They have sold out. ¯ another sock to the stomach in its eerie Hello, Theatre Tulsa! "Boys" opened in April 1968, and was : capturing of what the last year of my last one of’the first, if not the first, Gay play to ; majorrelationship was like. see Jirn,p. 14 The Tulsa Phiharmonicpresents pianist Janina Fialkowska the third concert in the, Masterworks Series Saturday, January 22, 8pm Tulsa Performing-Arts Center Debussy, Prelude a l’apres midi d’une faune Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 16 Wagner, selections from Der Ring des Nibelungen Tickets: 747-PHIL or 596-7111 earles, Allen & Rive.ra URBANTULSA �"You don’t have to knew ballet to love ballet. You just have to try it." -- MARCE£LO ARGELJNI ARTISTIC DIRECTOI~ THE KERR FOUNDATION, INC. FOUNDERS AND ASSOCIATES, INC. "cO IJ/IELLIAS cao~oea~v:VAL CANIPAROLIw~ :FREOEIIIC CHOPIN Long before multi-million dollar book deals were the fashion, Alexandre Dumas’ son (yes, the "The Three Musketeers" author) converted his torrid:turned-terminal love affair into a best seller. From there, composer Guiseppe Verdi adapted the story for opera (hello, "La Traviata"). Today, choreographer Val Canipamli finished the iob of turning "La Traviata" into dance. Using drama, not melodrama. For understatement underscored. A full-length love story. " FRIDAY 8 PI~EBRUARY 11 SATURDAY B PMFEBRUARY 12 SUNDAY 3 PMFEBRUARY 13 I~" SUNDAYS Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation Service - 11am, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming) Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist Service - 1 lain, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314 Metropolitan Community Church United Service, llam, 1623 North Maplew00d, Info! 838-1715 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1lain, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088 Unity. Church of Christianity Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown,749-8833 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gayfrransgendercd Alliance 6:30 pm, Meets at the United Ministry Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 ~’ MONDAYS HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378)3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard) SEASON SPONSORS: HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center 7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 ABC Music Order tickets by calling The Tulsa BaJlet Ticket Offica: 749-600| 4512 S. Peoria Ava. , Tulsa, OK 74105-4563 ¯ VisH GILCREASE MUSE PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2rid Mon/each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551 Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 748-3888. I~" TUESDAYSAIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551 Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pro, 2545 S. Yale Multienltural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date. Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001 PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center. 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297 ~ WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So. Norwood Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. ~" THURSDAYS HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN) Support/social group for 18-24’ s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325 Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194 ~ FRIDAYS Safe Haven, Young Adults Social Group, 1 st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th I~" SATURDAYS Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800 Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. t~= OTHER GROUPS T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 298-0827 Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group Call for info: Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825. OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides & short rides from Zeigler Park. Long & short tides from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info: POB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157 Mixed Volleyball, non-active in winter, call Shawn at 243-5190 for spring activities. If your organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 or fax 583-4615. �reviewed by Barry Hensley ¯ reclaim youthful ambitions. This tendency Tulsa City-County Library : can be compared to the stage of Here are a couple of new books at the ¯ ’bargaining’ in grief reactions. If only I’d library that you shouldn’t miss! A few ¯ just work harder, exercise more, go to years ago, author Rik Isensee wrote an ¯ bars, get a facelift, get a tattoo- I’ll be all ¯ eulightening book for Gay right." men, rifled "Reclaiming One of the suggested "One d Isensee’s Your Life: The Gay steps toward stabilizing Man’s Guide to Love, your life is to get in a long primary tasks is to Self-Acceptance and term relationship. Just Trust." He’s back with a because it didn’t work help Gay males new winner for those of when you were young and us in our, ahem, late reach closure with a foolish doesn’t mean it thirties (and on up), "Are won’t work now! There youtlt~l identity¯ You Ready?" is a good section that The time has come for The key to this is provides some basic the community to guidance toward finding understand that Gay life learning to stop a rdationship, including doesn’t end simply "what are you looking living for the because you remember for?," "distinguish Watergilte. This book _between desirables.and moment¯ For a helps you learn to necessary qualities," and celebraie i the positive variety of reasons, "be open to men who things about aging " don’tfityouinsual type." (flexibility, " greater we are living longer. _There are also some good ¯.... examples tolerances, self ann neell of how " 1.... to remmn " ~ and nav"lgate~_____-~_ ate acceptance) ~. relationships change over the negatives (dis-eti~ vital and involved. the years. No, thesethi~gs over physical aging, are not easy, but the hard d i s i 11Usi on m e n t,--It Is very Important work will pay off in. the depressio, and lethargy). end! to-not waste time One of Isensee’s Another new book is, primary tasks is to help ’q’he Book of Gay and re]ivln6 Gay males reach closure Lesbian Quotations." the past.. with a youthful identity, This is a fun compilation The key to this is learning of quotes by Gays and to stop living for the moment. For a variety ¯ Lesbians; and Gay-friendly people as well, of re~ons~ we are living long~-and need ¯ from ancient times to the present. It is a to remain vital and involved. It is very ." simple reference book broken down into important to not waste time reliving the ¯ broad subjects: solitude, morality, hope, ¯ etc. past. As Isensee explains, "During this : Some of the better quotes are: "a waist uncertain time, when we’ ve lost our way, ¯ is terrible thing to mind," "anyone who there may be a sense of not having ¯ says that softball is a boring game to accomplished anything. Itmay be difficult . watch isn’t looking at the right things!," to remember earlier goals or to ascribe : and "the only way of getting dd of any significance to them. It’s also hard to temptation is to yield to it." This is a super imagine what else we would like to do. : book for one liners. Rather than tolerating the anxiety of not : Check for these and other fun books at knowing, some men are tempted to make ¯¯ your local branch library, or call the up for lost time - through some radical Readers ServicesdepartmentattheCentral change for its own sake, or a mad dash to : Library at 596-7966. with Former and does not believe the accusation to be credible. Attorney Kerry Lewis, who is also a board member of Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights suggested that anti-Gay bias and political opportunism on the part of Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris and his staff may be behind this accusation. Lewis noted that such a case would have appeal for Republican Harris whose voter bast is tied to religious extremist elements in the Republican Party. Lewis also said that given the level of anti-Gay prejudice in the area’s jury pool; Harris may be calculating that he need not actually prove Former guilty, that is that merely being a Gay man accused by a younger man will be taken as proof of guilt in a legal system. that is hostile to minority citizens. Drumwright attorney Tim Daniel whose practice~has’included defending Gay men : who say they were entrapped by Tulsa ¯ Police, believes that the Tulsa County District Attorney uses anti-Gay bias in the ¯ legal system to plea bargain cases, : knowing that accused Gay men, even if ¯ they are not guilty, or even if the police ¯ engaged in illegal conduct themselves in ¯ order to make an arrest, will accept a ~ "deal" rather than risk having a hostile ¯ jury and even more serious charges and ¯ punishment. : Anti-Gay hate crime victims, Tony Orr ¯ & Tim Beauchamp, also have pointed out ¯ that Hams’ office failed to assist them in : getting normal compensation for their : medical expenses due to the assault on ¯ them, and that the DA’s office did not ¯ even prosecute seriously their assailants ¯ until after The Tulsa World wrote a story : about the DA’s inaction. ¯ Fortner did return a call to TulsaFami!y : News but onadviceofhis attorney declined ; to comment onthe allegations. Calls to : Former’s attorney were not returned. January April July October December Even Out Your Monthly Electric Bills. At PSO, we know that changing weather conditions throughout the year can cause your monthly electric bills to rise and fall dramafieally. Which can make it hard to tflan your ¯ household budget. That’s why ~ ~our Average Monthly Payment plan, could be your_ budgeting solution. Wata ~ you imy about the same each month, because it’s based on your gnevious 12 months.usage. That makes budgeting a breeze. And best of all ifs free. AMP is just one of several ttem~ole payment o~ons PSO offers you. For more a day. 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The holidays are over, the mistletoe " - I resolve to keep saw blades sharp and delightfullynsed, abusedandrefused.The ¯ clean. I will unplug power saws before long nights and short days of winter seem ¯ removing the blade. to stretch on forever. It is - I resolve to use trendy "In all modesty, and colors and designs in my the time to dream of future projects that will not be home sparingly, rememwith absolutely no started until spring time bering fully how appalled comes. And it is time for sense of overstepping I was by the ’50’s Peptomaking all of those godpink bathroom walls, tile boundaries, your awful New Year’s resoand tub. I am leaving a lutions that endure but for DIYD gently offers legacy! (this does not a mere matter of days. apply if you wish venher suggestions for Why not combine home geance on your heirs) projects with good - I will always get three your approval . . . intentions andmake some quotes for any contract Consider it your resolutions you’ll actually labor, as well as keep? references. blueprint for a Inall modesty, and with - I resolve to be more absolutely no sense of respectful for the people millennium of overstepping boundaries, wor.king at my local home satisfying home your DIYD gently offers repatr palace, even thal her own suggestions for patronizing boob in projects. your approval and plumbing. Fantasize Or consider it your about replumbing his implementatzon. Consider i t your blueprint fixtures, but don’t actually DIYD telling you for a millennium of threaten to do it this time. satisfying home projects. what to do - again. -I resolve to buy very Or consider it your DIYD good paint brushes and And always. telling you what to do keep them clean and again. And always. Why Why should this properly stored for a should this century be any lifetime of painting century be any different than the. last? pleasure. You love it, ducklings, -I will not tell friends, different you know you do! Now, family or relative repeat after me than the last?" strangers how they - I resolve to always work screwed up their latest safely! I will read and follow direction~ project and what I wouldhave done better. and will not by-pass guards or safety Do give them a stack of DIYD columns as devices. I will use personal protection a form of gentle guidance. (safety glasses, earplugs, etc.), and ask for - I resolve to do one project this year, no help if I need it. matter how small, to improve the -I will measure twice (minimum!) and aesthetics, efficiency or value of my home. cut once. Wood is expensive and screwing - I resolve to make my DIYD that cocktail up makes me cranky and unbearable. Let’ s - a Manhattan with two cherries - as a avoid that this year. small token of the gratitude I bear her for -I will not swear to the extent and/or enlightening my life and improving my noise level that the dog or cat needs deep home! therapy. And your DIYD resolves to be back -I will always involve my partner (if next month to help you make good on applicable) in home repair and decoration some of these intentions. decisions. Even if they say they "don’t PS: Your DIYD doesn’ t waste precious care" - trust me, cupcake, theydo! energy tying cherry stems into knots with - I resolve to take good care of my tools. her tongue when it is better applied to I will keep them clean, organized and in practical projects! good repair. I will thereby not waste precious project time obsessing about the mystery location of the screwdriver or paint roller. - I resolve not to treat any of my partner’ s ¯ By the time ~this song played, I was questions as stupid - no matter how ¯ becoming a fan. So much so, I bought the glaringly obvious the answer or solution. CD If you ’ ve been depressed, and couldn , t - Iwill not loan out tools I care about to : people who abuse them or do not return ¯ explain how debilitating a state it really them, I will acknowledge my emotional/ ¯ can be, "Into The Dark" is one of those psychological bond with my tools, ¯ songs you play for people to make them ¯ especially those requiring apower supply, understand what the dark night of the soul - I will buy that leather tool bdt as soon as ¯ is all about. One ofthemore powerful and I can. And I will use it (silk boxers dark songs on thi~ album, it leaves you optional). ." haunted. It’ s a ditty about going "into the - I resolve to always set my ladder up on ¯ soullinto the heart/into the dark", and a stable, even surface and to have someone : realizing that one’s been spinning one’s watching out for me nearby. That wheels keeping a dead relationship alive, especially applies if I am on the roof. The not that I would know anything about that. dog does not count as my ’safety buddy.’ ¯ "There was tire/therewas death/there was -I resolve to overcome my fear and ¯ lyingonyourbreath/Itumedaway/Iwould loathing of spiders and slugs long enough ¯ pretend/but the fire never ends/I’ve been to enter the crawl space and make that ¯ here sleeping all these years. " minorplumbingrepair to the bathtub drain. _" Lest you think it’s all doom a~ad gloom, Other-wise, I will overcome my aversion : JulieCypher, Melissa’s longtimepartner, to paying a plumber to do the same. ¯ requested a more upbeat song for fear her �¯ inlimate same-sex relationships, but rather ¯ on the statutory and constitutionai basis for the exclusion of same-sex couples to recognize same-sex civil marriage. It : from the secular benefits and protections was the first state to offer domestic partner : offered married couples. benefits to state workers, one of the first ¯ We conclude that under the Common states to recognize second-parent Benefits Clause of the Vermont adoptions and one ofthe first states to ban. Constitution, which, in pertinent part, discrimination based on sexual orientation. e,ads, that government ~s, or ought to be, -The Mormon church, which has instituted for the common benefit, campaigned.-against Gay marriage in ¯ protection, and security of the people,. Vermont, Hawaii and California, issued a ¯ nation, or community, and not for the brief statement repeating its position and ¯ particular emolument or advantage of any ¯ saying,"As the legislative process moves i single person, family, or set of persons, forward, The ChUrch of Jesus Cqh-’ist of who are a part only of that community," Latter-day Saints urges the citizens of ¯ plaintiffs may not be deprived of the Vermont and their elected representatives : statutory benefits andprotections afforded to protect the uniqueness and sanctity of ¯ persons of the opposite sex who choose to traditional marriage and to preserve the ~ marry. We hold that the state is family ~ the basic unit of society." ¯ constitutionally required to extend to Next Door In New Hampshire ¯ same-sex couples the common benefits A state lawmaker is trying to make sure : and protections that flow from marriage Gay New Hampshire couples do riot take under Vermont law. advantage of the Vermont ruling. Rep. ". (and) Gary Torressen, R-Center Harbor, says ¯ While the laws relating to marriage he was disappointed by the decision that ¯ have undergone many changes during the Gay couples are entitled to the same ¯¯ last century, largely toward the goal of benefits and protections as husbands and equalizing the status of husbands and wives. Torressen said he filed., his bill, ¯ wives, the benefits of marriage have not which would prevent New Hampshire ¯ diminished in value. On the contrary, the from recognizing same-sex marriages ¯ =benefits and protections incident to a contracted out of state, in anticipation of : marriagelicense under Vermontlaw have : never been greater. the Vermont court’s decision. The Legislature repealed a ban on Gay ¯ (andfrom Justice Denise Johnson) foster parents and Gay adoptions. The ¯ This case is undoubtedly one of the state also has a law that protects Gays and ¯ most controversial ever to come before Lesbiansfrom discrimination in housing, ¯ this court. Newspaper, radio andtelevision employment and access to public facilities. ¯ media have disclosed widespread public State Sen. Rick Trombly, a Boscawen ¯ interest in its outcome, as well as the full ¯ spectrum of opinion as to what that Democrat who is Gay, said New ¯ outcome should be and what its Hampshire should go further and set up its own domestic partnership system. Rep. ¯¯ ramifications may be for our society as a whole. Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth, has ¯ filed a bill that would extend medical .One line of opinion contends that this is benefits to domestic partners, and recently, ¯ an issue that ought to be decided only by trustees for the state university system ¯ the most broadly democratic of our approved domestic partner benefits for ¯ governmental institutions, the Legislature; ¯ and that the small group of men and women employees. But Gays and Lesbians still lack full acess to the samehealthinsurance, : comprising this court has no business deciding an issue of such enormous disability benefits, tax breaks and inheritance protections that married ¯ moment. couples enjoy. For better or worse, however, this is : Trombly believes New Hampshire ¯ simply not So. This case came before us lawmakers would support a domestic ¯ because citizens of the state invoked their ¯ partnership system as a fundamental constitutional right to seek redress through affirmation of equal rights. But he does ¯ the judicial process of a perceived not believe they would support Gay ¯ deprivation under state law. The Vermont marriage, because many believe Constitution does not permit the courts to ¯ decline to adjudicate a matter because its heterosexual marriage has a religious ¯ subject is controverslal, or because the significance. State Sen. Pat Krueger, a conservative ¯ outcome may be deeply offense to the Republican from Manchester, said Strongly held beliefs of many of our ¯ citizens. Tuesday she had Gay friends whose lives We do not have, as does the Supreme were complicated by their lack of legal ¯ protections, and she would consider ¯ Court of the United States, certiorari supporting domestic partnerships. A -’ jurisdiction, which allows thatcourt, inits spokeswoman for Gov. Jeanne Shaheen ¯ sole discretion, to decline to hear almost said the governor remains opposed to Gay ¯ any case. To the contrary, if a case has marriage. Spokeswoman Pamela Walsh ¯¯ been brought before us, and if the established procedures have been declined:comment on Shaheen’ s .view of ¯ followed, as they were here, we must hear domesticpartnership.legislation, sayingit ¯ and decide it. was premature. : Moreover, we must decide the case on Excerpts from the Supreme ¯ legal grounds. However much history, Court decision on marriages: : sociology, religious belief, personal May the state of Vermont exclude same- ¯ experienceor other considerations may ¯ sex couples from the benefits and inform our individual or collective protections that its laws provide to : deliberations, we must decide this case, opposite-sex married couples? That is the ¯ and all cases, on the basis of our fundamental question we address in this ¯ understanding of the law, and the law appeal, aquestionthat the court well knows ¯ alone. arouses deeply-felt religious, moral, and This must be the true and constant effort political beliefs. Our constitutional ¯" ¯ of every member of the judiciary. That responsibility to consider the legal merits ¯ effort, needless to say, is not a guarantee of issues properly before us provides no ¯ of infallibility, nor even an assurance of exception for the controversial case. The ¯ wisdom. 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Cruz, L.M.T.| Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236 Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro �A UTHENTIC 1TALIAN FRESH RAINB O W C USINE TROUT IGTA member Call 341, 6866 International Tours formoreinformation. Red Rock Tulsa O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow ¯ Young Adult Network . Of Eureka Springs ,Voted Number One in Arkansas! (SOD 253-6807 Closed Wednesday Center Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632 TOM NEAL BUILDING Outreach Program Thurs. Nights & Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment GARDEN DESIGN Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325. 58:3- 1248 by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. ¯ into gender patterns as soon as they are One of my students owns 189 pairs of ~ born, wrapping them in blue or pink athletic shoes. Not quite Imelda Marcos, ~ blankets. Walk into any toy store and you butgettingthere.Anthonyisjust20years ¯ knowwhenyou’veenteredthegirls’aisle. old and already he is a sophisticated ¯ Everything suddenly has turned pink. collector. Collecting things is oddly ¯ Several of my friends with young sons important formany of us. complain that it is difficult I have other friends who to find gender-neutral "We slot our accumulate Native toys: One two-ye~ old ehildren into gender boy loves to play with. American artifacts. And books. And jazz vinyl brooms and vacuum patterns as soon as recordings. And Cacti. cleaners. His ~m0m+ of And uniforms. they are born, course, has to go to the Most of us collect girls’ side to find toy wrapping some-thing evenif this is household cleaning only string or a draw full equipment. And, worse, them in blue or Of condoms. Our houses the kid likes to play with are museums. One of my pink blankets. dolls. His father nerprofessors saved sheets vously protests his son’s. Walk into any toy of toilet paper from bathbabydoll games. Jeez! rooms around the world. store and you know Can’t you buy the boy a Me, I have.a stupendous truck? collection of refrigerator when you’ve entered This paternal nervousmagnets. ness signals the symbolic the girls’ aisle... We buy stuff; we give strength of the connecit away; we receive it; tions we draw between Several of my and we curateit: Think of things and identity, ff doll all those shoeboxes lined friends w~th young equals girl, then boy-who-with-doll equals UP in Anthony’s bedsons complain that plays room. Things, clearly,are girlish, perhaps even Gay. important for reasons it is difficult to find Our use of particular beyond the utilitarian. things sends messages, gender-neutral toys. accurate or not, about who. Even wearing them every second until the day he we might be. We know ’One two-year old dies, Anthony will never that both men and women use up all his Shoes. He need to.practice nurturing. boy loves to play buys them to own and not But the doll -loving boy, particularly to wear. They with brooms and like the toy gun-toting girl, help make sense of whom violates the cultural code vacuunl cleaners. he is - or at least who he of consumption that attrithinks he wants to be. His morn, of course, butes gender to things. Because of thiS, or maybe And, who knows? Maybe has to go to the it’s their smell(they give the Kid really just likes him a buzz. dolls. Or maybe he has girlS’ side to find Having just survived already figured out our the holiday season, we toy household consumption code and he know the pleasures and likes dolls on purpose in eleanlng equipment. order to Send dad a pains of stuff. Did you get what you want for the And, worse, the kid message. holidays? Did you make My daughters, too’old a list? Did you check it likes to play with for dolls, and also,too old twice? for Pokemon, this year dolls. His father Everyone grumbles wrote Gameboy camera about the materialism of on their Christmas lists. nervously protests a onetime religious They didn’ t seem worried celebration. But comhis about the name. Why plain away, I sure had a Gameboy and not babydoll games. lot of desperate company Gamegirl? In hierarchical last month when I went " Je~z! Can’t you buy systems, it is easier to foraging for things in the "ups,h,ift" than "dowm bleak shopping expanses Shifi. Gifts wear pants. of Walmart. Not .too many boys wear son’s the boy atru~k?" This connection Of stuff and identity is characteristically American. We learn early on to~ define ourselves in terms of things, We_+play a:game with children called "favorites." We insist that kids tell us their favorite"color~ music, television show, make of car,.or ice-cream. Evenif ¯ dresses. Women become d0ctors; not too ¯ many mendreamaboutbecominganurse. " Except, perhaps+ some of those sweet, ¯ doff-loving boys of course ~When I was a kid, Barbie dolls didn’t :~ last long in my neighborhood. We’ d steal ¯ them from our sisters .and use thbm cruelly. we aetuallyhave,no favorites-~ this question ¯ They,w~ould.’be J..gan of Arc atthe stake, puslies~s tomeasureandsztuateoursel~es: . andWor~.~ If ~eh~d any ~ense, w~ W~~d svi _thin the w0dd of goods.. So goes .,".ha’ve,ca~-~f~illyst6i?&l them away intheig American.inff!~iduality:;~and.so..goe~rour..: ." boxes to’become’rich by selling them to _economy:as well ....... ~ , - ....... " ........ ., today’s fanatic Barbie ¢_ollectors: I can Favorites make less senseintta.ditional~ ~ recommend a great website with-pictures societies where individuality is ,muted~ ." of.Ken, from 1961 to 2000: Check out and where the range of goods is.litfiited. ¯ www.manbehindthedoll.com. This guy But even in ¯simpler societies,¯ things: ." ~ really likes,his boy dol|s.J’m suggesting differentiate gender.. Women wear : to Anthony thathe build a similar Shrine z differentarticles of clothing than do men~ : to his boy shoes :’ . They oftent~s~different tO~Is~ The)~ may .~ Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.’D,~ ~teaChes noteatihesamefoods~.W,eslotourchi.’l.dren. "- anthropology, at .t:he.~ University of Tulsa, �¯ lover’s arms and listening to him/her ¯ breathing, and feeling trusting and ¯ comfortable enough with another person We dedicate an enormous mount of : to be able to sleep. It’s a lovely song of resources to outreach, networking, ¯¯ quiet comfort. And then there’s issues of equality. building allies and forging ties with advocacy, educational and religious : "Truth of the Heart"is a wonderful ballad organizations. Even when distribution ¯ to the truth that "We all begin this race at goes well, though, it hardly covers our : the start" and about how "deep down costs. To do this kind of media work, we : inside we’re all the same / try not to judge rely on outside support from our friends ¯¯ someone / and never shame." Partnered for almost 11 years now, the two have two who share our goals and understand the unique role films like IT’ S ¯ children of their own. Melissa wrote this ELEMENTARY and THAT’S A ¯¯ song to explain to their children about how to deal with life. Words to live by. In FAMILY !canplayinprevenfingprejudice : "Mama I’m Strange", the joys of growing and violence. Please help us keep the huge momentum ¯ up Gay - or just different - is artfully IT’S ELEMENTARY generated going : explored, with just the fight amountof strong. Help us welcome the millennium ¯ angst to remind us where we came from ¯ and how hard the struggle could be at by getting THAT’S A FAMILY! out of our editing room and into elementary ¯ times~ The single most striking song is called school classrooms all across the country. ¯ Please send your tax-deductible : "S~carecrow", and it’s about Matthew donations to Women’ s Educational Media, ¯ Sheppard. She said she hadlots of trouble 2180 Bryant Street, Suite 203, San ," w~riting that because here she was also Francisco, CA 94110. Or go to this interuet ¯¯ writing ’’Truth of the Heart" as well and felt she couldn’t be writing about people address to make a secure on-line donation : being good in one song and denounce with your visa or mastercard: http://www.womedia.org/support.html ¯ them in another. So the end of the song is Donations of any size will be of great ".¯ her way of forgiving (but not forgetting) the second attacker (I think he was going help. With warm regards and deep ¯ to trial or prison at that time). It has to be appreciation for your generous support, - Debra Chasnoffand Helen S. Cohen : heard to be experienced. If you aren’t Producers ¯ crying and angry after hearing it, you’re ¯ dead. P.S. We are honored to let you know There are two versions of this CD, one that IT’S ELEMENTARY just won the ¯ 1999 Multicultural Education Media ¯¯ of which is already hard to find. It has three extra songs, "Touch and Go", Award, given by th6National Association for Multicultural Education (N.A.M.E.). : "Cherry Avenue" (where she mentions the name of one-of the Lesbian bars in We know this award -- the first N.A.M.E. which she sang for about 4 years before has ever given to anything Gay-related ¯ being discovered -Que Sera), and "My will help us build even better alliances ¯ Beloved", and is released in a cardboard with educators who are committed to addressing diversity !ssues. Please help ¯" case. The regular version has 11 songs in the usual plastic jewel box; Which includes ustoday to get THAT S A FAMILY! out : the lovely ode to unrequitedlove, ’"’Angels where it can be put to good use. ¯ Will Fall". That’ s the one most folks are Women’s Educational Media 2180 Bryant Sreet Suite 203 ¯¯ going to be familiar with at this point. For you men out there: I know that in San Francisco, CA 94110 ¯ some-minds, there’s a big chasm between (415) 641-4616, (415) 641-4632 fax ¯ Gay men and Lesbians, and this extends ¯ to performer preferences. I’ve heard the ¯ nasty comments - from both sides. All I ¯ can say is, get over your prejudices, and Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon ¯ get this CD. It’s well worth it, and said that Rudy de Leon, the under secretary ¯ incredible in its beauty and reflection of of defense for personnel, and Douglas ¯ life. And, Melissa, you have a new fan. Dw0rkin, the acting general counsel,raised Thank you Karin, for your contributions the matter in a Dec. 18 memorandum to ¯ to widening my musical horizons and the service leaders. "It is important that the infolmation contained in the above article leadership of each of the services issue a ¯ about the backgrbund of the songs. Seems strong statement to the field that ¯ ironic that I’ mbeing tutoredin Gay culture harassment~of service members for any ¯ and musical icons by a straight woman, ¯ reason, to include alleged or perceived but such is life. I feel like I should know all homosexuality, will not be tolerated," ¯ this alrcady! according to the memo,released Thursday ." There’s a few things Karin said that I ¯ think bear repeating, for both Melissa by the Defense Department. ¯ Bacon said it had not been made fans, and more importandy, for us all: "I sufficiently clear to commanders that a ¯ am so happy that I could bring a singer service member’ s complaint about being ¯¯ into your life who writes and sings from harassed for alleged homosexuality is not the heart. VH1 is rertmmng her "Behind grotmds forinvestigating the complainant. ¯ the Music" next week, and I’m going to Instead it should be the basis for tape it for you You’ll like it. It’ s the only ¯ oneI veseenwheretheartmtlsn thit~hing investigating the harassers, he said. ¯ about something. Someofthemjustwhine ¯ endlessly. ’I love Shania Twain, but her ¯ BTM special was one endless bitch and ¯ whine. image would be one see Jim, p. 14 ¯ Stevie Nicks doesn’t bitch, but she’s of a liorrible drago,n,, given the tone of the : had such lousy things happen, to her, by oth~"rdationship songs. Melissa asked : her own hand, that it just sounds so her~f,"How much do I love Juiie? I love ¯ depressing. You know Melissa has been her ~uch that I would want to die in her ¯ depressed, butthere’s somuchshedoesn’t ar~ Quite a wonderful thing to say ¯ aboi~.’ anyone’s lover, male or female. ¯ say. I saw John Mellencamp’s BTM (Behind the Music), I’ve sc~en Cherts "S!O~p" was the answer to the question, a ¯ dozens of times, along with Madonna’ s, lovely song about getting away from the and Melissa’ s just seems so upbeat that noise of the world and snuggling into your Timothy Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. SprinL Sprint PCS" The C ear Alternative to Cellular Sprint PCS" Select Retailer $99.95 New Sprint PCS Phone -25.00 Less instore rebate $74.95 Net cost Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 off!’ Everyone is approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include.~ ¯ Free Voicemail, Free Caller ID ¯ Free Call Waiting ¯ Free 3 way calling , No activation fee ¯ No contract required ¯ 100% Sprint PCS Nationwide Neb,vork. Tulsa Locations: 2001 S. Garnett, 437-2dd~. 3733S. Memorial, 66003zl4 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: ,109 N. Mission, 227-2322 �Meet Local .Guys for Hot Ti personal ads @Origin. 18+. Additional features from see Jim, p. 15 she seems to have had a great life. Like I said before, growing up Gay anywhere, I know from you, is awful, but growing up Gay in Leavenworth, Kaus~ must be the pits. She doesn’t make much of anything depressing. I was veryimpressed. Thanks for the remark to the Gay men to listen to Lesbians. I think they shodd each take heed of that. And remember, she’s the only one I know of getting the word out to the .mainstream crowd. P,e~,,ple like her so much that they tend to. forget" (or tryto ...forget) that she’s Gay. She doesn’t let them. ("Someone’s spitting blood/face downin the dirt/someone’ s thinking about ~ a gun/to try and stop the hurt/someone drew conclusious/on the wail of destiny/ someone’s getting louder/and that someone would be me.") That should be importanttous ail."- Miss KarinGregory. And I agree. Janis Ianis performing Saturday March 4 in Dallas, TX at a club called Uncle Caivin’s with Buddy Mondlock. And ladies, as aiways, if you have something to contribute or would like to see in this column, please let me know care of TFN, or email me at tfnentritr@aol.com. I wouldn’ t want to disappoint the diehard readers of this column, so now it’s time for... The Stevie Nicks mention. She has a featured track on the new Sheryl Crow and Friends CD and video. The song is the venerable Gold Dust Woman, and she’s never sounded better! The CD’ s out now, video to follow. Sarah. McLachlan, Chrissie Hynde, the Dixie Chicks and others aiso sing with Sheryl. And Stevie still has a few shows left to do in Las Vegas at the house of Blues this month. Her new album, first duein October oflast year, now set for sometime this year, maybe, is being produced by one of the better known producers of hip hop and rap. I’d mention the name, but I caff t remember it. Shery! Crow was producing, which would have made for an interesting aibum - she did the excellent jobs of producing the Stevie songs for the Practical Magic soundtrack. Stevie and rap... That will be interesting as well, aithough I fear for different ~easous. We shall see.., or hear. The ever handsome pianist Jim Brickman performed at the PAC on December 10, 1999, along with the very talented John Trones and the beautiful Anne Cochran. The show was lovely, an evening of romance and seasonal favorites, and as Mr. Brickman described the evening, much like a gathering of friends round the piano. Okay, if the friends had a really large living room, and reaily good - mood lighting. And amplifiers. The group .i did a swell job of making a cavern into an intimate cabaret. Mx. Brickman has a charming sense of humor and intelligence .to complement his goodlooks. (Evenbetter m person and up close. I love my job...) He seemed very relaxed, and it was like meeting an old friend for the first dine. His playing can certainly set a mood, from exuberant to melancholy and romantic all at the same time; and has a warmth to it that is reminiscent of spending the evening with a loved one by a fire. Or, if you’ re .single, as I am, curled up in a comforter with a good book and cup, of cocoa. Now that we know how I spend my evenings... What? Have I said too much? Mr. Brickman is a prolific songwriter as well, setting words to music that is lovely : to hear and unabashedly sentimental in feeling. : Anne Cochran, who met Mr. Brickman ¯ inhigh school, where they formed aband, : has one of the most incredible voices I’ve : heard. And her phrasing with a song is : immaculate. She captured the warmth and joy of the compositions she performed with expert ease, andhas alovely, energetic yet relaxed stage presence that also added to the ambiance of the evening. She has a new CD out called "Lucky Girl’_’, which I would highly recommend for a gift based on what I heard that evening. I would have one in my hot little hands right now had they not been sold out. She isa name you might be familiar with, she has had a top ¯ 5 hit with Jim Bfickman on the song : -"After All These Years" which has been : reed by skater Rosalyun:Summers, both : live and recorded. It was also the song ¯ used on the final episode of "Home : Improvement", and she will be featured in :- the Lifetime television speciai"A Golden Moment". Definitely worth checking out. You can order her CD at www.AnneCochran.com. John Trones (pronounced ~tro-ness’), who is as nice and gorgeous as he is .talented (what a voice! what a smile! what a chest! what a pleasant man!), was a delight to listen to as well. With a million dollar smile that shines like a searchlight, and a voice that has incredible range and expressiOn, hejoined Anne on several numbers and had some lovely solos. His singing soared through the Chapman theatre and could melt the most hardened heart. He has an aibum of standards and ballads out called "Forward", which I was able to snag and most definitely would make a great Valentine’s girlie for the special man on your list. He can melt the ice off the fiorth Pole with that voice, and his phrasing and reading of the standards is right on target. A pity he’s in Minneapolis, I would love to see more of him. He does Cabaret there at Blanche’s, and has performed in a number of Gay plays, listed on his web site, www.JohnTrones.com, which is worth a look. You can also order his CD there. After listening to several review CDs of dubious quality sent to TFN, put out by Gay artists of dubious talent, attempting to sing standards and not succeeding very well at anything other than murdering the music, I am glad to say that his would be the one I would, and did, purchase. They were joined by Tracy Silverman on electric violin, and he did quite an interesting variation on the Beade’ s"Here Comes The Sun". His playing added an interesting embellishment to Mr. Brickman’s piano. I will say he had the most lovely and LONG hair I’ ve seen on a man in along time. He has an album out on Windham Hill records. If you get the chance to catch any or all of these artists should they make a return appearance, DO SO! You won’t regret it. Just make sure you have a date, and one that won’t stand you up. I was looking forward to Peter Buffett’ s "Spirit: A Journey in Dance, Drum, and Song"a unique blend of Native American and contemporary music, dance, and storytelling, to have been held January 3 and 4th, 2000 at the Brady Theatre. According to the latest info, ail spring dates have been put on hold. According to my sources, a late spring tour is in the plans. James Christjohn serves as TFN Entertainment editor with emphasis on the performing arts. �� Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Friends RallyAround Accused Musician District Attorney Suspected of Bias by Tom Neal, editor &publisher Around Tulsa’ s Gay community, the reaction is one of dismay and disbelief at the allegations of indecent exposure made against musician and chorale leader, Rick Fortner. According to a Dec. 3rd Tulsa Worm story, a 16 year old man has accused Former of masturbating in front of him in a sauna of All-American Fitness Center in Broken Arrow. A spokesperson for the Broken Arrow p01icenoted that themanand Former were the only ones in the sauna. Friends and acquaintances notethat F,grmermaintains his innocence, and have stated their suplJort for Former. Mitchell Savage, spokesperson for the Council Oak Mens Chorale (COMC) for which Former is music director, said that the board of directors of the organization has voted to express its support for Former and their belief that his innocence will be established. - TheCOMCboardposition was endorsedby the group’ s general membership also. Savage added that he has been acquainted for 15 years see Fortner, p. 10 Anti-Gay Harassment Alleged in Public Schools Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations V rmont Marriage Victory SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - By the time Nina Beck and " previously said he would support Gay mamage, ¯ Stacy Jolles got the news, it seemed like everyone already knew: ¯¯ The Vermont Supreme Court had issued its long-awaited ruling on Gay marriage. They had won. ¯ The court ruled unanimously that Gay and Lesbian couples in ¯ Vermont should enjoy all benefits and privileges afforded to ¯ heterosexual couples who can legally marry. It is the first court : in the nation to make such a sweeping ruling on the question. ’ But the justices split on whether it should amount to marriage. ¯ Onejustice splitfrom themajority’ s view that the state Legislature ¯ should decide whether Gays and’Lesbians should actually be ¯ allbwed to marry or shouldbe given domesticpartnership benefits ¯ equivalent to heterosexual marriage. The split was of no immediate concern to Beck and Jolles and ¯ the other two couples who sued in 1997 when their town clerks denied them marriage licenses. "It’s just fantastic this decision ¯" could come following his birth," Beck said as Jolles stood ¯ alongside her holding their month-old son Seth. The issue now will be the subject of debate before the : Legislature, which convenes on Janl 4. "I think the court has ¯ broken all barriers by dearly riding that we have a class of ¯ individuals in Vermont who are being denied their rights and I thinkit is the Legislature’ s responsibility to correct that injustice ," ¯ said Peter Shumlin, Senate president pro tern. ¯ But the question will be how. Should Vermont statutes be ¯ amended to permit two men or two women to marry? Should a ¯ domestic partners registry be established for Gay couples to ¯ record their relationships and therefore qualify for the benefits ¯ now accorded heterosexual mamed couples? ¯ "I think it’ s going to take a couple ofweeks, anyway, forpeople ¯ tounderstand what this means," said Rep. Thomas Little, chairman ¯ of the House Judiciary Committee. "Everyone wants to have a : virtually immediate informed reaction to it, but I think it takes ¯ longer than.that." : Gov. Howard Dean said same-sex marriage "makes me ¯ uncomfortable, the same as anybody else." He predicted the ¯ Legislature would comply with the court decision by enacting a ¯ domestic partners law rather than making marriage legal for : same-sex couples. House Speaker~Michael Obuchowski, who ¯ Evergreen Awards Recognize i Beal, Campbell, and Others TULSA -Allegations of anti-Gay harassment have risen at two Tulsa high schools. On two campuses, teachers contend that they and some students have been singled out for inappropriate attention. While Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) does have a nondiscrimination policywhich TPS’s attorney interprets as protecting Gay teachers, staff and students from discrimination, that policy does not explicitly ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. It "The Board is committed-to-the concept of nondiscrimination in relation to race, religion, sex, age national origin, handicap and other human differences. This policy will prevail in al matter concermng staff, students and the public." However, in the interests of protecting these teachers from possible further harassment, their names are being withheld. One teacher, who is active in a local Gay mens’ singing group, was called into his principal’ s oftrme and was shown a copy of the group’ s concert program. His participation in the group was highlighted with a - comment, -*’is -this~ legal .w’ Another teacherwhohelps, With a support group for Gay kids. had a self-identified "Christian" fundamentalist teack-zr attending support group meetings andthe teacher whodoes notidentify as Gay but as Gay-friendly felt there was an intent to identify her as Gay and therefore to threaten her job. Andatonecampus;twoyoungwomenwere suspended for a public display of affectkm. A Gay teacher and other students whb were familiar with the incident claim that the two women were not behaving with any less discretion than heterosexual students use in the same circumstances, They do claim that the administration response w~:much more harsh than for heterosexuals. However,~ TPS spokesperson, Tiffany. Bruton responded to TFN inquiries, saying that the students’ conduct was well beyond socially acceptable behavior even for heterosexuals. The students involved did not respond to TFN requests for an interview. TULSA - The 1999 Evergreen Awards recognized the work of a number of Tulsans involved in HIV/AIDS issues. Prominent among these were Dr. Jeffrey Beal and his parmer Ted Campbell for their years of service as Tulsa’s principal physician treating HIV and AIDS related illness and for Campbell’s mental health practice around those issues. The lunch ceremony was held at the offices of the Community Service Council (CSC) on Dec. 7th, and opened with a remarks Ted Campbell & Dr. Jeffrey Beal by ~chael Conley of Tulsa CARF~, Melanie Speetor of Tulsa ’County Health Dept. and John Hawk Cocke of Indian Health Services. Presenters and the recipients of the awards included many of Tulsa’ s most prominent activist/workers around HIV/AIDS care and prevention. Sharon Thoele, exeentive director of Tulsa CARES, Erie Ramirez of Planned Parenthood, Kathy Bird of RegionalAIDS Interfaith Network, Tulsa officewere afew of the presenters andrecipients included videographerAllisonCosslett, Wendy Weisberg, Audra Sommers for her fundraising work, Kay Rollins for NAMES PROJEC~ leadership, and Jeremy Simmons for prevention education. The Evergreen Awards are presented by the Tulsa AIDS Coalition which was introduced at this event by Tim Gillean and represented by CSC staffer, Janice Nicklas. : said politics might prevent that. "What I’m hearing ¯ from my colleagues is that they’re saying that ¯ domestic partnership is amorepolitically attainable situation and I think I’d have to agree with that ¯ analysis,"saidObuchowski,aDemocratlikeDean. ¯ Thoughthey were ecstatic, the three couples who sued will hold off on their celebrations until they ¯ get an opportunity actually to say their vows in a ¯ wedding ceremony. "I think the acttml celebration ¯ will be when we get married," said Stan Baker, standing withhis armaround partner Peter Harrigan. Winnie Stachelberg, Political Director with the ¯ Human Rights Campaign, one national Gay ¯ organization noted,"we are thrilled that the Vermont ¯ Supreme Court had the wisdom and courage to hand down this historic, landmark decision. There ¯ has never been a logical or justifiable reason to exclude same-sex couples from marrying, and ¯ decision validates the unfairness of exclusion. This ¯ is a tremendous victory forGay and Lesbian couples ¯ in Vermont who are now one-step closer to being ¯ considered equal in the eyes of the law." ¯ Paula Ettelbrick, attorney and Family Policy Director at the National Gay and Lesbian Task ¯: Force Policy Institute said, "the court’s decision is unique in that it commands that the state give samesex couples every benefit and protection that : currently provides to married couples." ¯ "However, bystopping short offully recognizing : the freedom to marry, the court has opened the door ¯ to complete equality but has not constitutionally ¯ guaranteed it. Now the batde progresses to the : Vermont Legislature," Ettelbrick continued. "We ¯ have the opportunity as a community to convince lawmakers to provide the full badge of citizenship ¯ by recognizing the freedom to marry." ¯ Ettelbrick noted that Vermont is a logical state to ¯ become the first see Vermont, p. 12 New Leather Contest TULSA- Ric Poston, Oklahoma Mr Leather 1999 and his partner James Murray _Mr Tulsa Leather 1997 have announced they are producing a new leather contest, Mr. Sooner State Leather. The contest will be a preliminary event to the StateTitle of "Oklahoma Mr Leather" and is open to any Oklahoma resident. This first event will be held in Oklahoma City on the weekend of April 21 - 23, 2000 and any profits from the contest will benefit the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago.. The event will provide education and information about the community, "demonstrations," opportunities for brotherhood, a brunchonSunday,andthe contestitselfon Saturday night April 22, 2000. Judges for the contest .will be Dave Rhodes, owner and editor of The Leather Journal, Terrell Brown, Oklahoma Mr Leather 2000, Oklahoma Drummer2000 (to be announcedin February 2000), and Michael Vrooman, the current International Miss Gay Rodeo and a former International Mr ~sayRodeo,MarkMalonInternational Mr. Leather, tRunnerUp-t997;and alternatejudge, Ed Smith who is an avid supportor of local and nadonal Leather and Drummer events. The contest will be held at the Habana Inn, Oklahoma’s all Gay hotel and bar complex. For reservations (be sure to mention the contest for special rates), contact the Habana Inn, 2200 Northwest39thExpressway, OklahomaCity,73112 1-800-988-2221, www.habanainn.com. For any furtherinformation about the contest, applications, and weekend packages contact: ms.oonerstatelthr@aol.com. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria *The Mix, 2630 E. 15th *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s .Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan *The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 712-2324 610-5323 583-6666 749-4511 749-1563 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 835-2376 585-3405 *TNT’s, 2114S..Memorial 660-0856 *Tool Box,. 1338. E, .3rd o 584-1308 Tulsa Businesses, Services, &:Pr~fe~si6nais Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 747-1508 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 *Barnes &Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41. Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 743-1000 : 747:9506 : 250-5034-," 665-4580 ¯ 712-1122 " 712-9955" 2 494-2665 ~ 743-5272 ¯ 746,0313 : Cherry St: Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby..Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan *Ross Edward Salon ,~,: 584-0337, Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Learme M: Gross, Insurance & financial planning Mark T: Hamby,.At.tomey ¯ .. *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E Skelly *International Tours Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th_ *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kanskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living Al"tSpace, 19 E. Brady *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 587-2611 744-5556 838-8503 - 712-9379 592-0460 744-9595 610-0880 628-3709 808-8026 742-1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 712-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 664-2951 838-7626 743-4297 747-5932 834-0617 834-7921,747-4746 749-6301 260-7829 481-0558 835-5563 743- 1733 665-2222 592-0767 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis Tulsa Agencies~ Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 741-0L .... 579-9593 All Sods Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616-S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman. Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community ofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters,3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74!70-1475 355-3 t40 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free SpiritWomen’ s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 " . " Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal " " Writers + contributors: ¯ James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lament " Lindstrom, Bob Rounsavell, Esther Rothblum. Mary Schepers ~dember o! The AssociatedPress ........... Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents -" :of this publication are protected by :US copyright 1998 by Nta,€ and may not be repr-oduced either.in : whole orinpar~withoutwrittenpermission from thepublisher. Publicationof a name or photo does not indicate a pers0n’s . .sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for : publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed’& be: " comes:the ~ole property ofT,J Eachreaaer " ~s entitled :to 4 copies of each editton at distribution ", points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542,74101 582-0438 ¯ ¯HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 ¯Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 " ¯Holland Hall School,5666 E. 81st 481-1111 : HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 ¯ ¯House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood : Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438=2437, 800-284-2437 " ¯MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ." NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. 748-3111 ¯ NOW, Nat’lOrg. for Women; POB 14068,74159 365-5658 " OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 ¯OSU-TUlsa ° PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯ ¯Planned Parenthood~ 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 ’ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 .*R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 ¯Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 " 584,2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults : O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N.Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 " ¯St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 " ¯Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583=7171 ¯TNAAPP (Native AmeriCan men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 " Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 : Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only : TulsaOkla.forHumanRights,c/oThePrideCenter 743-4297 : T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 ¯ ¯Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ¯Tulsa Community College Campuses ," ¯TulsaGay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE ¯ ¯Bardesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337=5353 ¯ OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN ." ¯Borders Books &Music, 3209 NWExpressway 405-848-2667 -" ¯Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 ¯ TAHLEQUAH " ¯Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456=7900 " ¯Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 : ¯Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 : ¯ NS.U School of Optometry, 1001.N, Grand.........: HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates " ¯¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 ¯ *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main ¯ DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. ¯ ¯ Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring : Geekto Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 ¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery ¯ ¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East : White Light, 1 Center St. ." JOPLIN, MISSOURI ¯ *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 * is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. 501-253-7734 ," 501-253-7457 ¯ 501-253-6807 ¯ 501-253-5445 " 501-253-9337 " 501-253-2776 " 501-253-5332 ¯ 501-624-6646 " 501-253-6001 -’. 501-253-4074 " 417-623-4696 " It’s Elementary + more... December 22, 1999 On the heels of a tremendously successful campaign togetIt "sElementary aired on public television, we are thrilled~ to announce our new media series for kids. We are writing to you today to tell you a little about the project and to ask for yo~help: .W.e.hopeyo.u’!l eonside.rm.~king a year-end contribution toward its completion and distribution. We’ve been asked repeatedly by It’s Elementaryfans, "When are you going to make sombthing we can show to kids?"" .Finally wehave an answer -- THAT’S A. FAMILY! -- a video for elementary school children about family diversity. To learn more about THAT’S A FAMILY! and to make a donation to ensure its successful completion, please read the rest of this email, or go to: http:.//www.womedia.org/support.html on the internet. THAT’S A FAMILY! is the first video in our. long-awaited media series for children, "Respect for All." THAT’S A FAMILY! introduces children to different kinds of families, while the second and third videos~in the series center on dispelling Gay and Lesbian stereotypes and confronting anti-Gay name-calling. In THAT’S.A FAMILY! you’ll meet children’ who were adopted; are multiracial; haveparents whoare divorced; are being raised by step-parents, single morns or dads, or by grandparents and guardians. There also are children with Gay dads or Lesbian morns, and their stories are intertwined with those of the other families. THAT’S A FAMILY! is scheduled for release in the spring of 2000. It has the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of children, giving elementary schools a truly inclusive, respectful teaching tool that children will love to watch. Wehave no doubt that the long-term impact of this project will be tremendous. Giving elementary school students the opportunity to hear the words "Gay" and "Lesbian" described in a matter-of-fact way by their peers, and experience Gay and Lesbian families inthe contextofsuchanincredibly diverse group of other families, could have a profound effect on their values and behavior for the rest of their lives. To kick off this ambitious media series for children, we need your help. We need to raise additional funds to finishTHAT’S A FAMILY! this winter and to launch its distribution. Our work is not commissioned- instead we independently produceand distribute ourmediaprojects. see It’s... p. 14 Announcements Policy Tulsa Family Newswitl provide-space for holy union ceremony, marriage ceremony, birth, adoption and death announcements onaspace availablebasis. Photos are welcome, though we cannot promise placement or return them, so please send copies to Tulsa Family News, POB 4140, Tulsa 74159. Letters Policy Tulsa Family News welcomes letters on issues which we’ve covered or on issues you think need to be considered. You may request that your name be withheld but letters must be signed & have phonenumbers, or behand delivered. 200 word letters are preferred. Letters to other publications will be re-printed as is appropriate. by Tom Neal, editor & publisher January is National Volunteer BloodDonor Month and most newspapers in the city have received press releases exhorting Tulsans to donate blood. According to Tulsa’s chapter of the American Red Cross’ communications manager, Maggie Jewell, "the winter time is a crucial time for blood donations and that many new donors are needed to help meet patient needs in local hospitals...many donors who regularly give find that they cannot during the winter months because of a cold or the flu.., the nation’ sblood supply... [is] just a few hours aheadofdemand. Asit stands today, ifeveryone stopped donating blood, our nation’s supply would disappear within only two days..." So you’d think that the Red Cross would welcome all donors. In the Red Cross" press releases, they state, "to donate, one must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be feeling wall the day of the donation..." What they don’t say is that ffyou are Gay, you don’ t lie about it, and you give blood, they throw your blood away - even though ALL blood is tested for HIV antibodies anyway! Anyone who’s had sex with someone of the samegender since,ifmemory serves me, 1984, is banned. To reframe a 19th century prejudice: "Irish need not apply" becomes "Faggots need not apply." The local Red Cross shrugs off responsibility, saying it’s a national policy. The national Red Cross places the blame on the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). They all know that thisis bad science. " Once one might have presumed-a tight correlation between sexual orientation/behavior and HIV status. Today, those exposed to the HIV virus can just as easily be heterosexual. Infact, one of the parts ofour population whichhas disproportionately highinfectionrates is young Mrican-Americans. Does anyone think we’d see the Red Cross or FDA saying, "Young Blacks need not apply"? The reality is that this discrimination is socially wrong as well as bad public health policy. TulsaArea Red Cross can’ t:change it by itsdf but its Board of Directors can go on record to call for a change in the policy (it wouldn’t hurt if they added a non-discrimination pohcy too). And it can stop trying to sweep this prejudice under the rug. Until it and the FDA change their policies, its press releases should read, "to donate, one must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be feeling well the day of the donation.., andnot be aGay or Bisexual man." by Tom Neal, editor/publisher Early on the morning of Dec. 3rd, like many others, I was shocked to see the face of a friend, someone whom. I respectandlike, inTheWorld accused ofa vcry unlikely act. Reading the article and knowing the man, my first reaction was to wonder that the charges had been brought at all. It is a classic, "he said, she said" recast as "the straight ’boy’ said, the Gay man said." According to comments made to the Tulsa World by Broken Arrow police, the only persons present at the allegedactwere RickFortner and themanwhohas accused him of lewd behavior (I say man who accused because at 16 if he were a murderer, he’d be considered an adult and 16maynotbevery wise, but it’s hardly a child in this day and age). I then wondered at possible motivations for his accuser. Was this the sick behavior of a young man struggling with his own homosexuality andprojecting his self-hatred onto another target? Or is he yet another young American man warped into mindless hatred Of men who love other men by a society whose need for some hated "other’ dates back to before the Republic was founded (let me see: we Americans havehated Indians in the East, we’ ve hated Blacks, we’ve hated Jews, we’ve hated Germans, we especially hated the Irish, we’ve hated Catholics, and Poles, and again Indians in the West, and Asians: Chinese, Japanese, Fast Indians, we’ve hated Commumsts, Socialists, Unionists, women who dared to vote -or merely not be endless baby-factories, hell, we’ ve even hated some Republicans - I personally have thought that Ronnie Reagan was one of the most profoundly and blandly evil men of our time but I digress). Former says he is innocent and I believe him as do his friends and colleagues at his work, All Souls Unitarian ChurchandinCouncil Oaks Mens Chorale whichFortner founded and leads, and I hear his family, thank God. But even when his innocence is proven, and these charges likely are shown to be shameless political opportunism by Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris, Fortuer remains victimized by the accusation. His reputation has been called into question and defending " Fortner says he is innocent and I believe him... But even when his innocence is proven, and these charges likely are shown to be shameless politlea! opportunism by Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris, Fortner remains victimized by the accusation...." himself can 0nly be costly even if the charges are without merit. So why is this haptmning? Political and other observers have known for some dme that Tulsa District Attorney Tim Harris is closely associated with right wing political extremists who call themselves "Christian." Tulsa’s DA’s earlier demonstrated their willingness to abuse the powers of the office to promote a ultra rightwing agenda when they failed to prosecute seriously the brutal hate assault against Tony Orr and Tim Beauchamp until after prim media had written about the DA’s bias, failing even to get them victim’s compensation for their medical injuries as the DA’s office does for other crime victims. Local attorney and TOHRboard member Kerry Lewis suggests that Harris is shamelessly using this accusation to appeal to the part ofhis electoratewho are rabidly prejudiced, to appear as though Hams is "fighting crime" andjust incidentally destroying Rick Fortner’s lifein the process. We can likely anticipate that much of our District Attorney’ s strategy, if they have the nerve to push such a seemingly meritless case so far, is going to be to engage in blatant legal "Gay-bashing." It will be suggested that, ipso facto, Rick’s a"homo" and therefore capable of any evil, and that any accusation by a red-blooded, all- American boy is, of course, God’s own Truth! But what’s really on trial here, is American justice itself. As has played out generation after generation, with minority after minority, the reality has been that our justice, at its best- is uneven, and more often than not is wildly unfair, favoring wealth, whiteness and heteromaleness. And all the problem is not in the DA’s office. Some Tulsa police, year after year, engage in varieties of anti- Gay bias, including breaking the very law, with no restriction nor anti-bias training from Chief Palmer nor the elected official to whom he answers, Mayor Savage. But right now, what matter is that Rick Former is treated fairly. I don’ tknow if he’ s got alegal defense fund set up but he may need it. I’d suggest that any help readers might give, be sent to the Rev. Suzanne Meyers at All Souls Unitarian Church. They’re in the book. by Dave Fleischer National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Ask voters a question - then listen to their answers - and you get what Lily Tomlin calls a "goosebump experience." Why the adrenaline rush? Because you challenge not only your cherished ideas about the voters, but also what you believe about yourself. I was reminded of this while campaigning in Carol City, an African-American, working-class Miami neighborhood. I was with a team of volunteers from SAVE Dade, the group preparing to defend their county Human Rights Ordinance. Scene: short, bald, Jewish me at.the door, talking to a voter: "The Ordinance protects all of us from discrimination, whether we’~re aman or woman, black or white, Gay or non-Gay. The newest part of the law is the part that includes Gay people. Some people want to take the law .apart and remove Gay people from it. But we think that s wrong-wethink everyone ought to be treated with dignity and respect. What do you think?" ,,W,_ith barely a pause, the voter began "My church says. ¯. Oy ray. I figured I knew where we were headed, and it wasn’t the promised land. "My church says--Jesus loves everybody. Diseriminadon is always wrong." She and I had a brief, affirming discussion. I went to door #2, said my piece, and the voter immediately began,"My church says..." I listened. "My church says homosexuality is a sin. It’s wrong. Read your Bible, and you’ll see the Lord has a plan for a better life for you." As he amplified his point of view, I was : trying to decide how quickly to exit. When he stopped : talking, we paused and looked at each other. Then I said, "Well, I’m Gay. I likemylife, and if IYm doing a goodjob ¯ at myjob, do you think my boss should be able to fire me ¯ just because I’m Gay?" ¯¯ The voter looked astonished: "Wall of course, no one should fire you for that." That started a back-and-forth ¯ that surprised both of us. Wedisagreed about why people are Gay. We agreed that discrimination against G.ays is ¯ unacceptable. After a fewminutes, as hewas prepanng to ¯ read tomefrom the Bible, I called ahalt, thanked him, and ¯ moved to the next door. : What I learned about myself was how hard itis to ask : a question and hear the answer. Both times, it only took : three words before I thought I knew what was coming. ¯ Both times, I was Wrong but I realized why asking ~¯ questions is uncomfortable.Whenwe ask a question, and really wait to hear the answer, we are not Controlling the ¯ situation. We are sharing control with the other person. American culture teaches us all to like control. To ¯ celebrate our individuality - to believe that one pe.rson ¯ can make a difference - to have it our way--is as ¯ American as a.microwaved Mcwhopper. But growing up Gay raises the stakes. Many of us realize early on that we’ re different, subject to ridicule or ¯ hurt. So we crave control as a way to protect ourselves, ¯ and to survive. We pump up our talent for isolated ¯ individual achievement, sometimes neglecting team- " building and our curiosity about others. : Our life becomes a search for refuge. To protect ¯ ourselves, we build communities and organizations ¯ designed to shelter us. Butwe thenmiss genuine, reciprocal ¯ connectionwithotherpeople, especially thosewho aren’ t just like us. Werarely ask them what they think ofus. We ¯ assume we know. ¯ When we don’ t ask real questions - like "What do you think?"- we rely on Our past experience. No wonder that ¯ we hold onto ahigh level of paranoia. We can’ t forget the ¯ feelings we knew when we were young. We can’t miss ¯ the hostility expressed by right-wing extremists now. that ¯ we are older. ¯ But, guess what? Neither has much to do with where ¯ most Americans stand today. When we lack confidence ¯ in other people, it is no wonderwe struggle in campaigns. ¯ Ourlifeis a niche, but in elections we need50% + 1 of the ¯ participating voters on our side. ¯ It is understandably scary to put aside our past hurts to test the possibilities in the present. It’s easier to avoid person-to-person campaigning; it’s tempting instead to ¯ rely on every other possible form of communication, all of which have at least some value. But what price do we [ pay for our lack of curiosity, our unwillingness to risk : authentic exchange? Are we, without meaning to, buying ¯ intothelargerculture’stoleranceofstereotypicalthinking? ~ Who is most imperiled when it’ s a deviant act to ask a ¯ question - or to question a stereotype? Let’s rescue ¯ ourselves. Goosebumps are ours, for the asking. Dave Fleischer is a seniorfellow at the Policy Institute ofthe National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Nationwide Insurance : Allen said. Allen said much of the group’s time is Adds Partners’ Benefits:¯ teachers can ha,,v.e a tough time discussing even with COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Nationwide Insurance those~who don t have a disability. Company has just begun to offer employees a new : The Arc, formerly known as th.e .Associatio~ benefits package that will recognize same-sex : Retarded Citizens, adopt,e~,.. a posmon paper mr d0mestic partners. The plan also .will cover relatives " " year~ ago affirmin_g that. indiv]~du,~.s with m~enn~ _ including extended family members~uch as : retardationarepe°plew~tlasexualIeel.mgs’~nhee~n~} ’grandparents - roommates and unmarriedpartners ~vho live w,ith the .employees, Donna. James; [ the 7:2 million people with,,mental retardation in the Nationwide s senior vice president :of ihuman ¯ United States, s~ys people have fundamental ri,g,h,ts resources, told The Outlook, an iaiiependent [ as individuals to have privacy, love and be loved. ¯ eater Columbus Ga,c community. ~ Sfill,. Gay people with mental disabilities are often newsPaper°f,thegr.: - . . .,’.= ~,-~-’--,=-1= ¯ o,;~,~: "zed somefimesb arents,orcaretakers-the Those co,v:_cream.u..~si tt~. a:.e.,p-enaoe.n..t.o. nm. e~’~auP~..’u~ . o~,~att_ ,, em lo eeforsupp0rtorsnarelmanclalrespOn~t°mq¢ v~"v *~ a r " P Y. ........... .... . .... ’ r-All of Nationwide s 28,000 . ¯ . ¯ _ . .’. .--. ¯ wem~pthlotyheeewsaorere.klig.eib..!.e..f0rth-,ep~ lan.Byear: ly~’mber"’ ¯ ’. " W : ~lrglfllfl CoHrt to lalevle A recentForbesMagazine sur~ey, mo!€area: unmarried parmers .are €ovyr~..byh~e’~l~9.ben,efitS ~ :: ’ ROANOKE, Va. (AP)-A Virginia.appe~s court,has 10% of .the businesses with :at least zoo em~toy~.. : agreed"to review the constitutionality oI a state taw Companies that.pr0vide.same-sex P.-aFtner~e3Its .: tl~t ~nalizes oral sex between consenting adults. indtide:Lotus!.De~vd0pment Corp.,MicrosoRtsorp:, .. The.Virginia Court of Appeals agreed to ~ear. the -IBM, Walt Disney Co.,Honeywell and Xerox. ¯ ~i~s ~)f nine men convicted of soliciting sodomy ¯ " " e : from undercover police posing as Gay me~... . McCam, Forbes:Endors : The case will test alaw that some autho~taes say ~ a legitimate way to deter public sex acts. opponen ’Don’t Ask, DOn’t-Tell’- ": 0fthelawarguethatit’sanarchaicinvasionofprivacy .... .........si .that targets homosexu~,,s. The law, referred to as WASHINGTON(AP)-TheClintona~stxatto.n polieybarfing0penh0mosex.ual~sfro,m,..military~e_ ; ,crimes against nature, applies to all consenting ~vorksandshouldbepreserYed,Kepumtcancanoauate~ ’" adults, homosexual and heterosexual, who engagem " oral sex in public or private. Violating the law is a Sen. JohnMcCainanffSteveForbes s~din Decem~ber; ¯ McCain~ a former naval officer and prisoner oI war felony, plmishable ,by up to five years in prison. inVietnam, Saiahewo,~dhave sen.1.°r o,f.fieer,s,re,v]ew Those who say it s time for Virginia to join the list the p0ffcy, but ad,d,ed, I support me poncy, i oeueve of states that have abolished their alifi-sodgmy laws that it;s working. ’ ,, , " i are. encouraged that the appeals court has agr.e.e,d to On"Fox Ne~s Sunday, Forbes said: ’The military ¯ hear the case. The sodomy law also was invokedmthe is not an institution for socialengineering. It has. a ¯ case of Sharon Bottoms, a Richmond-area woman ~:ery real,role of protectingus. It... operates in very " who lost custody of her son in 1993 when ajudge said speJzial circumstance§, and theref0reapresident must " she was an linfit mother because she and her female take heed of leaders such as Gen. Powell and G.en. ¯ lo~er engaged in oral sex. Scfiwarzkopf Who s,a,y that you cannot have open inhispetitiontothe.appealscourt, Garrison said,,,the Gays in the military.. The Repu.bh,ca~,~ fro,nt-ru~n~ar~ ’ : case is not just a Gay issue, but one that affects me ri ht to 4 5 million adult Virginians to be Texas Gov George W.-Bush, also nas. enaorseu Clinton policy. " , The position of Vice President A1 Gore, a,Viemam they have a reasonable expectataon to privacy, t ne veterat~, and.his Democratic Opponent Bill Bradle~ is appeal attacks the law from several angles: that it that people who.can be firefighters, police officers ¯ violates privacy rights guaranteed by both state and andmembe~s,ofColigress shouldhaVeopenaccess to federal Constitutions; that it is based on religious .military service as wall. Gay civilrights activists who ¯ met with Clinton ¯last week said the president¯ told " them the ~’don’.t ask, dOn~t.tell’’ policy was a failure.. R.., ,rded-Gays and ¯ Lesb"ia"ns" "Find Support. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP)- For decades, the ¯ sexuality of people with mental, dis~abi!i_ti_e_s,^W_~e]~ ¯ taboo a subject that parents ann prolesslonm~ ,o~ ~ acknowledged its ..ex~stence. The disabl.ed were o~ften ¯ treatedas if they Were eternal children; immune irom desire. Bu,t as people with mental disabilities come of : age in a more accepting’atmosphere, they are’: grounds and thus violates the separation ofchurch and state; and that its potential five-year prison sentence subjects defendants to cruel find unusual punishment. Eighteen men were charged under the law-in the Roanoke Police Depfirtment;s sting. The biggest challenge for those appealing .their convictions may be convincing the appealS.court that they have legal standing to overturn a’law that affects not just them, but all adult Virgimans. In 1979 - the-last’ time a higtier state court heard a challenge of the sodomy_. law, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that a man arrested in Richmond had no such standing2 ’ Since then, several states have recoglfized that defendants arrested for alleg.ed public ~.ex acts are entitled to fight the law not just as it was applied to them, but as it potentially co~d be applied to bthers.i formerly Family of Faith & Greater Tulsa MCC Joined as one body of believers. Come celebrate with us. Sunday Services, 11 am ~aplewood, 8~18-1715 Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 S. Harvard, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIq Sun. Worship, ~0:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 prn 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill M.S. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Cel:tifled Hypnotherapist .,Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745~111 Community Unitarian UniversalL’ Congregation at Community ofHo~p~ South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0S9! A Welcoming.Congregation experiencing an open discussion abom relationships ¯ Mingo Valley Flowers an~’s~x ~and for Some, acknowledging that .they may Thirty years ago, all 50 states had laws that forbade be homosexual.. " f eo le witl~ " consensual oral sex. Today, Virginia is one of. 17 For the past.year, a small group’o P P : statesthat’stillhassu~halaw- ’ mental disabilities has be~n ga~hexqng ~- transported ¯ ¯ - 9413 E, 31st St., Tulsa 74145 from group home~ and independentl~ving facilities ". 918-663-5934, fax: 663:583~,1800-444-592 .byth~ircareta~ers+-to,djs~us~the~-r¢-d[c~’ue~nt°fn°~t~ : Court Bars Child o~y beingmenta~iy ~a~d~ea~i~ed, but being Gay ~or ¯ Visitation, Rights milr On a monthly basis, ~ey meet a~ a group with a : CHICAGO (AP) ~ Shelived withher Lesbian parme,r- . . advocates for:the disabled say:more’ " n . ,-., . ~nva"cy¯ .-.~.-~.-.~..,~..ri.~.r.ti.i .".~.a.t.e.l.us; .t.no.t.c.o.ve.r.e.d.u.nd.e.r.a. state law-governing Visitaaon rights. ~ne oec,slon NewHaven group:~d the meetings are niSt a dating ": service. Ratl~er;the sessions’are an opporttmity for a~. upjhue~ud.~j:~a~il~r CH’~u~ntaCn:~l~ul.~gg:eopinionii~t~d ¯segment of the populati°n that is d°ubl:y ils°)ated.t°, : th~illin0islaw.~pecifi~i~]iame~i~i~?eS.’~.~e~ : l,li-,~ , 12~21’.S~uttlCo~umbialSuRe420 ,~ ~lk oper~y about feelings, ,pressures,~ana" socm~ ¯ situations. Left.unaddressed; ~exu~iiy in.,a person :’ as.fotmerspous~sandgran.dparen ~,. -~ i ~i. ~;.’ 1~q~4-351.8 With a m~nL~i :disability can ,manifeSt itself in : to Visitation rights with children. If.is silent fin me ~’’~ inappropriate, and...s0metimes,, ,s~lf-destructive. ,ways; : issue of former same-sex p.armer~,: Child.i Family, IndividualA.,Couple Psychother~ " 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 TulSa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) .6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 prn~ Saturday, all sales benefit the Center OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local - Long Distance Cellular -Paging 747.1508 Free Car Adaptor & Leather Case with New Cell Phone Help Celebrate A Great American Hero Join TOHR . PFLAG and Soul Force for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade Monday, danuary 17 From Pine & Greenwood to the Greenwood Cultural Center Gather at9 am, Parade at 11 am KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker OPENARMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHF_AKrs i Saint Aidan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S; Atlanta Place, 742-7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Tdnity 501 S. Cincinnati-, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Amanda met her partner, "Helen," in 1984 when they were living in Georgia. Helen was artificially inseminated in 1993 and gave birth to a daughter that December. Amanda was involved in the preparations for the birth and helped take care of the little girl for a year and a half. The relationship ended in 1995. The next year, Helenmoved to Chicago with her daughter and has refused to allow Amanda any contact with the child since 1997, the court said. Amanda’s suitargued that even though she was not married to Helen, She Should have the same rights parents have under common law. Sawyer, an attorney for the Eainbda Legal Foundation, said a decision would be made later on. whether to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. Helen’s attorney, Leon Finkel, noted that Illinois does not recognize common law in such cases’~ He said boyfriends, aunts and uncles and in some cases even stepparents are among those whoare not entitled to visitation rights under Illinois law. Finkel also said limiting the list was a good idea. because parents should only m special instances be forced to give up the power to determine who is allowed to visit their children. He added that while Illinois doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages, it does recognize same-sex adoptions. Had Amanda legally adopted the girl, she would have had visitation rights and the dispute would never have taken place, he said. Study Says Marriage Ban Would Hurt Children SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - At least 40,000 children living with Gay couples and 100,000 more with Gay single parents would be affected by a proposed state ban on same-sex marriages, according to a new study. Those children could feel ostracized by. society if their parents’ Unions were considered invalid, concludes the review by Michael Wald, a Stanford University law professor who specializes in public policy’s effect on children. Proposition 22 would let California recognize only marriages performed between a man and a woman. It will be voted on in March. ’q’his alleged study, which promotes homosexual marriages, is nothing more than a bogus political campaign hit piece against Proposition 22 and the institution of marriage," said Robert Glazier, a spokesman for the Yes on Proposition 22 campaign. Wald’s review used findings by the American Psychological Association and several research studies on same-sex parents. "By all reports, these families are doing very wall," Wald said. "It is different, obviously, growingup in afamily with two parents of the same sex, but children adjust to it." Studies have shown that the children of Gay parents are welladjusted and do wall in school, but often face intolerance, he said. The report drew criticism from David Orgon Coolidge, director of the Marriage Law Project atThe Catholic University ofAmerica inWashington, D.C., who called it "an attempt to mislead voters." "prop 22 is not about same-sex couples," Coolidge said in a written statement. "Prop 22 is about whether Californians will be allowed to decide for themselves how marriage will be defined in this state." Colorado Anti-Marriage Amendment Progresses DENVER (AP) - A proposed constitutional amendmentto restrict same-sexmarriages in Colorado has been approved by the .secretary of state’s office and now advances to a 30-day challenge period, ifapproved by voters, the measure would recognize only marriages between, a man and a woman and would make same-sex marriages performed in other states invalid in Colorado. Themeasure, which cleared the secretary of state’s ritle-setting board in December, will face opposition. "As a statewide agency,we are eommitted to fighting this every step of the way," said LoriAnn Girvan, executive director of Equality Colorado. "We feel that the taxpayers of Colorado don’t need another anti-Gay ballotinitiative that will re-ignite our state’s reputation as a place of intolerance." Candace McCune, an Englewood lawyer representing proponents of the measure who formed the group Coloradans for Traditional Marriage, said the measure would close a loophole in the state Constitution. The Legislaturelast year rejected an attempt by Sen. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan, to pass a statute similar to the proposed amendment. Opponents oftheinitiativehave 30 days to challenge it. Ifit survives, signatures ofnearly 64,000 registered voters. W~ould have to be collected tO.l~m the ~easure off ~1i~ ~6all0t. Coloradatis- for Tradiu6nal" Marriage also withdrew a proposal to ban same-sex marriages. Hank Aaron Slams Pitcher’s Comments ATLANTA (AP)- Hall of Famer Hank Aaronjoined thebarrage ofcriticism against AtlantaBraves pitcher Johp_ Rocker, despite his apology for making derogatory comments about Gays and minorities. Aaron said he was "very sick and disgusted about the whole situation" and questioned how Rocker could continue in baseball. "I have no place in my heart for peoplewhofeel that way," the all-time home run king, who is the Braves’ senior vice president, told syndicated radio host Jay Mariotti. About 15 activists protested outside Turner Field, urging the Braves to fire Rocker for the comments, which were published i~n a recent Sports Illustrated. "There may be some room for redemption, but not as anAtlantaBrave," said Michael Langford, president of the United Youth-Adult Conference. "We encourage him to enter his resignation right now and go into an early retirement." Rocker told Sports Illustrated he would never play for a New York team because he didn’t want to ride a subway train "next to some queer with AIDS." He also bashed immigrants, saying, "I’m not a very big fan of foreigners... How the hell did they get in this country?" While driving in Atlanta during the interview, Rocker criticized Asian women: Look. Look at this idiot," he said of another driver. "I guarantee you she’s a Japanese woman. How bad are Asianwomenatdriving?" Healso calledan overweighl black teammate "a fat monkey." Rocker apologized in a ffritten statement, saying he was carried away by his "competitive zeal" against New York Mets fans. He said heis not a racist mad the comments do not reflect his true feelings. Civic groups and a member of the Atlanta city Council delivered aletter to Braves owner TedTurner and general manager John Schuerholz demanding Rocker’s immediate firing. "We would have hoped there would havebeen amore scathing condemnation of these comments," said Councilman Derrick Boazman. "This was more thanjust rhetoric. This was hate." There was no answer at Turner’ s office, and his publicist did pot return a telephone call. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called Rocker’s remarks "inappropriate and offensive." He said baseball is reviewing the matter and would take "appropriate action." There is precedent: Former Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott was suspended from baseball for the 1993 season for her use of racial and ethnic slurs. ¯ Pentagon .Seeks Tougher : Stand Aga,nst Harassers ¯ WASH!NGTON(AP)-The U.S. Defense Department ¯ is piessing armed services leaders to re-emphasize to ¯¯ commanders that harassment of troops based on their sexual orientation will notbe tolerated. The Pentagon : has drawn fire recently for its "don’t ask, don’t tell" : policy. Critics say an increasing number ofGay and Lesbian servicemembers arebeingharassed, contrary : to the stated policy ofpermitting them to serve so long : as they do not declare their sexual orientation. : The criticism sharpened after a court-martial in ¯ which anArmyprivate was convicted of murdering a ¯ Gay ,soldier harassed with the knowledge of his ¯ superiors. PresidentBill Clinton said earlier lastmonth ¯ that the Pentagon’s policy on Gays was "out of ¯ whack." ". see Briefs, p. 14 Older Americans With HIV Increasing HOUSTON (AP) - An aging population, life-extending treatments, and a misperception that AIDS is a disease of the young have fostered an increase in AIDS infections among older Americans, the Houston Chronicle reported recently. Nationally, about 11% of reported AIDS : cases are in people 50 or older, the newspaper reported. Seniors are the age group with the fastest-growing AIDS rates - up 22% between 1991 and 1996, compared with a 9% increase among people age 13-49, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. However, health officials warned that the increases seem dramatic because the numbers are small. A 106% increase in the number of older women infected through sex, for example, is based on an increase from 340 eases to 700 eases. "’At this point, the numbers are so small that they really have notbeen perceived as a problem," said Dr. Rose Brownridge, acting bureau chief of the Texas Department:of Health division that deals with AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. She added, however, that the issue needs further study. About 72,000 .americans age 50 and over and about 4,50(3 Texans have been. diagnosedwithAIDS. N~gneknows how many seniors are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, because not all states require HIV reporting and because older people arethought to be tested far less often than their younger counterparts. According to the CDC, slightly more than one-third of older people with AIDS are Gay or Bisexual men. About one of five was infected by using a dirty needle to inject drugs. While popular attention has been focusedon declining infection rotes among children, AIDS among seniors has been virtually ignored. That must change, said Marcia try, chief of social science research on aging at the National Institute onAging. "The pointis that society cannot ignore AIDS in that pediatric population, in the young adult population or the older population," Ms. try said. "For people living longer or getting infected at_ an older age, these people are incredibly isolated, and they may not getthe treatment they need." That is likely to change with the onslaught of baby boomers nearing retirement age, said Kathy Nokes, a New Yorknursewho works withinfected older patients and editor of a book on seniors with AIDS. "Baby boomers talk about everything, try everything, demand everything," she said. "To a 60- or 70- year-old, that’s not polite." Ironically, the drug Viagra that has allowedmanyoldermento revive dormant sex lives also has heightened concern aboutthe spread ofAIDS. "They are pretty AIDS-unaware as they venture out into the world of sexual activity," said Sara Selber, executive director of AIDS Foundation Houston. "AIDS wasn’ treally on their screen at the time they were (previously) sextmlly active." Fish Gene Key to Immune System TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A gene discovered in puffer fish - which have immune systems similar to humans - may hold secrets to learning more about diseases that affect the human immune system, such as AIDS, medical researchers say. ~esearchers doing work at St. Petersburg’s All Children’s Hospital published their findings in this week’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, an academic journal. Despite the finding, researchers do not know what the newly found gene does, said Gary Litman, the University of South qoridaimmunologistwholedthe research effort. However, they do know the gene plays amajor role in theimmune systembecause of its complex structure. In addition to the puffer fish, the ~mportant gene is found in other bony fish, including zebra fish and sharks. "The hunt is on for this gene in man," said Litman, who is working with eight other researchers in Florida and in California and Massachusetts. "Now we know where to look." Researchers are using computers .to search human DNA for the identical or similar sequence of 114,000 amino acids found in the fish DNA. There are about 3 million amino acids in the human body. Discoveries about the immune system can affectnew developments in treatments for diseases ranging from common allergies to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Litman said thenew gene mightprovide clues to an additional type of immunity that doctors might not have realized. AIDS Most Important Story HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP)- The discovery of and ongoing efforts to treat and find a cure for AIDS was the top story of the century, according to a survey of a group ofhigh school history students. The students surveyed by The Hutchinson News otherwise generally agreed with adult readers surveyed by the newspaper, but, adults gave AIDS barely a mention. ’ It had such a high impact on what they thought about their own mortality," said Susan Smith, a teacher atHutchinsonHigh School. "They didn’t think they could die, and they certainly didn’t think having sex could make them die." Lindsey Derr, 16, saidnews aboutAIDS is evenmoreimportantnow that the disease is generally understood by experts and millions of people have been identified as AIDS,positive. Jacqui Faber, 16, said a lot of people still don’t know enough about where and how to get tested. Some issues identified by students as mostimportant occurred long before their lifetimes, such as womengaining theright to vote in America. Other issues that are again xn the news, such as the Scopes "Monkey" trial pitting evolutionary theory against creationism, weren’t seen as important. Other stories that were big during their lifetimes, such as the explosion of the space shuttle Challengerandthemeltdown ¯of the Russian nuclear power plant at Cheruobyl, were neat the bottom of the high-school list. Thebombing ofPearl Harbor that led to U.S. entry into World War II, top of the general readership’ s list,was infifthplace among the students. A high-ranking story on the students’ list that ranked low among the gener~ readership was the "I Have a Dream speech given by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Talesha Brassield, a 16-year-old junior, said King’s speech was still a reminder that Americans have a lot to learn about respecting each other. "There The Second Annual Progressive Alliance Summit The State Capitol Oklahoma City Saturday Januar 15th, 2000 Join activists from many different progressive movements from across the state for skills and coalition building. Keynote Speaker: Frosty Troy The Oklahoma Observer For more information or for reservations contact Planned Parenthood in Tulsa at 918-587-7674 or Keith Smith at The Smith Group: 405-840-2219 Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here for you! ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project at 582-7225 Ext. 208 or 218 Dial-Up Accounts Dedicated ISDN Con nections Virtual Hosting Visit our web page wwwag~sweb.net (918) 622-4965 Internet Marketing E-Commerce Web Page Design On-Site Setu p Avail able Medical Excellence And Compassionate Since 1926. ST. JOHN.MEDICAL CENTER THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION PRESENTS Equality Rocks Saturday, April 29, 2000 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, DC Hear Our Voices Our Vision For the New Millennium IsAWorld Where Peopl.e Can Live With Hope, Equality and Safety. Join Melissa Etheridge, Ellen Degeneres, Anne Heche and a Host of other Stars as They Rock. the New Millennium and Take a Stand for a Safer, BetterWorld for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People Everywhere. Tickets on Sale at 800..551.SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com are still people that believe people have to think the same, look the same and believe the same things," Talesha said. Thais Protest US Drug Monopoly BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Some 120 Thai activists and HIV-AIDS patients camped Wednesday outside the Health Ministry demanding an end to a U.S. pharmaceutical monopoly thatmakes antiviral drugs too expensive for most in Thailand. They want theThai government to enforce a patent act to legalize local manufacture of Didanosine or DDI, a medicine that suppresses the deadly HIV virus in a patient’s blood, delaying the onset of AIDS. Few. of the more than 1 million HIV postive individuals in Thailand, a country of 62 million people, can afford drugs such as DDI and AZT, imported to Thailandfromoverseas,mainlyfromU.S. manufacturers. DDI,manufacturedby U.S. ftrmBristol- Myers Squibb, is sold at50 baht ($1.25) a tablet in Thai hospitals. Patients need at least fourtablets aday, costingin all about 6,000 baht-10,000 baht ($160-250) a month. A Thai office worker earns about 4,400 baht($110) amonth. Thedrugprice would be halved if Thailand produce it locally. Last month, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the Nobel Peace Prize-winnlngemergency healthcare group, said U.S. trade pressure has made proper health care for H!V/ AIDS patients nnaffordable in Thailand and other less developed countries. Activists said access to DDI, used by around 5% of people living with HIV in 1997, declined over the past two years due to Thailand’s economic recession. Since theHIV epidemicbeganin the early 1990s, more than 260,000 Thais have contracted full-blown AIDS. ’q’he government has full legislation to enforce the act butit fears the U.S. will be angry andit mightlead to trade sanctions," said Paisal Tan-ud, spokesmanoftheThai Network For People Living With HIVAIDS. The activists plan to camp outside the ministly in Bangkok until they get an answer from the government. Earlier this year, campaigners succeeded in demanding local manufacture of Diflu.can, a drug used to treat cryptococcat memngitis, a fungal infection of the brain which occurs in HIV-AIDS patients. The government has allowed two local pharmaceutical compames to produce the drug, originally manufactured by the U.S. drug company Pfizer. Girl + Grandmother Tell Their Story WOODBRIDGE, Va. - When Annisha Wilbum was 4 years old, she went to live with her grandmother, Valerie Reeder- Bey, who is HIV-positive. Reeder-Bey knew she had to talk about her condition with her granddaughter. The hard part was finding a way to do it without frightening her or delving into uncomfortable details. "I was living in fear that anything could happen," said Reeder-Bey,46,wholives inWoodbridge. "I wanted to tell her. I just really had to find the way without being graphic." She started by jotting down things that Annisha shouldn’tworry about: "It’ s okay to hug," she wrote. "It’s okay to hold hands." As the girl got older, she started making her own contributions to the list. ¯ Talking on the telephone with her : grandmother was OK, Annisha pointed ¯ out, or going rollerblading together. ¯ Thus was born "My Grandma Has : AIDS: Annisha’s Story," a 14-page ¯ illustrated children’s book that was ¯ published this year by a pharmaceutical " ¯ company and distributed at the U.S. Conference on AIDS in Denver and a World AIDS Day commemoration in ¯ Boston. "- Annisha and her grandmotherare both ¯ listed as authors, but thebookis writtenin ¯¯ Annisha’s voice. "Hi. My name is Annisha. This is a story about my grandma," the book begins. "She is real : special to me. Mygrandmaisjustlikeany ¯ other grandma. My grandma has AIDS." The book goes on to describe the various things they do together. "I know that ifmy friendhas AIDS, I cannotcatch itbybeing ~ their friend," Annisha says in the book. ~ Reeder-Bey, who also lives with her ¯ husband, Tommy, is excited about the : book’s distributionandhopes parents will ¯" use it to introduce the subject of AIDS to i¯ tHheeairvcehniilndrVenie.wS,haeniosnaplrsoofitthtehafotpurnodveirdeosf : health counseling and support groups for ¯ people living with AIDS. "I would love ¯ forit to be in ev,,e~y household. That’s ~e ultimate dream,’ she said. "Even if it s ¯ not in every household, I want everyone ~ to know about it." : The road to "My Grandma Has-AIDS: ¯ Annisha’s Story"was along one. It began ¯ ¯ whenReeder-Beywent toherownmother, looking for solace after she learned she ¯" was HIV-positive. Reeder-Bey said she ¯ spent 22 years as an alcoholic and drug ¯ addict. Her mother could not accept the : diagnosis and sent her daughter away, she : said: "I forgive my mother now, but then, ¯ I couldn’t take it," she recalled. ¯ Six years later, Reeder-Beywas alcohol- . and drug-free andembarking onanew life ¯ as an AIDS activist and drug counselor. ¯ Then her daughter, who has had her own : struggles with addiction, asked her to take in Annisha. "Wehad already spent a lot of ." time together," Reeder-Bey said of ¯ Annisha. "She just became a part of my : life." When Annisha was 6, Reeder-Bey ¯ thought the two of them had a book worth ¯ sharing. She went to several well-known : children’s book publishers, who told her ¯ that the subject matter was inappropriate ¯ or didn’t fit their needs. ¯ Butthebookdidcatch the eye ofofficials ." at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, a La Jolla, ." Calif.-based company that makes the ." AIDS drug Viracept, and Agouron ¯ published it. Agouron has an active : outreachprogramthatfocuses particularly ¯" on minority communities, and the book ¯ worked well with that program, said Joy ¯ Schmitt, a company spokeswoman. : Reeder-Bey also made sure that Prince ¯ WilliamCounty school administrators got : a copy of"Annisha’s Story." Annishais a ¯ third-grader at Featherstone Elementary. ¯ Agouron said it plans to distribute the ~ book at otherAIDS conferences, with the ¯ authors’ permission. In the meantime, ¯ Reeder-Bey is a one-woman distribution ¯ machine, bringing books to her doctor’s ¯ office, to work, to wherever she thinks ¯ someone would pick one up. "I want : people to open up and start talking to kids : about it. Kids want you to be open with : them," Reeder-Bey said. ¯ And Annisha said she plans to keep ¯ writing. She has advice for other would- ~ be authors: "I think they should write ¯ what’s in their imagination, and write : what’sin their heart." Happy New Year and Century to " hit Broadway, running for 2 years. This everyone! "If you’re with me, next year : ground breaking drama about 9 Gay men willbe... The perfect year!" Sorry, Petula ¯ gathering for a birthday party with catty, left a little Norma Desmond behind. (The ¯ emotionally trying results spawned a film line is from a song that features ~ -by William Friedldn (who went on to prominentlyinthemusical, direct "the Exorcist", and "Sunset Boulevard".) Actually, there were afew days I couldn’ t tell the two apart. What, me catty? I don’t know what you mean. . . (Eyes bat iunocenfly. Well, as close as I can get... Shaddup! Stop snickering amongst yoursdves!) January at the PAC: Ben E. King performs with the Tulsa philharmonic the 7 &8. The armchair traveler goes to France on the 10; and the All State Music Festival happens onthe 15. "Gaelic Storm," the Irish band that played in the 3rd class steerage section of the Titanic appears at the PACJanuary 19 &20. Leo danced a jig to their tunes in the film. Latin music is played by Scarles, Allen and River on the 22, and a concurrent concert hapl~L’ns with Janina Fialkowska at the piano. On the 23, Das Puppenspeil (I love that name!) puppet theatre performs with the Philharmonic, and the month closes with "Buddy," the Buddy Holly musical from the 25 through the 30. "Crossing Delancy" opens on the 28. More info on these artists to come. If ~ou lust can’t wait, you can always call e f~iendly folks at the PAC ticket office at 596-7111. Forthose abitmoreventuresome, Dallas seems to be the place of interest in upcoming months. GeorgeWinstonplays Majestic Theatre Jan 7; and for those who recall a rather large member of the Rocky Horror Picture Show cast, Meat Loaf performs at McFarlin Auditorium Jan 16. My, they’re really bringing in the class acts now, aren’t they? For the more modem crown, Counting Crows plays the Bronco bowl Jan 25, and Beck plays there Jail 26. Kids in the Hall, the all male cross dressing comedy troupe of some fame in the mid-90’s plays the Bronco bowl Feb 3. The Pretenders, with opening act "Gay Dad", perform at the Bronco Bowl Feb 6. The Chieftains, for those who like their Irish music Irish, are at the Fort Worth Bass Performance Hall Feb 6. Back in Dallas, Diana Krall plays the Majestic Theatre Feb 18. And for those into boy bands, Backstreet Boys (almost has-beenS) are at Reunion Arena March3-4. For themorefolksy set, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young are playing Reunion Arena March 7th. For thosepining for somedecent theatre - and I know many of you are, even if you don’t attend it- Mort Crowley’ s seminal work, "The Boys in the Band", runs through January 29 at the Fort Worth Theatre (817-921-5300). It rated a full page storyin theFortWorthStarTelegram. Apparently, Fort Worth has become a progressive town, in that one of its oldest and mostprestigious theatres has started a series of Gay plays called the "Labor of Love" series. They have sold out. Hello, Theatre Tulsa! "Boys" opened in April 1968, and was one of’the first, if not the first, Gay play to "Sorcerer") and nnhinged the closet door that held Gay theater locked inside and blew it down the hallway. . FortWorthTheatrehas already produced two shows this season thathad to do with some aspect of homosexuality: "Seducing Sally" and "The SantalandDiaries". Folks, this is a city nicknamed "Cowtown". Hello? It’ s about the size of Tulsa. They have 3 theatres there that are unafraid to try something new -CircleTheatre, Stage West, and now, the most staid of the Fort Worth Theatres. We have Heller, and : sometimes TU, and the quality of theatre ¯ in this town is very hit and miss. I know : that’ll tick some folks off, but it’s true. ¯ And more often than not, it’s missing. : Let’s work on that, shall we? I mean, ¯ Cowtown, really! Tickets are $10 - $12 dollars, and a ¯ percentage of ticket sales goes to AIDS ~ Resources of Rural Texas. And from the : pics of the cast, it looks like it would be a ¯ handsome evening, indeed. Thanks to : Mark Lowry of the Fort Worth Star Telegram for some of the info used in this : tern. Usually, when I write of an album wherein the songs, music and lyrics, tend to eerily reflect events in my own time space, it’ s a safe bet that I’m writing about Stevie Nicks. Shejust does thht sort thing. I got walloped this last week by an album my best friend Karin (who’ s straight, by the way) mademelisten to. She started off by saying some of the songs reminded her of me and one of my last major romantic entanglements. Then she started playing it, and I was just about knocked out of the car. The album is by an artist I never gave much ~hought to, except to wish that I’ d never hear the phrase "I Wanna Come Over" again. Yes, I was ~,valloped by a Lesbian MdissaEtheridge slat~stalbum, "Breakdown" (an ironic rifle, given the album’ s previously stated significance) is a treasure trove of powerful lyrics and dynamite music. The song "Stronger Than Me" is one of the ones my best friend Karin related to : my experience from her viewpoint. The ~ lyrics are dark and intense, and the music ; echoes their intent. "I don’t know how : you can take it / invest your heart and then ¯ youbreakit / I don’ tknow how youcan set : it free / you must be stronger than me" : certainly sums up my somewhat ¯ overoptimistic romantic enthusiasms according to Karin. "Breakdown" is a power ballad about a ~ love gone so wrong one has left, but the ¯ other p~rson keeps pulling you back like ~ a pit of quicksand. "I’m coming to your ~ breakdowntonight.""Enough ofMe" was ¯ another sock to the stomach in its eerie : capturing of what the last year of my last ; majorrelationship was like. see Jirn,p. 14 The Tulsa Phiharmonicpresents pianist Janina Fialkowska the third concert in the, Masterworks Series Saturday, January 22, 8pm Tulsa Performing-Arts Center Debussy, Prelude a l’apres midi d’une faune Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 16 Wagner, selections from Der Ring des Nibelungen Tickets: 747-PHIL or 596-7111 earles, Allen & Rive.ra URBANTULSA THE KERR FOUNDATION, INC. FOUNDERS AND ASSOCIATES, INC. "cO IJ/IELLIAS cao~oea~v:VAL CANIPAROLIw~€:FREOEIIIC CHOPIN Long before multi-million dollar book deals - were the fashion, Alexandre Dumas’ son (yes, the "The Three Musketeers" author) converted his torrid:turned-terminal love affair into a best seller. From there, composer Guiseppe Verdi adapted the story for opera (hello, "La Traviata"). Today, choreographer Val Canipamli finished the iob of turning "La Traviata" into dance. Using drama, not melodrama. For understatement underscored. A full-length love story. "You don’t have to knew ballet to love ballet. You just have to try it." -- MARCE£LO ARGELJNI ARTISTIC DIRECTOI~ " FRIDAY 8 PI~EBRUARY 11 SATURDAY B PMFEBRUARY 12 SUNDAY 3 PMFEBRUARY 13 SEASON SPONSORS: ABC Music Order tickets by calling The Tulsa BaJlet Ticket Offica: 749-600| 4512 S. Peoria Ava. , Tulsa, OK 74105-4563 ¯ VisH GILCREASE MUSE I~" SUNDAYS Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 11 am, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 Community of Hope (Welcoming), Service - 6pm, 2545 S. Yale, 585-1800 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation Service - 11am, 2545 S. Yale, 749-0595 (Welcoming) Church of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist Service - 1 lain, 1314 No. Greenwood, 587-1314 Metropolitan Community Church United Service, llam, 1623 North Maplew00d, Info! 838-1715 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Sunday School - 9:45am, Service - 10:45am, 3210b So. Norwood Parish Church of St. Jerome (Evangelical Anglican Church in America) Mass - 1lain, 205 W. King (east of N. Denver), Info: 582-3088 Unity. Church of Christianity Services: 9:15 & 11:00 am, 3355 S. Jamestown,749-8833 University of Tulsa Bisexual/Lesbian/Gayfrransgendercd Alliance 6:30 pm, Meets at the United Ministry Ctr., 5th & Evanston, 583-9780 ~’ MONDAYS HIV Testing Clinic, Free & anonymous testing. No appointment required. Walk in testing: 7-8:30pm, 834-TEST (8378)3501 E. Admiral (east of Harvard) HIV Rap Sessions at Bless the Lord At All Times Christian Center 7:30pro, 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 PFLAG, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays 2rid Mon/each mo. 6:30pm, Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Women/Children & AIDS Committee, call for meeting date, noon, 585-5551 Council Oak Men’s Chorale, rehearsals - call for times, info: 748-3888. I~" TUESDAYSAIDS Coalition of Tulsa, call for next meeting date. 1430 S. Boulder, 585-5551 Live And Let Live, Community of Hope United Methodist, 7:30pro, 2545 S. Yale Multienltural AIDS Coalition, call for next meeting date. Urban League, 240 East Apache, 584-0001 PrimeTimers, mens group, Pride Center. 1307 E. 38th Coming Out Support Group (TOHR/HOPE) Tuesdays, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, info: 743-4297 ~ WEDNESDAYS Bless The Lord At All Times Christian Center Prayer & Bible Study, 7:30 pm 2207 E. 6th, 583-7815 House of the Holy Spirit Ministries, Inc. Service - 7pm, 3210b So. Norwood Tulsa Native American Mens Support Group, more information, call 582-7225 TCC Gay & Lesbian Association of Students (GLAS), Call for info: 595-7632. Lambda A-A, 7 pm, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. ~" THURSDAYS HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education Anonymous HIV Testing, Testing: 7 - 8:30pm 834-8378, 3507 E. Admiral Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network (O’RYAN) Support/social group for 18-24’ s, call Red Rock Mental Health at 584-2325 Substance Abuse Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS, Info: 834-4194 ~ FRIDAYS SafeHaven, Young Adults Social Group, 1 st Fri/each mo. 8pm, Pride Ctr., 1307 E. 38th I~" SATURDAYS Narcotics Anonymous, 11 pm, Community of Hope,1703 E. 2nd, Info: 585-1800 Lambda A-A, 6 pm, Pride Center, 1307 E. 38th, 2nd ft. t~= OTHER GROUPS T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform & Leather Seekers Association, info: 298-0827 Gal-A-Vanting, Womens Social & Cultural Group Call for info: Kathy at 322-6322, or Barb at 459-6825. OK Spoke Club, Gay & Lesbian Bike Organization. Long rides & short rides from Zeigler Park. Long & short tides from Tulsa Gay Community Center. Write for info: POB 9165, Tulsa, OK 74157 Mixed Volleyball, non-active in winter, call Shawn at 243-5190 for spring activities. Ifyour organization is not listed, please let us know. Call 583-1248 orfax 583-4615. reviewed by Barry Hensley Tulsa City-County Library Here are a couple of new books at the library that you shouldn’t miss! A few years ago, author Rik Isensee wrote an eulighteningbookforGay men, rifled "Reclaiming Your Life: The Gay Man’s Guide to Love, Self-Acceptance and Trust." He’s back with a new winner for those of us in our, ahem, late thirties (and on up), "Are You Ready?" The time has come for the community to understand that Gay life doesn’t end simply because you remember Watergilte. This book helps you learn to celebraie i the positive things about aging (flexibility, " greater "One d Isensee’s primary tasks is to help Gay males reach closure with a youtlt~l identity¯ The key to this is learning to stop living for the moment¯ For a ¯ reclaim youthful ambitions. This tendency : can be compared to the stage of ¯¯ ’bargaining’ in grief reactions. If only I’d just work harder, exercise more, go to ¯ bars, get a facelift, get a tattoo- I’ll be all ¯ right." One of the suggested steps toward stabilizing your life is to get in a long term relationship. Just because it didn’t work whenyouwereyoungand foolish doesn’t mean it won’t work now! There is a good section that provides some basic guidance toward finding a rdationship, including "what are you looking for?," "distinguish _between desirables.and necessary qualities," and variety of reasons, "be open to men who " don’tfityouinsual type." we are living longer. _There are alsosomegood tolerances, self ann " 1- .... ¯.... " ~ d nav" ate neell to remmn acceptance) an lgate~_____-~_~. the negatives (dis-eti~ vital and involved. over physical aging, d i s i 11Usi onm e n t,--It Is very Important examples of how depressio,and lethargy). One of Isensee’s to-not waste time primary tasks is to help re]ivln6 - Gay males reach closure with a youthful identity, the past.. The key to this is learning to stoplivingfor themoment. Fora variety of re~ons~ we are living long~-and need to remain vital and involved. It is very important to not waste time reliving the past. As Isensee explains, "During this uncertain time, when we’ ve lost our way, there may be a sense of not having accomplished anything. Itmay be difficult to remember earlier goals or to ascribe any significance to them. It’s also hard to imagine what else we would like to do. Rather than tolerating the anxiety of not knowing, some men are tempted to make up for lost time - through some radical change for its own sake, or a mad dash to with Former and does not believe the accusation to be credible. Attorney Kerry Lewis, who is also a board member of Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights suggested that anti-Gay bias and political opportunism on the part of Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris and his staff may be behind this accusation. Lewis noted that such a case would have appeal for Republican Harris whose voter bast is tied to religious extremist elements in the Republican Party. Lewis also said that given the level of anti-Gay prejudice in the area’s jury pool; Harris maybecalculating thatheneednotactually prove Former guilty, that is that merely being a Gay man accused by a younger man will be taken as proof of guilt in a legal system. that is hostile to minority citizens. DrumwrightattorneyTimDaniel whose practice~has’included defending Gaymen relationships change over the years. No, thesethi~gs are not easy, but the hard work will pay off in. the end! Another new book is, ’q’he Book of Gay and Lesbian Quotations." This is a fun compilation of quotes by Gays and ¯ Lesbians; and Gay-friendly peopleas well, ¯ from ancient times to the present. It is a ." simple reference book broken down into ¯ broad subjects: solitude, morality, hope, ¯ etc. : Some of the better quotes are: "a waist ¯ is terrible thing to mind," "anyone who ¯ says that softball is a boring game to . watch isn’t looking at the right things!," : and "the only way of getting dd of temptation is to yield to it." This is a super : book for one liners. : Check for these and other fun books at ¯ your local branch library, or call the ¯ Readers ServicesdepartmentattheCentral : Library at 596-7966. : who say they were entrapped by Tulsa ¯ Police, believes that the Tulsa County ¯ DistrictAttorney uses anti-Gay bias in the legal system to plea bargain cases, : knowing that accused Gay men, even if ¯ they are not guilty, or even if the police ¯ engaged in illegal conduct themselves in ¯ order to make an arrest, will accept a ~ "deal" rather than risk having a hostile ¯ jury and even more serious charges and ¯ punishment. : Anti-Gay hate crime victims, Tony Orr ¯ &TimBeauchamp, also have pointed out ¯ that Hams’ office failed to assist them in : getting normal compensation for their : medical expenses due to the assault on ¯ them, and that the DA’s office did not ¯ even prosecute seriously their assailants ¯ until after The Tulsa World wrote a story : about the DA’s inaction. ¯ Fortner did return a call to TulsaFami!y : Newsbutonadviceofhis attorney declined ; to comment onthe allegations. Calls to : Former’s attorney were not returned. January April July October December Even Out Your Monthly Electric Bills. At PSO, we know that changing weather conditions throughout the year can cause your monthly electric bills to rise and fall dramafieally. Which can make it hard to tflan your ¯household budget. That’s why~ ~ourAverage Monthly Payment plan, could be your_budgeting solution. Wata~you imy about the same each month, because it’s based on your gnevious 12 months.usage. That makes budgeting a breeze. And best of all ifs free. AMPis just one of several ttem~ole payment o~ons PSO offers you. For more a day. Or sign up forAMPon our P- 9 PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South West Company Holland Hall SCHOOL PRIMARY SCHOOL TOURS (AGE 3- GRADE 3) MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL TOURS (GRADES 4- I I) MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL TESTING (GRADES 4- II) PRIMARY SCHOOL TESTING (KINDERGARTEN- GRADE I) To reserve your place, please Call the Admission Office at 481=111.1; extension 251. 5666 E. 81st Street ~ Between Yale & Sheridan ~ Tulsa ~ www.hollandhall.org Holland Hall admits qualified students without regard to race, sex. religion, national or ethnic omgm, or p~.sical disabili~.. 800-559-1558 ~.NewNest.com The new Patti Johnsqq Wilson YWCA wi, be opening February 2000 Fitness Center Aerobics Aquatic Programs Licensed Child Care Our Proffress Le s! by Mary Schepers . - I will respect electrical energy and will TFNdo-it-yourself-dyke extraordinaire ¯ notwireanyfixture, outletorswitch’hot." The holidays are over, the mistletoe " - I resolve to keep saw blades sharp and delightfullynsed, abusedandrefused.The ¯ clean. I will unplug power saws before long nights and short days of winter seem ¯ removing the blade. to stretch on forever. It is - I resolve to use trendy the time to dreamoffuture projects that will not be started until spring time comes. And it is time for making all of those godawful New Year’s resolutions that endurebutfor a mere matter of days. Why not combine home projects with good intentions andmake some resolutions you’ll actually keep? Inall modesty, and with absolutely no sense of overstepping boundaries, your DIYD gently offers her own suggestions for your approval and implementatzon. Considerityourblueprint for a millennium of satisfying home projects. Or consider it your DIYD telling you what to do - again. And always. Why should this century be any different than the. last? You love it, ducklings, you know you do! Now, repeat after me - I resolve to always work safely! I will read and follow direction~ and will not by-pass guards or safety devices. I will use personal protection (safety glasses, earplugs, etc.), and ask for help if I need it. -I will measure twice (minimum!) and cut once. Woodis expensive and screwing up makesmecranky and unbearable. Let’ s avoid that this year. -I will not swear to the extent and/or noise level that the dog or cat needs deep therapy. -I will always involve my partner (if applicable) inhome repair and decoration decisions. Even if they say they "don’t care" - trust me, cupcake, theydo! - I resolve to take good care of my tools. I will keep them clean, organized and in good repair. I will thereby not waste precious project time obsessing about the mystery location of the screwdriver or paint roller. - I resolve not to treat any ofmy partner’ s questions as stupid - no matter how glaringly obvious the answer or solution. - Iwill not loan out tools I care about to people who abuse them or do not return them, I will acknowledge my emotional/ psychological bond with my tools, especially thoserequiring apower supply, - I will buy that leather tool bdtas soon as I can. And I will use it (silk boxers optional). - I resolve to always set my ladder up on a stable, even surface and to havesomeone watching out for me nearby. That especially applies if I am on the roof. The dog does not count as my ’safety buddy.’ -I resolve to overcome my fear and loathing of spiders and slugs long enough to enter the crawl space and make that minorplumbingrepair to thebathtub drain. Other-wise, I will overcome my aversion to paying a plumber to do the same. "In all modesty, and with absolutely no sense of overstepping boundaries, your DIYD gently offers her suggestions for your approval . . . Consider it your blueprint for a millennium of satisfying home projects. Or consider it your DIYD telling you what to do - again. And always. Why should this century be any different than the last?" colors and designs in my home sparingly, remembering fullyhow appalled I was by the ’50’s Peptopink bathroom walls, tile and tub. I am leaving a legacy! (this does not apply if you wish vengeance on your heirs) - I will always get three quotes for any contract labor, as well as references. - I resolve to be more respectful for the people wor.king atmylocal home repatr palace, even thal patronizing boob in plumbing. Fantasize about replumbing his fixtures, butdon’tactually threaten to do it this time. -I resolve to buy very good paint brushes and keep them clean and properly stored for a lifetime of painting pleasure. -I will not tell friends, family or relative strangers how they screwed up their latest project and what I wouldhavedonebetter. Do give them a stack ofDIYD columns as a form of gentle guidance. - I resolve to do one project this year, no matter how small, to improve the aesthetics, efficiency or value ofmyhome. - I resolve tomakemy DIYD that cocktail - a Manhattan with two cherries - as a small token of the gratitude I bear her for enlightening my life and improving my home! And your DIYD resolves to be back next month to help you make good on some of these intentions. PS: Your DIYD doesn’ t waste precious energy tying cherry stems into knots with her tongue when it is better applied to practical projects! ¯ By the time ~this song played, I was ¯ becoming a fan. So much so, I bought the CD If ’ , : you ve been depressed, and couldn t ¯ explain how debilitating a state it really ¯ can be, "Into The Dark" is one of those ¯¯ songs you play for people to make them understand what the dark night of the soul ¯ is all about. One ofthemore powerful and dark songs on thi~ album, it leaves you ." haunted. It’ s a ditty about going "into the ¯ soullinto the heart/into the dark", and : realizing that one’s been spinning one’s wheels keeping a dead relationship alive, ¯ not that Iwouldknowanythingabout that. "There was tire/therewas death/there was ¯ lyingonyourbreath/Itumedaway/Iwould ¯ pretend/but the fire never ends/I’ve been ¯ here sleeping all these years. " _" Lest you think it’s all doom a~ad gloom, : JulieCypher, Melissa’s longtimepartner, ¯ requested a more upbeat song for fear her to recognize same-sex civil marriage. It was thefirst state to offer domesticpartner benefits to state workers, one of the first states to recognize second-parent adoptions and one ofthe first states to ban. discriminationbasedonsexual orientation. -The Mormon church, which has campaigned.-against Gay marriage in Vermont, Hawaii and California, issued a brief statement repeating its position and ¯ saying,"As the legislative process moves forward, The ChUrch of Jesus Cqh-’ist of Latter-day Saints urges the citizens of Vermont and their elected representatives to protect the uniqueness and sanctity of traditional marriage and to preserve the family ~ the basic unit of society." Next Door In New Hampshire A statelawmakeris trying to make sure Gay New Hampshire couples do riot take advantage of the Vermont ruling. Rep. Gary Torressen, R-Center Harbor, says he was disappointed by the decision that Gay couples are entitled to the same benefits and protections as husbands and wives. Torressen said he filed., his bill, which would prevent New Hampshire from recognizing same-sex marriages contracted out of state, in anticipation of the Vermont court’s decision. The Legislature repealed a ban on Gay foster parents and Gay adoptions. The state also has a law that protects Gays and Lesbiansfrom discrimination in housing, employmentand access topublicfacilities. State Sen. Rick Trombly, a Boscawen Democrat who is Gay, said New Hampshire shouldgo further and set upits own domestic partnership system. Rep. Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth, has filed a bill that would extend medical benefits to domestic partners, andrecently, trustees for the state university system approved domestic partner benefits for employees. But Gays and Lesbians still lackfull acess to the samehealthinsurance, disability benefits, tax breaks and inheritance protections that married couples enjoy. Trombly believes New Hampshire lawmakers would support a domestic partnership system as a fundamental affirmation of equal rights. But he does not believe they would support Gay marriage, because many believe heterosexual marriage has a religious significance. State Sen. Pat Krueger, a conservative Republican from Manchester, said Tuesday she had Gay friends whose lives were complicated by their lack of legal protections, and she would consider supporting domestic partnerships. A spokeswoman for Gov. Jeanne Shaheen said the governorremains opposed to Gay marriage. Spokeswoman Pamela Walsh declined:comment on Shaheen’ s .view of domesticpartnership.legislation, sayingit was premature. Excerpts from the Supreme Court decision on marriages: Maythe stateofVermontexclude samesex couples from the benefits and protections that its laws provide to opposite-sex married couples? That is the fundamental question we address in this appeal, aquestionthatthecourtwellknows arouses deeply-felt religious, moral, and political beliefs. Our constitutional responsibility to consider the legal merits of issues properly before us provides no exception for the controversial case. The issue before the court, moreover, does not turnon the religious-or moral debate over ¯ inlimate same-sex relationships, butrather ¯ on the statutory and constitutionai basis for the exclusion of same-sex couples : from the secular benefits and protections : offered married couples. ¯ We conclude that under the Common Benefits Clause of the Vermont Constitution, which, in pertinent part, e,ads, that government ~s, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, ¯¯ protection, and security of the people,. ¯ nation, or community, and not for the particular emolument or advantage ofany i single person, family, or set of persons, ¯ who are a part only of that community," plaintiffs may not be deprived of the : statutory benefits andprotections afforded ¯ persons of the opposite sex who choose to ~ marry. We hold that the state is ¯ constitutionally required to extend to ¯ same-sex couples the common benefits : and protections that flow from marriage under Vermont law. ". (and) ¯ While the laws relating to marriage ¯ have undergone many changes during the ¯ last century, largely toward the goal of ¯ equalizing the status of husbands and ¯ wives, the benefits of marriage have not ¯ diminished in value. On the contrary, the ¯ =benefits and protections incident to a : marriagelicense under Vermontlaw have : never been greater. ¯ (andfrom Justice Denise Johnson) ¯ This case is undoubtedly one of the ¯ most controversial ever to come before ¯ this court. Newspaper, radio andtelevision ¯ media have disclosed widespread public ¯ interest in its outcome, as well as the full ¯ spectrum of opinion as to what that ¯ outcome should be and what its ¯ ramifications may be for our society as a ¯ whole. ¯ .One line of opinion contends that this is ¯ an issue that ought to be decided only by ¯ the most broadly democratic of our ¯ governmental institutions, theLegislature; ¯ and thatthe small group ofmenandwomen : comprising this court has no business deciding an issue of such enormous ¯ moment. : For better or worse, however, this is ¯ simply not So. This case came before us ¯ because citizens of the state invoked their ¯ ¯ constitutional right to seekredress through the judicial process of a perceived ¯ deprivation under state law. The Vermont ¯ Constitution does not permit the courts to decline to adjudicate a matter because its ¯ subject is controverslal, or because the ¯ outcome may be deeply offense to the Strongly held beliefs of many of our ¯ citizens. ¯ We do not have, as does the Supreme ¯ Court of the United States, certiorari -’ jurisdiction, which allows thatcourt, inits ¯ sole discretion, to decline to hear almost ¯ any case. To the contrary, if a case has ¯ been brought before us, and if the ¯ established procedures have been ¯ followed, as they were here, we must hear ¯ and decide it. : Moreover, we must decide the case on ¯ legal grounds. However much history, : sociology, religious belief, personal ¯ experienceor other considerations may ¯ inform our individual or collective : deliberations, we must decide this case, ¯ and all cases, on the basis of our ¯ understanding of the law, and the law ¯ alone. ¯" Thismustbethe trueandconstant effort ¯ of every member of the judiciary. That ¯ effort, needless to say, is not a guarantee ¯ of infallibility, nor even an assurance of ¯ wisdom. It is, however, the fulfillment of .. our pledge of office. Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesday Testing, 5 -8 pm Pride Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesday Testing, 5-8 pm Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime.appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 Church of the RestoratiOn Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday 1314 North Greenwood 587-1314 We knowyou’re going to love this[ Restaurant & Cabaret 310,East First Street Massage Therapy Services ¯ / Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T.| Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV? Need a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th at Peoria, 2nd floor Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236 Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro IGTA member Call 341, 6866 International Toursformoreinformation. A UTHENTIC FRESH 1TALIAN RAINBOW CUSINE TROUT OfEureka Springs ,Voted Number One in Arkansas! (SOD 253-6807 Closed Wednesday Center Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632 Red Rock Tulsa O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow ¯ Young Adult Network . Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325. TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 58:3- 1248 by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. ¯ into gender patterns as soon as they are One of my students owns 189 pairs of ~ born, wrapping them in blue or pink athletic shoes. Not quite Imelda Marcos, ~ blankets. Walk into any toy store and you butgettingthere.Anthonyisjust20years ¯ knowwhenyou’veenteredthegirls’aisle. old and already he is a sophisticated ¯ Everything suddenly has turned pink. collector. Collecting things is oddly ¯ Several of my friends with young sons importantformany ofus. I have other friends who accumulate Native American artifacts. And books. And jazz vinyl recordings. And Cacti. And uniforms. Most of us collect some-thing evenif this is only string or a draw full Of condoms. Our houses are museums. One ofmy professors saved sheets of toilet paper from bathrooms around the world. Me, I have.a stupendous collection of refrigerator magnets. We buy stuff; we give it away; we receive it; andwe curateit: Think of all those shoeboxes lined UP in Anthony’s bedroom. Things, clearly,are important for reasons beyond the utilitarian. Evenwearing themevery second until the day he dies, Anthony will never use up all his Shoes. He buys themto ownandnot particularly to wear. They helpmake sense ofwhom he is - or at least who he thinks he wants to be. Because ofthiS, ormaybe it’s their smell(they give him a buzz. Having just survived the holiday season, we know the pleasures and pains of stuff. Did you get what you want for the holidays? Did you make a list? Did you check it twice? Everyone grumbles about the materialism of a onetime religious celebration. But complain away, I sure had a lot of desperate company last month when I went foraging for things in the bleak shopping expanses of Walmart. "We slot our ehildren into gender patterns as soon as they are born, wrapping them in blue or pink blankets. Walk into any toy store and you know when you’ve entered the girls’ aisle... Several of my friends w~th young sons complain that it is difficult to find gender-neutral toys. ’One two-year old boy loves to play with brooms and vacuunl cleaners. His morn, of course, has to go to the girlS’ side to find toy household eleanlng equipment. And, worse, the kid likes to play with dolls. His father nervously protests his son’s babydoll games. " Je~z! Can’t you buy the boy atru~k?" This connection Of stuff and identity is characteristically American. We learn early on to~ define ourselves in terms of things, We_+play a:game with children called "favorites." Weinsist that kids tell us their favorite"color~ music, television show, make of car,.or ice-cream. Evenif complain that it is difficult to find gender-neutral toys: One two-ye~ old boy loves to play with. brooms and vacuum cleaners. His ~m0m+ of course, has to go to the girls’ side to find toy household cleaning equipment. And, worse, the kid likes to play with dolls. His father nervously protests his son’s. babydoll games. Jeez! Can’t you buy the boy a truck? This paternal nervousness signals the symbolic strength of the connections we draw between things and identity, ff doll equals girl, thenboy-whoplays -with-doll equals girlish, perhaps even Gay. Our use of particular things sends messages, accurate or not, aboutwho. we might be. We know that both men and women need to.practice nurturing. Butthe doll-loving boy, like the toy gun-toting girl, violates the cultural code of consumption that attributes gender to things. And, who knows? Maybe the Kid really just likes dolls. Or maybe he has already figured out our consumption code and he likes dolls on purpose in order to Send dad a message. My daughters, too’old for dolls, and also,too old for Pokemon, this year wrote Gameboy camera on their Christmas lists. They didn’ t seem worried about the name. Why Gameboy and not Gamegirl? In hierarchical systems, it is easier to "ups,h,ift" than "dowm Shifi. Gifts wear pants. Not .too many boys wear ¯ dresses. Women become d0ctors; not too ¯ many mendreamaboutbecominganurse. " Except, perhaps+ some of those sweet, ¯ doff-loving boys of course ~When I was a kid, Barbie dolls didn’t :~ last long in my neighborhood. We’ d steal ¯ themfromour sisters .and use thbm cruelly. we aetuallyhave,nofavorites-~ this question ¯ They,w~ould.’be J..gan of Arc atthe stake, puslies~s tomeasureandsztuateoursel~es: . andWor~.~ If ~eh~d any ~ense, w~ W~~d svi_thin the w0dd of goods.. So goes .,".ha’ve,ca~-~f~illyst6i?&l them away intheig American.inff!~iduality:;~and.so..goe~rour..: ." boxes to’become’rich by selling them to _economy:as well....... ~ , - ....... " ........ ., today’s fanatic Barbie ¢_ollectors: I can Favorites make less senseintta.ditional~ ~ recommend a great website with-pictures societies where individuality is ,muted~ ." of.Ken, from 1961 to 2000: Check out and where the range of goods is.litfiited. ¯ www.manbehindthedoll.com. This guy But even in ¯simpler societies,¯ things: ." ~ really likes,his boy dol|s.J’m suggesting differentiate gender.. Women wear : to Anthony thathe build a similar Shrine differentarticles of clothing than do men~ : to his boy shoes :’ . z They oftent~s~different tO~Is~ The)~ may .~ Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.’D,~ ~teaChes noteatihesamefoods~.W,eslotourchi.’l.dren. "- anthropology, at .t:he.~University of Tulsa, We dedicate an enormous mount of resources to outreach, networking, building allies and forging ties with advocacy, educational and religious organizations. Even when distribution goes well, though, it hardly covers our costs. To do this kind of media work, we rely on outside support from our friends who share our goals and understand the unique role films like IT’ S ELEMENTARY and THAT’S A FAMILY!canplayinprevenfingprejudice and violence. Pleasehelp us keep thehugemomentum IT’S ELEMENTARY generated going strong. Help us welcome the millennium by getting THAT’S A FAMILY! out of our editing room and into elementary school classrooms all across the country. Please send your tax-deductible donations toWomen’ s Educational Media, 2180 Bryant Street, Suite 203, San Francisco,CA94110. Orgo to this interuet address to makea secure on-line donation with your visa or mastercard: http://www.womedia.org/support.html Donations of any size will be of great help. With warm regards and deep appreciation for your generous support, - Debra Chasnoffand Helen S. Cohen Producers P.S. We are honored to let you know that IT’S ELEMENTARY just won the 1999 Multicultural Education Media Award,givenby th6National Association for Multicultural Education (N.A.M.E.). Weknow this award -- the first N.A.M.E. has ever given to anything Gay-related will help us build even better alliances with educators who are committed to addressing diversity !ssues. Please help ustoday to get THAT S A FAMILY! out where it can be put to good use. Women’s Educational Media 2180 Bryant Sreet Suite 203 San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 641-4616, (415) 641-4632 fax Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon said thatRudyde Leon, the under secretary of defense for personnel, and Douglas Dw0rkin, the acting general counsel,raised the matter in a Dec. 18 memorandum to service leaders. "It is important that the leadership of each of the services issue a strong statement to the field that harassment~of service members for any reason, to include alleged or perceived homosexuality, will not be tolerated," according to thememo,releasedThursday by the Defense Department. Bacon said it had not been made sufficiently clear to commanders that a service member’ s complaint about being harassed for alleged homosexuality is not grotmds forinvestigating the complainant. Instead it should be the basis for investigating the harassers, he said. image would be one see Jim, p. 14 of a liorrible drago,n,, given the tone of the oth~"rdationship songs. Melissa asked her~f,"How much do I love Juiie? I love her~uchthat I would want to die in her ar~ Quite a wonderful thing to say aboi~.’ anyone’s lover, male or female. "S!O~p" was the answer to the question, a lovely song about getting away from the noise ofthe world and snuggling into your ¯¯ lover’s arms and listening to him/her breathing, and feeling trusting and ¯ comfortable enough with another person : to be able to sleep. It’s a lovely song of ¯ quiet comfort. ¯ And then there’s issues of equality. : "Truth of the Heart"is a wonderful ballad ¯ to the truth that "We all begin this race at : the start" and about how "deep down : inside we’re all the same / try not tojudge ¯ someone / and never shame." Partnered ¯ for almost 11 years now, the two have two ¯ children of their own. Melissa wrote this ¯ song to explain to their children about ¯ how to deal with life. Words to live by. In : "MamaI’m Strange", thejoys of growing ¯ up Gay - or just different - is artfully : explored, with just the fight amountof ¯ angst to remind us where we came from ¯ and how hard the struggle could be at ¯ times~ ¯ The single most striking song is called : "S~carecrow", and it’s about Matthew ¯ Sheppard. She said she hadlots of trouble ," w~riting that because here she was also ¯ writing ’’Truth of the Heart" as well and ¯ felt she couldn’t be writing about people : being good in one song and denounce ¯ them in another. So the end of the song is ". her way of forgiving (but not forgetting) ¯ the second attacker (I think he was going ¯ to trial or prison at that time). It has to be : heard to be experienced. If you aren’t ¯ crying and angry after hearing it, you’re ¯ dead. ¯ There are two versions of this CD, one ¯ of which is already hard to find. It has ¯ three extra songs, "Touch and Go", : "Cherry Avenue" (where she mentions the name of one-of the Lesbian bars in ¯ which she sang for about 4 years before being discovered -Que Sera), and "My ¯ Beloved", and is released in a cardboard ¯" case. The regular version has 11 songs in theusual plasticjewel box; Whichincludes : the lovely ode tounrequitedlove, ’"’Angels ¯ Will Fall". That’ s the one most folks are ¯ going to be familiar with at this point. ¯ For you men out there: I know that in ¯ some-minds, there’s a big chasm between ¯ Gay men and Lesbians, and this extends ¯ to performer preferences. I’ve heard the ¯ nasty comments - from both sides. All I ¯ can say is, get over your prejudices, and ¯ get this CD. It’s well worth it, and ¯ incredible in its beauty and reflection of ¯ life. And, Melissa, you have a new fan. Thank you Karin, for your contributions ¯ to widening my musical horizons and the infolmation contained in the above article ¯ about the backgrbund of the songs. Seems ¯ ironic that I’ mbeing tutoredinGay culture ¯ and musical icons by a straight woman, ¯ but suchis life. I feel like I shouldknow all ¯ this alrcady! ." There’s a few things Karin said that I ¯ think bear repeating, for both Melissa ¯ fans, and more importandy, for us all: "I ¯ am so happy that I could bring a singer ¯ into your life who writes and sings from ¯ ¯ the heart. VH1 is rertmmng her "Behind the Music" next week, and I’m going to tape it for you You’ll like it. It’ s the only ¯ oneI veseenwheretheartmtlsn thit~hing ¯ about something. Someofthemjustwhine ¯ endlessly. ’I love Shania Twain, but her ¯ BTM special was one endless bitch and ¯ whine. ¯ Stevie Nicks doesn’t bitch, but she’s : had such lousy things happen, to her, by : her own hand, that it just sounds so ¯ depressing. You know Melissa has been ¯ depressed, butthere’s somuchshedoesn’t ¯ say. I saw John Mellencamp’s BTM ¯ (Behind the Music), I’ve sc~en Cherts ¯ dozens of times, along with Madonna’ s, and Melissa’ s just seems so upbeat that Timothy Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fightfor justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. SprinL Sprint PCS" The C ear Alternative to Cellular Sprint PCS" Select Retailer $99.95 New Sprint PCS Phone -25.00 Less instore rebate $74.95 Net cost Buy any Sprint PCS Phone and get $25 off!’ Everyone is approved! All Sprint PCS service plans include.~ ¯ Free Voicemail, Free Caller ID ¯ Free Call Waiting ¯ Free 3 way calling , No activation fee ¯ No contract required ¯ 100% Sprint PCS Nationwide Neb,vork. Tulsa Locations: 2001 S. Garnett, 437-2dd~. 3733S. Memorial, 66003zl4 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: ,109 N. Mission, 227-2322 Meet Local .Guys for Hot Ti @Origin. 18+. Additional features from personal ads see Jim, p. 15 she seems to have had a great life. Like I said before, growing up Gay anywhere, I know from you, is awful, but growing up Gay in Leavenworth, Kaus~ must be the pits. She doesn’t make much of anything depressing. I was veryimpressed. Thanks for the remark to the Gay men to listen to Lesbians. I think they shodd each take heed of that. And remember, she’s the only one I know of getting the word out to the .mainstream crowd. P,e~,,ple like her so much that they tend to. forget" (or tryto ...forget) that she’s Gay. She doesn’t let them. ("Someone’s spitting blood/face downinthe dirt/someone’ s thinking about ~ a gun/to try and stop the hurt/someone drew conclusious/on the wail of destiny/ someone’s getting louder/and that someone would be me.") That should be importanttous ail."- Miss KarinGregory. And I agree. Janis Ianis performing Saturday March 4 in Dallas, TX at a club called Uncle Caivin’s with Buddy Mondlock. And ladies, as aiways, if you have something to contribute or would like to see in this column, please let me know care ofTFN, or email me at tfnentritr@aol.com. I wouldn’ twantto disappointthe diehard readers of this column, so now it’s time for... The Stevie Nicks mention. She has a featured track on the new Sheryl Crow and FriendsCDand video. The song is the venerable Gold Dust Woman, and she’s never sounded better! The CD’ s out now, video to follow. Sarah. McLachlan, Chrissie Hynde, the Dixie Chicks and others aiso sing with Sheryl. And Stevie still has a few shows left to do in Las Vegas at the house of Blues this month. Hernew album, first duein October oflast year, now set for sometime this year, maybe, is being produced by one of the better known producers of hip hop and rap. I’d mention the name, but I caff t rememberit. Shery! Crow was producing, which wouldhavemadefor an interesting aibum - she did the excellent jobs of producing the Stevie songs forthe Practical Magic soundtrack. Stevie and rap... That will be interesting as well, aithough I fear for different ~easous. We shall see.., or hear. The ever handsome pianist Jim Brickman performed at the PAC on December 10, 1999, along with the very talented John Trones and the beautiful Anne Cochran. The show was lovely, an eveningofromance and seasonal favorites, and as Mr. Brickman described the evening, much like a gathering of friends round the piano. Okay, if the friends had areally large living room, and reaily good - moodlighting. Andamplifiers. Thegroup .i did a swell job ofmaking a cavern into an intimate cabaret. Mx. Brickman has a charming sense ofhumor and intelligence .to complementhis goodlooks. (Evenbetter m person and up close. I love my job...) He seemed very relaxed, and it was like meeting an old friend for the first dine. His playing can certainly set amood, from exuberant to melancholy and romantic all at the same time; and has a warmth to it thatis reminiscentof spending the evening with a loved one by a fire. Or, if you’ re .single, as I am, curledup in a comforter with a good book and cup, of cocoa. Now that weknow how I spendmy evenings... What? Have I said too much? Mr. Brickman is a prolific songwriter as well, setting words to music that is lovely : to hear and unabashedly sentimental in feeling. : Anne Cochran, who met Mr. Brickman ¯ inhigh school, where they formed aband, : has one of the most incredible voices I’ve : heard. And her phrasing with a song is : immaculate. Shecaptured thewarmthand joy of the compositions she performed withexpertease, andhas alovely, energetic yet relaxed stage presence that also added to the ambiance of the evening. She has a new CD out called "Lucky Girl’_’, which I would highly recommend for a gift based on whatI heard that evening. Iwould have one in my hot little hands right now had they not been sold out. She isa name you might be familiar with, she has had a top ¯ 5 hit with Jim Bfickman on the song : -"After All These Years" which has been : reed by skater Rosalyun:Summers, both : live and recorded. It was also the song ¯ used on the final episode of "Home : Improvement", andshe will be featured in :- the Lifetime television speciai"A Golden Moment". Definitely worth checking out. You can order her CD at www.AnneCochran.com. John Trones (pronounced ~tro-ness’), who is as nice and gorgeous as he is .talented (what a voice! whata smile! what a chest! what a pleasant man!), was a delight to listen to as well. With a million dollar smile that shines like a searchlight, and a voice that has incrediblerange and expressiOn,hejoined Anne on several numbers and had some lovely solos. His singing soared through the Chapman theatre and could melt the most hardened heart. He has an aibum of standards and ballads out called "Forward", which I was able to snag and most definitely would make a great Valentine’s girlie for the special man on your list. He can melt the ice off the fiorth Pole with that voice, and his phrasing and reading of the standards is right on target. A pity he’s in Minneapolis, I would love to see more of him. He does Cabaret there at Blanche’s, and has performed in a number of Gay plays, listed on his web site, www.JohnTrones.com, which is worth a look. You can also order his CD there. After listening to several review CDs of dubious quality sent to TFN, put out by Gay artists of dubious talent, attempting to sing standards and not succeeding very well at anything other than murdering the music, I am glad to say that his would be the one I would, and did, purchase. They were joined by Tracy Silverman on electric violin, and he did quite an interesting variationonthe Beade’ s"Here Comes The Sun". His playing added an interesting embellishment to Mr. Brickman’s piano. I will say he had the most lovely and LONG hair I’ ve seen on aman in along time. He has an album out on Windham Hill records. If you get the chance to catch any or all of these artists should they make a return appearance, DO SO! You won’t regret it. Just make sure you have a date, and one that won’t stand you up. I was looking forward to Peter Buffett’ s "Spirit: A Journey in Dance, Drum, and Song"aunique blend of Native American and contemporary music, dance, and storytelling, to have been held January 3 and 4th, 2000 at the Brady Theatre. According to the latest info, ail spring dates have been put onhold. According to my sources, a late spring tour is in the plans. James Christjohn serves as TFN Entertainment editor with emphasis on the performing arts. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, January 2000; Volume 7, Issue 1 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Bob Rounsavell Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, December 1999; Volume 6, Issue 12 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/596 2000 AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS research aMUSEments arts and entertainment Bars Blood Donation bullying businesses children churches Department of Defense Do-It-Yourself Dyke Domestic Partner Benefits Don't Ask Don't Tell Dr. Jeffrey Beal Evergreen Awards Gay marriage Gay Studies HIV homophobia homphobia It's Elementary Jim Christjohn John McCain Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm Leather marriage equality Mary Schepers mental disabilities military military inclusion Mr. Sooner State Leather NAMES Project Nationwide Insurance Oklahoma Mr. Leather performing arts Raging Lesbian Read All About It Red Cross restaurants Ric Poston Rick Fortner Rik Isensee sexual assault sodomy laws Steve Forbes Ted Campbell That's A Family Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Public Schools Vemont Vermont visitation rights https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/590625efbb63be8cb25d8b9dc93531aa.jpg b702d4d8f1ee914bff551b9101daf0e2 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/06ce247df8f6a426e68a567cee7a119b.pdf ed98d8ae2a578073440d4ea6e68c6db6 PDF Text Text Serving Lesbian; Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Pride 2000: Greg, Greta + O RU Too High Court + Scouts: No Gays Need Apply by Laurie Asseo, Associated Press WASHINGTON - The Boy Scouts can bar Gays from serving as troop leaders, the Supreme Court said at the end of June in a 5-4 decision on "free-association rights." The decision may also let the-6.2-millionmember organization reject Gay boys as members. Forcing the Scouts to accept Gay troop leaders would violate the organization’ s right of"expressive association" under the Constitution’s First Amendment, the justices nded on the last day of their 1999-2000 term. "The Boy Scouts asserts that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the values it seeks to instill," Chief Justice William H. Relmquist wrote for the court. Requiring the organization to have a Gay scoutmaster would force it "to send a message, both~£o the youth members and the world, that the Boy Scouts accepts homosexual conduct as a legitimate form of behavior," the ,..hief justice said. "-.We’ re very pleased," said Scouts spokesman Gregg Shields. "It’ s going to allow us to continue our mission of providing character-building programs for youth." see Scouts._ tg. 9 TULSA - While the Edsel ferrying Greg Louganis broke down and despite a steady but mild rain, Tulsa’s 2nd Pride Parade went off without a hitch. Beginning at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center near 41st & Peoria, several hundreds gathered along with grand marshals, Olympic champion Greg Louganis and distinguished US Army veteran Greta Cammermeyer. The. parade featured churches, choirs, drag queens and female impersonators, leather "boys and daddies," bars and businessmen who spread out over more than a mile and ended up at Veteran’ s Park for the Pride Festival. This year like last, a handful of protesters gathered at the beginning of the parade, and then scurried to the end Oral Roberts University Alumni Humanity Unites for Human Rights to protest yet again. In contrast with those who were protesting, the pastor and a couple of members of the Carbondale Assembly of God passed out bottles of water without any message of condemnation as they did last year also. When asked about their effort, they said they just wanted to act with compassion and to avoid the nastiness - leaving judgement to the Almighty. see Pride, p. 6 Gree Louganis at the Millennium Parade Sharon Toele with Greta Cammermever uNPredicts: AIDS Will Kill i" Vermont Judge Won’t Block- Coke Adds Benefits for One Half.of African Teens Unions, Officials Rebel + More Gay +-Lesbian Partners GENEVA (AP) - AIDS has killed 19 million people ¯¯ worldwide, but the worst is yet to come, the United Nations has just predicted: the disease is expected to ¯ wipe out half the teen-agers in some African nations, ¯ ¯ devastating economies and societies. ’q’here is a whole generation which is being taken outYsaid Peter Plot, head of the U.N. Joint Program on HIV/AIDS. He said vulnerable countries in Asia, Eastem Europe and the Caribbean risk a similar catastrophe unless they act now to control infection rates. In its 135-page report released at the end of June, UNAIDS estimates: -The virus has killed 19 million people worldwide, up fronr 16.3 million at the end of 1998. ~t has infected 34 million more, including 5.4 million last year alone. -More than 13 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. -In 16 sub-SaharanAfrican countries, more than onetenth of the population ages 15-49 carries the Human lmmunodeficiency Virus, or HIV. -In seven of those countries, at least one-fifth of the population is infected. One-of the countries where 20% of the population is infected is South Africa, which has 4.2 million people who are HIV positive- the largest single national total. The southern African nation of Botswana has the worst rate, with more than one in three adults infected. That is the equivalent of 90 million people out of the U.S. population of 270 million, see Africa, p. 9 DIRECTORY PRIDE PHOTOS US & WORLD NEWS HEALTH NEWS ENTERTAINMENT GAY STUDIES P. 2 P. 3 P. 4 P. 6 P. 8 P. 10 MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)- Opponents of Vermont’ s civil unions. made another legal bid to block thelaw from taking effect on July ¯ 1st. A day after a Superior Court judge refused to issue a ." preliminary injunction blocking the first civil unions ceremonies. from taking place, opponents filed a new request and added new ° plaintiffs. A Virginia lawyer representing Shdtra and the other plaintiffs ° said Superior Cpurt Judge Stephen Martin did not have enough ; information beftre him when the judge ruled that no irreparable ° harm would occur if the law went into effect. ¯ Lawyer Erik Stanley asked to add two new plaintiffs to the ; lawsuit: town clerks in Corinth and Fairfield, who say they would ° be harmed if forced to issue civil union licenses. ¯ "These town clerks object to doing that on moral and religious ° grounds and have asked the attorney general’ s office if they could " not issue these licenses," Stanley said. ’The attorney general ; responded in a letter to them that if they refuse to issue civil ¯ unions licenses, they could be faced with civil lawsuits from the " individuals to whom they refused to issue licenses." There also ¯ is the remote possibility of criminal fines or prison terms. ¯ Several town clerks say they object to homosexuality and do ¯ not want to be forced into providing licenses that will grant same- " sex couples nearly all the rights and benefits Of marriage. " " The clerks now have been added to 15 people who sued to -" overturn the law. Eleven of those plaintiffs are members of the ¯ Vermont House who opposed civil unions, including prominent" representatives such as Sheltra, Oreste Valsangiacomo, D-Barre, ° Robert Starr, D-Troy, and George Schiavone, R-Shelburne. ¯ They argue that an informal betting pool among 14 House " members who supported the bill should invalidate it. The 14" bettors each threw in a dollar to wager on the number of "yes" ¯ votes the bill would garner when it went before the House for ¯ preliminary approval in March. It passed by seven votes that day. " Opponents argued the pool should have disqualified those who " participated because it gave them an interest in the outcome of the ¯ vote. ¯ In a recent ruling, Martin said allowing Gay and Lesbian " couples to enter into civil unions beginning Saturday would pose : no harm to the initial 15 plaintiffs, see Vermont, p. 9. WASHINGTON The Human Rights Campaign, a national Gay civil rights organization, commended the Coea-Cola Co. today for announcing plans to extend health care benefits to same-sex domestic partners of its United States-based employees. "This is excellent news, and yet another sign that domestic partner benefits are becoming a standard component of benefits packages at forward-thinking companies," said Kim I. Mills, HRC’ s education director who oversees WorkNet, HRC’s workplac project. "With this announcement, Coke becomes the 99th member of the Fortune 500 to take this important step." The Human Rights Campaign and its Business Council have been working with Coea-Cola and KOLAGE, its Lesbian and Gay employee resource group, for many months on this issue, Mills said. HRC WorkNet (www.hrc.org/worknet) provided data, strategy and other advice as needed. The Coca-Cola Co. released a statement today announcing the benefits, which will begin Jan. 1, 2001. According to the statement, employees will be able to sign up during the fall benefits enrollment period. The company also said it is researching opportunities for implementing its policy on a global basis. "Our company is committed to attracting and retaining the most diverse workforce in the world," Coca-Cola said in the statement. "Our goal is to ensure that the Coea-Cola Company is the best place for all people to work. This extension of benefits is another step toward achieving that goal." "The Coea-Cola Company has provided worldclass leadership to the beverage industry, and to the business commtmity in Atlanta and all of Georgia by taking this historic action," said Harry Knox, executive director of the Georgia Equality Project, whichrepresents Georgia’ s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered citizens, see Coke, p. 2 �www.gaytulsa.org )18.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 712-2324 *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 o-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinl~ net 610-5323 *CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial TULSA - gaytulsa.org, a non-profit con583-2119 Publisher + Editor: *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine tinues to stir controversy about and in the Tom Neal 835-2376 *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Tulsa Lesbian, Gay, Bi and ~rans com749-4511 *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria munities. Writers + contributors: 744-4280 Hosted by webmaster David and his Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square James Christjohn, Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum. Mary : partner, Seth, a statement on the sitenotes, 834-4234 Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw *The Star, 1565 Sheridan ¯. " [that it is] an effort to chronicle the dme 585-3405 *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main sl~ent out and about in the Tulsa gay scene 660-0856 Member of The Associated Press *TNT’ s, 2114 S. Memorial ¯ mixed with a bit of news and 584-1308 Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd ¯ information. We do not claim to be fair, of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by *The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 objective, or even nice. This is 99% Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals ¯ opinion. Whileyoumayormaynotagree, T~ , lz: ~ h/~w~ and may not be reproduced ei.th.er in ¯ we canpromise you will be either amused, 747-1508 whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 743-1000 ¯ baffled, or (more commonly) pissed if *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s ¯ 250-5034 you keep visiting. We accept gossip, slan*Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 sexual orientation. Correspondence zs asslmaed to be for ¯ 665-4580 der, or anything else you want to submit *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & be¯ we can post here." 712-1122 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 comes the sole property of TJ.~, F¢,~.’. No,w÷ ..Each..rea.der 712-9955 The award winning site features links to *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 ¯ is entitled to 4 copies of each ediuon at distnbutton 494-2665 other web sites of interest and offers the *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale ¯ 743 -5272 points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. observations of local writer, Dyke DiBrookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 746-0313 ¯ vine. Also included are cordial descrip*CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 747-6827 295-5868 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 tions of local and state pnnt media: Tulsa *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth 582-0438 743-4117 581-0902, Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 Family News, The Gayly Oklahoman and Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 583-6611 622-0700 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. newcomer to Tulsa, the recently renamed Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker ¯ 834-4194 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral Tulsa Triangle. Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 481-1111 749-3620 ¯ Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st On the net: www.gaytulsa.org *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. ISth 834-8378 744-5556 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 838-8503 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood . *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 369-8555 Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 ¯ Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 838-1715 584=0337, 712-9379 *MCG United, 1623 N. Maplewood *Ross Edward Salon 748-3111 592-0460 " gAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. i The Georgia Equality Project also played Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 365-5658 744-9595 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria ¯ a key role in working with the company 610-0880 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. : and KOLAGE to help bring about the new 628-3709 *OSU-Tulsa ¯ policy. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 749-4901 808-8026 PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare GEP also unveiled a new initiadvg~to587-7674 ¯ 742-1460 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758.E. 21st ¯ day to persuade nine other Georgia COm459-9349 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 749-4195 " panies to provide domestic partner ben744-7440 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 584-2325 " efits to their Lesbian and Gay employees. *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 ¯ These companies are: Home Depot, At341-6866 O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults *International Tours : lanta Gas Light Co., BellSouth, Georgia 712-2750 ¯ Pacific, DeltaAirlines, Wachovia, United O’ RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 425-7882 582-3018 ¯ parcel.Service, Shaw Industries and Gulf St. Aidan’ s ,Episcopal church, 4045 N. Cincinnati *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 492-7140 747-0236 St. Dunstan,s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering ¯ Stream Aerospace. 582-3088 582-8460 ¯ *St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King "Some companies in Georgia are beThe Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 583-7171 : 599-8070 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder hind the times in their treatment of their *Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15 582-7225 747-5466 *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care Lesbian and Gay employees, said Kno . Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 595-4105 585-1234 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 "We are launching this initiative because *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 584-3112 Confidential I-IIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only our Gay daughters, sons, fathers, moth*Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 663-5934 Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 . ers, aunts, uncles and cousins should reMingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 298-0827 664-2951 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. . ceive benefits for their dependent family *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 838-7626 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo ¯ members just like everyone eis . 743-4297 ¯ *Tulsa Community College Campuses Earlier this month, DaimlerChrysler *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 : 747-5932 *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General MoRainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 749-8833 834-0617 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown ¯ tots Corp., along with the United Auto Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning ¯ Workers umon, announced they would 834-7921, 747-4746 B, ARTLESVILLE Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 749-6301 *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 ¯ offer health care coverage to same-sex Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 260-7829 partners of all eligible U.S. employees. It Paul Tay, Car Salesman OKLAHO MA CITY/NORMAN ¯ 481-0558 was the first time an endre industry, along *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 835-5563 ¯ Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848::2667 ¯ with its leading umon, announeed domesVenus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 743-1733 : Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 ¯ - tic partner benefits simultaneously. More Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 665-2222 : TAHLEQUAH : than.3,400 private and public employers *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 918-456-7900 592-0767 : Stonewall League, call for information: *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 918-456-7900 ¯¯ provide these benefits to their employees. ¯ *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church So far this year, an average of five www.gaytulsa.org 918-453-9360 : Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 employers a week are announcing these Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand : benefits, according to HRC’ s WorkNet, 579-9593 AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates 743-2363 : which tracks these trends. Many of All Sods Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria ¯ America’ s leading companies offer these 587-7314 EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS ¯ Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 501-253-7734 benefits including: IBM, Microsoft Shell 583-7815 Autunm Bre~.,ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 501-253-7457 ~ Oil, Walt Disney, Fannie Mae, Cifgroup, 583-9780 *Jim & Brent s Bistro, 173 S. Main "13/UGFr Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 501-253-6807 ¯ Xerox, Time Warner and United and 585-1201 DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St. *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 501-253-5445 : American Airlines. Additionally, more Fmerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence 501-253-9337 ¯ thanhalfoftheFortune 500includesexual MCC of the Living Spring *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314 N.Greenwood 587-1314 501-253-2776 : orientation in their non-discrimination Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 *Community of Hope United Me~o~li."~st, 2545 S:.Y ale 747-6300 501-253~5332 ¯ polities. 749-0595 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery *Community Unitarian-Universanst tgongregauon 501-624-6646 : Letters Policy 748-3888 Positive Idea Marketing Plans Council Oak Men’ s Chorale 501-253-6001 : 712-1511 TulsaFamily News welcomes letters on Sparky’ s, Hwy. 62 East *Ddaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 501-253-4074 ¯ 742-2457 White Light, 1 Center St. issues which we’ve covered or on issues *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 : you think need to be considered. You may JOPLIN, MISSOURI Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & 355-3140 Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 41%623-4696 : request that your name be withheld but 747-7777 letters must be signed & have phone num* is where youcan fin dTFN ¯ NotallareGaY" ownedbutallareGay " friendly *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard " " ~ bers, or be hand ddivered. *Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call forlocation &info: 587-4669 stirs controversy ��of police was once so pervasive that Anti-Gay Ads in Mexico "¯ hate past. crimes andsame-sex domestic violence went MEXICO CITY (AP) - The two leading candidates ¯ unreported, activists said. "I think there was, clearly, some traditional stereoin Mexico’ s presidential campaign have raised eye- : brows by casting doubts on each other’ s masculinity. . typing on both sides, but that has changed alot," said Jimmy Martinez, who leads a communi.ty-poli.c; But the real surprise to .many,,,I~__ple in tl~i."s land w~.ith ¯~ Lt. ing team in the Cheesman Park area: Marttnez sara a reputation for "machismo has been me negauve ¯ acting Police Chief Gerry Whitman devised the stratreaction to the tactic. ~ - egy when he was captain of District 6 surrounding Criticism led opposition candidate Vicente Fox to quickly drop a negative TV ad aimed at rival Fran= ~ Cheesman. Once the "Fort Apache" of city police cisco Labastida, the candidate of the long-governing ~ districts, District 6 is now a model for communityInstitutional Revohition.ary. Party, or PRI. Using a ~ policing programs. Cheesman is ~a .well:known gathering #ace for ~ -~ ¯ Mexican slang termfbr s0iii~0ne Of madefined seXu2 Gays and Lesbians,~and friction de~eloped between ality, the ad showed Labastida hugging and lifting a ~ neighbors and parkusers¯ Marfinez ~id policegot the~ -PRI colleague by the thighs: It also featured shots of Cheesman Park West Neighborhood Association and male strippers at a’ campaign rally for another PRI candidate. " Equality Colorado, a statewide Gay civil-rights orgaAfter canceling the ad, Fox’ s socially conservative :¯ nization, directly involved. Representatives on both sides said the strategy has . National Action Party, known as PAN, ran an adver- ~ worked. "For one thing, our work with the Denver tisement in newspapers defending itself tothe Gay police has become a model for how an organization community. The p~t,,y is "not against.the ,O,,ay com- :~ like ours can work with law enforcement," said Lori munity in any way,’ the ad said, adding: In a Fox ¯ Girvan, director of Equality Colomdo.DedeDePerein, admiulstration, there will befrcedOm for people to ¯ who heads Equality’s Anti-Violence Project, sai.’d live without masks." i cooperadun with police has "built bridges" over me Carlos Monsivais, an author and social critic, said the party’ s retreat was a milestone for Mexico, where ". Gay community’ s prevalent, persistent fear and mistrust of law enforcement. there are no openly Gay politicians and homosexualJoe Barrows of the Chcesman Park West Neighbortty has not been wtdely accepted..The most tm.po, hood As sociation said he and his neighbors frequently t~( thing is that even Fox and the right had to oacK down and apologize to the Gay commumty,, h,e’ s .atd.." called oolice with complaints before the community"It’ s incredible to hear the word ’homophobta oemg ~ policing campatgn. Now compl.amt.s a~..e rare: Tl~.e result has been a positive change m tlae atsrupttons m used even by the right." the neighborhood. It’ s been a positive experience all Labastida’ s supporters have drawn their own critithe way around," he said. cism for taking shots at.Fox’ s masct!!.inity with allusions to his separation from his wife and his being the father of four adopted children. Such attacks have seldom been so direct in Mexican politics, although in the previous presidential election six years ago, the PRI allegedly hired transvestites to attend an opposiCARSON C1TY (AP) - A Mormon church-endorsed tion campaign rallyin Veracruz state in an attempt to ban on same-sex marriages cleared one hurdle rediscredit it. cendy when the secretary of state’ s office said aballot ~etition contained enough signatures. The ruling by This time, the attacks were started by Fox. Fo,x, called the PRI candidate a sissy and" La Vesttda, Deputy Secretary for Elections Susan Morandi advanced the constitutional referendum to its final step a pun on his rival’s name implying Labastida is a cross-dresser. But the atmosphere changed when a - a test sampling names on the petition for regist.ered minor-party candidate, Gilberto Rincon Gallardo of voters. County clerks and voter registrars were given the Social Democratic Party, stuck up for homosexuuntil July 7 toverify that registered voters signed the als, the handicapped, rape victims and Indians in a petition. televised debate, the first time many of those groups. Morandi’ s office said the Coalition for the Protection of Mamage got 120,558 people to sign its 15etihad been mentioned in the race. "In weak democracies like Mexico, legal protections are necessary to tlon, which is almost three times the number of registered voters needed to put a question on the prevent a tyranny of the majority over minorities, so that people can decide on their own private lives Nevada ballot: Under the measure, Nevada would withou,,t a majority imposing its moral or cultural recogmze mamages only of a re.an and woman. ,That already is part of state law, but advocates want to t~acK views, Rincon Gallardo said. On June 17, the Gay community held what was by it up in the state constitution. far the largest Gay-pride parade in Mexican history, Opponents say the initiative amounts to discriminadota and bigotry. The Progressive Leadership Alliwith organizers estimating a turnout of 30,000. Just ance of Nevada and about 20 other groups across the ¯ five years ago, SUCh parades drew an average of about 1,000 people. But Gays haven’ t had much success in state formed the Coalition for Unity to campaign their effort to make an issue of the banning of some against the ballot measure. The Coalition for the Protection of Marriage is Gay cultural events by PAN officials in towns they heavily supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of govem. Benjamin Araujo of the Front for-People with Latter-day Saints, whose members were central to AIDS-HIV said that "Gays are more tolerated than anti-Gay marriage efforts in Hawaii and Alaska, and most recently, in California. However, the former acceuted" in Mexico and that an openly .Gay pol~iti .c.a.1. can~date is an impossibility. The prev. at.e,nce,,.o.I" an,uCatholic bishop of Las Vegas, Daniel Walsh, asked Gay attitudes wasillnstratedbY areport oy me t_,mzen) priests and paris.ke_s to. support the ’~.aditi0nal f_~amCommitteeAgainst Homophobic Hate Crimes: It ily" but not to support Ziser’ s effort because it fosters estimates that 190 Gays were killed in Mexico beill-will toward Gays. cause of their sexual sees orientation between 1994 andt 1999. ButMons~vats progress. We sul!haven" i Mormans Attack Gay Relationships in Nevada Gay Pride in Tel Aviv reached the point of having an openly Gay candi" TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Celebrating Gay pride, date," he said. "But we are now at a point where there thousands of Israelis in tank tops and shorts danced to can no longer be an openly anti-Gay candidate." ¯ deafening music and waved rainbow-colored flags at ¯ the end of June. The annual street party has become ¯ the latest venue in the culture war between secular ¯ Israelis and devout Jews who consider h°m°sexuality ¯ an abomination. DENVER (AP) - Gays and Lesbians have formed an ¯ "We promise to support your struggle against the alliance with police to deal with late-night cruising, ~ religious," legislator Tommy Lapid, leader of the loud noise and sex in public around Cheesman Park. ¯ secular rights party Shinui, told the cheering crowd. Police, Gay civil-rights activists and park neigh- ~ In recent years, Gays and Lesbians in Israel have bors have been handing out fliers to motorists for the ¯ scored a string of successes in the courts, though not past few weeks warning that police will crack do.wn ¯ in parliament, where ultra-Orthodox religi°us Parties on traffic, park curfew violations and inappropriate ¯ have considerable deut. Last month, the Supreme activity on surrounding streets. ¯ Court allowed a Lesbian spouse to be registered as the The joint effort would not have been possible in the Denver Cops & Gays Work Together United in God’s Love MCC-United Reverend Cathy Elliot P~tor ..... Sunday Worship ~ 1 1:00 am 62~ N. Maplewood ; Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community of Hope 254~ South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am .. Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 Sandra Hill Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive; Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa- O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights MeetOthers in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2"121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 �-The Pride Storev 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) seeondparentofherpartner’sbiologicalson-in1994, same sex unions were recognized for benefit purposes. The court rulings have coincided with growing public ,acceptance of Gays. Just a few years ago, publicdisplaysofGaypridewereunheardofinlsrael. By contrast, Gays were hugging and kissing in Tel Aviv’ s central Rabin Square in 1998 to celebrate the transsexual singer Dana international’ s victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. Norway’ s only female bishop, RosmarieKohn, faced ¯ a revolt by nearly one-third of her own clergy when ¯ : she allowed openly Lesbian Siri Sunde to return to the " ". ¯ : ¯ : pulpit. Sunde had been barred after she married her female companion. Gay marriages are legal in Norway, with all the fights of heterosexual marriages except church weddings and the right to adopt. ¯ Couples Bill Germany Considers Over the last few years, the Gay pride parade has ¯ drawn more and more people. On Fri.day, .Rg,bin i Rp.r~iJN(AP~-Germanv’s~ovemingSocialDem°- Square was lined with Israeli flags and me rai.noo.w_ . ~r~s--a~d &reins have ag~eed~on the outhneof a draft. ~’r~ (?0 ~ ba~erstof the Ga3~ prid~ moyeme.nt~ T~ech~,0 6-9 l~m, Sunday..,-.:F~day "12-~pm,~Sa.turd~y, ~t]l ~sales benefi~t t~h~ ,C.~e~t~tq~ .... 1 ’ ~7 bl~ed from. lod~m_o._umed:on ~ : ; ) f’_ ~". ( .! !i:.!/’ .............. !. ~ !’. ~- ~ :[2 ~_ ~.~.’_. ’~_ L:_.t ~._ in ~he pa~ade~do.nne~. eta..0orate~ cos..m,rues, mm.ie .ore.-_ ,.: it~st bef6ie aweekend phrade b~9 G.a.ys and Lesmans m ~ .: ............~ ..... .............. " ................................. ~s~ wor’e shortS and T-shirts. FAthilles brouglat tlaelr ~edinwhereactivists~vanttohighhghtthecenter-left children, andsomeheterosexual couples walkedhandgovernment’s failure to make good on the promised in-hand. There were no religious protests. Tel Aviv is reform. Half a million people were expected for the anoverwhelmingly secular city, and the parade was annual Christopher Street Day parade in the German being held just before the onset of the J ewish S abbath, Certified Public. Accountant capital. The bill, to be presented to parliament before during which observant Jews refrain from work and t breaks for summer next month, would recognize a professional corporation travel. registered Gay palTmerships as families, said Greens Taking a break from the blazing heat, Kinneret lawmaker Volker Beck. However, homosexual G01an said the scene made her feel that Israel was no couples apparendy would not have the right to adopt different from othercountries. "You only see pictures children - a demand of the Greens rejected by the of Israel when rocks are being thrown. I’ m proud that dominant Social Democrats. despite everything we can still do this," she said. Gay partnerships wonld get legal rights similar to 747-5466 Golan~ said that in the increasingly bitter culture heterosexual couples on taxes, social security and war betwTeen Israel’ s secular majority and thedevout ~mmigration law - an important point for Gay couples 402~ South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 7;~i35 minority, the distrust is. so great that "each side where one parmer is a foreigner. Beck said the prodefines itself as the opposite:of what the other is." posals still require formal approval bythe parliamenTherefore, she said, many secular Israelis will suptary groups of the two governing parties. ]2~ort causes as long as they are denounced by the Opposition conservatives blasted the plahs and ’~:~’~r~igious community. hinted they would try to stall the bill in th~ upper Lapid, standard bearer of the secular fight against house of parliament, where the govemment,lack.s a what he calls religious coercion, said his party and the majority. Thomas Goppel, aleader of Bavaria s righthomosexual movement are natural partners. Next ist Christian Social Union party, called the proposals week, a bill proposing recognition of same-sex civil ILDING & GARDEN "absurd." Germany’ s Association of Gays and Lesbiunions will be up for approval. However, Lapid said ans welcomed the draft saying it did not meet all of the it will likely fail because of the influence of the DESIGN group’ s demands but still were a great st p forward." religious parties. But some of those dancing in the parade said they paid little heed to politics. "Who 583-1248 cares what they do in the Knesset? Look at this celebration," said Anat Schumaker, one of theparticipants. "We’ re here and they can’ t do anything to stop ¯ ¯ MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A state law that makes oral and anal sex acrimeis unconstitutional and shouldbe ¯ thrown out, tim Minnesota Civil Liberties Union ¯ claimed in a lawsuit filed at the end of June. The MCLU and the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union are challenging OSLO, Norway (AP) - The selection of an openly ¯ Minnesota’ s sodomy statute, saying the law violates Walk-in Clinics Gay clergyman in defiance of state Lutheran church the right of privacy guaranteed by the state constituguidelines raised concerns Friday that the issue of Tuesdays, 5 -8 pm, Center, 1307 East 38th tion. Thelaw - which applies to all consenting adults, homosexuality could split the church. The Church of i even married heterosexuals - makes violations punWednesdays, 5-8 pm, Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Norway’ s highest body, its 85-member national con- : ishable with a year in prison and up to $3,000 in tines. The class-action lawsuit, filedin Hennepin CountY, gress, ruled in November 1997 that clergy who enter ¯ Daytime appointments available. homosexual partnerships could not hold jobs that ¯ asks the court to declare the statute void and prevent Call for more information: ¯ require ordination. the state from enforcing it. The plaintiffs include two However, the~Oslo Bishops’ Council of clergy and : married heterosexuals who say they risk prosecution, laity voted 4-3 on June 15 to appoint Jens Torstein : a Lesbian who fears eviction because her lease proOlsen as chaplain for the Majorstue Church. Olsen " hibits illegal activity, a Gay law student who fears noted onhis application that he was living with a Gay ¯ being disbarred, a divorced Gay man who fears losing ¯ his right to visithis children, and a group of Lesbian, partner. The council minority appealed the decision to ¯ Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered lawyers and law Trend Giske, head of the churches and education ¯ students. Keller Williams Realty ministry that formally employs state church clergy. ¯ According to the MCLU, 18 states still have sodHe initially said he saw no reason to reverse the .: omy, statutes, down from all 50 in 1961. In five of council majority’s decision, but will make a final~ ": ~ose s’tat~s, the law hpplies 0nly to Gays [editor’s decision next month. If hired, the 51-year-old Olsen ¯ note: Oldahoma is one of those with laws only diwould be Norway’ s first male minister who is openly ¯ rected at Gay people]’. Legislatures have repealed Burleson~ ~k’w.com ¯ sodomy laws in 25 states, while courts have overliving with a Gay partner. Oslo Bishop Gmmar Staalsett saidhe expects the. . turned them in others. In one of the most recent cases, ministry to respect his council’ s majority, in keeping 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 an appeals court in Texas voided that state’ s sodomy with usual practice. "Olsen is dearly the best quali- ¯ law two weeks ago. ~,;o~, An Independent Member Broker fied for the post," Staalsett said. ¯ Attorney General Mike Hatch was out of state and ¯ But the move prompted Norway’s head bishop, unavailable for comment on the lawsuit, said his Odd B0ndevik, to say he was calling an emergency ¯ spokeswoman, Leslie Sandberg. meeting of the national bishops council on the matter Tom Prichard, executive director of the Minnesota ¯ OPENARMs,OPENMINDS,OPENHEARTS probably in August. "The appointment.., can split Family Council, which has helped fight off attempts the Church of Norway," he was quoted as telling the ¯ to repeal the law at the Legislature, said the law Saint Dunstan Saint Aidan Norwegian news agency NTB.-"When we said the should stay on the books, and he criticized the MCLU 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 issue does not have to be a splitting factor, we asfor filing the lawsuit. ’°They’ re trying to do an end run ¯ Trinity sumed that each individual bishop would be loyal to Saint John by getting the courts to strike it down instead of going the national church council’s resolutions and the through the appropriate channel, which is the Legis501 S. Cincinnati. 582-4128 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 ¯ lature," Prichard said. church itself," Bondevik was quoted as saying. An anguished debate over Gay clergy has already The Episcopal Church Welcomes You led to bitter disputes within the church. Last year, Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC TOM NEAL .................... Minnesota ’Sodomy’ Law Under Challenge Red Rock Tulsa Flee Confidential HIV Testing 918-584-2325 KEVIN BURLESO N 712-2252 Gay Clergyman Shakes Up Norweigan Church i �alth Officials to Focus Gay Needs . ated offices to deal specifically with Gay health issues. Officials in Seattle have :d velo#as iali d mpaigntovac¯ cinate Gay men for hepatitis. BOSTON (AP) - Boston public health officials have agreed to try to better meet the needs of the city’ s Gay community by collecting data onillnesses,raising awareness of health issues and seeking funding ¯ WASHINGTON (AP) - Four new partfor new programs. Their decision follows " nerships were announced by a federal the lead of other big U.S. cities, where ¯ health agency Tuesday to provide fundofficials have already taken action to ad: ing to groups attempting to bring an AIDS dress the health needs of Gay, Lesbian, ¯ vaccine to market. Bisexual and Transgender residents. i Theseparme.rships, call,edHIV ~acone ’q’here is clear data that show s there are ¯ design and development teams, were health differences between the Gay and ¯_ prompted by~ a. presidential dirertive to larger communities," said Stephen ¯ increase public-private cooperation in Boswell, executive director of the Fenway : developing vaccines to major diseases, Community Health Center, which serves : according to the National Institute of Aia high percentage of Boston’ s Gay popu: lergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), lation. "If those problems are addressed, ¯ the section of the National Institutes of we can make a significant impact." : Health that set up the deals. ¯ At a conference held in Boston in May, "Many vaccines in use today resulted officials from public health agencies fr°m b°th g°verument-sp°., snL0r--~and pfi.around the country cited studies showing i vate research," said Dr. Anthony S. Faucl, Gays are at risk for a range of health : director of NIAID. problems, including depression, breast ¯ The awards are incentive-based, aimed cancer, and substance abuse. ¯ at teams that have a vaccine in developAfter years of focusing solely on HIV : ment but have not yet reach_ed human and AIDS, Boston’s public health offi~ testing. The teams will receive funds as cials decided soon after the conference to ¯ they achieve preset goals. develop a more efficient way to deal with ¯ Three U.S. companies - Advanced the community’s other pressing needs, ~ BioScience Laboratories in Kensington, said John Auerbach, executive director of ¯ Md.; Chiron Corporataon in Emeryville, ¯ Calif.; and Wyeth Lederle Vaccines and me Boston Public Health Commission. q~nis.is the first time the he~Ith depart¯ Nutrition in Pearl River, N.Y. - as well as ment has acknowledged it needs to spe~ a consortium of Australian universities cifically address the health needs of the ¯ led by the University of New South Wales Gay community," he said. "This is a sig¯ all have different tactics on how to create nificant step forward." ¯ a serum that will protect humans from Health departments in New York, Chi; HIV infection, which causes AIDS. cago and San Francisco have already c~e- Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law : Feds to Fund AIDS ¯ Vaccine Search While Louganis left immediatdy alter the parade to fly out of the city, Cammermeyer spoke briefly in the rain, noting that she really might have preferred not to come to Tulsa, thinking that it might not really be safe or wdcoming, but that probably she needed to come to Tulsa for precisdy that reason. Another group which received great atteiation was ORU.out.com, a new Lesbian and Gay alumni organization for Oral Roberts University (ORU). While Gay alumni groups exist around the country, ORU.out.com is unusual in that ORU .district. Boolmng techno and 0asco music ¯ played as drag queens and other elabo¯ rately costumed men and women danced on colorful floats and along the sidelines of the parade Police estimated the crowd size at between 100,000 and 130,000 people, while organizers said that 250,000 people turned out for the event. Coinciding with the weekend of the parade, Social Affairs Minister Martine ¯ Aubry said the government planned to : introduce new laws oudawing discrimi¯ nadon against homosexuals. Aubry said : the new legislation would appear as an ¯ amendment tO a "social modernization" : bill currently going through Parliament. has a policy of banning Gays as.students, faculty or staff. Regardless, ~e ~oup numbered about 20 and group orgamzer, Jeff McKissic notes that about 60 people have gotten involved. Orgamzers of the Parade and Festival, Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, Inc. estimated that some 3,000 participated or attended. More than !00,000 march in Paris Gay Pride parade PARIS (AP)- In a festive celebration of Gay pride; more than 100,000 people marched and danced on the last weekend in June through the streets of Paris behind a giantbanner with the slogan for this year’s parade: ,Homophobia - a social ¯ Denver Pride Draws 100,000 ¯ DENVER (AP) - More.than 100,000 at" tended Denver PrideFest 2000. The festi~ val, organized by the Gay, Lesbian & An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weeke~qd and evening appointments are available. Just for laughs artur0 Italy’s quick chang Welcomed : Bisexual Community Services Center, is ¯ inits 10th year. No violence was reported ~ dUring the parade between Cheesman Park : and Civic Center Park that featured 100 : floats. The festival also featured 230 ¯ booths and. a family zone with the signs: ~ "drug-~ alcohol-, hate-flee zone." ¯ Activists told a crowd at the Civic Cen: ter that good people standing up to big~ otry, not legislation, will protect Gays, ¯ Lesbians and Bisexuals from violence. ¯ "In every case, a mass mobilization of ¯ people changed thepolitteal clunate, sm ¯ Leslie Feinberg, author of ’q’ransgender ¯ Warriors" and "Stone Butch Blues." Directed b~/ Serge genoncourt /~rtistic Director Pierre Bernard -~ "Arturo Brachetti is remarkable" - Bob Fosse August 6-13 TICKETS 596-7111 pl~gr~h------ Educatton Mimster Jack Lang Gay Pride Elsewhere and the Socialist Party’s mayoral candidate Bertrand Delanoe were among the politicians that kicked off Gay Pride 2000 behind dozens of motorcyclists from the ¯ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A rollicking 1 {800) 364-7111 (Outside Tulsa) ¯ 20+ Groups, 477-SHOW ; ,,Gay p,fi,de parade replete with dancing nuns, all-maleche.~rleading squads and ¯ drag queens in stilettos attracted a half ¯ million revelers as it made its way from Presented by CELEBRITY A~RACTIONS celebriWattractions.com Gay Bikers Club. Rainbow-colored flags waved under overcast skies as the parade wound from southern Paris to its destination at the Place de la Bastille, near the city’s Gay " the waterfront to City Hall. As David Ellard watched the proces¯ sion see Pride, p. 8 �Power of Oklahoma Service .Is Now Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for youto contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around:the-dock answers to your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve.you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. mO..~ Clip And Save I I I I I I I I I I I I I .i :-’ I CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Serviei~ a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: .1-888-216-3491 Falta De Suministro: 1-888-218-3924 , ! I I I I I I- " ~I I I I I I I I I I PublicServiceC0mpany,0fOklah0ma , " they don’ t, they’ re usually Gay boys WhOr’i". by Karin Gregory .. feel more comfortable around girls playCOMING OUT. Even the words evoke an ominous, al- " ing house, school, and Easy Bake Oven. By the .way, if you played with dolls most surreal scene, like the Great and ¯ when you were little, don’ t Powerful Wizard, whose "It was hound think that disqualifies you. deep voice echoes throughout closets everyEspecially if you. had a to happen... where. In my case, my 44 Barbie doll and spent many Marolyn was year old closet was so t’ffled a day practicing undressthat I couldn’t hea~ the ing her. It was when I was i~autfful, with echo e~}en if I tried, i fi13 that things became, for lees and naily Sprang out, machete want of a better word, inland, :r~dy to tell evsticky. eryone that I’ m a Lesbian! III. Crushes weB, 7ou She walked in beauty, Well, two or three people, like the night...OK, so anyway. ~en yo~ mantra they all did at one time or Because I didn’t know [or a smmer other, didn’t they? This what was all involved in particular she walked into "coming out." I had no my eighth grade English good role models to speak classroOm, and I immedi--of in that area. And don’ t ately thought,"Wow, she’ s tell me Melissa Etheridge pretty." I never used that and Ellen DeGeneres s~s no~ word to describe any gift because famous people before. All right, there was will always be heard and ~ST yo~ ~d;’ the time I whistled at Ann don’ t have to repeat them" Margret in the movie theselves. I, on the other hand, atre when she came on have to tell friends individually and hear such remarks as: "Oh, I " screen in "Viva Las Vegas." Some people don’t see signs that say always knew that"; "Yeah, I was wonder- ¯ ing when you were going to tell me"; and " "Caution - Falling Rocks"; I don’t see the ever popular, "YES! We knew it! We ¯ signs that clearly scream, "Karin- you’ re. ¯ a Lesbian. Get over it. when my eighth win the bet!" Umm, friends, if you knew it for so ¯ grade crush continued into ninth grade, I long, how come I JUST found out? You ¯ went to her house for a sleepover. I’ll say this here and now - Jane Eyre could have let me in on it! (Best friend’ s ¯ note: I tried! You don’ t just sit someone ¯ should be forbidden reading injunior high. down and tell them "Um, Karin, I think " The protagonist as a little girl has a crush you’re Gay. Deal with it!" - Jim) Actu- " on her best friend, which author Charlotte ally, I hav& known, all my life, but I never ¯ Bronte says ~s normal Besides the very gave a name to it. And there were the ¯ obvious inference that Charlotte had her various signs that threw me totally off ¯ own Lesbian feelings, it did much to help track. Instead of telling you my. boring ¯ me rationalize the rest of my life. If I felt life, I’ 11 give you a sampling of it, inter- ¯ something for a girl, then I invoked the spersed with the steps I went through (and ¯ name of Charlotte Bronte, and things were probably many of us go through) in real- ¯ "normal" again. So when I wanted to izing my true nature. ~ : watch my friend undress in front of me, I know what you’ re saying. If I’ m read- ¯ that was just anormal straight girl feeling. ing Tulsa Family News, I know I’ m Gay ¯" When I fantasized about crawling in bed and what could you possibly tell me about : naked withher, I still usedCharlotte Bronte it?" Nothing, but since I want you to read : as a guide. Charlotte was talking about about my boring life anyway, I have to - "little" girls, mind you. jazz itup somehow. Also, there may be a ¯ When I was 30 I met a woman who, few of you who are reading your ". without touching me, did things to my boyfriend’s copy of this newspaper. If ¯ southerly regions that no one had ever you’re "curious" and your boyfriend is done before. When I’ d had enough frusreading Tulsa Family News, then you’ re " tration, I had sex with a man, and truly both Gay! Read on. ¯ believed there was something wrong with I. "I’m What?" : me for not feeling what I thought I should Sooner or later you have to start ques- ¯ feel. Whom did I call in as my counselor? tioning. What kind of music do you listen " Yep, good old Charlotte. to? Yep, if you answered Tori Amos, Ani ¯ IV. In Love DiFranco, Sophie B. Hawkins, !Indigo It was bound to happen, and this time a Girls, and Sarah McLachlan, then you ¯ Lesbian became not only my crush, but need to examine your lifestyle. I haven’ t ¯ probably the only person I’ ve ever fallen known a Gay personyet who doesn’ t love : in love with. Marolyn was beautiful, with Sarah McLachlan. However, if you own ¯ great legs and a great pair of - well, you five different copies ofMelissa Etheridge’ s ¯ get it. When your mantra for a summer is Breakdown (and I do!), the questioning is ¯ "She’s just my friend, she’s just friend, over. ’ ~ ¯ ¯ she’ sjustmy friend", she’ s not JUST your II..Environment ¯ friend. ¯ .I came into this world kicking and Have you ever had a moment of clarity? screaming, and when I found out, in my ¯ A moment when suddenly the clouds part, neighborhood full of boys,-that I was ¯ the sky opens up, and you just KNOW different from them, I kicked and screamed -" what you want? Marolyn took me to my again. I wanted to be a boy. lplayed just ¯ first Lesbian bar (we were "just friendg’:,, like ~the boys; doing everything they did ¯ mind you), Sue Ellen’ s in Dallas. As we exeep,tJ~,e,, standing up. And I was pissed danced a slow _..d~,c~ together, my m~ .... I icouldn’t master that! Physically and -" merit of clarity hit. I d shoved down the~.;~ ~ ¢motionall);i Was a gifl~but I thought like ¯ feelings about Marolyn for so long that a!l, ;!’~:: a:boy. So when I would question myself ¯ at once they came rushing at me and l - years later, I always went back to the same ¯ conldn’ t deny any longer. I looked arotmd thing: I HATED girls then. Well, most ¯ and just knew I had finally found somelittle boys do hate little girls at that age. If " place to belong, see Lesbian, p. 11 �by Jim Christjotm, entertainment editor Some of you might ask, "What’s he clucking about this time?" And well you might - run, don’t walk, to see Chicken Pun. Created by ’%Vallace and Gromit" impresario Hick Parks, this rollicking comedy about chickens dreaming of a KD Lang ¯ : : ¯ : ¯ KD Lang’s newCD is a delight. Remember those lazy weekends when mom (in some ease, you) Wouldpiit her favorite records on the changer in the late 60’ s early70’s?BarbraStreisand’sStoneyEnd, and Sergio Mendes’ Brazil ’66 come to THE ART 0f PERFORMANCE better p!a~..~.~, ~far away fromthe ~neentra¯ iipdated iiii{ a ~ fio~sl~. ~mi~f’.~_~v~-, ~ ~ ¯ tion c~ami3 Chlcken farm ttiey re in’fs a i mind. Well, KDhas taken that sound and " witty, int~-.ligentfi~~1m........ ¯ .~ I havehad my suspicions~’abtut Nicks~ ¯ met fling that grows in to ab~t diore of a. familystatus given serious thing. And it is the persome subtle refer"...While the films are fect album for a ences in the cloudy Sunday afWallace & Gromit claymation, they are not ternoon with your shorts (available loved One, your. on video, and well children’s films. worth it), such as summertime fling., Gromit (a dog) or even an imagiWith "Chicken Run," nary lover. The knitting a rainbow the reality of what happens to -albuin’ S title is In~.. striped sweater.~ vindbte Summer, The Wallace and ehiekles who don’t lay their : and La Lang has Gromit shorts are ne~er soundedbetguaranteed to share of eggs is brought home in ter. The album procheer up the most an unflinehlngly touching way. gresses with the depressed person nervous, first on~in the world, and And yes, you will relate to tact ditty about a watch for the For ~.ales, contact Rupy Robateau 280.5999 subtle touches he the characters- and never look possibleloveinter-or Marcus Winkler 280.6234 est titled "The puts in, like the For Service, contact Danny Quigg 280.6828 at chicken pot pies Consequences of newspaper-headFalling", and she lines in thepapers the same way again ...." captures the mothe characters ment perfectly. read. While the films are claymation, they ¯ This segues into an up tempo number ¯ JAGUAR called"Summertime Fling" that eapsulizes are not children’s films. With Chicken 9607 S. Memorial Dr. Run, the reality of what happens to chickies ¯¯ that high, giddy feeling when itis discovered that indeed, the objet d’affection who don’ t lay theft share of eggs is brought home in an unflinchingly touching way. : returns the feeling. It is sure to bring a And yes, you wiII reIate to the characters : smile to the most jaded heart. Thememory - and never look at chicken pot pies the ¯ may be buried deep, but it’ s in there somesame way again. As for the aforemen- " where! The albums builds to a quieter tioned clues as to the Gay sensibility of : climax than one might imagine, as the the film, Cheek out the ratsi relationship. : seriousness of the relationship deepens. "Love’ s Great Ocw.an" is a winner, and And when the birds are practicing flying, ¯ ~B~,~t Va~ll ~r’~[il/a~ &m~.e’|eltrm9 _ /’~1 ~ /OM II~.ilI~.~ a’~III~.~lI~.ll. has a mysterious feel to it that gives the one ofthe best gags was when they fall, album some weight. The rest are pretty~-and the rat says "It’ s raining hens", which standard love songs, pleasant to~ " ............. n’ to those of us who re,c~l a certain song /ulsas iwo-~plrlteo inolan Me S ",eta \"~ eat for a dinner o essin towith a similar rifle, realize it’ s a pretty big Support Group ts here for you. tipoff as to the sensibility that inspired : makeout album. The retro feel is great, ¯ andblends well into the music, capturing this film. ¯ Evening support group meetings The jokes are all extremely well done, ¯" the feeling perfecdy of some of my favor¯ Relationship workshops and the sight gags, well, the film begs a : ite songs remembered-from childhood second and third viewing to take every- : and beyond. Highly recommended. It’ s a ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats thing in, and look at the backgrounds. ¯ great companion, piece to Melissa ¯ Free HIV testing There are gems hidden everywhere. It is : Etheridge’s darker "Breakdown". With ironic that Mel Gibson,homophobic adul- : Melissa, you cover the darker cynical For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project terer that he is, lends his voice to the film : moments, with La 1 ang, the bright sunin a really well done turn as a Rhode : shiny day moments. I caught Arturo Brachetti on a guest Island Red cock named Rocky. One must ¯ ¯ appearaneeonDrewCarey, andyes,he’s think that someone planned that casting and this is the place for an obvious joke, : family, and yes,he’ s fantastic. Well worth . Are You Gay or Bisexual? which I will leave to your imaginations. ¯ seeing what he’ s got up his sleeve! Check Think about it. (R~oc~y,.....Rhode, gg~.it? ;.,rpriorcol~f~r~t~.. ¯ : Right up there with Ginger Chickeh, ifi~ : .... And fi~t mbliffi, the’R~ilt ifiteiaiiews!’ heroine of the piece. Rosemary is the : Chicken that doesn’ t have babies. You’ll get it when :~you see.the, film.) All the actors are marvelous, and if you’ re a fan of any of the British comedies on PBS Sunday nights, you’ll recognize a few voices. If there’s one film you see this summer, make it this one. It’ 11 be well worth your time. I plan to see it several more times, and get the DVD when it comes out - just to scroll through the frames and catch what I missed the first ten times. And I think instead of chicken pot pies, I’ll stock up on the vegetarian ones instead. And instead of roast chicken sandwiches, the veggie chick burgers as well. Buh-bye, colonel! ¯" in the city’s 30th annual Lesbian Gay ¯ Bisexual Transgender Pride Parade, he ¯ said such events provide "a little light of : hope.., acceptance of Gay people is still ¯ the toughest issue out there," said Ellard, ¯ ¯ 35. "The religious right still thinks we’re a threat to family values. But when you ¯ look at the Gay families marching with : their children.., you see thatit’ s not true." ¯ What began in 1970 as a meager pro: cession followed by an unassuming"Gay¯ in" at Golden Gate Park has become one : of California’ s biggest events, ¯ see Pride, p. 9 �¯ In Washington, the Peace Corps an: nounced a worldwide campaign to push ¯ similar measures - training its 2,400 vol’q’be probability that you die from AIDS : unteers in Affieain preventive tedmiques when you arc 15 today is over 50%in ¯ and forming a200-member"crisis corps" these countries," Plot told a press confer- : to help educate commtmities. "There is no ence. "We arc going into societies where ¯ option for any organization working in there arc more people in their 60’ s and : development other than to play a role in 70’ s than there are in their 40’ s and 30’ s," ¯ helping these countries confront the HIV¯ AIDS crisis," Peace Corps Director Mark hc said. "This is unheard of." With dwindling numbers of economi- i Schneider sai~. eally active adults left tosupport the re~ L .,~ .~o ~~i~ ~~.~d~l~st rate of the .’.population, the. impact on ~.~tff~ot~:~i~A~i~t~i2~.; %~ is cooving ¯. ~!~ ..... ,~ ~,-~.o:,~. ~7~." ~~ ~7,~>.>-.~ : ~_.: Afficamnattous ts devastating. Agng,~ t.~ ~ai[ .an*-~i~su~ssf.u~ ~..emBpatgn 0,f protural production in nations like Zim.~: ~ moting’¢Offdoni~us~. And’ Brazil" s policy bwe, wh,ere 2,000 people die each w..~ee;;~ : of prevention coupled with locally proAIDS, is falling. Businesses are goi~i~g ¯ ducedaltemativestohigh,costanfi-AIDS bankrupt beeause of the deaths of skilled, : drugs has halved the number of deaths educated staff members. Hopes of better : and led to huge savings in hospital bills, education are also in tatters. The number ," the report said. of new teachers trained in 7a~bia is just ¯ "In the West and in Europe, the impact keeping pace with .the number felled by :. of treatment has been spectaculars" Piot AIDS. Children are leaving school besaid. "Mortality has really collapsed..There cause they are orphaned or forced to work isa longer and better life for people with to support their families. AIDS."On the Net: http://www.uuaids.org Hospitals are overwhelmed by AIDS patients. Many have inadequate supplies of even basic antibiotics to fight the pneumonia, tuberculosis or mouth fungus that accompany AIDS, let alone the sophistiIn renewing his plea for suspending the eated drugs which have eased suffering in law until the central issues go to trial, rich countries, the report said. Stanley argued that there is realharm that Denial continues to be a problem. The could happen.’ The clerks’ rights to freereport cited a 1999 survey of 72 minors d0m of religion under the Vermont Conorphaned by AIDS in a hard-hit Kenyan": stitution would be violated, he said:, commnIfity: Although all knew of the He also argued that tax money would be disease~one of them believed their parspent through providing, rights and benents had died of it. Most thought witchefits to same-sex couples. Permitting craft or a curse was to blame. umous to go forward that may in the Piot Said one of the reasons for the future be ruled unconstitutional would explosion of cases in southern Africa is cause irreparable harm, he said. In all, the the legacy of apartheid~ which separated. ~ lawsuit_,claims.:that the.,civil unions_law_ men from their families in rural areas and violates five different articles of the state forced them to work in towns, with only Consttitution, several state statutes and prostitutes for relief. But he said govern: House rules. ments were also to blame for ignoring the Many of those arguments were made problem for too long. "What is happening when the i|~wsuit first was flied and the in southern Africa should.be a lesson for state’ s lawyer handling the ease said he countries today which don’t have a big did not believe any substantially new claims were made that would prompt the problem yet," he said. "I’m thinking of judge to change his mind. "I don’t think Asia, I’ m thinking of easte,,m, Europe, I’m thinking of the Caribbean. About $~ bill there’ s a ntl~ ttdt:~~ys~~u:can only ask lionis needed annually for prevention and once, butinpractical term~ someone would education programs to turn the tide, Plot put together their best case for a preliminary injunction," said Chief Assistant said. He called for debt-relief programs for poor comitries.. Attorney General William Griffin. "My Sandra Thurman, director of President view is they’ ve had their day in court and -the court made a decision. I.guess I’ d be a Clinton’s White House Office on AIDS policy, said the report urgently underlittle surprised if we went around again." scores the need for goverm~ent l~aders to Varmont Official May.Dof~ LaW face the crisis head on. "It will take the TOPSHAM, Vt. (AP) - The town clerk is engagement of all sectors of all societies considering defying the state by refusing if we want to win the battle against AIDS," to issue civil union licenses to Gay and Thurman said in a recent statement. Lesbian couples. Juanita Claflin describes Although Asiahas relatively low infec: the unions as "endorsed perversion." The tionrates overall, there are fears that could law, which is to go into effect July 1, states change because of the density of its poputhat if a town clerk does not want to issue lation, gome 0.7% of the Indian po,,p~athe licenses he or she must at least appoint tion is ~IV-positive, or 3.7 milliof~ii~e someone else to do so. overall: The disease has so farbeenl~g~ly In a memo sent on town letterhead to confined to drug addicts. every Topsham honsehold earlier this Infections in the former Soviet blocare month, Claflin tells voters she will not soaring because of drug addiction. Piot issue the licenses and asks if they believe said the number of new HIV cases in she should defy the law, resign or appoint Moscow last year far outstripped all prea willing assistant to deal with the papervious years combined. And the disease is work. Most of the responses so far have proliferating in Caribbean countries like urged defiance of the law, but Claflin said Haiti and Barbados because people have she has not decided whether to risk lawmultiple sexual partners from an early suits and penalties by following the age. townspeople’ s wishes. Despite the gloom of the report, Plot "I still have to make that absolute final said there are signs of hope. Uganda, decision," she said. After the townspeople which used to be the worst-affected counrespond, she will meet with the select try, has slowed new infections thanks to board and possibly hold a public meeting strong prevention campaigns and into tell residents about the potential consecreased condom use. Zambia is following quences of defying the law. "I made the suit. commitment to the people that I would uphold what they said," she added. "If they’ re still of that opinion (after being informed of the consequences), I’ll take my licks." At least one other town clerk, in Tunbridge, has resigned over the issue. In Waterbury, the town clerk and assistant town clerk also resigned recently, citing unspecified personal reasons and an effective date of July 1. Claflin’ s opposition to civil unions has ~ no secret since She was elected in p~,,~.e sell summa.,edCh. the ~When she ,w,exceptto as sw0rnin, shecivil inon licenses into her oath of office. At the time Claflin thought the bill, then being debated, would notpass, she says in her letter. "Well, I was wrong... The unthinkable did become law," she writes. "I stand firm and unwavering in my commitment to refuse to be a party to this endorsed perversion based on my constitutional rights and personal belief." But the New Jersey assistant scoutmaster ousted when the organization learned he is Gay expressed dismay at the ruling. "I’ m def’mitely saddened by the decision," said James Dale. "People don’t join the Boy Scouts beeaus~ they’re anti-Gay. People join the Boy Scouts because they want acceptance, they want community." The ruling did not specifically give the Scouts permission to bar Gay youth from membership, but its language left room for that interpretation. "I think it suggests that they can" ban Gay boys from being Scouts, said Evan Wolfson, Dale’ s lawyer. "They won the.right to declare themselves an anti-Gay group." University of Southern California law professor Erwin Chemerinsky agreed, saying, "I don’ t see any basis for drawing a distinction between Scout leaders and Scouts." The Scouts organization, formed in the United States in 1910 and now boasting 6.2 million members and adult leaders, has a policy that "avowed homosexuals are not extended membership or leadership positions," Shields said. He would not say whether the organization has withdrawn membership from Gay youths. But Scott Cozza, an adult Scout leader in California and president of Scouting For All, which advocates letting homosexuals join, said: "They’ve kicked out Gay Scouts and now they’ll continue to do so because they’ ve been given the goahead by the Supreme Court to continue to discriminate." The justices reversed a New Jersey Supreme Court decision that said the Scouts wrongly ousted Dale, an Eagle Scout. The state court said the Scouts violated a New Jersey law banning discrimination in public accommodations. But Rehnquist wrote, ’q’he forced inclusion of an unwanted person in a group infringes the group’ s freedom of expressive association" if it harms the group’s ability to advocate its viewpoint. His opinion was joined by Justices Sandra Day O’ Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. Dissenting were Justices John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer. Writing for the four, Stevens said the New Jersey law does not force the Scouts "to communicate any message that it does not wish to endorse. New Jersey’s law, therefore, abridges no constitutional right of the Boy Scouts." Wolfson, Dale’ s lawyer, had cited Supreme Court decisions " : ¯ " " , ¯ " " during the 1980s that let states force the Jaycees and Rotary International to admit women as full members. But Rehnquist said requiring such groups to accept women members would not interfere with the message they seek to express. Instead, the chief justice likened Dale’ s case to a 1995 Supreme Court ruling in which the justices let the private sponsor of the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade exclude a group of Gays and lesbi7 a~.s, s,,aying parades are a"form0f expres~ slon. The American Center for Law and Jus~ tice, a conservative advocacy group that supported the Scouts’ appeal, said the ruling "will have a dramatic impact on all private organizations - including religious groups - to define their own mission and set their Own criteria for leadership." The. Human Rights Campaign, of the largest Lesbian and Gay civil rights organizatious, called the Supreme Court decision to allow the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to continue its ban on Gay scouts a travesty of justice that may allow large, open membership groups to be above the law and evade .state and local nondiscrimination laws. "We are gravely disappointed with a ruling that gives the Boy Scouts of America the ability to discriminate with impunity," said HRC Legal Director Tony Varona. "TMs is a hollow victory for the Boy Scouts of America - considering the wasted time, energy and money it has spent on maintaining its ability to .discriminate and attack young men who have served its organization with distinction. Is this any way to teach youth about fairness, honesty and justiceT’ Dale was 19 and an assistant scoutmaster of a Matawan, N.J., troop when in 1990 he was identified in a newspaper article as co-president of a campus Lesbian and Gay student group at Rutgers University. The Scouts’ Monmouth Council revoked Dale’ s registration as an adult leader, andhe sued, citing the New Jersey anti-discrimination law. The New Jersey court ruled that the BSA is not a private club, but a public accommodation given its size, open membership and extensive entanglement with government agencies. In its appeal to the Supreme Court, the Boy Scouts argued that New Jersey’ s antidiscrimination law infringed on its First Amendment right to association. )’In accepting the BSA’s arguments concerning expressive association, the Court inexplicably ignored the fact that the BSA’ s purpose andmessagehas never had anything to do with sexual orientation," added HRC’ s Varona. "To the contrary, the Boy ScOuts’ oath stresses public service and honesty, and its Congressional charter and bylaws make clear that membership is open to ’any boy’." Dale now lives in New York City and is advertising director for a magazine for people who are HIV-positive. On the Net: Supreme Court decision in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale: http:// supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99699.ZS.html and one of the world’s best known celebrations of Gay pride. Numerous celebrities, including comedienne Margaret Cho, made appearances. Police said the parade had proceeded peacefully, and knew of no counter-demonstrations. Parades took place also in S~atfle. New York, Chicago and Atlanta. �skins for very long. Early medical science by Lamont Linds~rom. Ph.D. Is it the unkixxdest cut? That’s what a ¯ of the late 19th century seized on the foreskin-challenged writer to Dear Abby " operation as a cure for excessive masturrecently claimed. He bitterly reproached ¯ bation and also to treat an odd collection of other conditions. Once his morn for letti~ag him be circumcision became part Cireumelslon is a circumcised - a condition of the modern medical he blamed for bis regretbody modlfleatlon toolkit, doctors were loath table shortcomin~,~ inbed. to giveitup. They invented Circtmacision is a body ritual that has a series of spurious rationmodification ritua~ ",hat has ales for the operation. The faselnated fascinated antLropolonew es t defens e of circumgists. People everywhere anthropologists. cision argues that uncut redesign-their ~odies. men are three to eight limes Modification may be as People everywhere more likely (different studsimple as a haircut and a redesign ies give different numbers) shave, or more invasive to.catch HIV. The vires foot-binding, ear-piercing, their bodies. so says this hypothesis - head-molding, ~attoomg, Modifieatlon may be attaches its elf more readily or scarification. Modifyto cells that have been kept ing the body carries social as simple as a halreut tender underneath a foreand personal meaning. Inskin. dividuals may remake and a shave, or Whether or not this latthemselves - and how they naore invaslve footest medical rationale for think about themselves circumcision holds up, by altering their bodies. blndln~, ear-piereln~, cutting has powerful soThese alterations have social meanings that go far h d-mo!dln , cial implications as well. beyond the merely hyWe ustmlly know what to tattooln~, gienic. Just why do we think when we see somemess with foreskins? Is this or searlfleatlon. one dieting, or sporting a a male attempt to appronew tattoo, or a tongue l~lbdlfyln~ the body priate natural female ferpierce, or a shaven head. tility: Men bleed their geniHumans modify lots of earrles sodal and tals to mimic menstruabody parts - elbows, fintion? Or are men conpersonal rneanlnff gers, chins, bellies - but eemed to drain away danit’ s no surprise that many gerous female blood from societies have fixated upon their sons, as do the Tannese, in order that the foreskin. Like earlobes, foreskins are these boys can fully mature? Or do men easily pierced, sliced, or cut away without cut their sons - and in so doing potentially much endangering human functiomng. endanger the reproductive future of their Unilke earlobes, however, foreskins atfamily line - as a mark of loyalty to their tach to the dhief organ of male pleasure tribe? Or do boys undergo symbolic casand reproduction. Many cultures have tration as a-price they pay fatherg to join elaborated the powerful symbolic uses of the men? Anthropologists have proposed snipping off a piece of men’ s genitals. all these explanations. Circumcision is often the key compoIt’s pretty clear that in 20th century nent of male initiation rituals, as it is on America circumcision became a marker Tanna, an island in the S outh Pacific where of class and status. Only people with 1lived for some years. The Tarmese gather money could afford doctors and genital up their sons between the ages of six and surgery. And only trendy parents who twelve and lead them away to a secret supported mainstream beliefs about pubhouse in the forest to be snipped. Tradilic hygiene would accept new scientific tionally, boys were cut withbamboo knives rationalizations for the operation. Circum- their foreskins sliced down the top - an cision rates were far higher among the superincision rather than a circumcision. urban and the wealthy than they were Nowadays, island fathers and uncles might among poorer, rural, immigrant, or mitake the boys down to a local clinic for a nority-group families. Middle-class white full-blown Western circumcision. boys carried on their bodies the mark of The loss of foreskin marks the boy’s their family’ s status claims. journey into manlaood. Tannese kids tease By the 1940’ s, the medical industry had boys who are yet to be circumcised. They captured control of childbirth. A majority call them a name that means something of women went into hospital to give birth. like "pulls back skin." A Presbyterian And for the first time a maj ofity of Amerimissionary from New Zealand lived on :canb0ys wer~eircumcised. Circumcision Tanna, in th~ 1980S wi,th his triple~ sons. rates peaked at around 85% in the 1970’ s. My island friends were scandalized that Since that decade, these numbers have these boys remained uncircumcised as dropped - as an anthropologist would they approached their teen years. Every predict - down to 60% in the mid 1990’ s. time the boys wandered by, you knew When everyoneshares the same practice, local men were pondering bamboo knives. that practice no longer serves to create New Zealanders, like most people in the distinctions of class and status among us. world, leave their foreskins alone. CirThe fact that many HMOs nowadays force cumcigion is uncommon in Europe, Asia, parents to.pay for the.operation also has and Latin America and is disappearing in spared many sons’ foreskins~ AustraJia and Canada. We Americans Still, being cut continues to symbolize share the ritual mostly with sundry Pacific "clear," "healthy," and "modem" across Islanders and Australian Aborigines, much of America. Until these meanings peoples of the Middle East (notably Jews erode, it’ s likely that many of us will yet and Arabs), and various northern and cenbe able to hold our heads up high, should tral African societies. we happen to mn into any teasing Pacific Artistic depictions of circumcision in island boys. Egypt dated to 4500 years ago suggest Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropolthat the ritual has a long history. But ogy at the University of TUlsa. Americans haven’t been snipping fore- Council Oak Men’s Chorale presents Saturday, July 15, 2000 - 8pm ALL SOULS UNITARLdN CHURCH 2952 S. PEORIA TICKEZ~ $10 CALL 748-3888 THE COUNCIL OAK MEN’S CHORALE IS PROUD TO REPRESENT OKLAHOMA AT THE INTERNATIONAL GALA FESTIVAL LN SAN lOSE, CALIFORNIA �Callmember 341. 6866"1~ IOTA Int rnational Tours for more information. Massage Therapy Services ~agar Cruz, LM.T. ger:O.918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom.Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, ~at. 8-5pro Poweful Images: Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing Portrayals of Native America Gilcrease Museum 1400 Gilcrease Museum Road 5 9 6 2 7 0 0 by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor Sam Harris returns to Tulsa as Josephin Theatre Arts’ productionofAndrew Lloyd Webber’s "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" heading up a cast of thousands of locals - well, ok, maybe not quite thousands, but it’ s aprettylong cast list. The cast includes John Orsulak and Patrick Hobbs, members of the Council Oak Men’s Chorale’ s (we really need agood acronym here!) and formerly Finales, along with David Hubbard, Kathy LaFortlme, Bradd Gillespie, Larry Gray, and Eric Cornell (an actor and singer to watch, as he’s got a lotta talent, and he’s dedicated to performing enough to go far). Directed by New York’s Jon Grodeski, the musical is a.,lively rethinking of the biblical tale of Joseph and his jealous brothers. Sam Harris, a Sand Springs native, left home at 15 to pursue the dream of performing on Broadway. Everyone knows about Star Search, and the recording career that followed. His latest endeavors have included the critically acclaimed "In the Life," a Broadway musical; Grease on Broadway; and his latest CD, "Revival", a return tohis pop and soul roots.. He also wrote the TBS sitcom "Down to Earth." He’s been a busy boy! And he still manages to look fabulous! . He recently completed work on the feature film "In the Weeds", with Eric Bogosian, Molly Ringwald, and Joshua More importantly, the woman with her arms around me was the woman I wanted to be with. My heart was telling me this was right, tree and just. Then the song ended, and that insidious thing called my brain took over. Years of living in the Bible Belt made me once again think too much, and I acted straight again. Which is fnnny since I obviously don’t know from straight. Too many missed opportunities later, and my unrequited love affair with Marolyn (I didn’t DARE think about this at the time!) ended when she moved away. V. Random Musings Don’t get me wrong. Three girls does not a Lesbian make. There have been many more I’ve felt "that way" about, including Ms. Black Hair, Deep Blue Eyes with whom I worked; Ms. Nude Model whom I LOVED to draw in art class; the two English teachers at school where I taught; and the young P.E. teacher at the same school. Come on, there’ s ALWAYS a P.E. teacher! And when I was 25, there was the <ahem!> 16 year old I worked with! Hey, I can’t be arrested for my thoughts, not even in Tulsa! VI. Acceptance. I know acceptance doesn’ t come in six easy steps, but time and space being what they are, I’ ve cut to the chase. What made me finally accept myself as a Lesbian? Not any one thing. I guess years of chipping away at my libido, and the fact that everytime I had sex with a man, it coincided with some girl I had a crush on. Then there’ s the entertainment world. A friend got me interested in’qRte X-Files" Leonard. He recently premiered his new one man show, "Revival", and is planning to tour the show after a New York Run. He’ 11 be making his Tulsa concert debut July 28 in "An Intimate Evening with Sam Harris." There’s a joke in that, but I’m trying to maintain a more staid image. Actually, there’s about three jokes I could make. It’s kinda like resisting chocolate - you know it’s the right thing to do, but it’s just so tempting.., but no, I have eschewed that behavior. Performances run July 14th- 23rd, and the Sam Harris evening shows start atT:30 rather than the usual 8pm, so plan accordingly. Matinees are at 2pm. The venue is Tulsa Community College’s PACE theatre at their southeast campus at 81st and 169, so don’ t go downtown to the PAC for this one. For more info., call 595-7777. July 15th is "Sand Springs Night" in honor of Mr. Harris’ hometown roots. July 19th is "Youth Night" - if you don’t qualify for that one, you can at least pretend to be from Sand Springs. And I would like to welcome a couple of new writers to Tulsa Family News. Hughston Walkinshaw will be covering film and local theatre for us here. He’ll make his debut in our August issue. And while -I’m at it, some of you have read about my best friend Karin. Wall, who w ould have thunk it but she’ s finally’ ’come out" and this month, we will feature her thoughts, in a new column entitled"Raging Lesbian." years ago, but for the past few seasons my heart has skipped a few beats more and I’ ve thought,"Was David Duchovny even in that episode tonight?" If you listen exclusively to Melissa Etheridge for a year, it’ s not just her music you identify with. And even when you do identify with it- need I say more?- you’ re Gay! When you tape the ENTIRE Gay Rights Rally on CSPAN it’ s a pretty sure bet that, yes, you’ re Gay!When you seriously consider moving to the state capital (what do you call a city FULL of Lesbians? Austin!), then, you guessed it - you’ re Gay! When your best friend calls you long distance from Tulsa to tell you the new issue of Curve is out - with Gillian Anderson on the cover- and you haul ass to the nearest Gay neighborhood to buy it within the hour, well, you’ ve just taken a ride on the Dyke Express! When you own copies of "Desert Hearts", "Bound", "Everything Relative", "Claire of the Moon", etc., and display them prominently on your shelf, then grrlfriend, you have swung those closet doors open for the last time. And it feels good, clean, and honest. | Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor �~ank of Oklahoma now offers"One-Stop Shopping" for all your Small Business financial needs with SmallBusinessXpress Plus Checking. This unique package can saveyou time & money by giving you access to all the~financial products and business discounts your small business may ever need. Including checking, savings, leasing as well as loans and li~es o~f c~edit~-En|~y majo~iscounts on business services you already use such as overnight delivery, car rental, office supplies and more. BOk also offers FreeO~Q~ne Banking for Small Businesses at www.bok. om so you can bank on your schedule. Open your SmallBusinessXpress Plus Checking Account today. Stop by any of BOk’s 25 convenient locations including our supermarket locations. Or call our 24Hour ExpressBank any time at 588-6010. Ask about our Free Personal Checking Account offer for Business Checking customers. Let BOk save you time and money with SmallBusinessXpress Plus- i ANK Oi= Member FDIC/Equal Opportunity Lender solutions that fit your needs. OKI HOMA , . Some Restrictions Apply. Ask for Details. � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document High Court + Scouts: No Gays Need Apply by Laurie Asseo, Associated Press WASHINGTON - The Boy Scouts can bar Gays from serving as troop leaders, the Supreme Court said at the end of June in a 5-4 decision on "free-association rights." The decision may also let the-6.2-millionmember organization reject Gay boys as members. Forcing the Scouts to accept Gay troop leaders would violate the organization’ s right of"expressive association" under the Constitution’s First Amendment, the justices nded on the last day of their 1999-2000 term. "The Boy Scouts asserts that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the values it seeks to instill," Chief Justice William H. Relmquist wrote for the court. Requiring the organization to have a Gay scoutmaster would force it "to send a message, both~£o the youth members and the world, that the Boy Scouts accepts homosexual conduct as a legitimate form of behavior," the €,..hief justice said. "-.We’ re very pleased," said Scouts spokesman Gregg Shields. "It’ s going to allow us to continue our mission of providing character-building programs for youth." see Scouts._ tg. 9 uNPredicts: AIDS Will Kill One Half.of African Teens GENEVA (AP) - AIDS has killed 19 million people worldwide, but the worst is yet to come, the United Nations has just predicted: the disease is expected to wipe out half the teen-agers in some African nations, devastating economies and societies. ’q’here is a whole generation which is being taken outYsaid Peter Plot, head of the U.N. Joint Program on HIV/AIDS. He said vulnerable countries in Asia, Eastem Europe and the Caribbean risk a similar catastrophe unless they act now to control infection rates. In its 135-page report released at the end of June, UNAIDS estimates: -The virus has killed 19 million people worldwide, up fronr 16.3 million at the end of 1998. ~t has infected 34 million more, including 5.4 million last year alone. -More than 13 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. -In 16 sub-SaharanAfrican countries, more than onetenth of the population ages 15-49 carries the Human lmmunodeficiency Virus, or HIV. -In seven of those countries, at least one-fifth of the population is infected. One-of the countries where 20% of the population is infected is South Africa, which has 4.2 million people who are HIV positive- the largest single national total. The southern African nation of Botswana has the worst rate, with more than one in three adults infected. That is the equivalent of 90 million people out of the U.S. population of 270 million, see Africa, p. 9 DIRECTORY P. 2 PRIDE PHOTOS P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 Serving Lesbian; Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Pride 2000: Greg, Greta + ORU Too TULSA - While the Edsel ferrying Greg Louganis broke down and despite a steady but mild rain, Tulsa’s 2nd Pride Parade went off without a hitch. Beginning at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center near 41st & Peoria, several hundreds gathered along with grand marshals, Olympic champion Greg Louganis and distinguished US Army veteran Greta Cammermeyer. The. parade featured churches, choirs, drag queens and female impersonators, leather "boys and daddies," bars and businessmen who spread out over more than a mile and ended up at Veteran’ s Park for the Pride Festival. This yearlikelast, a handful of protesters gathered at the beginning of the parade, and then scurried to the end to protest yet again. Incontrast with those who were protesting, the pastor and a couple of members of the CarbondaleAssembly of God passed out bottles of water without any message of condemnation as they did last year also. When asked about their effort, they said they just wanted to act with compassion and to avoid the nastiness - leaving judgement to the Almighty. see Pride, p. 6 Humanity Unites for Human Rights Oral Roberts University Alumni Gree Louganis at the Millennium Parade Sharon Toele with Greta Cammermever i" Vermont Judge Won’t Block- Unions, Officials Rebel + More ¯ MONTPELIER,Vt. (AP)-Opponents ofVermont’ s civil unions. ¯ made another legal bid to block thelaw from taking effect on July ¯ ¯ 1st. A day after a Superior Court judge refused to issue a ." ¯ preliminary injunction blocking the first civil unions ceremonies. ¯ from taking place, opponents filed a new request and added new ° plaintiffs. A Virginia lawyer representing Shdtra and the other plaintiffs ° said Superior Cpurt Judge Stephen Martin did not have enough ; information beftre him when the judge ruled that no irreparable ° harm would occur if the law went into effect. ¯ Lawyer Erik Stanley asked to add two new plaintiffs to the ; lawsuit: town clerks in Corinth and Fairfield, who say they would ° be harmed if forced to issue civil union licenses. ¯ "These town clerks object to doing that on moral and religious ° grounds and have asked the attorney general’ s office if they could " not issue these licenses," Stanley said. ’The attorney general ; responded in a letter to them that if they refuse to issue civil ¯ unions licenses, they could be faced with civil lawsuits from the " individuals to whom they refused to issue licenses." There also ¯ is the remote possibility of criminal fines or prison terms. ¯ Several town clerks say they object to homosexuality and do ¯ not want to be forced into providing licenses that will grant same- " sex couples nearly all the rights and benefits Of marriage. " " The clerks now have been added to 15 people who sued to -" overturn the law. Eleven of those plaintiffs are members of the ¯ Vermont House who opposed civil unions, including prominent" representatives such as Sheltra, Oreste Valsangiacomo, D-Barre, ° Robert Starr, D-Troy, and George Schiavone, R-Shelburne. ¯ They argue that an informal betting pool among 14 House " members who supported the bill should invalidate it. The 14" bettors each threw in a dollar to wager on the number of "yes" ¯ votes the bill would garner when it went before the House for ¯ preliminary approval in March. It passed by seven votes that day. " Opponents argued the pool should have disqualified those who " participated because it gave them an interest in the outcome of the ¯ vote. ¯ In a recent ruling, Martin said allowing Gay and Lesbian " couples to enter into civil unions beginning Saturday would pose : no harm to the initial 15 plaintiffs, see Vermont, p. 9. Coke Adds Benefits for Gay +-Lesbian Partners WASHINGTON The Human Rights Campaign, anational Gay civil rights organization, commended the Coea-Cola Co. today for announcing plans to extend health care benefits to same-sex domestic partners of its United States-based employees. "This is excellent news, and yet another sign that domestic partner benefits are becoming a standard component of benefits packages at forward-thinking companies," said Kim I. Mills, HRC’ s education director who oversees WorkNet, HRC’s workplac project. "With this announcement, Coke becomes the 99th member of the Fortune 500 to take this important step." The Human Rights Campaign and its Business Council have been working with Coea-Cola and KOLAGE, its Lesbian and Gay employee resource group, for many months on this issue, Mills said. HRC WorkNet (www.hrc.org/worknet) provided data, strategy and other advice as needed. The Coca-Cola Co. released a statement today announcing the benefits, which will begin Jan. 1, 2001. According to the statement, employees will be able to sign up during the fall benefits enrollment period. The company also said it is researching opportunities for implementing its policy on a global basis. "Our company is committed to attracting and retaining the most diverse workforce in the world," Coca-Cola said in the statement. "Our goal is to ensure that the Coea-Cola Company is the best place for all people to work. This extension ofbenefits is another step toward achieving that goal." "The Coea-Cola Company has provided worldclass leadership to the beverage industry, and to the business commtmity in Atlanta and all of Georgia by taking this historic action," said Harry Knox, executive director of the Georgia Equality Project, whichrepresents Georgia’ s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered citizens, see Coke, p. 2 Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’ s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 749-4511 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 *The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. ISth Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial *Ross Edward Salon Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 747-1508 743-1000 250-5034 665-4580 712-1122 712-9955 494-2665 743-5272 746-0313 295-5868 581-0902, 743-4117 622-0700 749-3620 744-5556 838-8503 369-8555 584=0337, 712-9379 592-0460 " *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th P1. 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758.E. 21st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, 747-4746 Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 743-1733 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 www.gaytulsa.org Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Sods Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 "13/UGFr Alliance, Univ. ofTulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community ofHopeUnited Me~o~li."~st, 2545 S:.Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universanst tgongregauon 749-0595 Council Oak Men’ s Chorale 748-3888 *Ddaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free SpiritWomen’ s Center, call forlocation &info: 587-4669 )18.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 o-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinl~ net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum. Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by T~€, lz:€~ h/~w~ and may not be reproduced ei.th.er in whole orin part withoutwrittenpermission from thepublisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s sexual orientation. Correspondence zs asslmaed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of TJ.~, F¢,~.’. No,w÷ ..Each..rea.der is entitled to 4 copies of each ediuon at distnbutton points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood . Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 ¯ *MCG United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 gAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’ RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’ s ,Episcopal church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dunstan,s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential I-IIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 B,ARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN ¯ Borders Books & Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848::2667 : Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 : TAHLEQUAH : Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 ¯ *Tahlequah Unitarian-UniversalistChurch 918-456-7900 Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autunm Bre~.,ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 *Jim & Brent s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Fmerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’ s, Hwy. 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501-253-2776 501-253~5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 www.gaytulsa.org stirs controversy TULSA - gaytulsa.org, a non-profit continues to stir controversy about and in the Tulsa Lesbian, Gay, Bi and ~rans communities. Hosted by webmaster David and his : partner, Seth, a statement onthe sitenotes, ¯. " [that it is] an effort to chronicle the dme sl~ent out and about in the Tulsa gay scene ¯ mixed with a bit of news and ¯ information. We do not claim to be fair, objective, or even nice. This is 99% ¯ opinion. Whileyoumayormaynotagree, ¯ wecanpromise youwill be either amused, ¯ baffled, or (more commonly) pissed if ¯ ¯ youkeep visiting. We acceptgossip, slander, or anything else you want to submit ¯ we can post here." ¯ The awardwinning sitefeatures links to ¯ other web sites of interest and offers the observations of local writer, Dyke Di- ¯ vine. Also included are cordial descriptions of local and state pnnt media: Tulsa Family News, The Gayly Oklahoman and ¯ newcomer to Tulsa, the recently renamed Tulsa Triangle. ¯ On the net: www.gaytulsa.org JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 41%623-4696 * is where youcan findTFN¯NotallareGaY"ownedbutallareGay"fri"endly" i The Georgia Equality Project also played ¯ a key role in working with the company : andKOLAGEto helpbring aboutthenew ¯ policy. ¯ GEP also unveiled a new initiadvg~to- ¯ day to persuade nine other Georgia COm- " panies to provide domestic partner ben- " efits to their Lesbian and Gay employees. ¯ These companies are: Home Depot, At- : lanta Gas Light Co., BellSouth, Georgia ¯ Pacific, DeltaAirlines, Wachovia, United ¯ parcel.Service, Shaw Industries and Gulf ¯ Stream Aerospace. ¯ "Some companies in Georgia are be- : hind the times in their treatment of their Lesbian and Gay employees, said Kno . "We are launching this initiative because our Gay daughters, sons, fathers, moth- . ers, aunts, uncles and cousins should re- . ceive benefits for their dependent family ¯ members just like everyone eis . ¯ Earlier this month, DaimlerChrysler : Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Mo- ¯ tots Corp., along with the United Auto ¯ Workers umon, announced they would offer health care coverage to same-sex ¯ partners of all eligible U.S. employees. It ¯ was the first time an endre industry, along ¯ with its leading umon, announeed domes- ¯ - tic partner benefits simultaneously. More : than.3,400 private and public employers ¯ provide these benefits to their employees. ¯ So far this year, an average of five : employers a week are announcing these : benefits, according to HRC’ s WorkNet, : which tracks these trends. Many of ¯ America’ s leading companies offer these ¯ benefits including: IBM, Microsoft€Shell ~ Oil, Walt Disney, Fannie Mae, Cifgroup, ¯ Xerox, Time Warner and United and : American Airlines. Additionally, more ¯ thanhalfoftheFortune 500includesexual : orientation in their non-discrimination ¯ polities. : Letters Policy : TulsaFamilyNewswelcomes letters on ¯ issues which we’ve covered or on issues : you thinkneed to be considered. Youmay : request that your name be withheld but letters mustbe signed&have phonenum- ~ bers, or be hand ddivered. Anti-Gay Ads in Mexico "¯ past. of police was once so pervasive that hate crimes andsame-sex domestic violence went MEXICO CITY (AP) - The two leading candidates in Mexico’ s presidential campaign have raised eyebrows by casting doubts on each other’ s masculinity. But the real surprise to .many,,,I~__ple in tl~i."s land w~.ith a reputation for "machismo has been me negauve reaction to the tactic. Criticism led opposition candidate Vicente Fox to quickly drop a negative TV ad aimed at rival Fran= cisco Labastida, the candidate of the long-governing Institutional Revohition.ary. Party, or PRI. Using a ¯ Mexican slang termfbr s0iii~0ne Of madefined seXu2 ality, the ad showed Labastida hugging and lifting a ~ PRI colleague by the thighs: It also featured shots of male strippers at a’ campaign rally for another PRI candidate. " After canceling the ad, Fox’ s socially conservative National Action Party, known as PAN, ran an advertisement in newspapers defending itself tothe Gay community. The p~t,,y is "not against.the ,O,,ay community in any way,’ the ad said, adding: In a Fox admiulstration, there will befrcedOm for people to live without masks." Carlos Monsivais, an author and social critic, said the party’ s retreat was a milestone for Mexico, where there are no openly Gay politicians and homosexualtty has not been wtdely accepted..The most tm.po, t~( thing is that even Fox and the right had to oacK down and apologize to the Gay commumty,, h,e’ s.atd.." "It’ s incredible to hear the word ’homophobta oemg ~ used even by the right." Labastida’ s supporters have drawn their own criticism for taking shots at.Fox’ s masct!!.inity with allusions to his separation fromhis wife andhis being the father of four adopted children. Such attacks have seldombeenso directinMexicanpolitics, althoughin the previous presidential election six years ago, the PRI allegedly hired transvestites to attend an opposition campaign rallyin Veracruz state in an attempt to discredit it. This time, the attacks were started by Fox. Fo,x, called the PRI candidate a sissy and" La Vesttda, a pun on his rival’s name implying Labastida is a cross-dresser. But the atmosphere changed when a minor-party candidate, Gilberto Rincon Gallardo of the Social Democratic Party, stuck up for homosexuals, the handicapped, rape victims and Indians in a televised debate, the first time many of those groups. had been mentioned in the race. "In weak democracies like Mexico, legal protections are necessary to prevent a tyranny of the majority over minorities, so that people can decide on their own private lives withou,,t a majority imposing its moral or cultural views, Rincon Gallardo said. On June 17, the Gay community held what was by far the largest Gay-pride parade in Mexican history, with organizers estimating a turnout of 30,000. Just ¯ five years ago, SUCh parades drew an average of about 1,000 people. But Gays haven’ t had much success in their effort to make an issue of the banning of some Gay cultural events by PAN officials in towns they goBveemnj.amin Araujo of the Front for-People with AIDS-HIV said that "Gays are more tolerated than accacne~udteadte"iisnaMneimxipcoosasnibdiltihtyat. aTnhoepperenvl.yat..Ge,nacye,,p.oo.Il"~iatni.c,.ua.1-. Gayattitudes wasillnstratedbY areportoymet_,mzen) CommitteeAgainst Homophobic Hate Crimes: It estimates that 190 Gays were killed in Mexico bec1a9u9s9e. BofuttMheoirnss~evxautasl soereisenptraotgiorenssb.etWweeesnul1!h9a9v4ena"ndt reached the point of having an openly Gay candidate," he said. "But we are now at a point where there can no longer be an openly anti-Gay candidate." Denver Cops & Gays Work Together DENVER (AP) - Gays and Lesbians have formed an alliance with police to deal with late-night cruising, loud noise and sex in public around Cheesman Park. Police, Gay civil-rights activists and park neighbors have been handing out fliers to motorists for the past few weeks warning that police will crack do.wn on traffic, park curfew violations and inappropriate activity on surrounding streets. ¯ Thejoint effort wouldnot have been possible in the ¯ unreported, activists said. : "I think there was, clearly, some traditional stereo- . typing on both sides, but that has changed alot," said ¯ Lt. Jimmy Martinez, who leads a communi.ty-poli.c; ~ ing team in the Cheesman Park area: Marttnez sara ¯ acting Police Chief Gerry Whitman devised the strat- ~ - egy when he was captain of District 6 surrounding ~ Cheesman. Once the "Fort Apache" of city police ~ districts, District 6 is now a model for community- ~ policing programs. Cheesman is ~a .well:known gathering #ace for ~ -~ Gays and Lesbians,~and friction de~eloped between neighbors andparkusers¯ Marfinez~idpolicegot the~ -- Cheesman Park West Neighborhood Associationand Equality Colorado, a statewide Gay civil-rights orga- : nization, directly involved. ¯ Representatives on both sides said the strategy has . ~ worked. "For one thing, our work with the Denver :~ police has become a model for how an organization like ours can work with law enforcement," said Lori ¯ Girvan, directorofEquality Colomdo.DedeDePerein, ¯ who heads Equality’s Anti-Violence Project, sai.’d i cooperadun with police has "built bridges" over me ". Gay community’ s prevalent, persistent fear and misi trust of law enforcement. JoeBarrows of theChcesman ParkWestNeighborhoodAssociation saidheandhis neighbors frequently called oolice with complaints before the communitypolicing campatgn. Now compl.amt.s a~..e rare: Tl~.e result has been a positive changem tlae atsrupttons m the neighborhood. It’ s been a positive experience all the way around," he said. Mormans Attack Gay Relationships in Nevada CARSON C1TY (AP) - A Mormon church-endorsed ban on same-sex marriages cleared one hurdle recendy when the secretary of state’ s office said aballot ~etition contained enough signatures. The ruling by Deputy Secretary for Elections Susan Morandi advanced the constitutional referendum to its final step - a test sampling names on the petition for regist.ered voters. County clerks and voter registrars were given until July 7 toverify that registered voters signed the petition. Morandi’ s office said the Coalition for the Protection of Mamage got 120,558 people to sign its 15etitlon, which is almost three times the number of registered voters needed to put a question on the Nevada ballot: Under the measure, Nevada would recogmze mamages only of a re.an and woman. ,That already is part of state law, but advocates want to t~acK it up in the state constitution. Opponents say the initiative amounts to discriminadota and bigotry. The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and about 20 other groups across the state formed the Coalition for Unity to campaign against the ballot measure. The Coalition for the Protection of Marriage is heavily supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members were central to anti-Gay marriage efforts in Hawaii and Alaska, and most recently, in California. However, the former Catholic bishop of Las Vegas, Daniel Walsh, asked priests and paris.ke_s to. support the ’~.aditi0nal f_~amily" but not to support Ziser’ s effort because it fosters ill-will toward Gays. Gay Pride in Tel Aviv " TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Celebrating Gay pride, thousands of Israelis in tank tops and shorts danced to ¯ deafening music and waved rainbow-colored flags at ¯ the end of June. The annual street party has become ¯ the latest venue in the culture war between secular ¯ Israelis and devoutJews who consider h°m°sexuality ¯ an abomination. ¯ "We promise to support your struggle against the ~ religious," legislator Tommy Lapid, leader of the ¯ secular rights party Shinui, told the cheering crowd. ~ In recent years, Gays and Lesbians in Israel have ¯ scored a string of successes in the courts, though not ¯ in parliament, where ultra-Orthodox religi°us Parties ¯ have considerable deut. Last month, the Supreme Court allowed a Lesbian spouse to be registered as the United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot ~ 1 1:00 am P~tor ..... 62~ N. Maplewood ; Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 254~ South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am .. Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 Sandra Hill Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive; Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa- O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights MeetOthers ina Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2"121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 -The Pride Storev 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center seeondparentofherpartner’sbiologicalson-in1994, ¯ Norway’ s only female bishop, RosmarieKohn, faced same sex unions were recognized for benefit pur- ¯ a revolt by nearly one-third of her own clergy when : she allowed openly Lesbian Siri Sunde to return to the poses. The court rulings have coincided with growing " pulpit. Sunde had been barred after she married her public ,acceptance of Gays. Just a few years ago, ". female companion. Gay marriages are legal in NorpublicdisplaysofGaypridewereunheardofinlsrael. ¯ way, with all the fights of heterosexual marriages By contrast, Gays were hugging and kissing in Tel : except church weddings and the right to adopt. Aviv’ s central Rabin Square in 1998 to celebrate the ¯ transsexual singer Dana international’ s victory in the : Germany Considers Eurovision Song Contest. ¯ 743-GAYS (743-4297) Over the last few years, the Gay pride parade has ¯ Couples Bill drawn more and more people. On Fri.day, .Rg,bin i Rp.r~iJN(AP~-Germanv’s~ovemingSocialDem°- - - Square was lined with Israeli flags and me rai.noo.w_ . ~r~s--a~d &reins have ag~eed~on the outhneof a draft. 6-9 l~m, Sunday..,-.:F~day ~’r~ (?0 ~ ba~erstof the Ga3~ prid~ moyeme.nt~ T~ech~,0 "12-~pm,~Sa.turd~y, ~t]l ~sales benefi~t t~h~ ,C.~e~t~tq~ ....1 ’ ~7 bl~ed from. lod~m_o._umed:on ~ : ; ) f’_ ~". ( .! !i:.!/’ .............. !. ~ !’. ~- ~ :[2~_ ~.~.’_. ’~_ L:_.t ~._ in ~he pa~ade~do.nne~. eta..0orate~ cos..m,rues, mm.ie .ore.-_ ,.: it~st bef6ieaweekend phrade b~9 G.a.ys and Lesmansm ~ .: ............~ ..... .............. " ................................. ~s~ wor’e shortS and T-shirts. FAthilles brouglat tlaelr ~edinwhereactivists~vanttohighhghtthecenter-left children, andsomeheterosexual couples walkedhand- government’s failure to make good on the promised Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public. Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 402~ South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 7;~i35 TOM NEAL .................... ILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583-1248 Red Rock Tulsa Flee Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesdays, 5 -8 pm, Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesdays, 5-8 pm, Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson~~k’w.com East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 ~,;o~, An Independent Member Broker 2651 OPENARMs,OPENMINDS,OPENHEARTS Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati. 582-4128 Saint Aidan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You in-hand. There were no religious protests. Tel Aviv is anoverwhelmingly secular city, and the parade was being heldjust before the onset oftheJewish Sabbath, during which observant Jews refrain from work and travel. Taking a break from the blazing heat, Kinneret G01an said the scene made her feel that Israel was no different from othercountries. "You only see pictures of Israel when rocks are being thrown. I’m proud that despite everything we can still do this," she said. Golan~ said that in the increasingly bitter culture war betwTeen Israel’ s secular majority and thedevout minority, the distrust is. so great that "each side defines itself as the opposite:of what the other is." Therefore, she said, many secular Israelis will sup- ]2~ort causes as long as they are denounced by the ’~:~’~r~igious community. Lapid, standard bearer of the secular fight against whathe calls religious coercion, said his party and the homosexual movement are natural partners. Next week, a bill proposing recognition of same-sex civil unions will be up for approval. However, Lapid said it will likely fail because of the influence of the religious parties. But some of those dancing in the parade said they paid little heed to politics. "Who cares what they do in the Knesset? Look at this celebration," saidAnat Schumaker, one of theparticipants. "We’ re here and they can’ t do anything to stop Gay Clergyman Shakes Up Norweigan Church OSLO, Norway (AP) - The selection of an openly Gay clergyman in defiance of state Lutheran church guidelines raised concerns Friday that the issue of homosexuality could split the church. The Church of Norway’ s highest body, its 85-member national congress, ruled in November 1997 that clergy who enter homosexual partnerships could not hold jobs that require ordination. However, the~Oslo Bishops’ Council of clergy and laity voted 4-3 on June 15 to appoint Jens Torstein Olsen as chaplain for the Majorstue Church. Olsen noted onhis application that he was living with a Gay partner. The council minority appealed the decision to Trend Giske, head of the churches and education ministry that formally employs state church clergy. He initially said he saw no reason to reverse the council majority’s decision, but will make a final~ decision next month. If hired, the 51-year-old Olsen would be Norway’ s first male minister who is openly living with a Gay partner. Oslo Bishop Gmmar Staalsett saidhe expects the. ministry to respect his council’ s majority, in keeping with usual practice. "Olsen is dearly the best qualified for the post," Staalsett said. But the move prompted Norway’s head bishop, Odd B0ndevik, to say he was calling an emergency meeting of the national bishops council on the matter probably in August. "The appointment.., can split the Church of Norway," he was quoted as telling the Norwegian news agency NTB.-"When we said the issue does not have to be a splitting factor, we assumed that each individual bishop would be loyal to the national church council’s resolutions and the church itself," Bondevik was quoted as saying. An anguished debate over Gay clergy has already led to bitter disputes within the church. Last year, reform. Half a million people were expected for the annual Christopher Street Day parade in the German capital. The bill, to be presented to parliament before t breaks for summer next month, would recognize registered Gay palTmerships as families, said Greens lawmaker Volker Beck. However, homosexual couples apparendy would not have the right to adopt children - a demand of the Greens rejected by the dominant Social Democrats. Gay partnerships wonld get legal rights similar to heterosexual couples on taxes, social security and ~mmigration law - an important point for Gay couples where one parmer is a foreigner. Beck said the proposals still require formal approval bythe parliamentary groups of the two governing parties. Opposition conservatives blasted the plahs and hinted they would try to stall the bill in th~ upper house of parliament, where the govemment,lack.s a majority. Thomas Goppel, aleader of Bavaria s rightist Christian Social Union party, called the proposals "absurd." Germany’ s Association ofGays and Lesbians welcomed the draft saying it did notmeet all of the group’ s demands but still were a great st p forward." Minnesota ’Sodomy’ Law Under Challenge ¯ ¯ MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A state law that makes oral and anal sex acrimeis unconstitutional and shouldbe ¯ thrown out, tim Minnesota Civil Liberties Union ¯ claimed in a lawsuit filed at the end of June. The i MCLU and the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union are challenging ¯ Minnesota’ s sodomy statute, saying the law violates the right of privacy guaranteed by the state constitui tion. Thelaw - which applies to all consenting adults, even married heterosexuals - makes violations pun- : ishable with a year in prison and up to $3,000 in tines. ¯ Theclass-actionlawsuit,filedinHennepinCountY, ¯ asks the court to declare the statute void and prevent ¯ the state from enforcing it. The plaintiffs include two : married heterosexuals who say they risk prosecution, : a Lesbian who fears eviction because her lease pro- " hibits illegal activity, a Gay law student who fears ¯ being disbarred, a divorced Gay manwhofears losing ¯ his right to visithis children, and a group of Lesbian, ¯ Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered lawyers and law ¯ students. ¯ According to the MCLU, 18 states still have sod- .: omy, statutes, down from all 50 in 1961. In five of ": ~ose s’tat~s, the law hpplies 0nly to Gays [editor’s ¯ note: Oldahoma is one of those with laws only di- ¯ rected at Gay people]’. Legislatures have repealed ¯ sodomy laws in 25 states, while courts have over- . turned them in others. In one of the most recent cases, an appeals court in Texas voided that state’ s sodomy ¯ law two weeks ago. ¯ Attorney General Mike Hatch was out of state and ¯ unavailable for comment on the lawsuit, said his ¯ spokeswoman, Leslie Sandberg. ¯ Tom Prichard, executive director of theMinnesota Family Council, which has helped fight off attempts ¯ to repeal the law at the Legislature, said the law should stay on the books, and he criticized theMCLU ¯ for filing the lawsuit. ’°They’ re trying to do an end run by getting the courts to strike it down instead of going through the appropriate channel, which is the Legis- ¯ lature," Prichard said. . ated offices to deal specifically with Gay alth Officials to health issues. Officials in Seattle have Focus Gay Needs :d velo#as iali d mpaigntovac- ¯ cinate Gay men for hepatitis. BOSTON (AP) - Boston public health officials have agreed to try to better meet the needs of the city’ s Gay community by collecting data onillnesses,raising awareness of health issues and seeking funding for new programs. Their decision follows the lead of other big U.S. cities, where officials have already taken action to address the health needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender residents. ’q’hereis clear datathat shows there are health differences between the Gay and larger communities," said Stephen Boswell, executive director oftheFenway Community Health Center, which serves a high percentage of Boston’ s Gay population. "If those problems are addressed, we can make a significant impact." At a conference held in Boston in May, officials from public health agencies around the country cited studies showing Gays are at risk for a range of health problems, including depression, breast cancer, and substance abuse. After years of focusing solely on HIV and AIDS, Boston’s public health officials decided soon after the conference to develop a more efficient way to deal with the community’s other pressing needs, said John Auerbach, executive director of me Boston Public Health Commission. q~nis.is the first time the he~Ith department has acknowledged it needs to specifically address the health needs of the Gay community," he said. "This is a significant step forward." Health departments in New York, Chicago and San Francisco have already c~e- While Louganis left immediatdy alter the parade to fly out of the city, Cammermeyer spoke briefly in the rain, noting that she really might have preferred not to come to Tulsa, thinking that it might not really be safe or wdcoming, but that probably she needed to come to Tulsa for precisdy that reason. Another group which received great atteiation was ORU.out.com, a new Lesbian and Gay alumni organization for Oral Roberts University (ORU). While Gay alumni groups exist around the country, ORU.out.com is unusual in thatORU has a policy of banning Gays as.students, faculty or staff. Regardless, ~e ~oup numbered about 20 and group orgamzer, Jeff McKissic notes that about 60 people have gotten involved. Orgamzers of the Parade and Festival, Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, Inc. estimated that some 3,000 participated or attended. More than !00,000 march in Paris Gay Pride parade PARIS (AP)- In a festive celebration of Gay pride; more than 100,000 people marched and danced on the last weekend in June through the streets of Paris behind a giantbanner with the slogan for this year’s parade: ,Homophobia - a social pl~gr~h------ Educatton Mimster Jack Lang and the Socialist Party’s mayoral candidate Bertrand Delanoe were among the politicians thatkicked offGay Pride 2000 behind dozens of motorcyclists from the Gay Bikers Club. Rainbow-colored flags waved under overcast skies as the parade wound from :: Feds to Fund AIDS ¯ Vaccine Search ¯ WASHINGTON (AP) - Four new part- " nerships were announced by a federal ¯ health agency Tuesday to provide fund- : ing to groups attempting to bring anAIDS ¯ vaccine to market. i Theseparme.rships, call,edHIV ~acone ¯ design and development teams, were ¯_ prompted by~ a. presidential dirertive to ¯ increase public-private cooperation in : developing vaccines to major diseases, : according to the National Institute of Ai- : lergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ¯ the section of the National Institutes of : Health that set up the deals. ¯ "Many vaccines in use today resulted i fr°mb°th g°verument-sp°., snL0r--~andpfi.- vate research," said Dr. Anthony S. Faucl, : director of NIAID. ¯ The awards are incentive-based, aimed ¯ at teams that have a vaccine in develop- : ment but have not yet reach_ed human ~ testing. The teams will receive funds as ¯ they achieve preset goals. ¯ Three U.S. companies - Advanced ~ BioScience Laboratories in Kensington, ¯ Md.; Chiron Corporataon in Emeryville, ¯ Calif.; and Wyeth Lederle Vaccines and ¯ Nutrition in Pearl River, N.Y. - as well as ~ a consortium of Australian universities ¯ led by the University ofNew SouthWales ¯ all have different tactics on how to create ¯ a serum that will protect humans from ; HIV infection, which causes AIDS. .district. Boolmng techno and 0asco music ¯ played as drag queens and other elabo- ¯ rately costumed men and women danced on colorful floats and along the sidelines of the parade Police estimated the crowd size at between 100,000 and 130,000 people, while organizers said that 250,000 people turned out for the event. Coinciding with the weekend of the parade, Social Affairs Minister Martine ¯ Aubry said the government planned to : introduce new laws oudawing discrimi- ¯ nadon against homosexuals. Aubry said : the new legislation would appear as an ¯ amendment tO a "social modernization" : bill currently going through Parliament. ¯ Denver Pride Draws 100,000 ¯ DENVER (AP) - More.than 100,000 at- " tended Denver PrideFest 2000. The festi- ~ val, organized by the Gay, Lesbian & : Bisexual Community Services Center, is ¯ inits 10th year. No violence was reported ~ dUring the parade betweenCheesmanPark : and Civic Center Park that featured 100 : floats. The festival also featured 230 ¯ booths and. a family zone with the signs: ~ "drug-~ alcohol-, hate-flee zone." ¯ Activists told a crowd at the Civic Cen- : ter that good people standing up to big- ~ otry, not legislation, will protect Gays, ¯ Lesbians and Bisexuals from violence. ¯ "In every case, a mass mobilization of ¯ people changed thepolitteal clunate, sm ¯ Leslie Feinberg, author of ’q’ransgender ¯ Warriors" and "Stone Butch Blues." Gay Pride Elsewhere ¯ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A rollicking ; ,,Gay p,fi,de parade replete with dancing nuns, all-maleche.~rleading squads and ¯ drag queens in stilettos attracted a half ¯ million revelers as it made its way from Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weeke~qd and evening appointments are available. Just for laughs artur0 Italy’s quick chang Welcomed Directed b~/ Serge genoncourt /~rtistic Director Pierre Bernard -~ "Arturo Brachetti is remarkable" - Bob Fosse August 6-13 TICKETS 596-7111 1 {800) 364-7111 (Outside Tulsa) ¯ 20+ Groups, 477-SHOW Presented by CELEBRITY A~RACTIONS celebriWattractions.com " the waterfront to City Hall. As David Ellard watched the processouthern Paris to its destination at the ¯ sion see Pride, p. 8 Place de la Bastille, near the city’s Gay Power of Oklahoma Service .Is Now Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for youto contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around:the-dock answers to your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve.you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. I I I I I I I I I I I mO..~ Clip And Save CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 I I I I I I I Serviei~ a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 I I Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: .1-888-216-3491 ! I I .i :-’ I Falta De Suministro: 1-888-218-3924 I I I I- I " ~I I , PublicServiceC0mpany,0fOklah0ma , by Karin Gregory COMING OUT. Even the words evoke an ominous, almost surreal scene, like the Great and Powerful Wizard, whose deep voice echoes throughout closets everywhere. In my case, my 44 yearold closetwas sot’ffled that I couldn’t hea~ the echo e~}en if I tried, i finaily Sprang out, machete inland, :r~dy to tell everyone that I’ma Lesbian! Well, two or three people, anyway. Because I didn’t know what was all involved in "coming out." I had no good role models to speak --of in that area. And don’ t tell me Melissa Etheridge and Ellen DeGeneres - because famous people will always be heard and don’ t have to repeat themselves. I, onthe otherhand, have to tell friends individually and hear such remarks as: "Oh, I always knew that"; "Yeah, I was wondering when you were going to tell me"; and the ever popular, "YES! We knew it! We win the bet!" Umm, friends, if you knew it for so long, how come I JUST found out? You could have let me in on it! (Best friend’ s ¯ note: I tried! You don’ t just sit someone down and tell them "Um, Karin, I think you’re Gay. Deal with it!" - Jim) Actually, I hav&known, all my life, but I never gave a name to it. And there were the various signs that threw me totally off track. Instead of telling you my. boring life, I’ 11 give you a sampling of it, interspersed with the steps I went through (and probably many of us go through) in realizing my true nature. ~ I know what you’ re saying. If I’mreading Tulsa Family News, I know I’m Gay and what could you possibly tell meabout it?" Nothing, but since I want you to read about my boring life anyway, I have to jazz itup somehow. Also, there may be a few of you who are reading your boyfriend’s copy of this newspaper. If you’re "curious" and your boyfriend is reading Tulsa Family News, then you’ re both Gay! Read on. I. "I’m What?" Sooner or later you have to start questioning. What kind of music do you listen to? Yep, if you answered Tori Amos, Ani DiFranco, Sophie B. Hawkins, !Indigo Girls, and Sarah McLachlan, then you need to examine your lifestyle. I haven’ t known a Gay personyet who doesn’ t love Sarah McLachlan. However, if you own five differentcopies ofMelissa Etheridge’ s Breakdown (and I do!), the questioning is over. ’ ~ ¯ II..Environment .I came into this world kicking and screaming, and when I found out, in my neighborhood full of boys,-that I was differentfromthem, Ikickedandscreamed again. I wanted to be a boy. lplayed just like ~the boys; doing everything they did exeep,tJ~,e,, standing up. And I was pissed I icouldn’t master that! Physically and ¢motionall);i Was a gifl~butI thought like a:boy. So when I would question myself - years later, I always wentback to the same thing: I HATED girls then. Well, most little boys do hate little girls at that age. If "It was hound to happen... Marolyn was i~autfful, with lees and weB, 7ou ~en yo~ mantra [or a smmer s~s no~ ~ST yo~ ~d;’ " they don’ t, they’ re usually Gay boys WhOr’i". .. feel more comfortable around girls play- " ing house, school, and Easy Bake Oven. ¯ By the .way, if you played with dolls when you werelittle, don’ t think that disqualifies you. Especially if you. had a Barbie doll and spentmany a day practicing undressing her. It was when I was 13 that things became, for want of a better word, sticky. III. Crushes She walked in beauty, like the night...OK, so they all did at one time or other, didn’t they? This particular she walked into my eighth grade English classroOm, and I immediately thought,"Wow, she’ s pretty." I never used that word to describe any gift before. All right, there was the time I whistled at Ann " Margret in the movie theatre when she came on " screen in "Viva Las Vegas." ¯ Some people don’t see signs that say " "Caution - Falling Rocks"; I don’t see ¯ signs that clearly scream, "Karin- you’ re. ¯ a Lesbian. Get over it. when my eighth ¯ grade crush continued into ninth grade, I ¯ went to her house for a sleepover. I’ll say this here and now - Jane Eyre ¯ shouldbeforbidden reading injunior high. " The protagonist as a little girl has a crush " on her best friend, which author Charlotte ¯ Bronte says ~s normal Besides the very ¯ obvious inference that Charlotte had her ¯ own Lesbian feelings, it did much to help ¯ me rationalize the rest of my life. If I felt ¯ something for a girl, then I invoked the ¯ name ofCharlotte Bronte, and things were ¯ "normal" again. So when I wanted to : watch my friend undress in front of me, ¯ that wasjust anormal straight girl feeling. ¯" When I fantasized about crawling in bed : naked withher, I still usedCharlotte Bronte : as a guide. Charlotte was talking about - "little" girls, mind you. ¯ When I was 30 I met a woman who, ". without touching me, did things to my ¯ southerly regions that no one had ever done before. When I’ d had enough frus- " tration, I had sex with a man, and truly ¯ believed there was something wrong with : me for not feeling what I thought I should ¯ feel. Whom did I call in as my counselor? " Yep, good old Charlotte. ¯ IV. In Love It was bound to happen, and this time a ¯ Lesbian became not only my crush, but ¯ probably the only person I’ ve ever fallen : in love with. Marolyn was beautiful, with ¯ great legs and a great pair of - well, you ¯ get it. When your mantra for a summer is ¯ "She’s just my friend, she’s just friend, ¯ she’ sjustmy friend", she’ s notJUST your ¯¯ friend. Have you ever had amoment of clarity? ¯ Amoment when suddenly the clouds part, ¯ the sky opens up, and you just KNOW -" what you want? Marolyn took me to my ¯ first Lesbian bar (we were "just friendg’:,, ¯ mind you), Sue Ellen’ s in Dallas. As we danced a slow _..d~,c~ together, my m~ .... -" merit of clarity hit. I d shoved down the~.;~ ~ ¯ feelings about Marolynfor so long that a!l,;!’~:: ¯ at once they came rushing at me and l ¯ conldn’ t deny any longer. I looked arotmd ¯ and just knew I had finally found some- " place to belong, see Lesbian, p. 11 by Jim Christjotm, entertainment editor Some of you might ask, "What’s he clucking about this time?" And well you might - run, don’t walk, to see Chicken Pun. Created by ’%Vallace and Gromit" impresario Hick Parks, this rollicking comedy about chickens dreaming of a better p!a~..~.~, ~far away fromthe ~neentra- ¯ tion c~ami3 Chlcken farm ttiey re in’fs a witty, int~-.ligentfi~~1m........ ¯ .~ I havehad my suspicions~’abtut Nicks~ familystatus given some subtle references in the Wallace&Gromit shorts (available on video, and well worth it), such as Gromit (a dog) knitting a rainbow striped sweater.~ The Wallace and Gromit shorts are guaranteed to cheer up the most depressed person in the world, and watch for the subtle touches he puts in, like the newspaper-headlines in thepapers the characters read. While the films are claymation, they are not children’s films. With Chicken Run, thereality ofwhathappens to chickies whodon’ tlay theft share ofeggs is brought home in an unflinchingly touching way. And yes, you wiII reIate to the characters - and never look at chicken pot pies the same way again. As for the aforementioned clues as to the Gay sensibility of the film, Cheek out the ratsi relationship. And when the birds are practicing flying, one ofthe best gags was when they fall, and the rat says "It’ s raining hens", which to those of us who re,c~l a certain song with a similar rifle, realize it’ s a pretty big tipoff as to the sensibility that inspired this film. The jokes are all extremely well done, and the sight gags, well, the film begs a second and third viewing to take everything in, and look at the backgrounds. There are gems hidden everywhere. It is ironicthatMel Gibson,homophobicadulterer that he is, lends his voice to the film in a really well done turn as a Rhode KD Lang ¯ KD Lang’s newCD is a delight. Re- : member those lazy weekends whenmom : (in some ease, you) Wouldpiit her favorite ¯ records on the changer in the late 60’ s : early70’s?BarbraStreisand’sStoneyEnd, ¯ and Sergio Mendes’ Brazil ’66 come to ¯i miipindadt.eWd ieiilil{,aK~D€fhioa~sslt~a.k~enmthait~sofu’n.d~_a~nv~d-,"~ ~ ¯ met fling that grows in to ab~t diore of a. "...While the films are claymation, they are not children’s films. With "Chicken Run," the reality of what happens to ehiekles who don’t lay their : share of eggs is brought home in an unflinehlngly touching way. And yes, you will relate to the characters- and never look at chicken pot pies the same way again...." serious thing. And it is the perfect album for a cloudy Sunday afternoon with your loved One, your. summertimefling., or even an imaginary lover. The -albuin’ S title is In~.. vindbte Summer, and La Lang has ne~er soundedbetter. Thealbumprogresses with the nervous, first €on~- tact ditty about a possibleloveinter-- est titled "The Consequences of Falling", and she captures the moment perfectly. Island Red cock named Rocky. One must think that someone planned that casting - and this is the place for an obvious joke, ¯ This segues into an up tempo number ¯ called"Summertime Fling" thateapsulizes ¯ that high, giddy feeling when itis discov- ¯ ered that indeed, the objet d’affection : returns the feeling. It is sure to bring a : smile to the mostjaded heart. Thememory ¯ may be buried deep, but it’ s in there some- " where! The albums builds to a quieter : climax than one might imagine, as the THE ART 0f PERFORMANCE For ~.ales, contact Rupy Robateau 280.5999 . or Marcus Winkler 280.6234 For Service, contact Danny Quigg 280.6828 JAGUAR 9607 S. Memorial Dr. : seriousness of the relationship deepens. Are You Gay or Bisexual? ¯ "Love’ s Great Ocw.an" is a winner, and - ~B~,~t Va~ll ~r’~[il/a~ &m~.e’|eltrm9 _ has a mysterious feel to it that gives the /’~1 ~ /OM II~.ilI~.~ a’~III~.~lI~.ll. album some weight. The rest are pretty~-- standard love songs, pleasantto~ " ............. n’ eat for a dinner o essin to- /ulsas iwo-~plrlteo inolan Me S ",eta \"~ : makeout album. The retro feel is great, Support Group ts here for you. ¯ andblends well into the music, capturing ¯" the feeling perfecdy ofsome ofmy favor- : ite songs remembered-from childhood : and beyond. Highly recommended. It’ s a ¯ great companion, piece to Melissa : Etheridge’s darker "Breakdown". With : Melissa, you cover the darker cynical : moments, with La 1 ang, the bright sun- : shiny day moments. ¯ I caught Arturo Brachetti on a guest ¯ appearaneeonDrewCarey, andyes,he’s : family, and yes,he’ s fantastic. Well worth ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing - which I will leave to your imaginations. ¯ seeing what he’ s gotup his sleeve! Check Think about it. (R~oc~y,.....Rhode, gg~.it? ;.,rpriorcol~f~r~t~.. ¯ : Right up there with Ginger Chickeh, ifi~ : .... And fi~t mbliffi, the’R~ilt ifiteiaiiews!’ heroine of the piece. Rosemary is the : Chicken that doesn’ t have babies. You’ll get it when :~you see.the, film.) All the actors are marvelous, and if you’ re a fan of any of the British comedies on PBS Sunday nights, you’ll recognize a few voices. If there’s one film you see this summer, make it this one. It’ 11 be well worth your time. I plan to see it several more times, and get the DVD when it comes out - just to scroll through the frames and catch what I missed the first ten times. And I think instead of chicken pot pies, I’ll stock up on the vegetarian ones instead. Andinstead of roast chicken sandwiches, the veggie chick burgers as well. Buh-bye, colonel! ¯" in the city’s 30th annual Lesbian Gay ¯ Bisexual Transgender Pride Parade, he ¯ said such events provide "a little light of : hope.., acceptance of Gay people is still ¯ the toughest issue out there," said Ellard, ¯ 35. "The religious right still thinks we’re ¯ a threat to family values. But when you ¯ look at the Gay families marching with : their children.., you see thatit’ s not true." ¯ What began in 1970 as a meager pro- : cessionfollowedby an unassuming"Gay- ¯ in" at Golden Gate Park has become one : of California’ s biggest events, ¯ see Pride, p. 9 For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project ’q’beprobability thatyoudiefromAIDS when you arc 15 today is over 50%in these countries," Plot told a press conference. "We arc going into societies where there arc more people in their 60’ s and 70’ s than there are in their 40’ s and30’ s," hc said. "This is unheard of." ¯ In Washington, the Peace Corps an- : nounced a worldwide campaign to push ¯ similar measures - training its 2,400 vol- : unteers inAffieain preventive tedmiques ¯ and forming a200-member"crisis corps" : tohelp educate commtmities. "There is no ¯ option for any organization working in : development other than to play a role in ¯ helping these countries confront the HIV- ¯ AIDS crisis," Peace Corps Director Mark With dwindling numbers of economi- i Schneider sai~. eally active adults left tosupport the re~ L .,~ .~o~~i~~~.~d~l~st rate of the .’.population, the. impact on ~.~tff~ot~:~i~A~i~t~i2~.;€%~ is cooving ¯ . ~!~ .....,~ ~,-~.o:,~. ~7~." ~~ ~7,~>.>-.~ : ~_.: Afficamnattous ts devastating. Agng,~ t.~ ~ai[.an*-~i~su~ssf.u~ ~..emBpatgn 0,f protural production in nations like Zim.~: ~ moting’¢Offdoni~us~. And’ Brazil" s policy bwe, wh,ere 2,000people die each w..~ee;;~ : of prevention coupled with locally pro- AIDS, is falling. Businesses are goi~i~g ¯ ducedaltemativestohigh,costanfi-AIDS bankrupt beeause of the deaths of skilled, : drugs has halved the number of deaths educated staff members. Hopes of better education are also in tatters. The number of new teachers trained in 7a~bia is just keeping pace with .the number felled by AIDS. Children are leaving school because they are orphaned or forced to work to support their families. Hospitals are overwhelmed by AIDS patients. Many have inadequate supplies of even basic antibiotics to fight the pneumonia, tuberculosis or mouth fungus that accompany AIDS, let alone the sophistieated drugs whichhave eased suffering in rich countries, the report said. Denial continues to be a problem. The report cited a 1999 survey of 72 minors orphaned by AIDS in a hard-hit Kenyan": commnIfity: Although all knew of the disease~one of them believed their parents had died of it. Most thought witchcraft or a curse was to blame. Piot Said one of the reasons for the explosion of cases in southern Africa is the legacy of apartheid~ which separated. men from their families in rural areas and forced them to work in towns, with only prostitutes for relief. But he said govern: ments were also to blame for ignoring the problem for too long. "What is happening in southern Africa should.be a lesson for countries today which don’t have a big problem yet," he said. "I’m thinking of Asia, I’m thinking of easte,,m, Europe, I’m thinking of the Caribbean. About $~ bill lionis needed annually forprevention and education programs to turn the tide, Plot said. He called for debt-relief programs for poor comitries.. Sandra Thurman, director of President Clinton’s White House Office on AIDS policy, said the report urgently underscores the need for goverm~ent l~aders to face the crisis head on. "It will take the engagement of all sectors of all societies ifwewantto winthebattle againstAIDS," Thurman said in a recent statement. Although Asiahas relatively low infec: tionrates overall, there arefears that could change because of the density of its population, gome 0.7% of the Indian po,,p~ation is ~IV-positive, or 3.7 milliof~ii~e overall:Thediseasehas so farbeenl~g~ly confined to drug addicts. Infections in the former Soviet blocare soaring because of drug addiction. Piot said the number of new HIV cases in Moscow last year far outstripped all previous years combined. And the disease is proliferating in Caribbean countries like Haiti and Barbados because people have multiple sexual partners from an early age. Despite the gloom of the report, Plot said there are signs of hope. Uganda, whichused to be the worst-affected country, has slowed new infections thanks to strong prevention campaigns and increased condom use. Zambia is following suit. : and led to huge savings in hospital bills, ," the report said. ¯ "In the West and in Europe, the impact :. of treatment has been spectaculars" Piot said. "Mortality has really collapsed..There isa longer and better life for people with AIDS."Onthe Net: http://www.uuaids.org In renewing his plea for suspending the law until the central issues go to trial, Stanley argued that there is realharm that could happen.’ The clerks’ rights to freed0m of religion under the Vermont Constitution would be violated, he said:, He also argued that taxmoney wouldbe spent through providing,rights and benefits to same-sex couples. Permitting umous to go forward that may in the future be ruled unconstitutional would cause irreparable harm, he said. In all, the ~ lawsuit_,claims.:that the.,civil unions_law_ violates five different articles of the state Consttitution, several state statutes and House rules. Many of those arguments were made when the i|~wsuit first was flied and the state’ s lawyer handling the ease said he did not believe any substantially new claims were made that would prompt the judge to change his mind. "I don’t think there’ s a ntl~ ttdt:~~ys~~u:can only ask once, butinpractical term~ someonewould put together their best case for a preliminary injunction," said Chief Assistant Attorney General William Griffin. "My view is they’ ve had their day in court and -the court made a decision. I.guess I’ d be a little surprised if we went around again." Varmont Official May.Dof~ LaW TOPSHAM, Vt. (AP) - The town clerk is considering defying the state by refusing to issue civil union licenses to Gay and Lesbian couples. Juanita Claflin describes the unions as "endorsed perversion." The law, whichis to gointo effectJuly 1, states that if a town clerk does not want to issue the licenses he or she must at least appoint someone else to do so. In a memo sent on town letterhead to every Topsham honsehold earlier this month, Claflin tells voters she will not issue the licenses and asks if they believe she should defy the law, resign or appoint a willing assistant to deal with the paperwork. Most of the responses so far have urged defiance of the law, but Claflin said she has not decided whether to risk lawsuits and penalties by following the townspeople’ s wishes. "I still have to make that absolute final decision," she said. After the townspeople respond, she will meet with the select board and possibly hold a public meeting to tell residents about the potential consequences of defying the law. "I made the commitment to the people that I would uphold what they said," she added. "If " they’ re still of that opinion (after being informed of the consequences), I’ll take : my licks." ¯ At least one other town clerk, in " Tunbridge, has resigned over the issue. In Waterbury, the town clerk and assistant town clerk also resigned recently, citing " unspecified personal reasons and an ef- , fective date of July 1. ¯ Claflin’ s opposition to civil unions has " ~no secret since She was elected in " summa.e,dCh. t~hWe hpe~n,,s~h.ee ,w,easxcsewp0trtonins,elslheciivni-l on licenses into her oath of office. At the time Claflin thought the bill, then being debated, would notpass, she says in her letter. "Well, I was wrong... The unthinkable did become law," she writes. "I stand firm and unwavering in my commitment to refuse to be a party to this endorsed perversion based on my constitutional rights and personal belief." But theNew Jersey assistant scoutmaster ousted when the organization learned he is Gay expressed dismay at the ruling. "I’mdef’mitely saddenedby thedecision," said James Dale. "People don’t join the Boy Scouts beeaus~ they’re anti-Gay. People join the Boy Scouts because they want acceptance, they want community." The ruling did not specifically give the Scouts permission to bar Gay youth from membership, but its language left room for that interpretation. "I think it suggests that they can" ban Gay boys from being Scouts, said Evan Wolfson, Dale’ s lawyer. "They won the.right to declare themselves an anti-Gay group." University of Southern California law professor Erwin Chemerinsky agreed, saying, "I don’ t see any basis for drawing a distinction between Scout leaders and Scouts." The Scouts organization, formed in the United States in 1910 and now boasting 6.2 million members and adult leaders, has a policy that "avowed homosexuals are not extended membership or leadership positions," Shields said. He would not say whether the organizationhas withdrawn membership from Gay youths. But Scott Cozza, an adult Scout leader in California and president of Scouting For All, which advocates letting homosexuals join, said: "They’ve kicked out Gay Scouts and now they’ll continue to do so because they’ ve been given the goahead by the Supreme Court to continue to discriminate." The justices reversed a New Jersey Supreme Court decision that said the Scouts wrongly ousted Dale, an Eagle Scout. The state court said the Scouts violated a New Jersey law banning discrimination in public accommodations. But Rehnquist wrote, ’q’he forced inclusion of an unwanted person in a group infringes the group’ s freedom of expressive association" if it harms the group’s ability to advocate its viewpoint. His opinion was joined by Justices Sandra Day O’ Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. Dissenting wereJustices John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer. Writing for the four, Stevens said the New Jersey law does notforce the Scouts "to communicate any message that it does not wish to endorse. New Jersey’s law, therefore, abridges no constitutional right of the Boy Scouts." Wolfson, Dale’ s lawyer, had cited Supreme Court decisions during the 1980s that let states force the Jaycees and Rotary International to admit women as full members. But Rehnquist said requiring such groups to accept women members would not interfere with the message they seek to express. Instead, the chief justice likened Dale’ s case to a 1995 Supreme Court ruling in which thejustices let the private sponsor of the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade exclude a group ofGays andlesbi7 a~.s, s,,aying parades are a"form0fexpres~ slon. The American Center for Law and Jus~ tice, a conservative advocacy group that supported the Scouts’ appeal, said the ruling "will have a dramatic impact on all private organizations - including religious groups - to define their own mission and set their Own criteria for leadership." The. Human Rights Campaign, of the largest Lesbian and Gay civil rights organizatious, called the Supreme Court decision to allow the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to continue its ban on Gay scouts a travesty of justice that may allow large, open membership groups to be above the law and evade .state and local nondiscrimination laws. "We are gravely disappointed with a ruling thatgives theBoy Scouts ofAmerica the ability to discriminate withimpunity," said HRC Legal Director Tony Varona. "TMs is a hollow victory for the Boy Scouts of America - considering the wasted time, energy and money it has spent on maintaining its ability to .discriminateand attack young menwhohave served its organization with distinction. Is this any way to teach youth aboutfairness, honesty and justiceT’ Dale was 19 and an assistant scoutmaster of a Matawan, N.J., troop when in 1990 he was identified in a newspaper article as co-president of a campus Lesbian and Gay student group at Rutgers University. The Scouts’ MonmouthCouncil revoked Dale’ s registration as an adult leader, andhe sued, citing the New Jersey anti-discrimination law. The New Jersey court ruled that the BSA is not a private club, but a public accommodation given its size, open membership and extensive entanglement with government agencies. In its appeal to the Supreme Court, the Boy Scouts argued that New Jersey’ s antidiscrimination law infringed on its First Amendment right to association. )’In accepting the BSA’s arguments concerning expressive association, the Court inexplicably ignored the fact that theBSA’ s purposeandmessagehas never had anything to do with sexual orientation," added HRC’ s Varona. "To the contrary, the Boy ScOuts’ oath stresses public serviceandhonesty, andits Congressional charter and bylaws make clear that membership is open to ’any boy’." Dale now lives inNew York City and is advertising director for a magazine for people who are HIV-positive. On the Net: Supreme Court decision in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale: http:// supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99- 699.ZS.html and one of the world’s best known celebrations of Gay pride. Numerous celebrities, including comedienne Margaret Cho, made appearances. Police said the parade had proceeded peacefully, and knew of no counter-demonstrations. Parades took place also in S~atfle. New York, Chicago and Atlanta. by Lamont Linds~rom. Ph.D. skins for very long. Early medical science Is it the unkixxdest cut? That’s what a ¯ of the late 19th century seized on the foreskin-challenged writer to Dear Abby " operation as a cure for excessive masturrecently claimed. He bitterly reproached ¯ bation and also to treat an odd collection his morn for letti~ag himbe circumcised - a condition he blamed for bis regrettable shortcomin~,~ inbed. Circtmacision is a body modificationritua~ ",hathas fascinated antLropologists. People everywhere redesign-their ~odies. Modification may be as simple as a haircut and a shave, or more invasive foot-binding, ear-piercing, - head-molding, ~attoomg, or scarification. Modifying the body carries social and personal meaning. Individuals may remake themselves -andhow they think about themselves - by altering their bodies. These alterations have social implications as well. We ustmlly know what to think when we see someone dieting, or sporting a new tattoo, or a tongue pierce, or a shaven head. Humans modify lots of body parts - elbows, fingers, chins, bellies - but it’ s no surprise that many societies have fixatedupon Cireumelslon is a body modlfleatlon ritual that has faselnated anthropologists. People everywhere redesign their bodies. Modifieatlon may be as simple as a halreut and a shave, or naore invaslve footblndln~, ear-piereln~, h d-mo!dln , tattooln~, or searlfleatlon. l~lbdlfyln~ the body earrles sodal and personal rneanlnff the foreskin. Like earlobes, foreskins are easily pierced, sliced, or cut away without much endangering human functiomng. Unilke earlobes, however, foreskins attach to the dhief organ of male pleasure and reproduction. Many cultures have elaborated the powerful symbolic uses of snipping off a piece of men’ s genitals. Circumcision is often the key component of male initiation rituals, as it is on Tanna, anislandin the SouthPacificwhere 1livedfor some years. TheTarmese gather up their sons between the ages of six and twelve and lead them away to a secret house in the forest to be snipped. Traditionally, boys were cutwithbambooknives - their foreskins sliced down the top - an superincision rather than a circumcision. Nowadays, island fathers anduncles might take the boys down to a local clinic for a full-blown Western circumcision. The loss of foreskin marks the boy’s journey into manlaood. Tannese kids tease boys who are yet to be circumcised. They call them a name that means something like "pulls back skin." A Presbyterian missionary from New Zealand lived on Tanna, in th~ 1980S wi,th his triple~ sons. My island friends were scandalized that these boys remained uncircumcised as they approached their teen years. Every time the boys wandered by, you knew localmenwere ponderingbambooknives. New Zealanders, like most people in the world, leave their foreskins alone. Circumcigion is uncommon in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and is disappearing in AustraJia and Canada. We Americans share the ritual mostly with sundry Pacific Islanders and Australian Aborigines, peoples of the Middle East (notably Jews and Arabs), and various northern and central African societies. Artistic depictions of circumcision in Egypt dated to 4500 years ago suggest that the ritual has a long history. But Americans haven’t been snipping foreof other conditions. Once circumcision became part of the modern medical toolkit, doctors were loath to giveitup. They invented a series of spurious rationales for the operation. The newes t defense of circumcision argues that uncut menare three to eight limes morelikely (different studies give differentnumbers) to.catch HIV. The vires - so says this hypothesis - attaches itselfmorereadily to cells thathave been kept tender underneath a foreskin. Whether or not this latest medical rationale for circumcision holds up, cutting has powerful social meanings that go far beyond the merely hygienic. Just why do we mess withforeskins? Is this a male attempt to appropriate natural female fertility: Menbleed their genitals to mimic menstruation? Or are men coneemed to drain away dangerous female blood from their sons, as do the Tannese, in order that these boys can fully mature? Or do men cut their sons - and in so doing potentially endanger the reproductive future of their family line - as a mark of loyalty to their tribe? Or do boys undergo symbolic castration as a-price they pay fatherg to join the men? Anthropologists have proposed all these explanations. It’s pretty clear that in 20th century America circumcision became a marker of class and status. Only people with money could afford doctors and genital surgery. And only trendy parents who supported mainstream beliefs about public hygiene would accept new scientific rationalizations for the operation. Circumcision rates were far higher among the urban and the wealthy than they were among poorer, rural, immigrant, or minority- group families. Middle-class white boys carried on their bodies the mark of their family’ s status claims. By the 1940’ s, the medical industry had captured control of childbirth. A majority of women went into hospital to give birth. And for the first time amajofity of Ameri- :canb0ys wer~eircumcised. Circumcision rates peaked at around 85% in the 1970’ s. Since that decade, these numbers have dropped - as an anthropologist would predict - down to 60% in the mid 1990’ s. When everyoneshares the same practice, that practice no longer serves to create distinctions of class and status among us. Thefact thatmanyHMOs nowadays force parents to.pay for the.operation also has spared many sons’ foreskins~ Still, being cut continues to symbolize "clear," "healthy," and "modem" across much of America. Until these meanings erode, it’ s likely that many of us will yet be able to hold our heads up high, should we happen to mninto any teasing Pacific island boys. Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthropology at the University of TUlsa. Council Oak Men’s Chorale presents Saturday, July 15, 2000 - 8pm ALL SOULS UNITARLdN CHURCH 2952 S. PEORIA TICKEZ~ $10 CALL 748-3888 THE COUNCIL OAK MEN’S CHORALE IS PROUD TO REPRESENT OKLAHOMA AT THE INTERNATIONAL GALA FESTIVAL LN SAN lOSE, CALIFORNIA IOTA member "1~ Call 341. 6866 Int rnational Toursfor more information. Massage Therapy Services ~agarger:O9. 1C8r-u8z8,9L-5M2.5T5. Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom.Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, ~at. 8-5pro Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing Poweful Images: Portrayals of Native America Gilcrease Museum 1400 Gilcrease Museum Road 5 9 6 2 7 0 0 by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor Sam Harris returns to Tulsa as Josephin Theatre Arts’ productionofAndrew Lloyd Webber’s "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" heading up a cast of thousands of locals - well, ok, maybe not quite thousands, but it’ s aprettylong cast list. The cast includes John Orsulak and Patrick Hobbs, members of the Council Oak Men’s Chorale’ s (we really need agoodacronymhere!) and formerly Finales, along with David Hubbard, Kathy LaFortlme, Bradd Gillespie, Larry Gray, and Eric Cornell (an actor and singer to watch, as he’s got a lotta talent, and he’s dedicated to performing enough to go far). Directed by New York’s Jon Grodeski, the musical is a.,lively rethinking of the biblical tale of Joseph and his jealous brothers. Sam Harris, a Sand Springs native, left home at 15 to pursue the dream of performing on Broadway. Everyone knows about Star Search, and the recording career that followed. His latest endeavors have included the critically acclaimed "In the Life," a Broadway musical; Grease on Broadway; and his latest CD, "Revival", a return tohis pop and soul roots.. He also wrote the TBS sitcom "Down to Earth." He’s been a busy boy! And he still manages to look fabulous! . He recently completed work on the feature film "In the Weeds", with Eric Bogosian, Molly Ringwald, and Joshua Leonard. He recently premiered his new oneman show, "Revival", and is planning to tour the show after a New York Run. He’ 11 bemaking his Tulsa concert debut July 28 in "An Intimate Evening with SamHarris." There’s a joke in that, but I’m trying to maintain a more staid image. Actually, there’s about three jokes I could make. It’s kindalike resisting chocolate - you know it’s the right thing to do, but it’s just so tempting.., but no, I have eschewed that behavior. Performances run July 14th- 23rd, and the evening shows start atT:30 rather than the usual 8pm, so plan accordingly. Matinees are at 2pm. The venue is Tulsa Community College’s PACE theatre at their southeast campus at 81st and 169, so don’ t go downtown to thePACfor this one. For more info., call 595-7777. July 15th is "Sand Springs Night" in honor of Mr. Harris’ hometown roots. July 19th is "Youth Night" - if you don’t qualify for that one, you can at least pretend to be from Sand Springs. And I would like to welcome a couple of new writers to Tulsa Family News. Hughston Walkinshaw will be covering film and local theatre for us here. He’ll make his debut in our August issue. And while -I’m at it, some of you have read about my best friend Karin. Wall, who wouldhave thunkitbut she’ s finally’’come out" and this month, we will feature her thoughts, in a new column entitled"Raging Lesbian." Sam Harris More importantly, the woman with her arms around me was the woman I wanted to be with. My heart was telling me this was right, tree and just. Then the song ended, and that insidious thing called my brain took over. Years of living in the Bible Belt made me once again think too much, and I acted straight again. Which is fnnny since I obviously don’t know from straight. Too many missed opportunities later, and my unrequited love affair with Marolyn (I didn’t DARE think about this at the time!) endedwhen shemovedaway. V. Random Musings Don’t get me wrong. Three girls does not a Lesbian make. There have been many more I’ve felt "that way" about, including Ms. Black Hair, DeepBlueEyes with whom I worked; Ms. Nude Model whom I LOVED to draw in art class; the two English teachers at school where I taught; and the young P.E. teacher at the same school. Comeon, there’ sALWAYS a P.E. teacher! And when I was 25, there was the <ahem!> 16 year old I worked with! Hey, I can’t be arrested for my thoughts, not even in Tulsa! VI. Acceptance. I know acceptance doesn’ t come in six easy steps, but time and space being what they are, I’ ve cut to the chase. What made me finally accept myself as a Lesbian? Not any one thing. I guess years of chipping away at my libido, and the fact that everytime I had sex with a man, it coincided with some girl I had a crush on. Then there’ s the entertainment world. A friend got me interested in’qRte X-Files" years ago, but for the past few seasons my heart has skipped a few beats more and I’ ve thought,"Was DavidDuchovny even in that episode tonight?" If you listen exclusively to Melissa Etheridge for a year, it’ s not just her music you identify with. And even when you do identify with it- need I say more?- you’ re Gay! When you tape the ENTIRE Gay Rights Rally on CSPAN it’ s a pretty sure bet that, yes, you’ re Gay!When you seriously consider moving to the state capital (what do you call a city FULL of Lesbians? Austin!), then, you guessed it - you’ re Gay! When your best friend calls you long distance from Tulsa to tell you the new issue of Curve is out - with Gillian Anderson on thecover- and youhaul ass to the nearest Gay neighborhood to buy it within the hour, well, you’ vejust taken a ride on the Dyke Express! When you own copies of "Desert Hearts", "Bound", "Everything Relative", "Claire of the Moon", etc., and display them prominently on your shelf, then grrlfriend, you have swung those closet doors open for the last time. And it feels good, clean, and honest. | Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor ~ank of Oklahoma now offers"One-Stop Shopping" for all your Small Business financial needs with SmallBusinessXpress Plus Checking. This unique package can saveyou time & money by giving you access to all the~financial products and business discounts your small business may ever need. Including checking, savings,leasing as well as loans and li~es o~f c~edit~-En|~y majo~iscounts on business services you already use such as overnight delivery, car rental, office supplies and more. BOk also offers FreeO~Q~ne Banking for Small Businesses at www.bok.€om so you can bank on your schedule. Open your SmallBusinessXpress Plus Checking Account today. Stop by any of BOk’s 25 convenient locations including our supermarket locations. Or call our 24- Hour ExpressBank any time at 588-6010. Ask about our Free Personal Checking Account offer for Business Checking customers. Let BOk save you time and money with SmallBusinessXpress Plusi ANK Oi= solutions that fit your needs. OKI HOMA , . Member FDIC/Equal Opportunity Lender Some Restrictions Apply. Ask for Details. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, July 2000; Volume 7, Issue 7 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, June 2000; Volume 7, Issue 6 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/602 2000 AIDS aMUSEments arts and entertainment Bars Boy Scouts businesses churches civil unions Diversity celebration Gay Studies health HIV Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm performing arts Pride Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants sodomy laws Tom Neal Tulsa Family News https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/712578396993d523934aa25341e075bc.jpg c1b27a5396a4f0156c29c13e55faeb94 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/0e437c62fbb7e50af3b715f849e29a6d.pdf 63ebf7074a306816b93e5aae614b7fb0 PDF Text Text ¯ Serving Lesbian, Gay; Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community Paper Available In More Than 75 City Locations Tul . a,World Drops Anti-Gay Policy +Accepts PFLAG Ad ans Methodist - eet-ngM , i ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ : : : TULSA-Inaneffortbothnerve-wrackingandtedious ." several Tulsans, SueKnanse, KentDoss,I~arenWeldon ." (and another who need to remain unnamed), were ¯ arrested in Cleveland with the Reverend Mel White and : 191 others in acts of peaceful civil disobedience at the " ¯ recent United Methodist Church. Conference: The acts of civil disobedience, blocking a car park " exitfolloweddaysofnegotiationswithMethodistchnrch : leaders about the anti-Gay policies of the United Meth- " odist Church (UMC). The conference held in Cleveland ¯ ¯ was attended by hundreds of UMC delegates. The Methodist church like some other "mainline" ~ Christian denominations has adopted policies which " limit participation of Lesbian and Gay persons in that ¯ group. White stated, "the United Methodist Chruch has " ahistory of social concern [butthey haye] anti-homo- " sexual policies in place that lead to discrimination ¯ _. suffering, and even death." The Tulsans joined other notable civil fights leaders. ¯ YolandaKing, theRey.Dr.JamesLawson, friendofDr. " King, Congressman John Lewis of Georgia and others. " see Arrest, p. 10 : TULSA - After banning the use of the words, Gay, Lesbian, and Homosexual since at least 1985 in advertising, the Tulsa World, has effectively dropped its blanket anti-Gay policy. The new policy, according to Nancy McDonald who was asked to lead this effort, can be paraphrased as the following: "each ¯ Humanity Unites For Human Rights request for placing an adusing the words Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, ¯ Diversity Celebration 2000t Transgender or Homosexual, would be responded to on an ¯ "Diversity Celebration 2000!" is an eight-day individual basis." Formerly the World’s policy banned these " . celebration of the human rights movement with the words altogether outside of news stories and editorials. The suggestion to try to change the World’s policy first was ¯ goal of uniting northeastern Oklahoma’ s Gay, Lesproposed at’a board meeting for Tulsa Oklahomans for Human ¯ bian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) and ¯ GLBT-friendly communities. Tulsa Oklahotnans i Rights (TOHR) early last fall by Tulsa Family News editor.and for Human Rights, Inc., Oklahoma’s oldestr~rnpublisher Tom Neal. After the TOHR board declined to take any" religious Gay community organization released it action, Neal took the suggestion to the then newly developing. final schedule "community council" which did adopt the goal. which follows: Neal suggested to council co-ordinator Marly Newman that " Friday, June 2nd McDonald be asked to lead the effort because of the World’ s ¯ Diversity Celseeming preference to deal with representatives of non-Gay ¯ ebration 2000! groups which advocate on behalf of Gay people rather than Gay will kick off at 7 ". people themselves. pm with an InterIn a widely distributed June 1st e-mail about the change, faith Service led McDonald wrote"how you will also remember that PFLAG had by Rev. Mel to be very creative in the design of our signature ad for the paper " White at the Willas part of the PROJECT OPEN MIND Campaign"- areference ¯ iams Theatre in to how PFLAG under the former World policy could not use its ¯ the Performing own legal name because it included the banned words. ~. Arts Center McDonald added, "... PFLAG submitted an ad and with (PAC). Special several revisions, it has been approved... The cost of the ad is " musical guests inapproximately $500 and [it is] to run on Sunday, June 4th, in the ¯ clude Council Living Section. It has Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians ¯ Will Allen, Emily Sizeraore & Oak Men’s Choand Gays, as well as some other statements, ’Is someone you care " Matthew Holloway are winners for gay orlesbian? Issomeoneyoulovegayorlesbian?Ifso, call ¯ ofCoraraunity Hero awards. rale, Ernestine Dillard, Jessie Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays’ and then it ¯ Holloway is notpictured. Scott, and the lists our Helpline number." McDonald also wrote, "I have no idea what the response will " Fourth Quarter gospel quartet. Participation by be? I suspect some positive and some negative so the HELPLINE ¯ persons with a variety of faith traditions will be has been notified. If anyone is so moved to help thelocal Chapter ¯ included in the program. Admission is free. An see Pride, p. 7 see World, p. 2 " offering will be taken, with the cost of the ad, Gays Better Educated,. ForJustices+Couples, Unions. Missouri Backwoods:A Lower Paid Than Straights " Require Creative Language ° Hotbed of Hate Groups WASHINGTON (AP) - Men who consider themselves "unmarried partners" of another man are better educated on average, but make less money than heterosexual men of the same age, according to a study that° claims to take the most comprehensive look ever into the lives of homosexuals in America. Women who have female "unmarried parmers" also tend to be more educated, but earn salaries comparable to those of heterosexual women in the same age bracket, according to the study in this month’s issue of "Demography," the journal of the Population Association of Americ& "An important point that is clearly articulated is that it illustrates the impact of anti-Gay discrimination .on income levels," said David Smith, spokesman for the organization Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group for Gays and Lesbians. Advocates applauded what they said was the first comprehensive study of homosexuals but cautioned against drawing any t-nan conclusions until more research is done. "Demographically, this is a hard population to target and analyze. Data on sexual orientation is not as easily avai[dible as information on race~ gender and age," said Seth Sanders, a study author and .an economist at the University of Maryland. The study looked at statistics from the 1990 Census. ~the first,count to allow people to check off that they lived with:an .unmarried partner of the same sex. see Pay, p. 11 DIRECTORY EDITORIAL US & WORLD NEWS HEALTH NEWS ENTERTAINMENT GAY STUDIES P. 2 P. 3 P. 4 P. 6 P. 8 P. 10 by Ross Sneyd, Associated Press Writer MONTPELIER, Vt. -"And now, by the powers vested in me by ¯ ¯ the state of Vermont, I pronounce you.. ?’ What? Partners? Together as one? Joined as family? ¯ Unlike marriage, there’ s no common syntax for the new world ¯ of same-sex civil unions. Because the couples are two men or two ." women, the old fried-and-true "man and woman" or "husband ¯_ ¯ and wife" phrases don’ t quite make it. ¯ With no rulebook and few traditions-as wall as no other state sanctioning what will be the equivalent of same-sex marriage and ¯ thereby offering some guideposts - Vermont’s justices of the : peace and .couples entering civil unions are crafting their own : conventions and rituals. : There has been a lot of discussion, both lighthearted and ¯¯ serious, about how to conduct a ceremony. ’q’here’ s so much creativity in our community among Gay and Lesbian couples in : how to create outward signs of their commitment," said Mary ¯ Hurlie, a justice of the peace in Hinesburg who has been with her -¯ female partner for 13 years. "But we haven’ t gotten to that level of detail, yet." : As marriages must be "solemnized" by judges, justices of the : peace or members of the clergy, so, too, will civil unions have to ¯ be "certified." But there aren’t any rules. The civil unions law : ¯ says only that they must be certified. There’ s no script ~,State ¯ statute that must be followed for a marriage, either. ¯ "Just like marriages, there aren’t any magic words," said Secretary of State Deb Markowitz. " ’We pronounce you man ~ and wife, husband and wife,’ they’ re just made up. You don’ t find : ¯ them in statute." Training sessions have been held for justices by the secretary : ¯ of state’ s office in recent w eeks because it is almos t unquestioned that it will be to them that the primary responsibility for perform- ¯. ing civil umons ceremonies falls. That’ s because there are few ¯ religious faiths that bless same-sex unions and so there won’ t be : many clergy members willing or able to certify civil tmions on : ¯ behalf of the state. Justices of the peace have a handful of responsibilities under :¯ state law. Most have to do with taxes and elections. A town’ s ¯ iusdces - there are as few as fiveinsmall towns see Unions,p.ll by Doug Johnson, Associated Press Writer GAINESVILLE, Mo. - The remote and rugged Ozark hills blanketed with dogwoods and oaks are treasured by hunters, hikers and others wanting to get away from the bustle of urban life. The pastoral hills are also a haven for hate groups, authorities say. Southern Missouri has drawn more than its share of religious sects and white supremacists looking for a place to hide. Last week, police arrested the Rev. Gordon Winrod- the leader of an anti-Semitic church ~ for allegedly kidnapping six of his grandchildren and concealing them for years at his farmhouse in the hills. The only explanation authorities offer for why the kids were kidnappedis that Winrod thought theirtwo fathers were Jewish. Sheriff SteveBartlett said the youngsters had been taught by their grandfather to distrust authorities. At one point, the sheriff said, the children shouted at deputies, "Get your Jew hands off me." Winrod, 73, and his followers gained a reputationin Ozark County for mas s mailings of literature calling law enforcement officers and prosecutors "Jewdicials" - a play on the word judicial - and claiming-they cover up murders of whites. It’ s not uncommon to find that kind of sentiment in some areas of the Ozarks, which straddles the state line between Missouri and Arkansas. Experts say the region draws hate groups and people connected to the white supremacist "Christian Identity" movement. "We are richin these types of groups down in this part of the country for some reason," Highway Patrol Sgt. Marty Elmore said. Southwest Missouri is often characterized by a lack of adequate law enforcement in rural areas and lacks a tradition of heavy-handed local government and gun control, said Robert Flanders, former director of the Center for Ozark Studies see Hate, p. 7 �Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants 712-2324 *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 610-5323 *CW" s, 1737 S. Memorial 583-2119 *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine 835-2376 *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan 749-4511 *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria 744-4280 Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 834-4234 *The Star, 1565 Sheridan 585-3405 *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 660-0856 *TNT’ s, 2114 S. Memorial 584-1308 *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd *The Yellow Brick. Road Pub, 2630- E: 1-5th..... :- --749 - 1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 74% 1508 *Assoc. in Med, & Mental Health, 2325 S. HarYard 743-1000 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 665-4580 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 712-1122 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 494-2665 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 743-5272 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 746-0313 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 295-5868 *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 622-0700 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 352-9504, 800-742-9468 Tim Daniel, Attorney 749-3620 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 744-5556 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 838-8503 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 369-8555 Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 584-0337, 712-9379 *Ross Edward Salon 592-0460 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 744-9595 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. P~eoria 610-0880 Four Stai: Imi~ort Automotive, 9906 E. 551h PI. 628-3709 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 808-8026 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 742-1460 *Gloria Jean’ s Gourme( Coffee, 1758 E. 21 st 459-9349 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 744-7440 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 341-6866 *International Tours 712-2750 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 582-3018 *Jared’ s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 747-0236 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 582-8460 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 599-8070 *Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15 747-5466 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 585-1234 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 584-3112 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 663-5934 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 664-2951 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 838-7626 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 743-4297 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 747-5932 Rainbowz on the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 834-0617 Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning 834-7921,747-4746 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 749-6301 Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 260-78-29 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 481-0558 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 835-5563 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 743- !733 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding 665-2222 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 592-0767 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities 579-9593 AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 743-2363 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 58%7314 Black& g~hite, l,nc,~,POB 1400!,Tulsa,7~4~5.9... Bless The Lord at All Tsmes Chnstian C~"nter, 2207 E. 6 J583-78’15 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 585-1201 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston *C~hapman Student Ctr.,:University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence Chureti oVth_~Rest~or~tion UU,1314 N.~reeawt~od : 587-:13,14 * C~~°.U~’~’ari2UniVexsalist Congregafirn 749-0595 748 3888 712-15.11 ,Delilw~e~i~yilotise¢:iSilS "Dela~vare .742-2457 *DemOcratiC Headquarters, 3930 E: 31 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & 355-3140 Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 747-7777 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard *Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827 Thanks be to you for that wonderful article, "Our Governor Foot-in-Mouth Keating"... went to Tulsa Library, picked up first copy of Tulsa Family News and Publisher + Editor: began reading... Laughed out loud, and a Tom Neal long overdue laugh it was, over the comments of Mr. Keating and your"right-on Writers + contributors: analogies." The very idea that there should James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers have to be a public consensus to treat all people fairly! What hideous stereotyping Member of The Associated Press by our governor... [I] regret that there is no place close to Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the entire contents ¯ ,my ho,me, w,he,r,e !,.c,gn.get your. w.onderful of thig publication are protected by US copyright 1998 b) ", i~per. The’littl~ ~egment ,~0 ~epoi’i hate T~ /:~, ~v.~ and may not be reprodu~.d (~th~r~i~a: , ~ sigee~h 0i: virleh~e~ Call i.he Gay commuwhole orinpart W~th0ut writtenpermission from thepublish~. nit~ cent~ris so r~assuring... Loved the ~ Quilt article, unfortunately got my paper Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s ." too lateiio go. Extended thanks. sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for ¯ - Gay-friendly in Depew. publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of T~ ~.’. N~- Eachreader ¯ Announcements Policy is entitled to 4 copies of each editmn at distribution ¯ Tulsa Family News will provide space points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. " ¯ for holy union ceremony, marriage -" ceremony, birth, adoption and death 582-0438 ~ announcements on a space available b~sis. Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 583-6611 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. Photos are welcome, though we cannot 834-4194 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral promise placement or return them, so 481-1111 ¯ please send copies to Tulsa Family NewS, Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 834-8378 ; PUB 4140, Tulsa 74159. HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education ¯ *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Letters Policy Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 Tulsa-~amily News welcomes letters ¯ 838-1715 ¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 748-3111 ¯ on issues which we’ve covered or NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. issues you.think need to be consider~ed, 365-5658 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, PUB 14068;’74159 ¯ You may request that your name be withOK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157 : held but letters must be signed & have *OSU-Tulsa ¯ phone numbers, or be hand ddivered. 200 749-4901 PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 ¯ word letters are preferred. Letters to o~¢r. 587-7674 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria publicat.ions will be re-printed as ks~ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 appropriate. ~.~ 749-4195 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 584-2325 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’ RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth 425-7882 : any donation wouldbe appreciated. Please St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 492-7140 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st send to PFLAG, PO Box 52800, Tulsa, 582-3088 *St. Jerome’ s Parish Church, 205 W. King OK 74152. I truly believe this will ope~ 583-7171 ¯ the door for PFLAG as well as o~ *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder *TNAAPP (Native American men). Indian Health Care 582-7225 organizations to submit ads to the T~ 595-4105 Tulsa County Health Department, 46 16 E. 15 World. Our thanks to Joe Worley Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯ assisting us with this policy change. He Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 ~ was very, very helpful.’" T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniforn~’Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 : The World’ s anti-Gay policy is doen¯ mented back to the middle’80’ s when a *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses : Lesbian owned card, gift and book store,. 743-4297 ¯ Two’s Company, located near 31st & *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 749-8833 ¯ Harvard was told the World would not Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown ¯ accept advertising for the store because BARTLESVILLE ¯ the owners wanted to let readers know the *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 ¯ target audience, i.e. Lesbians and Gay OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN ¯ Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 ¯ men. The owners conducted a one day picket of the World but the policy reBorders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 . mained unchanged. TAHLEQUAH In 1993, when Tulsa Family News pub¯" 918-456-7900 Stonewall League, call for information: lisher Tom Neal, opened a gift and card ¯ 918-456=7900 *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church shop "tomfoolery !" at the Silver Star, the 918-453-9360 ¯ World also refused to accept advertising, Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand even though the store did not trade in HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates eroti~ Or any other possible objectionEUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS able,~fials, citing the same policy, . A ~,~arslaterl PFLAG, TulSa Cliap5~ 501-253-7734 Autuinn’Bre~ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253,7457 ter ran afrul of the same anti-Gay po|i~¢y *Jim & Brent’ s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253-6807 ¯ when it tried to run a pro-Gay civi! .rights _t DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Emerald.R_ainbo~,4~ &l/2_Spfing,St. ~ ..... 501-25_3 -~5 :.. signature ad. !ntetesgngly, the MCC of the Living Spring 501:253:9337 : la~editsbw~ipoli’cy~’~WW~eks]~e~r,-’~te.~’~a Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, PUB~ 429 501-253-27"/6~. : runninffthe censrr~’FLAG a~.~a...i~) 501-253-5332, : accept~l’~ an anti-G~i~,iid from a"~Jali~0I¢~U Old Jailhouse_ Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-624~’6~~ ¯ of weS~side Tulsa &i~ches Positive Idea Marketing Plans . 501-253-600I": one of:~banned~c~ds. Sparky’ s~ Hwy. 62 :East 501-253-4074 : Editor’s note: for a related editorial, White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI ¯ see page 3. The editorial was written the *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 ¯" earlier in the day before the news broke about the World’ s newpolicy. Hats offto ¯ Nancy McDonaldfor her work in negoti* is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. ating this new policy. 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews @ ear thlink.net �by Tom Neal, editor & publisher For being the proverbial 900 lb. gorilla of our local media, those folks over at The Tulsa Worm sure seem to be thin-skinned about criticism. One editor, whom I respect greatly, took particular umbrage at my calling our daily, "a country-club newspaper." I suspect ,that a good part of his irritation is that he knows there s still truth in the charge. The Tulsa World has made great progress in providing better coverage of all of Tulsa, including our minority communities, - even Gay people. But like the town it serves, it carries with it. its parochial ,.elitist and raciSt/anfi-minority phst~. And f6r every .step forward, there s~ems tb t~ffve tO be a least one step back. " :Consider this charming carto0h"0y Simpson, reproduced here, with its somewhat sophisticated bigotry and stereotyping. The comment of "real girls only," implying that Gay men are somehow like women but yet are less than women, is full of unexamined misogynism. It comes out of a hierarchy where straight men (and traditionally straight, white men) are superior, women are lesser creatures, and Gay men are even lower because we’re men "who want to be women." Lesbians, of course, exist only to populate the sexual fantasies of straight men. To put this cartoon in the proper historical context, we need only think back to early 20th century racist political cartoons in which Black Americans were represented ape-ishly and made to speak in "step’ n’ fetch it" dialogue - or other cartoons where orthodox Jews or JapaneseAmericans were misrepresented as evil foreigners. Ironically, Simpson just gets it wrong. The GirlScouts of America are clearly on record as saying, they, unlike the Boy Scouts, do not discriminate on tile.,.basis of sexual orientation. The organization does use adult men as well as women in its programs in leadership and in training roles,: Therefore, not only would young women who are Lesbian be welcome, adult Lesbians and Gay men could also participate and no doubt have. And guess what, the Girl Scouts are doing just fine. But The Worm is not doing so well. For at least 15 years, our daily has maintained an anti-Gay .advertising policy which bans the words: Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual. by Joe Andrew and Edward G. Rendell After the overwhelming turnout at the Millenium March and record participation in the recent presidential primaries, Gays and Lesbians across the country are more united than ever in their fight for equality and inclusion. The Democratic Party is proud to stand with them - to fight with them - as we all celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride this month. Democrats have forged lasting relationships with the Gay and Lesbian community by supporting common sense issues related to basic fairness and non-discrimination for all Americans. Unlike discriminatory and divisive Republican figures like Pat Robertson, Gary Bauer, and presidential candidate George W. Bush, Democrats believe that our diversity is a source of great strength. While getting Bush to meet with Gays and Lesbians in his own party is like pulling teeth, A1 Gore has worked side-by-side with openly Gay and Lesbian advisors throughout his life. On specific policies that improve the lives of Gay Americans like hate crimes legislation, funding: ~or HIV/_AIDS¯ research, atii5~- :!he Empl9yment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA~;~.tli~re is no comparisonb~tween the candidates. Gore has supported Gays and Lesbians~time and time again. BUSHII~PPOSES HATE ¯ ..CRIMES BILLS ~ ~ ~ .t~, ,’~ ,. ~" . A.c~,r,~ng to the.Le’~fJ~an/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (L(~."~R~.~)~,~.m.~re than 2,~ hate crimes were reported to th~’Fe~Departmen~6f Public safetybetween 1992 and 19971 ~i~(eefi percem~ere hate cfim~s motivated by the victim’s sexual orien~ation~ making Gays ’and Lesbians the second most-targeted group of hate crime victims in Texas. Given this fact, George W. Bush still opposed provisions in the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act that would have included protections for Gays.and Lesbians from hate crimes. The bill would have mandated stiffer penalties for cases in which victims of violence are targeted because of their race, gender, or sexual orientation. His spokesman said that Bush "does not support special They justify this saying that they are a"family" newspaper. Note that this ban does not apply to content of news articles, editorials or, obviously, cartoons! In fact, The World literally could not do the basic work of a newspaper, merely reporting the stories of our city, country and world, if they censored these words. ¯ How can anyone with a shred of reasoning think that these words if placed in an advertisement somehow have an adverse impact on any family, if dearly the same words placed in a news story right next to an ad are acceptable. What really is going on here is epitome of institutionalized prejudice. The policy doesn’ t make any sense, it is bigoted and discriminatory but no. one at The World has the courage to say that what they’re doing is just wrong. And in being silent, they, the reporters, editors, other : staff, both straight and Gay, become collaborators in ¯ societal oppression. In a society which seems to have to ¯ have an "other" against which to define itself, Gay people currently occupy the place Blacks, Jews, Indians, Irish ¯ and others have had. Contrast this with an advertorial section in a recent ¯ "Out" magazine in which The New York Times bragged ¯ about its excellent coverage of Lesbian and Gay issues, : and its commitment to its Lesbian and Gay readers and ¯ staff. Can you seeThe World doing that? I hope to see just that someday. Who knows maybe next year The World ¯ which is certainly profligate with its sponsorship of ¯ public events will even join Oklahoma’ s Gay press in ¯ being a sponsor of June’ s traditional Pride events. ¯ Don’tlaugh-itjustmighthappen.Andwhynot, thead ¯ policy’s now changed, why not even more progress? ¯ ¯ rights based on sexual orientation." ¯ Special rights? Where is the leadership? Bush wants ¯ the world to believe that he is a compassionate, but ¯ ." apparently his compassion does not extend to all the ¯; citizens of Texas. ¯ ~ ¯ "... We need leaders llke AI Gore : : : who will speak out against ¯ ¯ homophobla and prejudlee in a fight : ¯ : to maintain elvll justice and equality. ¯ ¯ ¯ Through his aetlons and ¯ the aetlons of hls party, it is clear that ¯ ¯i George W. Bush is not that leader... ¯ ¯ As we celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride, : Democrats pledge our support and ¯ eontlnued work to promote ¯" requal opp~rtufilty and ndn-dlserimlnatlon ¯ ¯ : ." ¯ : for a strong and united America. As a Party, we embrace these ideals because we believe that no American should be left behind..." Democrats, on the other hand, have begun to wage an all-out campaign against hate crimes in America. We have also endorsed and fought for civil rights legislation that would protect Gay and Lesbian Americans from discrimination. A1 Gore has been a tireless advocate for passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), calling on Congress to come together in one voice on this issue. HCPA would expand the definition of hate crimes to include those based on sexual orientation, gender or disability and allow for the prosecution of those crimes under federal law. Democratic leaders have walked the walk in the fight against hate in America. We are the party of inclusion because we havejudged and will continue tojudgepeople based on the content of their character. BUSH: SILENT ON HIV/AIDS Bush’s silence on HIV/AIDS as governor is simply deafening. Despite the fact that almost 10,000 Texans have died of AIDS under his watch, Bush has never taken a publicpolicy position on the epidemic. In fact, he never even publicly used the word"AIDS" in office. When the Children Uniting Nations Chairperson Daphna Ziman asked US governors for assistance regarding the AIDS epidemic in Africa, forty-nine governors responded to her urgent personal letter and only one governor ignored the plea: George W. Bush. In December 1999, Bush also : received a failing grade on Lambda Legal Defense and ¯ Education Fund’s (LLDEF) World AIDS Day Report ¯ Card. :. ,Since the beginning of the Adminislxaf!on, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have proven their com-¯ mitment to fight for AIDS research again and again. During the last seven years, the Ryan White CARE Act ¯ ha~ seen funding ,increases of more than 292 percent in ° funds fo~ medicationsfserving low-inb.6_’me in~lividuals. Overall funding for AIDS ~related programs has increased ¯ by more than 122 percent during thisAdministration. A1 Gore has been on the front lines of fighting the ¯ ¯ epidemic. Recently, he announced an Administration ¯ initiative to commit more than $100 million to fight the worldwide AIDS crisis and increased funding for re" search, care and prevention. We need a leader that has put : a great deal of thought on this vital issue. : BUSH: AGAINST ENDA ." As governor, Bush opposed employment protection ¯ for Gays and Lesbians. He refused to adopt an Adminis: tration non-discrimination policy that includes sexual ¯ orientation. see Demos, p. 7 �Candian Supreme Co,,urt Holds for Pro-Gay Ruling OTTAWA (AP) -The Supreme Court has rejected an Ontario government request to re’clew a landmark decision on Gay civil rights. The Attorney General for Ontario had asked for a rehearing of the M and H case, referring to a Lesbian couple whose breakeup almost a decade ago triggered a dispute over assets. The case began when one of the women in the case, known only as M, found she couldn’t sue her ex’partner H when their relationship ended. M then went to court to have the spouse law struck down. The high court ruled in an 8-1 decision that the definition of spouse in Ontario’s family law was unconstitutional because it discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation. The ruling last year was specific to Ontario, but legal experts said other provincial governments and Ottawa had few options but to amend their lawsor face having them struck down in similar battles. The House of Commons passed legislation to bring federal legislationinto line and Ontario grudgingly amended its laws but still launched a bid for a rehearing before the Supreme Court. The two Toronto women, who had bought a home and started an ad agency together, settled the money dispute out of court long before their case wound its way to the country’ s highest court. Presbyterian Court Rulings Are Gay-friendly claiming it was for students only. However, district personnel attended, along with an attorney for the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU is representing East High juniors Jessi Cohen and Margaret Hinckley, who in April filed a federal-court suit claiming the district violated their First Amendment rights to free speech by rejecting PRISM as an academic club. The district banned all nonacademic clubs in 1996, a year after East High students tried to form a Gay and Lesbian support group. U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell issued a temporary restraining order against the district last month, forcing it to temporarily acknowledge PRISM as a legitimate club pending the outcome of the students’ lawsuit. The meeting was "definitely a win," said East High senior Ivy Fox, who unsuccessfully sued the district in 1998 over the ban. "It’ s such a good feding to see all your hard work pay off." Sophomore Evan Done attended the club meeting, but didn’ t think the discussion was appropriate. "It is an important step for the Gay community that needed to be taken," he said, but "I don’ t really think it has a place in school." PRISM advertised the meeting with fliers and during regular school announcements over the school intercom. Some of the fliers were destroyed and some students posted "straight pride" fliers, which showed two connecting male symbols and two connecting female symbols that were crossed out. Three Receive First Shepard Scholarships !AP)- The Presbyterian Church’ s highest court ruled ~n May that local congregations have the right to DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Three Gay and Lesbian conduct religious ceremonies celebrating Gay unions high school students were awarded full tuition to Iowa that stop short of marriage. The d~ision by the 16state universities under a new scholarship named for member court is binding unless the General Assemslain Gay student Matthew Shepard. bly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) overrides it. The scholarships, worth approximately $25,000 The case, one of three on Gay issues argued before each over four years, were presented Tuesday to the tribunal, stemmed from a same-sex ceremony Galen W. Newton, Jessica M. Brackett and Paul N performed in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. The Northeast reWharmel. The scholarships include tuition, books and gional church court ruled that ceremonies of "holy fees at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University union" for same-sex couples may be conducted if it is or University of Northern Iowa. made clear they are not marriages. The high conrt The scholarship program was announced in March agreed, though it instructed regional church bodies to by Gov. Tom Vilsack and the mother of Matthew make a clearer distinction between marriages and Shepard. the Wyoming college student who was beaten "blessing services." to death by two men. Police said the attack was A second case before the high court involved a motivated in part because Shepard was Gay. homosexual candidate for the ministry who said he The scholarships are awarded to Gay students based did not intend to remain celibate, even though church on academic achievement, financial need and comrules require clergy to observe either "fidelity in munity service, Vilsack said. Brackett credited Vilsack marriage" or"chastity in singleness." In that case~ the for trying to provide greater civil rights to Gay IoNortheast regional court decided that he could conwans. "He’ s really pushing for rights for everybody tinue as a candidate, and that his "manner of life" and I think he will be our main strength during the next could be evaluated prior to ordination. Again, the four to six years," Brackett said. "I think he’s going to high church concurred. It said the denomination’s push for progress." standards of fidelity and chastity are to be applied at Newton said he.plans to remain.active inGay rights the point that a person is azonsidered.for ordination, .’. issues whilein college. He said the Scholarship is abig not during, candidacy~ encouragement. "People are being awarded for being Freda ~ar~dn,~r~ and Clifton Kirkpatrick, the two courageou_s,".he s-aid. ¯ national leaders Of the 2.6 million-member denomiFunding for the scholarships.~omes from a chari.table foundation established by prominentDes Moines nation:~headquartered in :Louisvil!,e, Ky., said in a ~ecent i~astoral letter that the 0aurt s decisions realbusinessman Rich F...y~.~haner..An’rpe~l. y Gay RepubS :firm. church policy of disallowing Gay-marriages and lican, Eychaner mad~ an unsuccessi~ui bid for the U.S~. the.ordinatiOn Of’s(xua~ly active Gays., Theseissues .House in 1984, but’lost :in the ~. will Surface again when.the General Assembly.meets in Long Beach,:Calif., fromJune 24 to July 1. Among legislation to be considered: a proposal to ban samesex marriage. Vatican Increases Attack on World Pride Utah High School Club For Gay Issues Meets SALT LAKECITY (AP) - Five years after the debate over Gay school clubs began in Utah, East High School students on Wednesday held the state’ s first school-sanctioned club meeting to discuss current events from a Gay and Lesbian perspective. The PRISM Club - People Respecting Important Social Movements - meeting featured Laura Gray, a Salt Lake City attorney involved in Gay-rights issues. .About 45 students attended. Students said they talked about the historical, legal and religious significance of marriage and the current restrictions barring Gays and Lesbians from forming such unions. The district barred news media from the. meeting, ROME (AP) - A top Italian cardinal weighed in against a major Gay gathering scheduledin Rome in July, stepping up a campaignto move the event elsewhere. "What we are asking is not at this time and not in Rome," said Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of the Italian Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops. World Gay Pride Roma 2000 is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of Gay and Lesbian participants for a week starting July I. The Vatican has opposed the city’ s plans to host the gathering, saying it is out of keeping with the church’ s Holy Year that has been drawing millions of pilgrims to Rome. Some opponents fear the event will turn into a demonstration against Pope John Paul II, who has defended the Vatican’ s condemnation of homosexual acts. "I don’ t believe it is by chance that they selected Rome this year," Ruilfi said. United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship 11:00 am Reverend Cathy Elliot Pastor 1623 N. Maplewo0d 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community of Hope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at 1 lam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa - O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Envirorndnt Call for meeting times and .place: Mi.ng0 Valley Flowers. 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 9.18-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-44~-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 7411’4-3518 �The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAY S (743:4297) ¯ 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday fl2-9_ p~,~ Sat..u~ ~dq2, all sales b.eqefit the Center, Kelly KirbyrCPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583-1248 Red Rock Tulsa : Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesdays, 5 -8 pm, Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesdays, 5-8 pm, Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Willidms Realty 712-2252 Burlesor~@k~.corn 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An-~t~dependent Member Broker- OPENARMS,OPENMINDS, OPENHEAR’TS Saint Aidan Saint Dunstan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 5635 East 71st. 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You In another development, the Gay civil-lights group ArciGay called for the resignation of Premier Giuliano Amato for hi s remarks before parlianlent earlier in the week.. Amato said that "unfoftnnately" the Gay Pride week week must be allowed to be held because of constitutional protection for public gatherings. Gays Losing Supporter ST. PAUL (AP) - State Sen. Allan Spear, who is retiring after 28 years, will probably be remembered for work that took "probably less than 10% of my time" - his advocacy of rights and protections for Gays and Lesbians. "Nobody can get elected and adequatelyserve a constituency on Gay,~ssues alone,: Spear said..",But it’s important to have people for whom Gay i~su~s are a~hi.gh priority." . " Spear became the first openly Gay legislator in Mimlesota- and one of only two in the nation - when he acknowledged his homosexuality in 1974. His retirement at the end of this year will likely leave just one openly Gay legislator: Rep. Karen Clark, DFLMinneapolis. Scott Dibble, who is running for a House seat in Minneapolis, is also Gay, but there would be no openly Gay senators. Spear believes ~t is important for Gay people to have legislative representation. "It helps a lot to have someone come from the Gay community who can speak from the inside," said Spear, DFL-Minneapolis. "You need someone who can talk about what it’ s like growing up Gay, or coming out, or what it’ s like to deal with a partner who you feel is your spouse, but society won’ t recognize as your spouse. Other people can sp,,eak out on those issues, but it isn’ t quite the sanle, Ann DeGroot, executive director of the Gay political action group OutFront Minnesota, said part of Spear’s legacy will be other legislators who can. advocate for Gay rights, whether they’re Gay or not. "Of course we’ re going to miss Allan," she said. "We haven’t had a session without him yet. "But we’ve worked with other people so much, other leaders who are supporters, we know we can count on them.?’ Gay.& Lesbian Parents TroUbled by State Law LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Chris and Mike CroghanMiller are like other parents, caring and proud. They videotaped their son’ s birth, took time off from work when he was born, and in the weeks before, had an announcement party, a baby shower, painted the "baby room" and spent days with a ~erious case of "the butterflies." But there is one difference some say makes them unfit parents - they’re Gay. Advocates argue that the bottom line is a good home for the child that meets the requirements set by the state. "We don’t care whether they’ re married, single or Gay," said Carolyn Amett, contract attorney "for Adoptions of Kentucky. "We don’ t discriminate." Kentucky Youth Advocates’ director Debra Miller said the concern should be "that any child is adopted by parents who have the emotional and social support necessary to be good parents. We don’t think that there’s anything constitutional that makes a Gay or Lesbian parent unable to do that. Nor is there anything that guarantees that heterosexual folk can be good parents." The Croghan-Mil!er. family is part of aboom ~ ~t~e numbe~ Of Gays ~d Les~iafls ~fi~osin~’to’becSth~e parents, according to the San Diego-based Family Pride Coalition. Though state officials and private adoption agencies in Kentucky don’ t keep any estimates on how many Gay men or Lesbian~ have adopted here, the San Diego group claims 15,000 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered families as members, including dozens in Louisville. ¯ And across the nation, cases of adoption and custody issues involving Gays and Lesbians have become increasingly visible. Most recently, Mississippi joined Florida and Utah in banning adoptions by Gays, despite arguments that it is an unconstitutional violation of due process and privacy rights. The Cabinet for Families and Children has recently proposed changes that would "make our system more accepting to a broad variety of families," said Mike Jennings, a cabinet spokesman. But the change is not being made specifically out of consideration for Gay and Lesbian couples. Gay Teens Face Harassment & Isolation MILLERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - During her junior and senior years in high school Lilith visited the hospital seven times for severe depression, self-mutilation and thoughts of suicide. She was trying to destroy hersdf, she said. Destroy the thing within her that was making her different from her classmates. Lilith is Gay and, during her early teen years, the thought of being a Lesbian "practically .disguste0, ". her. ~he denied it, ran from it, ti-ied to erie it’f~om.!,i~ ~ soul!, but her affeeti0n for bilker ffomen w~ beCrn{i~ impossible to ignor~ Lilith ~ Who, f0( pi-i~acy #~aI- i sons, chose a fictitious name for this story - is now 20, a full-time college student and a self-assured Lesbian woman. But, she says, her high school years were rough. Like many Gay youth, Lilith suffered through harassment and lack of acceptance, feelings of isolation, and self-imposed silence. Gay teens are twice as likely as heterosexual youth to seriously consider suicide because they feel adrift in an unsupportive world. Overall, the nonheterosexual population (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered) is 5-10%, said Brad Becker, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian National Hotline. High school percentages are likely the same, but surveys are skewed because most teens are not comfortable answering gender-preference questions. In addition, many have yet to figure out their sexuality, he said. "They may not be identified as Gay,, said Becker. "They know something is different but have yet to pinpoint their sexuality.". "Teens begin feeling their sexuality around the age of 13," said Linnea Bailey, a Lancaster psychologist who specializes in Gay and Lesbian issues. "So much of being a teen is exploring sexuality. If they realize they are not part of the norm, it can be frightening. They know that those who are different get picked on." Gay and Lesbian youth commonly struggle with self-esteem issues and may withdraw from family and friends. They often skip school and may eventually drop out in search of an accepting peer group. If they do come out and continue in school, they risk being harassed or beaten by those with differing bdiefs. In an average school day, says the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the typical Gay teen will hear 26 anti-Gay remarks. And, one in six Gay youths are beaten so badly they seek medical attention. "The last acceptable form of overt prejudice is against Gays," Bailey said. "It’s still extremely bad in the public school systems." Most Gay teens wait to come out until they are in college or the work world. There tends to be greater diversity and less peer pressure. "Often it’ s the first time they are away from home and family," said Anthony Lascoskie Jr., coordinator of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Allies at Franklin & Marshall Colleg_e and .treasurer of the Pink Triangle Coalition. "They can be Gay at school and straight at home." Boys typically come out at age 18; gifts, 23. Julian, a 19-year-old Millersville student, came out the summer before his junior year of high school by writing a letter to a trusted faculty member. During his junior year he began telling his friends. J~ian.said most of his friends were OK with his sexuality, but some faded away. And although there were no physical attacks, there were plenty of verbal attacks. - Bailey said~lack of- peer suPport is.the, one of the worst koadblbcks for ~ay teer~sl During a time When support is most important, there is typically very little. "Imagine dating as a Gay teen-ager," she said. "If you break up with a same-sex partner, there’ s no support. Who do you go to to talk about it? There is so much loneliness and isolation." �Black Church To Fight AIDS Harder "It’ s not a perfect vaccine, but it is the best candidate we have now," said Dr. Peter F. Wright, also of Vanderbilt. Side affects of the vaccine can include mild fever and mnsde soreness. There is no chance of getting infected with HIV, Graham said. "We’ re not at all worried about safety," Graham said. Vanderbilt’ s research is supported by an annllal grant of $2 million from the .federal gov emment which is good through 2005. If this year’s tests are successful, large-scale trials will be done in 2001. TUSKEGEE, Ala. (AP) - Black ~hurch leaders, trying to overcome policy differences in their efforts to combat AIDS~ have gathered in Tuskegee to try to put together a plan of action. More than 300 bishops, pastors, priests and laymen from across the nation and as far away as Africa tookpart the last week in May in the AIDS Conference for Black Churches at Tuskegee University. Black churches have been Slow to take on AIDS because of the stigma associated with frank discussion of sex, drugs and homosexuality in church, church leaders said. There is also disagreement over isMOSCOW (AP)- Registered HIV cases sues such as the distribution of condoms in Russia are snowballing and the cashand needle-exchange programs. "This strapped government is too poor to conhesitationis killing our people," U.S. Surfront the health crisis, a senior health geon General David Satcher told the conofficial said in May. "That means people ference in a videotaped statement. will simply die without treatment," said Blacks accounted for 45% of all AIDS Vadim Pokrovsky, the head of the Federal cases reported in the United States in AIDS Prevention Center. 1998, according to federal data. Africa is Last year, 18,140 new cases of infechome to 23.3 million of the world’ s 33.6 tion with HIV - the virus that causes million infected people, said Dr. Helene ¯ MDS - were registered; that’s dose to Gayle, head of the AIDS center at the U.S. half of all the HIV cases registered in Centers for Disease Control and PrevenRussia since 1987. Pokrovsky told anews tion. Within a decade, she said, there will conference that at least a two-fold inbe 40 million orphans in Africa because crease is expected this year, and that the of the disease. registered number of cases are likely only Church leaders and AIDS experts said one-fifth to one-tenth of the real number. their efforts likely will focus ottxeaching ’q’hat means that the real number of HIV teens and young adults. The Rev. Calvin cases may reach 300,000-400,000 by the Butts III, president of the Council of ~.nd of this year. By 2005 we may have Churches of the City of New York, said about 1 million cases, under an optimistic churches must teach sex education. "Un~ scenario," he said. less we learn to talk about it, we’re not Intravenous drug users aecountformost going to solve the problem of AIDS," he of the new HIV cases, but the virus is said. "You can’t be hypocritical about rapidly spreading through sexual contacts, this, because it’ s killing us." Other leaders Pokrovsky said. "In some regions around said churches should boost outreach efMoscow up to 5% of all young people forts in jails and prisons. Nearly one-fifth have AIDS," he said. "According to other of people who are HIV-positive will be estimates, up to 15% of Moscow prostiincarcerated at some point in their lives, tutes are infected with HIV." according to CDC data. The relatively small number of offiPernes sa Seele, founder of The Balm in cially registered HIV cases has prompted Gilead Inc., the organization that spona negligent attitude in the government, sored the conference, said church leaders which has been slow to earmark funds for must provide better counseling and care combatting the disease. Officials have to people with AIDS. "Church folk are sometimes hampered privately funded Gay folk, they are.., straight folk. We’re AIDS prevention efforts. TV ads and billall family," she said. "But some people boards promoting the use of condoms justdon’ tgetit. We’ ve got to tear down all have disappeared after authorities comthese barriers." plained they were harming public morals, ¯ Pokrovsky said. Currently, only the relatively rich Mos¯ cow city government can fully pay the bill ¯ for treating AIDS patients, while other NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Vanderbilt ¯ regions provide only a fracdon of funds University Medical Center will work with ¯ needed to pay for expensive treatment. According to Pokrovsky, a modern the nation of Haiti to test a vaccine for AIDS. The research hospital is seeking ¯ course of treatment for AIDS comes only 150 local volunteers for testing in Nash- ¯ a fraction cheaper than in the West, beville this summer. Tests begin in Haiti in ¯ causemostdrugs are imported. Suchtreat¯ ment costs about $10,000 per patient, he the fall. .’,~It’~s:important-for,the.science of vac- ’ ~aid,~ a hefty sum a’or ~the.economicalIy cine development to embrace the devel- ¯ struggling nation. "The nmnber of paoping world, where most of the AIDS ¯ dents will be so high, that only few of burden is now," said Dr. Barney S. Gra- ¯ them will get treatment," he said. "No ham ofVanderbilt~ s AIDS Vaccine Evalu- ¯ more than 10% of the patients may count ation’Unit. "We’re veery excited about ¯ on receiving treatment." workilig with Haiti." Vanderbiltis 0neof five medical centerg in °be:United States testing a vaccine ADAP, the AIDS Drug Assistance Probased on a virus which ca°mot reproduce . gram is working but is severely in mammals - the canary pox virus. Sci¯ underfunded. OKAIDS Netis asking that entist splice genes for inactive HIV pro¯ the following legislators be asked to supteins into the canary pox virus, and inject , port more funding in the next session. it into the volunteers. If it works, the Write: Senators Stratton Tayltr, Ben vaccine will stimulate the body’ s immune ¯ Robinson, Angela Monson, Cal Hobson, defenses into action, including the pro¯ Enoch Kelly Haney and Representatives duction of a white Mood cell that can ¯ Loyd Benson, and Bob Weaver at State dispose of HIV-infected cells to prevent it Capitol, 2300 No. Lincoln, OKC 730105. from spreading inthe body. Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law :Russia Too Poor to Fight AIDS CriSis AIDS Vaccine to Be Tested in Haiti ¯ OK AIDS Network An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appoinlmenls are available. Tulsa City County Library System is proud to support Humanity Unites for Human Ri£!hts Diversity Celebration 2000 and presents Not All Fruits are Oranges: the Roots, Branches & Produce of the Gay & Lesbian Literary Grove by Dr. T. Alan Culpepper, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor.of English~ Rogers State University Tuesday, June 13, 7pm, Aaronson Auditorium, Central Library Look for the Library Booth at the Millenium Festival and check with Central Library for books and videos of interest to Gay & Lesbian readers, families and friends. �at Southwest Missouri State University in when i dare to be powerful to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it be Qm Sptingfield. tmpo ant whether i am afraid. / ¯..audre Iorde / please oin )Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights in welcoming Dr. Margarethe Cammermeyer and Mr. Greg Louganis as guest speakers ,--of.the "Humanity Unites for Human Rights" 0 "DIVERSITY CELEBRATION 20001" black-tie (optional) benefit dinner and silent auction Friday, June 9, 2000 The Summit Club 6th & Boulder Tulsa, Oklahoma (free parking in Bank of America tower) VIP Reception; 7:00 PM / $50 per person Reception: 7:00 PM Silent Auction: 7:00 -- 9:00 PM _ Dinner:,8:00 PM/,$75 per person $550 / table of eight - ~:~ $750 /.table of eight & VIP reception for ticket information, please see enclosure I "When I think of Ozark County, I always think of how the sheriff did not have a car until 1937," he said. "The rivers weren’t bridged and there was no real road system developed." Outlaws looking for cover in the backwoods - including such notorious villains as Bonnie and Clyde and Jesse James - were drawn to the area for those reasons, Flanders said. Religious~based groups, typically those who shun the doctrines of mainstream churches, appreciate the quiet and reserved nature of fellow Ozarkers. ’’There is a long tradition in the hills that you live and let live, no matter how weird the beliefs of your neighbors might be," Flanders said. Both Springfield and Bransonhave seen national and regional supremacy conventions in the last year. In February, some 225 people gathered in Branson for the third annual convention of the Identity group Songs for His People. "You’ re tight in the middle of the Bible Belt, which plays an important role in the culture there," said Devin Burghart of the Chicag0-based Identity watchdog group, Center for New Commlmity. ’‘These guys come strolling along singing songs andholding Bibles, which allows them a certain degree of legitimacy in the area. But behind it all is still the same message of hate and intolerance," he said. Christian Identity espouses white Anglo-Saxon virtues and calls Jews, racial minorities and Gays enemies of God. S6me members believe in death sentences for those who violate "’God’ s law." In August, Identity follower Buford Furrow Jr. allegedly killed a FilipinoAmerican postal worker and wounded five others after opemng fire on a Jewish day-care center in Los Angeles. A month earlier, two brothers-also Identity adherents - allegedly killed a Gay couple in California and set fire to several synagogues. Through the 1980s, the Identity movement became associated with other extremist groups, including The Order, the Ku Klux Klan and The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord, or CSA. Many residents here say they have felt intimidated by supremacist groups like CSA and Winrod’ s church. Most define to be interviewed or ask not to be identified for fear of retaliation. "These guys would wear fatigues and walkinto the post office with guns swapped to their waists," said Tim Morgan, owner of a marina in Pontiac, a town of fewer than 300 not far from Gainesville. "They were intimidating because they were so military-looking." Winrod’ s church, called Our Savior’ s, consisted-mostly~ ofhi~ adult ehilO*en, their families and a few other followers. The sheriff said he began distributing his racist mailings to every county resident. "People Wouldcall and Complainabout it, but there is nothing we could do- he had First Amendment tights ," Bartlett said. "We could only keep an eye on him." Now, Winrod is accused along with two of his children of abducting his grandchildren from their North Dakota hometowns in 1994 and 1995. Their mothers are M.ready serving ptison terms for kidnapping. At ~ pretrial court, appearance Thursday, Wiurod said he did not have an attorney The court has given him until June 13 to either retain counsel or waive his tight to representation. A preliminary hearing on the case was set for June 21. Authorities fear the Wiurod case will attract attention from other affiliated groups. ’‘There are groups like this all over the country, people who maybe aren’ t. closely affiliated with one another but who share similar beliefs, and they decide they want to come and get involved in these situations," Said Elmore, the highway patrol sergeant. "We don’ t want that to happen this time." On the Net: Southern Poverty Law Center: http://www.splcenter.org ~ Center for New Community: http://www.newcomm.org Yet again, he dismissed these basic protecdons as "special tights ." In addition, he has sided with the extreme wing of his Party and refused to endorse the Fmployment Non-Discrimination Act (F_aNDA). ENDA would put an end to discrimination against Gay men and Lesbians in the workplace - discrimination that is currenfly legal in 39 states. AI Gore and the Democratic Party have fought vigorously for ENDA because we believe in the tight of every American to be judged on his or her merits and abilities, and to be allowed to contribute to society without facing discrimination on the basis of sexual ori_-_ entation. As President, AI Gore also would continue President Clinton’ s Executive Order prohibiting discrimination based on. sexual orientation in the federal civilian workforce. Facing aRepublican challenge to the Executive Order, Clinton and Gore worked with Representative Barney Frank and other fair-minded Members of Congress to defeat the Republicans’ and-Gay amendment with the support of over 90 percent of Congressional Democratsl We need leaders likeAl Gore who will speak out against homophobia and prejudice in a fight to maintain civil justice and equality. Through his actions and the actions of his party,it is clear that George W. Bush is not that leader. There is every indication that he would make no room for Gays and Lesbians in his White House. As we celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride, Democrats pledge our support and continued work to promote equal~opportunity and non-discrimination for a strong and umted America. As a Party, we embrace these ideals because we believe that no .aanetican should be left behind. An interpreter for the deaf will be provided. - The Rev. Mel.White heads, Soulforce, Inc., a non-profit organization that runs an ecumenical network of volunteers committed to the teachings and applying the principles of nonviolent civil .disobedience on behalf of sexual minorities. Rev. White has relendessly devoted his life to heal the wounds caused by: the anti-Gay rhetoric and to enter into dialogue with the faith organizations that perpetuate hatred and violence toward sexual minotifies. In the past year, Rev. White has led "direct actions" with Rev. Jerry Falwell, the trial of Rev. Jimmy Creech, and most recently, the General Assembly of the United Methodist Church. Shortly after visiting Tulsa, Rev. White will lead a delegation see Pride, p. 8~ Pr �by Jim Christjohn, mac guru & more dip of the show, s beginning, shown at the Brachetti is coming! No, it’ s not a piece press conference, it begins with a mysteof toast with herbs and tomatoes on it, it’ s rious masked man removing his mask to reveal yet another mask underneath, conArturo Brachetti, the quick-change artist. Think "Greater Tuna" meets Robin Willtinuing for some time. iams while doing David Copperfield’s Just that brief dip spoke to me of the act. fact that we all wear so many masks from Greater Tuna had two guys doing quick day to day, ,to the point where the real changes to create ,the ,22 characters of,a person becomes buried over ume. It s.eems to me, that his show is about removing the small mythi.cal town; Artur9 is one man crearii~g 88characters during the course masks of adulthood so that We can free the child trapped within, (but then agaifi, I’ m0 of an evening ~-grom cowboys to geishas a psychology maand barmaids to "... Deserlbed as Versaee on Royal Mounties, jor, and can read he is a very charmdeep insight into hyper speed, Braehettl changes anything). lng man - and costumes at lightning fast speed, I will say that handsome as well. He speaks at least sequence is very transforming into more than 80 powerful, and can three languages characters and giving llfe to fluently, and has a only imagine what therest of the show mischievous sense legions of personalities. of humor rivaling must be like. His show is a multl-medla Brachetti hopes to yours truly. restore the wonder Described as ~xtravaganza, eomblnlng Versace on hyper of the world as comedy, tousle, magle, and video seen from the eyes speed, Brachetti of kids. He alterchanges costumes in a unique collage of aetlng, nated as he spoke, at lightning fast storytelling, stunts from well-eduspeed, transformcated adult to imping into more than and earleature . . ." ish child. 80 characters and He’ll eventugiving life to leally play S_an Francisco (the costumes will gions of personalities. His show is a multigo over big there) and New York, as well media extravaganza, combining comedy, as Chicago. Brachetti arrives in Tulsa at music, magic, and video in a unique colthe PAC courtesy of Celebrity Attractions lage of acting, storytelling, stunts and August 6-13 and to OKC at the Rose State caricature. He is the winner of the 2000 Performing Arts Theater august 15-21. Moliere Award (the French "Tony" Tickets can be had by calling 596-7111. award), and a delightfully impish fellow. I don. t know if he’ s Gay, but I will tell Add a little Cirque De Soleil t~ that you now, the costumes that Brachetti demixture above, too. I had the chance to speak with him signed and created rival any elaborate Bette Midler/Cher/Drag Queen extravabefore one of his sold out shows in Paris, ganza. Did I mention he’ s cute, designs a France. A U.S. tour is planned for 2001, but his first stop for a very limited engagemean frock, inhis mid thirties (he’ s cagey about his age) and single? Me first, guys ! ment, is here in Tulsa. When asked, "Why Tulsa?" he responded, "Well, you have to For’those Goddess worshipers out there, I am pleased to announce Goddess: Tulsa start somewhere!" He spoke of it being the "center of the United States" and as Artists’ Coalition Women’ s Show 2000, sponsored by TAC and The University of such, a good place to begin. tie spoke of the Italian art of"transforTulsa School of Art. It features Goddessthemed artwork, and the exhibit goes up mation" as not having been seen in thirty years. It had its origins in the 17th century June 8 and runs through July 7th. The opening is from 5-8pm June 8, and the as an offshoot of the commedia del’ artr. According to Brachetti, Giovanni regular gallery .hours are 9am-4:30pm Gabrielli was the originator of "transforMon. - Thurs. and 9am-noon Friday. The gallery is in TU’ s Alexander Hogue Galmarion," performing all the characters of lery at 5th Street and College Avenue. the commedia del’ arte single-handedly, And for those wondering, Stevie Nicks, changing masks and characters all by himnew album "Trouble In Shangri-La" is on self. permanent delay, as usual Apparently, I asked him what prompted him to create such a show-, and his response was that there are trouble in the Shangri-La recording studio in which she’ s been working he was doing some add-on acts for a with a revolving doorful of producers production of "Midsummer Night’s Dream" (French pr~oductions often thro,w_ .since ,!997. Have fun at the Diversity. Celebrations, ~_nd be safe! ’ ¯ extra scenes ifffor fun), which led to him creating a one man show in which he played all the parts, an embryonic version of his current two hour plus show, for an arts festival. We’ ve seen it before. The horror of the A later version of the show, largely ship’ s sinking never quite made it onstage. autobiographical, opened in June ’99 in You’ re more bothered by the horror of Montreal. Selling out every night, he evenhaving paid to see this show. The songs, tually took the show to Paris. There was for the most part, are mawkishly written, no advertising budget, and the first week, they had to find people just to sit in the stealing from everyone imaginable - Gilbert and Sullivan, Lloyd Webber, audience. After that first week, however, Sondheim. Few original ideas are in the word of mouth started and the show exploded. music, which is a pity. This is portrayed as Brachetti would like audiences to leave homage, but basically, it seems Yeston the show different from when they enjust couldn’t come up with anything on tered. He said that the show speaks to the his own. Want something better? Wait for eight year old child witltin all of us. In the Rent later this summer. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men s Support Group is here for you! ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ~/k~ ,-~/~.~/ Evening support group meetings Relationship workshops Short trips, outings and retreats Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project Call JOHN RAGAN, the friendly, caring real estate agent who understands your special needs! 918-583-2125 800-559-1558 wrvw.NewNest.com �MINI-MOVIE FESTIVAL Thursday, June 8th A Mini-Movie Festival will run throughout the day on a 60" screen at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center. The Community Center is located on the corner of 38th and Peoria (above Boulevards). Popcorn and refreshments will be available. Admission is free. Schedule: 1:00 pro, Lilies 3:00 pm, Beautiful Thing 5:00 pm, It’ s In The Water 7:00 pro, Broadway Damage 9:00 pm, Everything Relative by James Christjohn ~ ¯ of Soulforce members on a direct action I’m not sure which is the greater trag- " to the General Assembly of the Presbyteedy: the sinking of the ship and its afterrian Church U.S.A. as they debate the math - or the creation and execution of " inclusion of Gays and Lesbians in that this musical. Don’t get me wrong, the " denomination. performances were OK, for the most part, Organizational sponsors include: some were excellent, and there were a few Soulforce in Oklahoma (presenting sponsongs that made the show somewhat worth sor) Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights the time it took to watch it. But it was a (presenting sponsor) Community of Hope remarkable example of how easy it is to Church, Commimity Unitarian/Universalget Tony Awards these days. ist Congregation Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa At the time this disaster (the musical) Fellow ship Congregational Church, Green Black Tie Benefit struck, it was the only original American Country Society of Friends (Quakers), Friday, June 9th musical offering on Broadway. EveryMetropolitan Community Church United TOHR offers the opportunity to meet thing else was Lloyd Webber (i.e., En(MCC), Parents, Families and Friends of Margarethe Cammermeyer and Greg glish) or French. So, to get a Tony, you Lesbians and Gays in Tulsa (PFLAGLouganis at a VIP Reception at 7 pm in the need to: 1. merely be American; 2. write a Tulsa), Parish Church of St. Jerome, ReGrille Room at The Summit Club on the musical: 3. base it on something historigional AIDS Interfaith Network of Okla31 st floor. The Summi t Club is located in cal, but only superficially. Take known homa (RAIN-OK), and Volunteers in the Bank of America Building at 15 West names and make up cartoonish characters Action Committee of All Soul’s Unitar6th Street. Free parking available in the to go with them; 5. even if what you write ian Church as wall as others. building. Admission is $50. An Open is unfocused and mediocre, if there are no Soulforce Workshop Reception and Silent Auction will begin other Americans writing musicals, you’ll Saturday, June 3rd at 7 pm at The Summit Club on the 31st get a Tony. floor. All proceeds will benefit TOHR’ s A Soulforce Workshop led by Rev. Md If you’ re wanting a mildly entertaining White will be held at the Charles Norman fight for GLBT equality in this region. evening with some really bad staging, Studio at the Performing Arts Center at 2 The Benefit Dinner begins at 8 pm at scenery, and costumes that dwarf the set, pro. Rev. White and his partner, Gary The Summit Club on the 30th floor. Guest and NO historical accuracy (other than speakers are Margarethe Cammermeyer Nixon, will provide training in the printhe fact_the ship sank), by all means waste ciples of M.K. Gandhi and Martin Luther and Greg Louganis. Please join TOHR in your money. King, Jr. as part of the non-violence juspresenting its wall-deserved "CommuThe show itself is historically inaccutice movement. The workshop will last nity Hero" awards to three high school rate to the point of sheer ridiculousness. until 5 p.m. Admissionis free. students who have shown extraordinary That wouldn’ t be such a peeve with me if courage in dealing with their sexuality: TOHR Follies 2000 the marketing weren’ t hyping it as being Will Allen, Emily Sisemore, and MatSaturday, June 3rd historically accurate, claiming the "story thew Holloway. An interpreter for the ¯he bawdy humor and sentimental is told truthfully" and that "historical acdeaf will be provided. songs of the TOHR Follies returns at 8 pm curacy of Titanic (the musical) makes it Tickets are available for the VIP Reat the Doenges Theatre, PAC. Join a host an ideal show for parents to share with ception and the Benefit Dinner by "calling of performers and singers celebrate your school age children." Only if the parents 743.4297, or by mailing ticket requests to favorite show tunes from a "100 years of wish to point out how inaccurate the marTOHR, P.O. Box 2687, Tulsa, OK 74101, Broadway." Elaborate productions from keting can be and musicals hyped as hisor by dropping by the Center on the corner the timeless works of Rodgers & torically accurate aren’ t. And it wouldn’ t of 38th and Peoria between 6 pm and 9 pm Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome be so bad if the actual stories - as told in Sundays through Friday and Noon to 9 Kern, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Charlie the transcripts of the inquiries, easily come pm on Saturday. Smalls will entertain you. A Reception by in paperback form - were as dramatic Millennium Pride Parade will follow in the Charles Norman Studio as you can get. The), didn’ t need to ~nake Saturday, June 10th with catering provided by Curt & Marj’ s. up half of what the,’,’ did. The Millennium Pride Parade will beAdmission is $15 each. Tickets will be Thorn Sesma, who portrays Thomas ffin at 11 am at the Tulsa Gay Community sold through the Performing Arts Center Andrews, the Titanic’s Designer, sang Services Center at 38th and Peoria. Grethe Ticket Office beginning around May 3rd. like he had a mouthful of marbles. He Cammermeyer and Greg Louganis will Call the PAC for ticket information at seemed to have a speech impediment, serve as Co-Grand Marshals. Organizers 596.7111 .or 800.364.7111 or buy your making it hard to understand what he was claim it will be bigger and more colorful tickets online at www.tulsapac.com. saying. And you know, if you’ re on stage, than before. The Parade will follow the Entertainers: Sedackeiry Taylor evenifyouaremic’ d, DON’T MUMBLE. same route as last year from the Center to Alexander, Johnny Cronin, Domoniqne This was.,rampant during the evening.... Veteran’ S Park at 18tk and Main. Daniels, Veronica De,core, Vivian One man, whose Iin~s throdghout Deveroe ::.Fontaine, Green ~Country Drop-offpoints are set along the Parade song ~ere "Not a ibit not .a aide ~Oogg,e.rs, DanHale, Miitthew Holloway, Route this year. Buses!shuttles will begin ¯ repeated ad.~auseum, s~,t~a,.d..ed~!jke"Noti!’: ~H~’l.~a’..~s Horribles, KriS Kohl~.CeCe.. ~ ~mn’mg at 8!30 a;m, Please park your : bitch, not a,iittl~ bitch. ~ I ldd.you noti.. ¯ ~roi,x,~taRichards,Tabith9Tayl0r,--: veliid~ at Veteran s Park and catch ~e Marcus ~:Ch.a,it, who" played, stoker ." T~aT Neill, ’Victoria Turelie,:R~becea . bu~ofShtittleonthenorthsideofVeteran s Fredefiek.~.~tt,. ~d"a ,:bi~athless fali U.ngermah,.ahd Komona Wannaliiya, -.’Park. --’There is no charge to ride the bus/ setto q0altty-that .s~ded:lik¢ .an All events tke!d at the Performing Arts shu..tt!e. ment ~betw.’.,e~n MiChael ~Ct~w.ford,aniti.~ Center are fundedin part b~r a grant-from Andy Gibb. Even though he Was nile d tO FESTIVAL the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trnst. the hilt (as all were), y.oo, coul~l underSaturday, June 10th stand him at times, due to his breathless uNIi"ED - An Art Exhibit The Millennium Pride Festival (for"Phantom of the Opera/Michael merly the Picnic) will begin at 11 am at Tuesday, June 6th Crawford’~ style of singing. His vibrato Veteran’s Park. There will be dose to An Art Exhibit entitled "United" will was annoying as well, distracting from fifty booths, as well as food vendors, beer have an opening reception at the Recepone of the most powerful songs in the and soft drinks, and lots of activities. !ion Hall of All Soul’ s Unitarian Church show. When he whispers, you can’ t hear Margarethe Cammermeyer and Greg beginning at 6 pm. Wine and soft drinks him, when he belts, he reveals a glorious Louganis will give the opening remarks. ~vill be available. Hors d’ oeurves will be voice, a wonderful tenor. TOHR’ s "Community Hero" awards will fPrrOVided by TW Catering. Admission is Timothy A. Fitzgerald, as Fleet, the be given to three courageous local teenagee. All Souls Unitarian Church is lolookout spotting the iceberg, has the most ers: Will Alien, Matthew Holloway, and cated at 2952 South Peoria. wonderful voice, perfect for the song "No Emily Sisemore. Entertainment go on all Artists: Otto Decker, John Duvall, Jody Moon", arguably the best song in the afternoon and into the evening. A sixteenEllison, Dana Gilpin, P.S. Gordon David show, and the most haunting. Lyrically, team volleyball tournament will run Halpern, Isaac Harper, Ken Johnston, it’s one of the better moments, and throughout the day on three volleyball Elizabeth Joyner, Kraig Kallenberger, C. Fitzgerald handles it with grace and beauty, courts. There is also a Celebrity Dunk Lynn Mallett, Kathleen Pendergrass, Mary which he has plenty of in terms of stage Tank with Audra Sommers, Dyke Divine Schepers; Kelley Vandiver, David presence. Pity the authors did away with and David from gay.tulsa.org, Tom Neal Vamecky & others. the other lookout (one of those little inacof Tulsa Family News, Marty Newman of curacies); "No Moon" would have been the Human Rights Campaign, and more. awesome as a duet. The standout performances were the three Kates, immigrants in steerage revealing their dreams of a new life America. Meiissa Bell, Kristi Barber, Kate Jetmore were excellent in the" gest roles in the play. They had the successful song in the show in term revealing character and furtheriv story, revealing the hopes and dre: the immigrants of the time. Tom Gamblin, in my opinion the su c, gest male actor, was an excdlent foil and future husband as Jim Farrell, who Kate Murphy decides will be her husband. It is their story which is the most effective in a show that tries to tell the story from too many perspectives. It was their characters I actually cared for, and it was their moments that worked in an otherwise dismal script. The ragtime song,"Autumn," and a few other songs were memorable for their melodies. That’ s about all that can be said for them. The book, well, I say keep a couple of lines that were humorous, and start over. I was disappointed. It seemed like an inventive premise, and one which could have made hi story entertaining. The staging was weak, particularl y when the iceberg was sighted by the one lookout. The set did tilt at the end (like we’ ve never seen that before), but the set was mosdy made up of very inaccurately drawn and painted drops that looked like something out of a high school production. After Jekyll and Hyde’s detailed lab, Beauty and the Beast’s castles and villages, Titanic’ s drop-heavy scenery was a bit of a letdown. On Broadway, the show had a three levd set, making several of the numbers quite different. Here we were treated to awkwardly stage numbers, wlfich basically left the cast walking in circles representing different levels and areas of the ship, which ended up quite muddled ~n terms of telling who was where on the ship. At one point, as characters were stepping in and out and around, it became quite ridiculous. The tableau, which was originally to have shown the ship striking the iceberg, was nothing more than a very small model of the ship, with lights, pulled across the stage - no ice in sight. The model boat, lit up :with Chxistmas lights, being pulled across the stage was quite humorous. And the promisedcollision tableau, hyped beforetheshow opened on Broadway, is still missing. . . I really liked the cheesy and totally hilarious flame effect of the boiler room furnaces. This little .bit of very Obvious white dothbeing blown upwards by a fan, not even dose to the scale of what the flames in those boilers must have been like. Now I’m quite willing to suspend disbelief, but this went far beyond what could be expected. It looked like these big burly men were shoveling coal onto bic lighters. I was rolling with laughter. Yeston al so says "the music is the scenery." Well, ithas to be, since apparently they couldn’ t afford paint or artists from the look of it. The drops seemed to come in at the wrong scenes, particularly in the opening. I understand theatre is representational by nature, but here we’ re dealing with a very famous boat. The problem with the show is that it tries to tell too many stories, and because of that, it’ s hard to really care about any of the characters, who are portrayed as caricatures anyway. At the end, you just don’ t care. OK, the set rises at one end on hydraulics, see Titanic, p. 8 �ologist Emile Durkheim remarked that by Lamont ]~indstrom, Ph.D. Vexillology. There’s an arcane word " totems are sacred just because they stand for you. It means the "study of flags." : for the group. Our human societies exist Thousands of rainbow flags are soon to ¯ before any one of us is born, and they will continue after we die. Sowave as we enter the season of Gay Pride celebraBecause flags stand ciety, thus, is "supernatural." We make into a god tion. Gay flags, like Gay Pride, are fairly recent infor group, Gays had what has shaped us and what sustains us as indiventions. Gilbert Baker no need for a flag viduals. But it’s hard to sewed up the first rainbow grasp concepts so abstract. flag for the 1978 Gay Freedom Celebration in San until we conceived of Instead, we focus our feelings and .affiliations upon Francisco. ourselves ~1~ ~t Over the past two dethe totem - the sacred being whose material form is cades, Freedom has made_ eolleetlve --or a the flag. way for Pride and the rainWe are good at creatbow flag has lost some ¯ eommumty as ing solidarities - only hustripes. Baker’s original creationboasted~eight col- some of us llke to say. man groups_ often define themselves largely by opors, each of which repreBaker’s needlework posing themselves to some sented a fine ideal: orange other. We pledge alleis healing; yellow the sun; in 1978 signified giance tO our own totem as green is nature and blue a symbol of ourselves. And art: indigo means harmony the transformation we express distaste for our while violet stands for enemies by despoiling of homosexuality spirit: redis life and, last their flags, as Palestiuians, but notleast,pink symbolfrom a psyckologleal Israelis, and members of .1zes sex. various high school bands Pink went first. A comcondition to a are wont to do. pany Baker approached to It is pretty clear produce his flag commerpolitical identity. Durkheim was right about dally couldn’t locate any that sacredness. We have pink nylon. ¯ fervent Congressmen in Washington each And the next year, when the San Francisco parade committee adopted the flag ¯ year in a frenzy to outlaw sinful desecraas a symbol, symmetry required yet an- ¯¯ tions of the American flag. Perversely, some South Caroliniansjusother reduction. The parade decorator demanded that the route feature three colors ¯¯ tifyofficial display oftherebel Confederon the left and another three colors on the ¯ ate flag as mere historical commemoration. But everyone knows that echoes of right. Indigo disappeared. In its short lifetime, the rainbow flag has lost both sex ¯¯ their antebellum religion are also at work here. and harmon.y. Something of a .parable, Because flags stand for group, Gays perhaps, of modem Gay life. Archaeologists have dug up flag-like ¯¯ had no need for a flag until we conceiv~l symbols from civilizations in both Old of ourselves as a collective - or a "comWorld and New. Humans, from our be- " mlmity" as some of us like to say. Baker’ s ginmngs, have imagined a variety of sym- ; needlework in 1978 signified the transbolic objects to represent social groups. . formation of homosexuality from a psychological condition to a political idenAnthropologists call a symbol that stands for a group a "totem." Since this time, we have put into play Today’ s flag clearly derives from these various other symbols, including pink and original totems..In many societies, aniblack triangles borrowed from Nazi prison mals are the preeminent totemic figure, wear, the Lambda character from the Greek andanimal totems surviveinto the present. alphabet, and the red ribbon. Small town businesspersons divide up Of these, the rainbow stretches the farinto coteries of Elks, Lions, and Moose. thest. I have seen rainbow flags unfurled Andthink of the Britishlion, or the Ameriin Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Den-. can eagle, or the Canadian loon, or the mark, andbeyond. Theflag’ s global spread California bear. And don’ t forget the Gay testifies to the rise of a transnational gay bear. These totems decorate our flags and community. Think of this as flags parade our money. A variety of things besides animals b~this summer. Long may the rainbows symbolize groups. The rainbow is an arwave on our totem poles. Lament Lindstrom teaches anthropolchetypal totem that we share with Austra= lian Aboriginal bands among various other ogy at the University oJ Tulsa. peoples around the world..Rainbows are syi~b01ic~dl~ p~tentl~0~ in nature and in a number of religious traditions. Some folks complain about a Gay appropriation of the_rainbow., tote.m~ just ~as some old The protesters wre joined by the Rev. Bishop C. Joseph Sprague from No. Illifogie~?gripe~ they :~no us,,e the Word.~aythht to me~’ merry i6figer or lively.’ nois. Local architect and activist Sue othdS,~i~, hav~ ebbed rainbows inKnause noted that the police were "fabueluding Jesse Jackson’s coalition, the lous" with some officers stopping to have Uuivei~ity 6f Hawai~i’s football team, their photos taken with some of the more and the US Army’ s 42nd Division. I acfamous arrestees. And their jddge, she quired one of my rainbow flags from an adds, said, "keep up the good work -I innocent straight friend who bought it stand with you today." planning to display his.concerns for the While the protests did not change the environment. policies, organizers have promised that ~/tere is no end of social and psycho1,000 arrestees at the next conference. A - logical theory that attempts to explain principal orgamzer of this action was why we dream up totems to represent our Tulsan Karen Weldon. Info. contact groups. A century ago, the pioneer sociSoulforce at the Gay Community Center. to benefit Saint Joseph Residence + Regional AIDS Interfaith Network Saturday, June 3rd, 10-5, +_ Sunday, June 4th, 1-5 $10 donation at the door or in advance. David Daniel, 1603 S. Carson Wiley Parsons, 1601 S. Carson Monty + Jane Butts, 240 E. Woodward Blvd. Brett + Maricarolyn Swab, 2112 So Norfolk Ave.. Dr. Robert & Dena Hudson, 2707 S. Rockford Rd. Tickets for this tour may be obtained at each home. For more information; call Charles Faudree, Inc: at 747-9706. METROPOLITAN TULSA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE salutes Humanity Unites for Human Ri$lhts Millennium Pride 2000 and honors Tulsa’s Lesbian and Gay .’.,. Chamber of Commerce members for their leadership on business, civil rights and health issues in the Tulsa community., To join MTCC, call 585-1201. �IGTA member Call 341.6866 ]. XourS ,ternational ormo ,,n. o mo ,on. Massage Therapy Services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 CountryClub Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E, 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm Poweful Images: Tulsa’s only portrayals of Native America body-piercing Gilcrease Museum 1400 Gilcrease Museum Road 5 9 6 2 7 0 0 and as many as 15 in larger communities - sit as the board of civil authority to certify yoter checklists or to hear tax appeals. They also have the option of officiating at wedding ceremonies. Beginning July 1, they’ll also have the authority to officiate at civil unions. The one catch is if they do one, they’ 11 have to do both. That’ s enough to prompt some justices to quit the marriage business because they oppose the civil unions law. Experts, such as lawyer and former Deputy Secretary of State Paul Gillies, who have been guiding justices through thenew responsibilities, say that’ s fine, so long as they don’t discriminate. Under Vermont’s non-discrimination laws, if justices perform weddings for heterosexual couples, they may not refuse to perform civil unions ceremonies just because those couples are homosexuals. Some justices have put out the word that they’re happy to officiate at civil unions ceremonies. "I feel they deserve it," said Huntington justice Don Dresser, who has officiated at two weddings. "It’ s the law and I’ m comfortable with it. I hav e a lot of Gay friends... I’m going to treat everyone the same." Some Gays and Lesbians who happen to be justices say they’re excited that they’ll be able to officiate at civil unions ceremonies. ’T m excited. I’ m so thrilled," Hurlie said. "This is really an honor to certify civil unions for folks." So, now, what’ s left is to determine just what ceremonies should be. The short answer is that whatever is done for a Wedding would work for a civil union. "’The big question was, "What do .you sa.y at the end?’ ’I hereby .. what?’ "" Gillies said. "We suggested:’ I hereby certify this civil union.’" Markowitz said her office did not want to dictate the words, but she recognized they would carry emotional weight. "The justice has to say sonaething that shows the imprimatur of the state is making the union official, whether it’ s a marriage or a civil union," Markowitz said. "The most straightforward, kind of sticking to the law pronouncement would be: ’I now certify your civil union.’ Really, that’s what a person is doing." There are some traditions to follow, though. There have beena few religious faiths, for example, who bless same-sex relationships. The Unitarian Universalist Society is one. The Rev. Brendan Hadash of the St. Johnsbury Unitarian church, for example, estimates he’ s performed probably 20 opposite-sex marriages and about an equal number of same-sex commitment ceremonies over the years. He’ s developed a series of phrases and uses the one that the couple finds most comfortable. "I usually pronounce that It also culled data from two other academic studies that studied the Gay and Lesbian population: the National Health and Social Life Survey and the General Social Survey. Starting with the 1990 C~nsus, respondents living with a person of the same sex had the option of checking off "unmarried partner" in the section that asks for the relationship between people. Other options included "husband/wife," "roomer/ boarder," "housemate/roommate" or "other nonrelative." The study said that among men aged 25-34 living with a male parmer, 29% had at least a college degree, and 13 % a graduate degree, compared with 13% and 4% for men with female parmers. However, within the same age group, men with a college degree and a female partner had mean earnings of $29,162 a year, compared with $28,618 for samesex unmarried partnered men with a college degree. For those with graduate deees, the discrepancy grew to nearly ,000 - $36,072 to $32,465. Of men aged 35-44 with unmarried partners of the same sex, 32% graduated from college, and 24% had a graduate degree, compared with 13% and 7% for males with a female partner. Within the same age bracket, males with college degrees and same-sex partners had mean earnings of $36,054 per year, compared with $38,629 for those with female partners. The same discrepancies were not found among Lesbians, Sanders said. For instance, women aged 35-44 with college degrees and with a same-sex partner had mean earmngs of $28,387, while those with a male partner had mean earnings of $28,734; of those with graduate degrees in the same age range, the figures were $34,427 for women with same-sex partners, and $34,295 for those with male partners. Sanders shied away from saying it was definitive proof of discrimination against Gays. He instead suggested one reason may be that Gays tend to enter more fields that offer lower salaries. The study also found that 22% of Lesbian couples living together have children, compared to 5% of Gay couples living together. Sanders said that may show that Gay couples have less pressure to get higher-paying jobs. "This is the tip of the iceberg in terms of finding out who the Gay and Lesbian community is," said PaulaEttelbrick, family policy director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "What they also point out it is the clear problem of how to define what it is to be Gay or Lesbian." ~4 OK Spoke Club The OK Spoke Club is beginning its rides again. A long ride (20 miles plus) will begin, atZiegler Park at 7:30am’on June 3rd & 24th. Length and destination to be use: "I recognize you as spiritually united," determined at the ride. Water and helmet or "You are now joined as wife and wife, ". are required. which I find a little odd. Others are "You ¯ A short ride(5 miles) along the Katy arejoined as spouses, partuers, iovers~" or ’: Bicydep~in Saii.d)SiJfings will beginat "I declare that you are now.united inlove, . 6:30pmonJuneT~atid21s’t. Wateriand that you are duly wed." ¯ helmet~ate ~tr0ngly r~mmelided...: ¯ : With the civil unions law, though, he’ 11 Af6:30plh, a short fide will begin at the be adding one phrase to his blessings. "At Pride Cent~L 3749 S. Peoria, rea~ parking the end of the service I used to always ¯ lotonJune24th. Waterandhelmetstrongly make a point of saying, ’By the power ¯ recommended. vested in me by my denomination, I de- ¯ Info: POB 9165, Tulsa, Ok 74157, clare you...’ "Hadash said. "Now I can ¯ email: Okiebicycle@prodigy.net say ’by.the power vested in me by the ] www.geocities.com/westhollywood/pachurch - and the state.’ " ¯ rade/3301 �Humanity Unites for Human R lhts Diversit Celebration 2000 Grand Marshalls for the Millennium Pride Parade Dr. Grethe Cammermever Oistin~luished Veteran of the United States Armed Forces Gre~! Lou~lanis US O!~mpie Champion Pride Week Events Interfaith Worship Service Performing Arts Center, Williams Theatre Speaker: the Reverend Dr. Mel White Friday, June 2, from 7pro (free) Interfaith Soulforce Workshop Performing Arts Center, Norman Studio Led by the Reverend Dr. Mel White Saturday, June 8, 2 - 5pro (free) Humanity Unites For Human Rights Black Tie Optional Dinner Speakers: Greg Louganis and Grethe Cammermeyer Summit Club, 7pro reception, Bpm dinner Friday, June 9th, $75 person Benefiting Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, the parent organization of the Gay Community Center TOHR Follies: 1OO Years of Broadway Performing Arts Center, Ooenges Theatre Saturday, June 8, 8pm, $15 Millennium Parade 2000 Saturday, JunelQ, llam From the Gay Community Center to Veterans Park at 18th and Boulder United Art Exhibit, Opening Reception All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 So. Peoria Tuesday, June 6, 6 - 8pro Pride Festival, Veterans Park, llam - 8pro Free shuttle from Veterans Park to Parade. Mini-Film Festival Tulsa Gay Community Services Center Thursday, June 8, z~ - till it’s over... For more information about these events, call 7~8-~297 (Gays). � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Methodist "community council" which did adopt the goal. Neal suggested to council co-ordinator Marly Newman that " TULSA-Inaneffortbothnerve-wrackingandtedious ." McDonald be asked to lead the effort because of the World’ s ¯ several Tulsans, SueKnanse, KentDoss,I~arenWeldon ." seeming preference to deal with representatives of non-Gay ¯ (and another who need to remain unnamed), were ¯ groups which advocate on behalf of Gay people rather than Gay arrested in Cleveland with the Reverend Mel White and : people themselves. ". 191 others in acts of peaceful civil disobedience at the " In a widely distributed June 1st e-mail about the change, recent United Methodist Church. Conference: ¯ McDonald wrote"how you will also remember that PFLAG had The acts of civil disobedience, blocking a car park " to be very creative in the design of our signature ad for the paper " exitfolloweddaysofnegotiationswithMethodistchnrch : as part of the PROJECT OPEN MIND Campaign"- areference ¯ leaders about the anti-Gay policies of the United Meth- " to how PFLAG under the former World policy could not use its ¯ odistChurch (UMC). The conference held in Cleveland ¯ own legal name because it included the banned words. ~. was attended by hundreds of UMC delegates. ¯ McDonald added, "... PFLAG submitted an ad and with The Methodist church like some other "mainline" ~ several revisions, it has been approved... The cost of the ad is " Christian denominations has adopted policies which " approximately $500 and [it is] to run on Sunday, June 4th, in the ¯ limit participation of Lesbian and Gay persons in that ¯ Living Section. It has Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians ¯ Will Allen, Emily Sizeraore & group. White stated, "the United Methodist Chruch has " and Gays, as well as some other statements, ’Is someone you care " Matthew Holloway are winners ahistory of social concern [butthey haye] anti-homo- " for gay orlesbian? Issomeoneyoulovegayorlesbian?Ifso, call ¯ ofCoraraunity Hero awards. sexual policies in place that lead to discrimination ¯ Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays’ and then it ¯ suffering, and even death." _. lists our Helpline number." The Tulsans joined other notable civil fights leaders. ¯ McDonald also wrote, "I have no idea what the response will " YolandaKing, theRey.Dr.JamesLawson, friendofDr. " be? I suspect some positive and some negative so theHELPLINE ¯ King, Congressman John Lewis of Georgia and others. " has been notified. If anyone is so moved to help thelocal Chapter ¯ see Arrest, p. 10 : with the cost of the ad, see World, p. 2 " Gays Better Educated,. ForJustices+Couples, Unions. Missouri Backwoods:A Lower Paid Than Straights " Require Creative Language ° Hotbed of Hate Groups WASHINGTON (AP) - Men who consider themselves "unmarried partners" of another man are better educated on average, but make less money than heterosexual men of the same age, according to a study that° claims to take the most comprehensive look ever into the lives of homosexuals in America. Women who have female "unmarried parmers" also tend to be more educated, but earn salaries comparable to those ofheterosexual womenin the same age bracket, according to the study in this month’s issue of "Demography," the journal of the Population Association of Americ& "An important point that is clearly articulated is that it illustrates the impact of anti-Gay discrimination .on income levels," said David Smith, spokesman for the organization Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group for Gays and Lesbians. Advocates applauded what they said was the first comprehensive study of homosexuals but cautioned against drawing any t-nan conclusions until more research is done. "Demographically, this is a hard population to target and analyze. Data on sexual orientation is not as easily avai[dible as information on race~ gender and age," said Seth Sanders, a study author and .an economist at the University of Maryland. The study looked at statistics from the 1990 Census. ~the first,count to allow people to check offthatthey lived with:an .unmarried partner of the same sex. see Pay, p. 11 DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 by Ross Sneyd, Associated Press Writer MONTPELIER, Vt. -"And now, by the powers vested in me by the state of Vermont, I pronounce you.. ?’ What? Partners? Together as one? Joined as family? Unlike marriage, there’ s no common syntax for the new world of same-sex civil unions. Because the couples are twomen or two women, the old fried-and-true "man and woman" or "husband and wife" phrases don’ t quite make it. With no rulebook and few traditions-as wall as no other state sanctioning what willbe the equivalent of same-sex marriage and thereby offering some guideposts - Vermont’s justices of the peace and .couples entering civil unions are crafting their own conventions and rituals. There has been a lot of discussion, both lighthearted and serious, about how to conduct a ceremony. ’q’here’ s so much creativity in our community among Gay and Lesbian couples in how to create outward signs of their commitment," said Mary Hurlie, ajustice of the peace in Hinesburg who has been with her female partner for 13 years. "But we haven’ t gotten to that level of detail, yet." As marriages must be "solemnized" by judges, justices of the peace or members of the clergy, so, too, will civil unions have to be "certified." But there aren’t any rules. The civil unions law says only that they must be certified. There’ s no script ~,State statute that must be followed for a marriage, either. "Just like marriages, there aren’t any magic words," said Secretary of State Deb Markowitz. " ’We pronounce you man and wife, husband and wife,’ they’ rejustmade up. Youdon’ t find them in statute." Training sessions have been held for justices by the secretary of state’ s office in recentweeks becauseit is almost unquestioned that it will be to them that the primary responsibility for performing civil umons ceremonies falls. That’ s because there are few religious faiths that bless same-sex unions and so there won’ t be many clergy members willing or able to certify civil tmions on behalf of the state. Justices of the peace have a handful of responsibilities under state law. Most have to do with taxes and elections. A town’ s iusdces - there are as few as fiveinsmall towns see Unions,p.ll Humanity Unites For Human Rights Diversity Celebration 2000t "Diversity Celebration 2000!" is an eight-day celebration of the human rights movement with the goal ofuniting northeastern Oklahoma’ s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) and ¯ GLBT-friendly communities. Tulsa Oklahotnans for Human Rights, Inc., Oklahoma’s oldestr~rnreligious Gay community organization released it final schedule which follows: Friday,June 2nd Diversity Celebration 2000! will kick off at 7 pm with an Interfaith Service led by Rev. Mel White at the Williams Theatre in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Special musical guests include Council Oak Men’s Chorale, Ernestine Holloway is notpictured. Dillard, Jessie Scott, and the Fourth Quarter gospel quartet. Participation by persons with a variety of faith traditions will be included in the program. Admission is free. An offering will be taken, see Pride, p. 7 by Doug Johnson, Associated Press Writer ¯ GAINESVILLE, Mo. - The remote and rugged ¯ Ozark hills blanketed with dogwoods and oaks are ¯ treasured by hunters, hikers and others wanting to ¯ get away from the bustle of urban life. ." The pastoral hills are also a haven for hate ¯ groups, authorities say. Southern Missouri has ¯ drawn more than its share of religious sects and ¯ white supremacists looking for a place to hide. ¯ Last week, police arrested the Rev. Gordon : Winrod- the leader of an anti-Semitic church ~ for : allegedly kidnapping six of his grandchildren and : concealing them for years at his farmhouse in the ¯ hills. The only explanation authorities offer for ¯ why the kids werekidnappedis thatWinrod thought : theirtwo fathers wereJewish. Sheriff SteveBartlett ¯ said the youngsters had been taught by their grand- -¯ father to distrust authorities. At one point, the sheriff said, the children shouted at deputies, "Get : your Jew hands off me." : Winrod, 73, and his followers gained a reputa- ¯ tioninOzark Countyformass mailings ofliterature : calling law enforcement officers and prosecutors ¯ "Jewdicials" - a play on the word judicial - and ¯ claiming-they cover up murders of whites. ¯ It’ s not uncommon to find that kind of sentiment ~ in some areas of the Ozarks, which straddles the : state line between Missouri and Arkansas. Experts ¯ say the region draws hate groups and people con- : nected to the white supremacist "Christian Iden- ¯ tity" movement. ¯. "We are richin these types of groups down in this ¯ part of the country for some reason," Highway : Patrol Sgt. Marty Elmore said. Southwest Missouri : is often characterized by a lack of adequate law ¯ enforcement in rural areas and lacks a tradition of : heavy-handed local government and gun control, ¯ said Robert Flanders, former director of the Center ¯ for Ozark Studies see Hate, p. 7 Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW" s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’ s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd *The Yellow Brick. Road Pub, 2630- E: 1-5th.....:- 712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 749-4511 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 --749- 1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 74% 1508 *Assoc. in Med, & Mental Health, 2325 S. HarYard 743-1000 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria 746-0313 *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth 295-5868 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 369-8555 *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 592-0460 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. P~eoria 744-9595 Four Stai: Imi~ort Automotive, 9906 E. 551h PI. 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’ s Gourme( Coffee, 1758 E. 21 st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 712-2750 *Jared’ s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 *Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15 599-8070 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921,747-4746 Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 749-6301 Paul Tay, Car Salesman 260-78-29 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding 743- !733 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 665-2222 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black& g~hite, l,nc,~,POB 1400!,Tulsa,7~4~5.9... 58%7314 Bless The Lord at All Tsmes Chnstian C~"nter, 2207 E. 6 J583-78’15 *B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. ofTulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *C~hapman Student Ctr.,:University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence Chureti oVth_~Rest~or~tionUU,1314N.~reeawt~od : 587-:13,14 *C~~°.U~’~’ari2UniVexsalist Congregafirn 749-0595 748 3888 ,Delilw~e~i~yilotise¢:iSilS "Dela~vare .- 712-15.11 *DemOcratiC Headquarters, 3930 E: 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the entire contents of thig publication are protected by US copyright 1998 b) T~ /:~,~v.~ and may not be reprodu~.d (~th~r~i~a: whole orinpart W~th0utwrittenpermission from thepublish~. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property ofT~ ~.’. N~- Eachreader is entitled to 4 copies of each editmn at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. " Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 582-0438 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral PI. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, PUB 14068;’74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’ RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome’ s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men). Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department, 46 16 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniforn~’Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown BARTLESVILLE Thanks be to you for that wonderful article, "Our Governor Foot-in-Mouth Keating"... wentto TulsaLibrary, picked up first copy of Tulsa Family News and began reading... Laughed out loud, and a long overdue laugh it was, over the comments of Mr. Keating and your"right-on analogies." The very ideathat there should have to be a public consensus to treat all people fairly! What hideous stereotyping by our governor... [I] regret that there is no place close to ¯ ,my ho,me, w,he,r,e !,.c,gn.get your. w.onderful ", i~per. The’littl~ ~egment ,~0 ~epoi’i hate ,, ~ sigee~h 0i: virleh~e~ Call i.he Gay communit~ cent~ris so r~assuring... Loved the ~ Quilt article, unfortunately got my paper ." too lateiio go. Extended thanks. ¯ - Gay-friendly in Depew. *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Borders Books & Music, 3209NW Expressway 405-848-2667 Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456=7900 Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autuinn’Bre~ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 *Jim & Brent’ s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Emerald.R_ainbo~,4~ &l/2_Spfing,St. ~ ..... MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, PUB~ 429 OldJailhouse_ Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’ s~ Hwy. 62 :East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 ¯ Announcements Policy ¯ Tulsa Family News will provide space ¯ for holy union ceremony, marriage -" ceremony, birth, adoption and death ~ announcements ona space availableb~sis. Photos are welcome, though we cannot promise placement or return them, so ¯ please send copies to Tulsa Family NewS, ; PUB 4140, Tulsa 74159. ¯ Letters Policy ¯ Tulsa-~amily News welcomes letters ¯ on issues which we’ve covered or ¯ issues you.think need to be consider~ed, ¯ You may request that your name be with- : held but letters must be signed & have ¯ phone numbers, or be hand ddivered. 200 ¯ word letters are preferred. Letters to o~¢r. publicat.ions will be re-printed as ks~ appropriate. ~.~ 501-253-7734 501-253,7457 : any donation wouldbe appreciated. Please send to PFLAG, PO Box 52800, Tulsa, ¯ OK 74152. I truly believe this will ope~ the door for PFLAG as well as o~ organizations to submit ads to theT~ World. Our thanks to Joe Worley ¯ assisting us with this policy change. He ~ was very, very helpful.’" : The World’ s anti-Gay policy is doen- ¯ mented back to the middle’80’ s when a : Lesbian owned card, gift and book store,. 743-4297 ¯ Two’s Company, located near 31st & 749-8833 ¯ Harvard was told the World would not ¯ accept advertising for the store because ¯ the owners wanted to let readers know the ¯ target audience, i.e. Lesbians and Gay ¯ men. The owners conducted a one day ¯ picket of the World but the policy re- . mained unchanged. ¯" In 1993, when Tulsa Family News pub¯ lisher Tom Neal, opened a gift and card ¯ shop "tomfoolery !" at the Silver Star, the World also refused to accept advertising, even though the store did not trade in eroti~ Or any other possible objectionable,~ fials, citing the same policy, . A~,~arslaterl PFLAG, TulSa Cliap5~ ter ran afrul of the same anti-Gay po|i~¢y 501-253-6807 ¯ when it tried to run a pro-Gay civi! .rights _t 501-25_3-~5 :.. signature ad. !ntetesgngly, the 501:253:9337 : la~editsbw~ipoli’cy~’~WW~eks]~e~r,-’~te.~’~a 501-253-27"/6~. : runninffthe censrr~’FLAGa~.~a...i~) 501-253-5332, : accept~l’~ an anti-G~i~,iid from a"~Jali~0I¢~U 501-624~’6~~ ¯ of weS~side Tulsa &i~ches 501-253-600I": one of:~banned~c~ds. . 501-253-4074 : Editor’s note: for a related editorial, ¯ see page 3. The editorial was written the 417-623-4696 " earlier in the day before the news broke ¯ about the World’ s newpolicy. Hats offto ¯ Nancy McDonaldfor her work in negoti* is where you can findTFN. Not all areGay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. ating this new policy. by Tom Neal, editor &publisher For being the proverbial 900 lb. gorilla of our local media, those folks over at The Tulsa Worm sure seem to be thin-skinned about criticism. One editor, whom I respect greatly, took particular umbrage atmy calling our daily, "a country-club newspaper." I suspect ,that a good part of his irritation is that he knows there s still truth in the charge. The Tulsa World has made great progress in providing better coverage of all of Tulsa, including our minority communities, - even Gay people. But like the town it serves, it carries with it. its parochial,.elitist and raciSt/anfi-minority phst~. And f6r every .step forward, there s~ems tb t~ffve tO be a least one step back. " :- Consider this charming carto0h"0y Simpson, reproduced here, with its somewhat sophisticated bigotry and stereotyping. The comment of "real girls only," implying that Gay men are somehow like women but yet are less than women, is full ofunexaminedmisogynism. It comes out of a hierarchy where straight men (and traditionally straight, white men) are superior, women are lesser creatures, and Gay men are even lower because we’re men "who want to be women." Lesbians, of course, exist only to populate the sexual fantasies of straight men. To put this cartoon in the proper historical context, we need only think back to early 20th century racist political cartoons in which Black Americans were represented ape-ishly and made to speak in "step’ n’ fetch it" dialogue - or other cartoons where orthodox Jews or Japanese- Americans were misrepresented as evil foreigners. Ironically, Simpsonjust gets it wrong. The GirlScouts of America are clearly on record as saying, they, unlike the Boy Scouts, do not discriminate on tile.,.basis of sexual orientation. The organization does use adult men as well as women in its programs in leadership and in training roles,: Therefore, not only would young women who are Lesbian be welcome, adult Lesbians and Gay men could also participate and no doubt have. And guess what, the Girl Scouts are doing just fine. But The Worm is not doing so well. For at least 15 years, our daily has maintained an anti-Gay .advertising policy which bans the words: Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual. Theyjustify this saying that they are a"family" newspaper. Note that this ban does not apply to content of news articles, editorials or, obviously, cartoons! In fact, The World literally could notdo the basic work of a newspaper, merely reporting the stories of our city, country and world, if they censored these words. ¯ How can anyone with a shred of reasoning think that these words ifplaced in an advertisement somehow have an adverse impact on any family, if dearly the same words placed in a news story right next to an ad are acceptable. What really is going on here is epitome of institutionalized prejudice. The policy doesn’ t make any sense, it is bigoted and discriminatory but no. one at The World has the courage to say that what they’re doing is just wrong. And in being silent, they, the reporters, editors, other : staff, both straight and Gay, become collaborators in ¯ societal oppression. In a society which seems to have to ¯ have an "other" againstwhich to define itself,Gay people currently occupy the place Blacks, Jews, Indians, Irish ¯ and others have had. ¯ Contrast this with an advertorial section in a recent "Out" magazine in which The New York Times bragged ¯ about its excellent coverage of Lesbian and Gay issues, : and its commitment to its Lesbian and Gay readers and ¯ staff. Can you seeThe World doing that? I hope to seejust that someday. Who knows maybe next year The World ¯ which is certainly profligate with its sponsorship of ¯ public events will even join Oklahoma’ s Gay press in ¯ being a sponsor of June’ s traditional Pride events. ¯ Don’tlaugh-itjustmighthappen.Andwhynot, thead ¯ policy’s now changed, why not even more progress? by Joe Andrew and Edward G. Rendell After theoverwhelming turnout at the MilleniumMarch and record participation in the recent presidential primaries, Gays and Lesbians across the country are more united than ever in their fight for equality and inclusion. The Democratic Party is proud to stand with them - to fight with them - as we all celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride this month. Democrats have forged lasting relationships with the Gay and Lesbian community by supporting common sense issues related to basic fairness and non-discrimination for all Americans. Unlike discriminatory and divisive Republican figures like Pat Robertson, Gary Bauer, and presidential candidate George W. Bush, Democrats believe that our diversity is a source of great strength. While getting Bush to meet with Gays and Lesbians in his own party is like pulling teeth, A1 Gore has worked side-by-side with openly Gay and Lesbian advisors throughout his life. On specific policies that improve the lives of Gay Americans like hate crimes legislation, funding: ~or HIV/_AIDS¯ research, atii5~- :!he Empl9yment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA~;~.tli~re is no comparisonb~ tween the candidates. Gorehas supportedGays and Lesbians~time and time again. BUSHII~PPOSES HATE CRIMES BILLS ~ ~ ~ .t~, ,’~ ,. ¯ .. ~" . - A.c~,r,~ng to the.Le’~fJ~an/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (L(~."~R~.~)~,~.m.~re than 2,~ hate crimes were reported to th~’Fe~Departmen~6fPublic safetybetween 1992 and 19971 ~i~(eefi percem~ere hate cfim~s motivated by the victim’s sexual orien~ation~ making Gays ’and Lesbians the second most-targeted group of hate crime victims in Texas. Given this fact, George W. Bush still opposed provisions in the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act that would have included protections for Gays.and Lesbians from hate crimes. The bill would have mandated stiffer penalties for cases in which victims of violence are targeted because of their race, gender, or sexual orientation. His spokesman said that Bush "does not support special ¯ rights based on sexual orientation." ¯ Special rights? Where is the leadership? Bush wants ¯ the world to believe that he is a compassionate, but ." apparently his compassion does not extend to all the citizens of Texas. ¯ "... We need leaders llke AI Gore : who will speak out against ¯ homophobla and prejudlee in a fight : to maintain elvll justice and equality. ¯ Through his aetlons and i the aetlons of hls party, it is clear that ¯ George W. Bush is not that leader... As we celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride, : Democrats pledge our support and ¯ eontlnued work to promote ¯" requal opp~rtufilty and ndn-dlserimlnatlon ¯ for a strong and united America. As a Party, we embrace these ideals because we believe that no American should be left behind..." Democrats, on the other hand, have begun to wage an all-out campaign against hate crimes in America. We have also endorsed and fought for civil rights legislation that would protect Gay and Lesbian Americans from ¯ discrimination. A1 Gore has been a tireless advocate for passage of the : Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), calling on Con- ." gress to come together in one voice on this issue. HCPA ¯ would expand the definition of hate crimes to include : those based on sexual orientation, gender or disability ¯ and allow for the prosecution of those crimes under federal law. ¯ Democratic leaders have walked the walk in the fight ¯ ; against hate in America. We are the party of inclusion ¯ because wehavejudgedandwill continue tojudgepeople ~ based on the content of their character. : BUSH: SILENT ON HIV/AIDS : Bush’s silence on HIV/AIDS as governor is simply ¯ deafening. Despite the fact that almost 10,000 Texans : have died ofAIDS under his watch, Bush has never taken ¯ a publicpolicy position on the epidemic. In fact, he never ¯ even publicly used the word"AIDS" in office.When the ¯ Children Uniting Nations Chairperson Daphna Ziman ¯ asked US governors for assistance regarding the AIDS ¯ epidemic in Africa, forty-nine governors responded to ¯ her urgent personal letter and only one governor ignored ¯ the plea: George W. Bush. In December 1999, Bush also : received a failing grade on Lambda Legal Defense and ¯ Education Fund’s (LLDEF) World AIDS Day Report ¯ Card. :. ,Since the beginning of the Adminislxaf!on, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have proven their com- -¯ mitment to fight for AIDS research again and again. During the last seven years, the Ryan White CARE Act ¯ ha~ seen funding ,increases of more than 292 percent in ° funds fo~ medicationsfserving low-inb.6_’me in~lividuals. ¯ Overall fundingforAIDS~relatedprograms has increased by more than 122 percent during thisAdministration. ¯ A1 Gore has been on the front lines of fighting the ¯ epidemic. Recently, he announced an Administration ¯ initiative to commit more than $100 million to fight the worldwide AIDS crisis and increased funding for re- " search, care andprevention. Weneed a leader that has put : a great deal of thought on this vital issue. : BUSH: AGAINST ENDA ." As governor, Bush opposed employment protection ¯ for Gays and Lesbians. He refused to adopt an Adminis- : tration non-discrimination policy that includes sexual ¯ orientation. see Demos, p. 7 Candian Supreme Co,,urt Holds for Pro-Gay Ruling OTTAWA (AP) -The Supreme Courthas rejected an Ontario government request to re’clew a landmark decision on Gay civil rights. The Attorney General for Ontario had asked for a rehearing of theM and H case, referring to a Lesbian couple whose breakeup almost a decade ago triggered a dispute over assets. The case began when one of the women in the case, known only as M, found she couldn’t sue her ex’- partnerHwhen their relationship ended. Mthen went to court to have the spouse law struck down. The high court ruled in an 8-1 decision that the definition of spouse in Ontario’s family law was unconstitutional because it discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation. Theruling last yearwas specific to Ontario, but legal experts said other provincial governments and Ottawa had few options but to amend their lawsor face having them struck down in similar battles. The House ofCommons passed legislation to bring federal legislationinto lineandOntario grudgingly amended its laws but still launched a bid for a rehearing before the Supreme Court. The two Toronto women, who had bought a home and started an ad agency together, settled the money dispute out of court long before their case wound its way to the country’ s highest court. Presbyterian Court Rulings Are Gay-friendly !AP)-The Presbyterian Church’ s highest court ruled ~n May that local congregations have the right to conduct religious ceremonies celebrating Gay unions that stop short of marriage. The d~ision by the 16- member court is binding unless the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) overrides it. The case, one of three on Gay issues argued before the tribunal, stemmed from a same-sex ceremony performed in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. The Northeast regional church court ruled that ceremonies of "holy union" for same-sex couples may be conducted ifit is made clear they are not marriages. The high conrt agreed, though it instructed regional church bodies to make a clearer distinction between marriages and "blessing services." A second case before the high court involved a homosexual candidate for the ministry who said he did not intend to remain celibate, even though church rules require clergy to observe either "fidelity in marriage" or"chastity in singleness." In that case~ the Northeast regional court decided that he could continue as a candidate, and that his "manner of life" could be evaluated prior to ordination. Again, the high church concurred. It said the denomination’s standards of fidelity and chastity are to be applied at the point that a person is azonsidered.for ordination, not during, candidacy~ Freda ~ar~dn,~r~ and Clifton Kirkpatrick, the two national leaders Of the 2.6 million-member denomination:~ headquartered in :Louisvil!,e, Ky., said in a ~ecent i~astoral letter that the 0aurt s decisions real- :firm. churchpolicy of disallowing Gay-marriages and the.ordinatiOn Of’s(xua~ly active Gays., Theseissues will Surface again when.the General Assembly.meets in Long Beach,:Calif., fromJune 24 to July 1. Among legislation to be considered: a proposal to ban samesex marriage. Utah High School Club For Gay Issues Meets SALT LAKECITY (AP) - Five years after the debate over Gay school clubs began in Utah, East High School students on Wednesday held the state’ s first school-sanctioned club meeting to discuss current events from a Gay and Lesbian perspective. The PRISM Club - People Respecting Important Social Movements - meeting featured Laura Gray, a Salt Lake City attorney involved in Gay-rights issues. .About45 students attended. Students said they talked about the historical, legal and religious significance of marriage and the current restrictions barring Gays and Lesbians from forming such unions. The district barred news media from the. meeting, claiming it was for students only. However, district personnel attended, along with an attorney for the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU is representing East High juniors Jessi Cohen and Margaret Hinckley, who in April filed a federal-court suit claiming the district violated their First Amendment rights to free speech by rejecting PRISM as an academic club. The district banned all nonacademic clubs in 1996, a year after East High students tried to form a Gay and Lesbian support group. U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell issued a temporary restraining order against the district last month, forcing it to temporarily acknowledgePRISM as a legitimate club pending the outcome of the students’ lawsuit. The meeting was "definitely a win," said East High senior Ivy Fox, whounsuccessfully sued the districtin 1998 over the ban. "It’ s such a good feding to see all your hard work pay off." Sophomore Evan Done attended the club meeting, but didn’ t think the discussion was appropriate. "It is an important step for the Gay community that needed to be taken," he said, but "I don’ t really think it has a place in school." PRISM advertised the meeting with fliers and during regular school announcements over the school intercom. Some of the fliers were destroyed and some students posted "straight pride" fliers, which showed two connecting male symbols and two connecting female symbols that were crossed out. Three Receive First Shepard Scholarships DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Three Gay and Lesbian high school students were awardedfull tuition to Iowa state universities under a new scholarship named for slain Gay student Matthew Shepard. The scholarships, worth approximately $25,000 each over four years, were presented Tuesday to Galen W. Newton, Jessica M. Brackett and Paul N Wharmel. The scholarships include tuition, books and fees at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University or University of Northern Iowa. The scholarship program was announced in March by Gov. Tom Vilsack and the mother of Matthew Shepard. theWyoming college student who was beaten to death by two men. Police said the attack was motivated in part because Shepard was Gay. The scholarships are awarded to Gay students based on academic achievement, financial need and community service, Vilsack said. Brackettcredited Vilsack for trying to provide greater civil rights to Gay Iowans. "He’ s really pushing for rights for everybody andI thinkhewill be ourmain strength during thenext four to six years," Brackett said. "I think he’s going to push for progress." Newton said he.plans to remain.active inGay rights .’. issues whilein college. He said the Scholarship is abig encouragement. "People are beingawarded for being courageou_s,".he s-aid. ¯ - Funding for the scholarships.~omes from a chari- .tablefoundation establishedbyprominentDes Moines businessman Rich F...y~.~haner..An’rpe~l.y Gay RepubS lican, Eychanermad~ an unsuccessi~ui bid for the U.S~. .House in 1984, but’lost :in the~. Vatican Increases Attack on World Pride ROME (AP) - A top Italian cardinal weighed in against a major Gay gathering scheduledin Rome in July, stepping up a campaignto move the event elsewhere. "What we are asking is not at this time and not in Rome," said Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of the Italian Conference ofRoman Catholic Bishops. World Gay Pride Roma 2000 is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of Gay and Lesbian participants for a week starting July I. The Vatican has opposed the city’ s plans to host the gathering, saying it is out of keeping with the church’ s Holy Year that has been drawing millions of pilgrims to Rome. Some opponents fear the event will turn into a demonstration against Pope John Paul II, who has defended the Vatican’ s condemnation of homosexual acts. "I don’ t believe it is by chance that they selected Rome this year," Ruilfi said. United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11:00 am Pastor 1623 N. Maplewo0d 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at 1 lam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon Sandra Hill Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa - O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Envirorndnt Call for meeting times and .place: Mi.ng0 Valley Flowers. 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 9.18-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-44~-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 7411’4-3518 The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743:4297) ¯6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday fl2-9_ p~,~ Sat..u~~dq2, all sales b.eqefit the Center, Kelly KirbyrCPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583-1248 Red Rock Tulsa : Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tuesdays, 5 -8 pm, Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesdays, 5-8 pm, Red Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Willidms Realty 2651 712-2252 Burlesor~@k~.corn East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An-~t~dependent Member Broker- OPENARMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHEAR’TS Saint Aidan Saint Dunstan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 5635 East 71st. 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You In another development, the Gay civil-lights group ArciGay called for the resignation ofPremier Giuliano Amatoforhi s remarks before parlianlent earlier in the week.. Amato said that "unfoftnnately" the Gay Pride week week must be allowed to be held because of constitutional protection for public gatherings. Gays Losing Supporter ST. PAUL (AP) - State Sen. Allan Spear, who is retiring after 28 years, will probably be remembered for work that took "probably less than 10% of my time" - his advocacy of rights and protections for Gays and Lesbians. "Nobody can get elected and adequatelyserve a constituency on Gay,~ssues alone,: Spear said..",But it’s important to have people for whom Gay i~su~s are a~hi.gh priority." . " Spear became the first openly Gay legislator in Mimlesota- and one of only two in the nation - when he acknowledged his homosexuality in 1974. His retirement at the end of this year will likely leave just one openly Gay legislator: Rep. Karen Clark, DFLMinneapolis. Scott Dibble, who is running for a House seat in Minneapolis, is also Gay, but there would be no openly Gay senators. Spear believes ~t is important for Gay people to have legislative representation. "It helps a lot to have someone come from the Gay community who can speak from the inside," said Spear, DFL-Minneapolis. "You need someone who can talk about what it’ s like growing up Gay, or coming out, or what it’ s like to deal with a partner who you feel is your spouse, but society won’ t recognize as your spouse. Other people can sp,,eak out on those issues, but it isn’ t quite the sanle, Ann DeGroot, executive director of the Gay political action group OutFront Minnesota, said part of Spear’s legacy will be other legislators who can. advocate for Gay rights, whether they’re Gay or not. "Of course we’ re going to miss Allan," she said. "We haven’t had a session without him yet. "But we’ve worked with other people so much, other leaders who are supporters, we know we can count on them.?’ Gay.& Lesbian Parents TroUbled by State Law LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Chris and Mike Croghan- Miller are like other parents, caring and proud. They videotaped their son’ s birth, took time off from work when he was born, and in the weeks before, had an announcement party, a baby shower, painted the "baby room" and spent days with a ~erious case of "the butterflies." But there is one difference some say makes them unfit parents - they’re Gay. Advocates argue that the bottom line is a good home for the child that meets the requirements set by the state. "We don’t care whether they’ re married, single or Gay," said Carolyn Amett, contract attorney "for Adoptions ofKentucky. "We don’ t discriminate." Kentucky Youth Advocates’ director Debra Miller said the concern should be "that any child is adopted by parents who have the emotional and social support necessary to be good parents. We don’t think that there’s anything constitutional that makes a Gay or Lesbian parent unable to do that. Noris there anything that guarantees that heterosexual folk can be good parents." The Croghan-Mil!er.family is part ofaboom~~t~e numbe~ Of Gays ~d Les~iafls ~fi~osin~’to’becSth~e parents, according to the San Diego-based Family Pride Coalition. Though state officials and private adoption agencies in Kentucky don’ t keep any estimates on how many Gay men or Lesbian~ have adopted here, the San Diego group claims 15,000 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered families as members, including dozens in Louisville. ¯ And across the nation, cases of adoption and custody issues involving Gays and Lesbians have become increasingly visible. Mostrecently, Mississippi joined Florida and Utah in banning adoptions by Gays, despite arguments that it is an unconstitutional violation of due process and privacy rights. The Cabinet for Families and Children has recently proposed changes that would "make our systemmore accepting to a broad variety of families," said Mike Jennings, a cabinet spokesman. But the change is not being made specifically out of consideration for Gay and Lesbian couples. Gay Teens Face Harassment & Isolation MILLERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - During her junior and senior years in high school Lilith visited the hospital seven times for severe depression, self-mutilation and thoughts of suicide. She was trying to destroy hersdf, she said. Destroy the thing within her that was making her different from her classmates. Lilith is Gay and, during her early teen years, the thought of being a Lesbian "practically .disguste0,". her. ~he denied it, ran from it, ti-ied to erie it’f~om.!,i~ ~ soul!, but her affeeti0n for bilker ffomenw~ beCrn{i~ impossible to ignor~ Lilith ~ Who, f0( pi-i~acy #~aI- i sons, chose a fictitious name for this story - is now 20, a full-time college student and a self-assured Lesbian woman. But, she says, her high school years were rough. Like many Gay youth, Lilith suffered through harassment and lack of acceptance, feelings of isolation, and self-imposed silence. Gay teens are twice as likely as heterosexual youth to seriously consider suicide because they feel adrift in an unsupportive world. Overall, the nonheterosexual population (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered) is 5-10%, said Brad Becker, executive director of the Gay &Lesbian National Hotline. High school percentages are likely the same, but surveys are skewed because most teens are not comfortable answering gender-preference questions. In addition, many have yet to figure out their sexuality, he said. "They may not be identified as Gay,, said Becker. "They know something is different but have yet to pinpoint their sexuality.". "Teens begin feeling their sexuality around the age of 13," said Linnea Bailey, a Lancaster psychologist who specializes in Gay and Lesbian issues. "So much of being a teen is exploring sexuality. If they realize they are not part of the norm, it can be frightening. They know that those who are different get picked on." Gay and Lesbian youth commonly struggle with self-esteem issues and may withdraw from family and friends. They often skip school and may eventually drop out in search of an accepting peer group. If they do come out and continue in school, they risk being harassed or beaten by those with differing bdiefs. In an average school day, says the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the typical Gay teen will hear 26 anti-Gay remarks. And, one in six Gay youths are beaten so badly they seek medical attention. "The last acceptable form of overt prejudice is against Gays," Bailey said. "It’s still extremely bad in the public school systems." Most Gay teens wait to come out until they are in college or the work world. There tends to be greater diversity and less peer pressure. "Often it’ s the first time they are away from home and family," said Anthony Lascoskie Jr., coordinator of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Allies at Franklin & Marshall Colleg_e and .treasurer of the Pink Triangle Coalition. "They can be Gay at school and straight at home." Boys typically come out at age 18; gifts, 23. Julian, a 19-year-old Millersville student, came out the summer before his junior year of high school by writing a letter to a trusted faculty member. During his junior year he began telling his friends. J~ian.said most of his friends were OK with his sexuality, but some faded away. And although there were no physical attacks, there were plenty of verbal attacks. - Bailey said~lack of- peer suPport is.the, one of the worst koadblbcks for ~ay teer~sl During a time When support is most important, there is typically very little. "Imagine dating as a Gay teen-ager," she said. "If you break up with a same-sex partner, there’ s no support. Who do you go to to talk about it? There is so much loneliness and isolation." Black Church To Fight AIDS Harder TUSKEGEE, Ala. (AP) - Black ~hurch leaders, trying to overcome policy differences in their efforts to combat AIDS~ have gathered in Tuskegee to try to put together a plan of action. More than 300 bishops, pastors, priests and laymen from across the nation and as far away as Africa tookpart the lastweek inMay in theAIDS Conference for Black Churches at Tuskegee University. Black churches have been Slow to take onAIDS because of the stigma associated with frank discussion of sex, drugs and homosexuality in church, church leaders said. There is also disagreement over issues such as the distribution of condoms and needle-exchange programs. "This hesitationis killing our people," U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher told the conference in a videotaped statement. Blacks accounted for 45% of all AIDS cases reported in the United States in 1998, according to federal data. Africa is home to 23.3 million of the world’ s 33.6 million infected people, said Dr. Helene Gayle, head of the AIDS center at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Within a decade, she said, there will be 40 million orphans in Africa because of the disease. Church leaders and AIDS experts said their efforts likely will focus ottxeaching teens and young adults. The Rev. Calvin Butts III, president of the Council of Churches of the City of New York, said churches must teach sex education. "Un~ less we learn to talk about it, we’re not going to solve the problem of AIDS," he said. "You can’t be hypocritical about this, because it’ s killing us." Other leaders said churches should boost outreach efforts in jails and prisons. Nearly one-fifth of people who are HIV-positive will be incarcerated at some point in their lives, according to CDC data. Pernessa Seele, founder ofThe Balm in Gilead Inc., the organization that sponsored the conference, said church leaders must provide better counseling and care to people with AIDS. "Church folk are Gay folk, they are.., straight folk. We’re all family," she said. "But some people justdon’ tgetit. We’ ve got to tear down all these barriers." AIDS Vaccine to Be Tested in Haiti NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Vanderbilt University Medical Center will work with the nation of Haiti to test a vaccine for AIDS. The research hospital is seeking 150 local volunteers for testing in Nashville this summer. Tests begin in Haiti in the fall. .’,~It’~s:important-for,the.science of vaccine development to embrace the developing world, where most of the AIDS burden is now," said Dr. Barney S. GrahamofVanderbilt~ s AIDS Vaccine Evaluation’Unit. "We’re veery excited about workilig with Haiti." Vanderbiltis 0neof five medical centerg in °be:United States testing a vaccine based on a virus which ca°mot reproduce in mammals - the canary pox virus. Scientist splice genes for inactive HIV proteins into the canary pox virus, and inject it into the volunteers. If it works, the vaccine will stimulate the body’ s immune defenses into action, including the production of a white Mood cell that can dispose of HIV-infected cells to prevent it from spreading inthe body. "It’ s not a perfect vaccine, but it is the best candidate we have now," said Dr. Peter F. Wright, also of Vanderbilt. Side affects of the vaccine can include mild fever and mnsde soreness. There is no chance of getting infected with HIV, Graham said. "We’ re not at all worried about safety," Graham said. Vanderbilt’ s research is supported by an annllal grant of $2 million from the .federal govemmentwhichis goodthrough 2005. If this year’s tests are successful, large-scale trials will be done in 2001. :Russia Too Poor to Fight AIDS CriSis MOSCOW (AP)- Registered HIV cases in Russia are snowballing and the cashstrapped government is too poor to confront the health crisis, a senior health official said in May. "That means people will simply die without treatment," said VadimPokrovsky, thehead ofthe Federal AIDS Prevention Center. Last year, 18,140 new cases of infection with HIV - the virus that causes ¯ MDS - were registered; that’s dose to half of all the HIV cases registered in Russia since 1987. Pokrovsky told anews conference that at least a two-fold increase is expected this year, and that the registered number of cases are likely only one-fifth to one-tenth of the real number. ’q’hat means that the real number of HIV cases may reach 300,000-400,000 by the ~.nd of this year. By 2005 we may have about 1 million cases, under an optimistic scenario," he said. Intravenous drug users aecountformost of the new HIV cases, but the virus is rapidly spreading through sexual contacts, Pokrovsky said. "In some regions around Moscow up to 5% of all young people have AIDS," he said. "According to other estimates, up to 15% of Moscow prostitutes are infected with HIV." The relatively small number of officially registered HIV cases has prompted a negligent attitude in the government, which has been slow to earmark funds for combatting the disease. Officials have sometimes hampered privately funded AIDS prevention efforts. TV ads and billboards promoting the use of condoms have disappeared after authorities complained they were harming public morals, ¯ Pokrovsky said. Currently, only therelatively rich Mos- ¯ cow city governmentcan fully pay the bill ¯ for treating AIDS patients, while other ¯ regions provide only a fracdon of funds ¯ needed to pay for expensive treatment. According to Pokrovsky, a modern ¯ course of treatment for AIDS comes only ¯ a fraction cheaper than in the West, be- ¯ causemostdrugs areimported. Suchtreat- ¯ ment costs about $10,000 per patient, he ’ ~aid,~ a hefty sum a’or ~the.economicalIy ¯ struggling nation. "The nmnber of pa- ¯ dents will be so high, that only few of ¯ them will get treatment," he said. "No ¯ more than 10% of the patients may count ¯ on receiving treatment." ¯ OK AIDS Network ADAP, the AIDS Drug Assistance Pro- . gram is working but is severely ¯ underfunded. OKAIDS Netis asking that ¯ the following legislators be asked to sup- , port more funding in the next session. Write: Senators Stratton Tayltr, Ben ¯ Robinson, Angela Monson, Cal Hobson, ¯ Enoch Kelly Haney and Representatives ¯ Loyd Benson, and Bob Weaver at State Capitol, 2300 No. Lincoln,OKC730105. Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appoinlmenls are available. Tulsa City County Library System is proud to support Humanity Unites for Human Ri£!hts Diversity Celebration 2000 and presents Not All Fruits are Oranges: the Roots, Branches & Produce of the Gay & Lesbian Literary Grove by Dr. T. Alan Culpepper, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor.ofEnglish~ Rogers State University Tuesday, June 13, 7pm, Aaronson Auditorium, Central Library Look for the Library Booth at the Millenium Festival and check with Central Library for books and videos of interest to Gay & Lesbian readers, families and friends. when i dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision, then itbe Qm tmpo ant whether i am afraid. ¯..audre Iorde please oin )Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights in welcoming / / Dr. Margarethe Cammermeyer and Mr. Greg Louganis as guest speakers ,--of.the "Humanity Unites for Human Rights" 0 "DIVERSITY CELEBRATION 20001" black-tie (optional) benefit dinner and silent auction Friday, June 9, 2000 The Summit Club 6th & Boulder Tulsa, Oklahoma (free parking in Bank of America tower) VIP Reception; 7:00 PM / $50 per person Reception: 7:00 PM Silent Auction: 7:00 -- 9:00 PM _ Dinner:,8:00 PM/,$75 per person $550 / table of eight - ~:~ $750 /.table of eight & VIP reception for ticket information, please see enclosure I at Southwest Missouri State University in Sptingfield. "When I think of Ozark County, I always think ofhow the sheriff did not have a car until 1937," he said. "The rivers weren’t bridged and there was no real road system developed." Outlaws looking for cover in the backwoods - including such notorious villains as Bonnie and Clyde and Jesse James - were drawn to the area for those reasons, Flanders said. Religious~based groups, typically those who shun the doctrines of mainstream churches, appreciate the quietandreserved nature of fellow Ozarkers. ’’There is a long tradition in the hills that you live and let live, no matterhow weird the beliefs of your neighbors might be," Flanders said. Both Springfield and Bransonhave seen national and regional supremacy conventions in the last year. In February, some 225 people gathered in Branson for the third annual convention of the Identity group Songs for His People. "You’ re tight in the middle of the Bible Belt, which plays an important role in the culture there," said Devin Burghart of the Chicag0-based Identity watchdog group, Center for New Commlmity. ’‘These guys come strolling along singing songs andholding Bibles, which allows them a certain degree of legitimacy in the area. But behind it all is still the same message of hate and intolerance," he said. Christian Identity espouses white Anglo-Saxon virtues and calls Jews, racial minorities and Gays enemies of God. S6memembers believe in death sentences for those who violate "’God’ s law." In August, Identity follower Buford Furrow Jr. allegedly killed a Filipino- American postal worker and wounded five others after opemng fire on a Jewish day-care center in Los Angeles. A month earlier, two brothers-also Identity adherents - allegedly killed a Gay couple in California and set fire to several synagogues. Through the 1980s, the Identity movement became associated with other extremist groups, including The Order, the Ku Klux Klan and The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord, or CSA. Many residents here say they have felt intimidated by supremacist groups like CSA and Winrod’ s church. Most define to be interviewed or ask not to be identified for fear of retaliation. "These guys would wear fatigues and walkinto thepostoffice withguns swapped to their waists," said Tim Morgan, owner of a marina in Pontiac, a town of fewer than 300 not far from Gainesville. "They were intimidating because they were so military-looking." Winrod’ s church, called Our Savior’ s, consisted-mostly~ ofhi~ adult ehilO*en, their families and a few other followers. The sheriff said he began distributing his racist mailings to every county resident. "People Wouldcall and Complainabout it, but there is nothing we could do- he hadFirstAmendmenttights ," Bartlett said. "We could only keep an eye on him." Now, Winrod is accused along with two ofhis childrenofabducting his grandchildren from their North Dakota hometowns in 1994 and 1995. Their mothers are M.ready serving ptison terms for kidnapping. At ~ pretrial court, appearance Thursday, Wiurod said he did not have an attorney The court has givenhim until June 13 to either retain counsel or waive his tight to representation. A preliminary hearing on the case was set for June 21. Authorities fear the Wiurod case will attract attention from other affiliated groups. ’‘There are groups like this all over the country, peoplewhomaybearen’ t. closely affiliated with one another but who share similar beliefs, and they decide they want to come and get involved in these situations," Said Elmore, the highway patrol sergeant. "We don’ t want that to happen this time." On the Net: Southern Poverty Law Center: http://www.splcenter.org ~ Center for New Community: http://www.newcomm.org Yet again, he dismissed these basic protecdons as "special tights ." In addition, he has sided with the extreme wing of his Party and refused to endorse the Fmployment Non-Discrimination Act (F_aNDA). ENDA wouldput an end to discrimination against Gay men and Lesbians in the workplace - discrimination that is currenfly legal in 39 states. AI Gore and the Democratic Party have fought vigorously for ENDA because we believe in the tight of every American to bejudged on his or her merits and abilities, and to be allowed to contribute to society without facing discrimination on the basis of sexual ori_-_ entation. As President, AI Gore also would continue President Clinton’ s Executive Order prohibiting discrimination based on. sexual orientation in the federal civilian workforce. Facing aRepublican challenge to the Executive Order, Clinton and Gore worked with Representative Barney Frank and other fair-minded Members of Congress to defeat the Republicans’ and-Gay amendment with the support of over 90 percent of Congressional Democratsl We need leaders likeAl Gore who will speak out against homophobia and prejudice in afight to maintain civil justice and equality. Through his actions and the actions ofhis party,it is clear thatGeorgeW. Bush is not that leader. There is every indication that he would make no room forGays and Lesbians inhis WhiteHouse. As we celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride, Democrats pledge our support and continued work to promote equal~opportunity and non-discrimination for a strong and umted America. As a Party, we embrace these ideals because we believe that no .aanetican should be left behind. An interpreter for the deaf will be provided. - The Rev. Mel.White heads, Soulforce, Inc., anon-profitorganization thatruns an ecumenical network of volunteers committed to the teachings and applying the principles of nonviolent civil .disobedience on behalf of sexual minorities. Rev. White has relendessly devoted his life to heal the wounds caused by: the anti-Gay rhetoric and to enter into dialogue with the faith organizations that perpetuate hatred and violence toward sexual minotifies. In the past year, Rev. White has led "direct actions" with Rev. Jerry Falwell, the trial of Rev. Jimmy Creech, and most recently, the General Assembly of the United Methodist Church. Shortly after visiting Tulsa, Rev. White will lead a delegation see Pride,p. 8~ Pr by Jim Christjohn, mac guru & more Brachetti is coming! No, it’ s not apiece of toast with herbs and tomatoes on it, it’ s Arturo Brachetti, the quick-change artist. Think "Greater Tuna" meets Robin Williams while doing David Copperfield’s act. GreaterTuna had two guys doing quick changes to create ,the ,22 characters of,a small mythi.cal town; Artur9 is one man crearii~g 88characters during the course of an evening ~-grom cowboys to geishas and barmaids to Royal Mounties, he is a very charmlng man - and handsome as well. He speaks at least three languages fluently, and has a mischievous sense of humor rivaling yours truly. Described as Versace on hyper speed, Brachetti changes costumes at lightning fast speed, transforming into more than 80 characters and giving life to le- "... Deserlbed as Versaee on hyper speed, Braehettl changes costumes at lightning fast speed, transforming into more than 80 characters and giving llfe to legions of personalities. His show is a multl-medla ~xtravaganza, eomblnlng comedy, tousle, magle, and video in a unique collage of aetlng, storytelling, stunts and earleature . . ." gions of personalities. His show is a multimedia extravaganza, combining comedy, music, magic, and video in a unique collage of acting, storytelling, stunts and caricature. He is the winner of the 2000 Moliere Award (the French "Tony" award), and a delightfully impish fellow. Add a little Cirque De Soleil t~ that mixture above, too. I had the chance to speak with him before one of his sold out shows in Paris, France. A U.S. tour is planned for 2001, buthis first stop for a very limited engagement, is here in Tulsa. Whenasked, "Why Tulsa?" he responded, "Well, you have to start somewhere!" He spoke of it being the "center of the United States" and as such, a good place to begin. tie spoke of the Italian art of"transformation" as not having been seen in thirty years. It had its origins in the 17th century as an offshoot of the commedia del’ artr. According to Brachetti, Giovanni Gabrielli was the originator of "transformarion," performing all the characters of the commedia del’ arte single-handedly, changing masks and characters all byhimself. I asked him what prompted him to create such a show-, and his response was that he was doing some add-on acts for a production of "Midsummer Night’s Dream" (French pr~oductions often thro,w_ extra scenes ifffor fun), which led to him creating a one man show in which he played all the parts, an embryonic version of his current two hour plus show, for an arts festival. A later version of the show, largely autobiographical, opened in June ’99 in Montreal. Selling outevery night, he eventually took the show to Paris. There was no advertising budget, and the first week, they had to find people just to sit in the audience. After that first week, however, word of mouth started and the show exploded. Brachetti would like audiences to leave the show different from when they entered. He said that the show speaks to the eight year old child witltin all of us. In the dip of the show, s beginning, shown at the press conference, it begins with a mysterious masked man removing his mask to reveal yet another mask underneath, continuing for some time. Just that brief dip spoke to me of the fact that we all wear so many masks from day to day, ,to the point where the real personbecomes buried over ume. It s.eems to me, that his show is about removing the masks of adulthood so that We can free the child trapped within, (but then agaifi, I’ m0 a psychology major, and can read deep insight into anything). I will say that sequence is very powerful, and can only imagine what therest ofthe show must be like. Brachetti hopes to restore the wonder of the world as seen from the eyes of kids. He alternated as he spoke, from well-educated adult to impish child. He’ll eventually play S_an Francisco (the costumes will go over big there) and New York, as well as Chicago. Brachetti arrives in Tulsa at thePAC courtesy ofCelebrity Attractions August 6-13 and to OKCat the Rose State Performing Arts Theater august 15-21. Tickets can be had by calling 596-7111. I don. t know if he’ s Gay, but I will tell you now, the costumes that Brachetti designed and created rival any elaborate Bette Midler/Cher/Drag Queen extravaganza. Did I mention he’ s cute, designs a meanfrock, inhis mid thirties (he’ s cagey about his age) and single? Me first, guys ! For’those Goddess worshipers out there, I am pleased to announce Goddess: Tulsa Artists’ Coalition Women’ s Show 2000, sponsored by TAC and The University of Tulsa School of Art. It features Goddessthemed artwork, and the exhibit goes up June 8 and runs through July 7th. The opening is from 5-8pm June 8, and the regular gallery .hours are 9am-4:30pm Mon. - Thurs. and 9am-noon Friday. The gallery is in TU’ s Alexander Hogue Gallery at 5th Street and College Avenue. Andfor those wondering, Stevie Nicks, new album "Trouble In Shangri-La" is on permanent delay, as usual Apparently, there are troublein the Shangri-La recording studio in which she’ s been working with a revolving doorful of producers .since ,!997. Have fun at the Diversity. Celebrations, ~_nd be safe! ’ ¯ We’ ve seen it before. The horror of the ship’ s sinking never quitemadeit onstage. You’ re more bothered by the horror of having paid to see this show. The songs, for the most part, are mawkishly written, stealing from everyone imaginable - Gilbert and Sullivan, Lloyd Webber, Sondheim. Few original ideas are in the music, which is a pity. This is portrayed as homage, but basically, it seems Yeston just couldn’t come up with anything on his own. Want something better? Wait for Rent later this summer. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men s ~/k~ Support Group is here for you! ,-~/~.~/ ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project Call JOHN RAGAN, the friendly, caring real estate agent who understands your special needs! 918-583-2125 800-559-1558 wrvw.NewNest.com of Soulforce members on a direct action to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. as they debate the inclusion of Gays and Lesbians in that denomination. Organizational sponsors include: Soulforce in Oklahoma (presenting sponsor) TulsaOklahomans forHumanRights (presenting sponsor) Community ofHope Church,CommimityUnitarian/UniversalistCongregationDignity/ IntegrityofTulsa FellowshipCongregational Church, Green Country Society of Friends (Quakers), Metropolitan Community Church United (MCC), Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays in Tulsa (PFLAGTulsa), Parish Church of St. Jerome, Regional AIDS Interfaith Network of Oklahoma (RAIN-OK), and Volunteers in Action Committee of All Soul’s Unitarian Church as wall as others. Soulforce Workshop Saturday, June 3rd A SoulforceWorkshop led by Rev. Md White will be held at the Charles Norman Studio at the Performing Arts Center at 2 pro. Rev. White and his partner, Gary Nixon, will provide training in the principles of M.K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. as part of the non-violence justice movement. The workshop will last until 5 p.m. Admissionis free. TOHR Follies 2000 Saturday, June 3rd ¯he bawdy humor and sentimental songs of theTOHRFollies returns at 8 pm at the Doenges Theatre, PAC. Join a host of performers and singers celebrate your favorite show tunes from a "100 years of Broadway." Elaborate productions from the timeless works of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Kern, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Charlie Smalls will entertain you. A Reception will follow in the Charles Norman Studio with catering provided by Curt & Marj’ s. Admission is $15 each. Tickets will be sold through the Performing Arts Center Ticket Office beginning around May 3rd. Call the PAC for ticket information at 596.7111 .or 800.364.7111 or buy your tickets online at www.tulsapac.com. Entertainers: Sedackeiry Taylor Alexander, Johnny Cronin, Domoniqne Daniels, Veronica De,core, Vivian MINI-MOVIE FESTIVAL Thursday, June 8th AMini-Movie Festival will run throughout the day on a 60" screen at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center. The Community Center is located on the corner of 38th and Peoria (above Boulevards). Popcorn and refreshments will be available. Admission is free. Schedule: 1:00 pro, Lilies 3:00 pm, Beautiful Thing 5:00 pm, It’ s In The Water 7:00 pro, Broadway Damage 9:00 pm, Everything Relative Black Tie Benefit Friday, June 9th TOHR offers the opportunity to meet Margarethe Cammermeyer and Greg Louganis at a VIP Reception at7pmin the Grille Room at The Summit Club on the 31 st floor. The Summi t Club is located in the Bank of America Building at 15 West 6th Street. Free parking available in the building. Admission is $50. An Open Reception and Silent Auction will begin at 7 pm at The Summit Club on the 31st floor. All proceeds will benefit TOHR’ s fight for GLBT equality in this region. The Benefit Dinner begins at 8 pm at The Summit Club on the 30th floor. Guest speakers are Margarethe Cammermeyer and Greg Louganis. Please joinTOHR in presenting its wall-deserved "Community Hero" awards to three high school students who have shown extraordinary courage in dealing with their sexuality: Will Allen, Emily Sisemore, and Matthew Holloway. An interpreter for the deaf will be provided. Tickets are available for the VIP Reception and the Benefit Dinner by "calling 743.4297, or by mailing ticket requests to TOHR, P.O. Box 2687, Tulsa, OK74101, or by dropping by the Center on the corner of38th and Peoria between 6 pm and 9 pm Sundays through Friday and Noon to 9 pm on Saturday. Millennium Pride Parade Saturday, June 10th The Millennium Pride Parade will beffin at 11 am at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center at 38th and Peoria. Grethe Cammermeyer and Greg Louganis will serve as Co-Grand Marshals. Organizers claim it will be bigger and more colorful than before. The Parade will follow the same route as last year from the Center to Veteran’ S Park at 18tk and Main. Deveroe ::.Fontaine, Green ~Country Drop-offpoints are set along the Parade ~Oogg,e.rs, DanHale, Miitthew Holloway, Routethis year. Buses!shuttles will begin ~H~’l.~a’..~s Horribles, KriS Kohl~.CeCe.. ~ ~mn’mg at 8!30 a;m, Please park your ¯~roi,x,~taRichards,Tabith9Tayl0r,--: veliid~ at Veteran s Park and catch ~e T~aT Neill, ’Victoria Turelie,:R~becea . bu~ofShtittleonthenorthsideofVeteran s U.ngermah,.ahd Komona Wannaliiya, -.’Park. --’There is no charge to ride the bus/ All events tke!d at the Performing Arts Center are fundedin part b~r a grant-from the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trnst. uNIi"ED - An Art Exhibit Tuesday, June 6th An Art Exhibit entitled "United" will have an opening reception at the Recep- !ion Hall of All Soul’ s Unitarian Church beginning at 6 pm. Wine and soft drinks ~vill be available. Hors d’ oeurves will be fPrereO.VAideldl bSyouTlsWUCnaittaerriinang.CAhdumrcihssiios nloiscated at 2952 South Peoria. Artists: Otto Decker, John Duvall, Jody Ellison, Dana Gilpin, P.S. Gordon David Halpern, Isaac Harper, Ken Johnston, Elizabeth Joyner, Kraig Kallenberger, C. LynnMallett, KathleenPendergrass, Mary Schepers; Kelley Vandiver, David Vamecky & others. shu..tt!e. FESTIVAL Saturday, June 10th The Millennium Pride Festival (formerly the Picnic) will begin at 11 am at Veteran’s Park. There will be dose to fifty booths, as well as food vendors, beer and soft drinks, and lots of activities. Margarethe Cammermeyer and Greg Louganis will give the opening remarks. TOHR’ s "Community Hero" awards will be given to three courageous local teenagers: Will Alien, Matthew Holloway, and Emily Sisemore. Entertainment go on all afternoon and into the evening. A sixteenteam volleyball tournament will run throughout the day on three volleyball courts. There is also a Celebrity Dunk Tank with Audra Sommers, Dyke Divine and David from gay.tulsa.org, Tom Neal ofTulsa Family News, Marty Newmanof the Human Rights Campaign, and more. by James Christjohn ~ ¯ I’m not sure which is the greater trag- " edy: the sinking of the ship and its aftermath - or the creation and execution of " this musical. Don’t get me wrong, the " performances were OK, for the most part, some were excellent, and there were afew songs thatmade the show somewhatworth the time it took to watch it. But it was a remarkable example of how easy it is to get Tony Awards these days. At the time this disaster (the musical) struck, it was the only original American musical offering on Broadway. Everything else was Lloyd Webber (i.e., English) or French. So, to get a Tony, you need to: 1. merely be American; 2. write a musical: 3. base it on something historical, but only superficially. Take known names and make up cartoonish characters to go with them; 5. even if what you write is unfocused and mediocre, if there are no other Americans writing musicals, you’ll get a Tony. If you’ re wanting a mildly entertaining evening with some really bad staging, scenery, and costumes that dwarf the set, and NO historical accuracy (other than the fact_the ship sank), by all means waste your money. The show itself is historically inaccurate to the point of sheer ridiculousness. That wouldn’ t be such a peeve with me if the marketing weren’ t hyping it as being historically accurate, claiming the "story is told truthfully" and that "historical accuracy of Titanic (the musical) makes it an ideal show for parents to share with school age children." Only if the parents wish to point out how inaccurate the marketing can be and musicals hyped as historically accurate aren’ t. And it wouldn’ t be so bad if the actual stories - as told in the transcripts of the inquiries, easily come by in paperback form - were as dramatic as you can get. The), didn’ t need to ~nake up half of what the,’,’ did. Thorn Sesma, who portrays Thomas Andrews, the Titanic’s Designer, sang like he had a mouthful of marbles. He seemed to have a speech impediment, making it hard to understand what he was saying. And youknow, if you’ re on stage, evenifyouaremic’ d,DON’TMUMBLE. This was.,rampant during the evening.... One man, whose Iin~s throdghout song ~ere "Not a ibit not .a aide ¯ repeated ad.~auseum, s~,t~a,.d..ed~!jke"Noti!’: : bitch, not a,iittl~ bitch. ~ I ldd.you noti.. Marcus ~:Ch.a,it, who" played, stoker ." Fredefiek.~.~tt,. ~d"a ,:bi~athless fali setto q0altty-that .s~ded:lik¢ .an ment ~betw.’.,e~n MiChael ~Ct~w.ford,aniti.~ Andy Gibb. Even though he Was nile d tO the hilt (as all were), y.oo, coul~l understand him at times, due to his breathless "Phantom of the Opera/Michael Crawford’~ style of singing. His vibrato was annoying as well, distracting from one of the most powerful songs in the show. When he whispers, you can’ t hear him, when he belts, he reveals a glorious voice, a wonderful tenor. Timothy A. Fitzgerald, as Fleet, the lookout spotting the iceberg, has the most wonderful voice, perfect for the song "No Moon", arguably the best song in the show, and the most haunting. Lyrically, it’s one of the better moments, and Fitzgeraldhandles it withgrace andbeauty, which he has plenty of in terms of stage presence. Pity the authors did away with the other lookout (one of those little inaccuracies); "No Moon" would have been awesome as a duet. The standout performances were the three Kates, immigrants in steerage revealing their dreams of a new life America. Meiissa Bell, Kristi Barber, Kate Jetmore were excellent in the" gest roles in the play. They had the successful song in the show in term revealing character and furtheriv story, revealing the hopes and dre: the immigrants of the time. TomGamblin, in my opinion the su c, gest male actor, was an excdlent foil and future husband as Jim Farrell, who Kate Murphy decides will be her husband. It is their story which is the most effective in a show that tries to tell the story from too many perspectives. It was their characters I actually cared for, and it was their moments that worked in an otherwise dismal script. Theragtime song,"Autumn," and afew other songs were memorable for their melodies. That’ s about all that can be said for them. The book, well, I say keep a couple of lines that were humorous, and start over. I was disappointed. It seemed like an inventive premise, and one which could havemade history entertaining. The staging was weak, particularl y when the iceberg was sighted by the one lookout. The set did tilt at the end (like we’ ve never seen that before), but the set was mosdy made up of very inaccurately drawn and painted drops that looked like something out of a high school production. After Jekyll and Hyde’s detailed lab, Beauty and the Beast’s castles and villages, Titanic’ s drop-heavy scenery was a bit of a letdown. On Broadway, the show had a three levd set, making several of the numbers quite different. Here we were treated to awkwardly stage numbers, wlfich basically left the cast walking in circles representing different levels and areas of the ship, which ended up quite muddled ~n terms of telling who was where on the ship. At one point, as characters were stepping in and out and around, it became quite ridiculous. The tableau, which was originally to have shown the ship striking the iceberg, was nothing more than a very small model of the ship, withlights, pulled across the stage - no ice in sight. The model boat, lit up :with Chxistmas lights, being pulled across the stage was quite humorous. And the promisedcollision tableau, hyped beforetheshow opened on Broadway, is still missing. . . I really liked the cheesy and totally hilarious flame effect of the boiler room furnaces. This little .bit of very Obvious whitedothbeing blownupwards by afan, not even dose to the scale of what the flames in those boilers must have been like. Now I’m quite willing to suspend disbelief, but this went far beyond what could be expected. It looked like these big burly men were shoveling coal onto bic lighters. Iwas rolling withlaughter. Yeston also says "themusic is the scenery." Well, ithas to be, since apparently they couldn’ t afford paint or artists from the look of it. The drops seemed to come in at the wrong scenes, particularly in the opening. I understand theatre is representational by nature, but here we’ re dealing with a very famous boat. The problem with the show is that it tries to tell too many stories, and because of that, it’ s hard to really care about any of the characters, who are portrayed as caricatures anyway. At the end, youjust don’ t care. OK, the set rises at one end on hydraulics, see Titanic, p. 8 by Lamont ]~indstrom, Ph.D. Vexillology. There’s an arcane word " for you. It means the "study of flags." : Thousands of rainbow flags are soon to ¯ wave as we enter the season of Gay Pride celebration. Gay flags, like Gay Pride, are fairly recent inventions. Gilbert Baker sewed up the first rainbow flag for the 1978 Gay Freedom Celebration in San Francisco. Over the past two decades, Freedom has made_ way for Pride and the rainbow flag has lost some stripes. Baker’s original creationboasted~eight colors, each of which represented a fine ideal: orange is healing; yellow the sun; green is nature and blue art: indigomeansharmony while violet stands for spirit: redis life and, last butnotleast,pink symbol- .1zes sex. Pink went first. A company Baker approached to produce his flag commerdally couldn’t locate any pink nylon. And the next year, when the San Francisco parade committee adopted the flag as a symbol, symmetry required yet another reduction. The parade decorator demanded that the route feature three colors on the left and another three colors on the right. Indigo disappeared. In its short lifetime, the rainbow flag has lost both sex and harmon.y. Something of a .parable, perhaps, of modem Gay life. Archaeologists have dug up flag-like symbols from civilizations in both Old World and New. Humans, from our beginmngs, have imagined a variety of symbolic objects to represent social groups. Anthropologists call a symbol that stands for a group a "totem." Today’ s flag clearly derives from these original totems..In many societies, animals are the preeminent totemic figure, andanimal totems surviveinto thepresent. Small town businesspersons divide up into coteries of Elks, Lions, and Moose. Andthink ofthe Britishlion, orthe American eagle, or the Canadian loon, or the California bear. And don’ t forget the Gay bear. These totems decorate our flags and our money. A variety of things besides animals symbolize groups. The rainbow is an archetypal totem that we share with Austra= lianAboriginal bands amongvarious other peoples around the world..Rainbows are syi~b01ic~dl~ p~tentl~0~ in nature and in a number of religious traditions. Some folks complain about aGay appropriation of the_rainbow., tote.m~ just ~as some old ftohgeieW~?ogrdri.p~ea~ythtohtmthee~y :’~mnerroy io6rfilgiveerluys,.,’e othdS,~i~, hav~ ebbed rainbows ineluding Jesse Jackson’s coalition, the Uuivei~ity 6f Hawai~i’s football team, and the US Army’ s 42nd Division. I acquired one of my rainbow flags from an innocent straight friend who bought it planning to display his.concerns for the environment. ~/tere is no end of social and psycho- - logical theory that attempts to explain why we dream up totems to represent our groups. A century ago, the pioneer soci- Because flags stand for group, Gays had no need for a flag until we conceived of ourselves ~1~ ~t eolleetlve --or a ¯ eommumty as some of us llke to say. Baker’s needlework in 1978 signified the transformation of homosexuality from a psyckologleal condition to a political identity. ologist Emile Durkheim remarked that totems are sacred just because they stand for the group. Our human societies exist before any one of us is born, and they will continue after we die. Society, thus, is "supernatural." We make into a god what has shaped us and what sustains us as individuals. But it’s hard to grasp concepts so abstract. Instead, wefocus our feelings and .affiliations upon the totem - the sacred being whosematerial formis the flag. We are good at creating solidarities - only human groups_ often define themselves largely by opposing themselves to some other. We pledge allegiance tO ourown totem as a symbol ofourselves. And we express distaste for our enemies by despoiling their flags, as Palestiuians, Israelis, and members of various high school bands are wont to do. It is pretty clear Durkheim was right about that sacredness. We have ¯ fervent Congressmen in Washington each ¯ year in a frenzy to outlaw sinful desecra- ¯ tions of the American flag. ¯ Perversely, some South Caroliniansjus- ¯ tifyofficial display oftherebel Confeder- ¯ ate flag as mere historical commemora- ¯ tion. But everyone knows that echoes of ¯ their antebellum religion are also at work ¯ here. Because flags stand for group, Gays ¯ had no need for a flag until we conceiv~l ¯ of ourselves as a collective - or a "com- " mlmity" as some of us like to say. Baker’ s ; needlework in 1978 signified the trans- . formation of homosexuality from a psychological condition to a political iden- Since this time, we have put into play various other symbols, including pink and black triangles borrowedfrom Nazi prison wear, theLambdacharacterfrom the Greek alphabet, and the red ribbon. Of these, the rainbow stretches the farthest. I have seen rainbow flags unfurled in Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Den-. mark, andbeyond. Theflag’ s global spread testifies to the rise of a transnational gay community. Think of this as flags parade b~this summer. Long may the rainbows wave on our totem poles. Lament Lindstrom teaches anthropology at the University oJ Tulsa. The protesters wre joined by the Rev. Bishop C. Joseph Sprague from No. Illinois. Local architect and activist Sue Knause noted that the police were "fabulous" with some officers stopping to have their photos taken with some of the more famous arrestees. And their jddge, she adds, said, "keep up the good work -I stand with you today." While the protests did not change the policies, organizers have promised that 1,000 arrestees at the next conference. A principal orgamzer of this action was Tulsan Karen Weldon. Info. contact Soulforce at the Gay Community Center. to benefit Saint Joseph Residence + Regional AIDS Interfaith Network Saturday, June 3rd, 10-5, +_ Sunday, June 4th, 1-5 $10 donation at the door or in advance. David Daniel, 1603 S. Carson Wiley Parsons, 1601 S. Carson Monty + Jane Butts, 240 E. Woodward Blvd. Brett + Maricarolyn Swab, 2112 So Norfolk Ave.. Dr. Robert & Dena Hudson, 2707 S. Rockford Rd. Tickets for this tour may be obtained at each home. For more information; call Charles Faudree, Inc: at 747-9706. METROPOLITAN TULSA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE salutes Humanity Unites for Human Ri$lhts Millennium Pride 2000 and honors Tulsa’s Lesbian and Gay .’.,. Chamber of Commerce members for their leadership on business, civil rights and health issues in the Tulsa community., To join MTCC, call 585-1201. IGTA member Call 341.6866 ]. X,otuerSr onrmaot ,i,no. on maol ,on. Massage Therapy Services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 CountryClub Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E, 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm Tulsa’s only body-piercing Poweful Images: portrayals of Native America GilcreaseMuseum 1400 Gilcrease Museum Road 5 9 6 2 7 0 0 and as many as 15 in larger communities - sit as the board of civil authority to certify yoter checklists or to hear tax appeals. They also have the option of officiating atweddingceremonies. Beginning July 1, they’ll also have the authority to officiate at civil unions. The one catch is if they do one, they’ 11 have to doboth. That’ s enough to prompt some justices to quit the marriage business because they oppose the civil unions law. Experts, such as lawyer and former Deputy Secretary of State Paul Gillies, who have been guiding justices through thenew responsibilities, say that’ s fine, so long as they don’t discriminate. Under Vermont’s non-discrimination laws, if justices perform weddings for heterosexual couples, they may not refuse to perform civil unions ceremonies just because those couples are homosexuals. Some justices have put out the word that they’re happy to officiate at civil unions ceremonies. "I feel they deserve it," said Huntington justice Don Dresser, who has officiated at two weddings. "It’ s thelaw and I’mcomfortable with it. I have a lot of Gay friends... I’m going to treat everyone the same." Some Gays and Lesbians who happen to be justices say they’re excited that they’ll be able to officiate at civil unions ceremonies. ’Tmexcited. I’mso thrilled," Hurlie said. "This is really an honor to certify civil unions for folks." So, now, what’ s left is to determinejust what ceremonies should be. The short answer is that whatever is done for a Wedding would work for a civil union. "’The big question was, "What do .you sa.y at the end?’ ’I hereby .. what?’ "" Gillies said. "We suggested:’ I hereby certify this civil union.’" Markowitz said her office did not want to dictate the words, but she recognized they would carry emotional weight. "The justice has to say sonaething that shows the imprimatur of the state is making the union official, whether it’ s a marriage or a civil union," Markowitz said. "The most straightforward, kind of sticking to the law pronouncement would be: ’I now certify your civil union.’ Really, that’s what a person is doing." There are some traditions to follow, though. There have beena few religious faiths, for example, who bless same-sex relationships. The Unitarian Universalist Society is one. The Rev. Brendan Hadash of the St. Johnsbury Unitarian church, for example, estimates he’ s performed probably 20 opposite-sex marriages and about an equal number of same-sex commitment ceremonies over the years. He’ s developed a series of phrases and uses the one that the couple finds most comfortable. "I usually pronounce that use: "I recognizeyouas spirituallyunited," or "You are now joined as wife and wife, which I find a little odd. Others are "You arejoined as spouses, partuers, iovers~" or "I declare that you are now.united inlove, that you are duly wed." With the civil unions law, though, he’ 11 be adding one phrase to his blessings. "At the end of the service I used to always make a point of saying, ’By the power vested in me by my denomination, I declare you...’ "Hadash said. "Now I can say ’by.the power vested in me by the church - and the state.’ " It also culled data from two other academic studies that studied the Gay and Lesbian population: the National Health and Social Life Survey and the General Social Survey. Starting with the 1990 C~nsus, respondents living with a person of the same sex had the option ofchecking off "unmarried partner" in the section that asks for the relationship between people. Other options included "husband/wife," "roomer/ boarder," "housemate/roommate" or "other nonrelative." The study said that among men aged 25-34 living with amale parmer, 29% had at least a college degree, and 13% a graduate degree, compared with 13% and 4% for men with female parmers. However, within the same age group, men with a college degree and a female partner had mean earnings of $29,162 a year, compared with $28,618 for samesex unmarried partnered men with a college degree. For those with graduate de- ~4ees, the discrepancy grew to nearly ,000 - $36,072 to $32,465. Of men aged 35-44 with unmarried partners of the same sex, 32% graduated from college, and 24% had a graduate degree, compared with 13% and 7% for males with a female partner. Within the same age bracket, males with college degrees and same-sex partners had mean earnings of $36,054 per year, compared with $38,629 for those with female partners. The same discrepancies were not found among Lesbians, Sanders said. For instance, women aged 35-44 with college degrees and with a same-sex partner had mean earmngs of $28,387, while those with a male partner had mean earnings of $28,734; of those with graduate degrees in the same age range, the figures were $34,427 for women with same-sex partners, and $34,295 for those with male partners. Sanders shied away from saying it was definitive proof of discrimination against Gays. He instead suggested one reason may be that Gays tend to enter more fields that offer lower salaries. The study also found that 22% of Lesbian couples living together have children, compared to 5% of Gay couples living together. Sanders said that may show that Gay couples have less pressure to get higher-paying jobs. "This is the tip of the iceberg in terms of finding out who the Gay and Lesbian community is," said PaulaEttelbrick, family policy director ofthe National Gay and LesbianTaskForce. "Whatthey also point out it is the clear problem ofhow to define what it is to be Gay or Lesbian." OK Spoke Club TheOK Spoke Club is beginning its rides again. A long ride (20 miles plus) will begin, atZiegler Park at 7:30am’on June 3rd & 24th. Length and destination to be determined at the ride. Water and helmet ". are required. ¯ A short ride(5 miles) along the Katy ’: Bicydep~in Saii.d)SiJfings will beginat . 6:30pmonJuneT~atid21s’t. Wateriand ¯ helmet~ate ~tr0ngly r~mmelided...: ¯ : Af6:30plh, a short fide will begin at the Pride Cent~L 3749 S. Peoria, rea~ parking ¯ lotonJune24th. Waterandhelmetstrongly ¯ recommended. ¯ Info: POB 9165, Tulsa, Ok 74157, ¯ email: Okiebicycle@prodigy.net ] www.geocities.com/westhollywood/pa- ¯ rade/3301 Humanity Unites for Human R lhts Diversit Celebration 2000 Grand Marshalls for the Millennium Pride Parade Dr. Grethe Cammermever Oistin~luished Veteran of the United States Armed Forces Gre~! Lou~lanis US O!~mpie Champion Pride Week Events Interfaith Worship Service Performing Arts Center, Williams Theatre Speaker: the Reverend Dr. Mel White Friday, June 2, from 7pro (free) Interfaith Soulforce Workshop Performing Arts Center, Norman Studio Led by the Reverend Dr. Mel White Saturday, June 8, 2 - 5pro (free) Humanity Unites For Human Rights Black Tie Optional Dinner Speakers: Greg Louganis and Grethe Cammermeyer Summit Club, 7pro reception, Bpm dinner Friday, June 9th, $75 person Benefiting Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, the parent organization of the Gay Community Center TOHR Follies: 1OO Years of Broadway Performing Arts Center, Ooenges Theatre Saturday, June 8, 8pm, $15 United Art Exhibit, Opening Reception All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 So. Peoria Tuesday, June 6, 6 - 8pro Millennium Parade 2000 Saturday, JunelQ, llam From the Gay Community Center to Veterans Park at 18th and Boulder Pride Festival, Veterans Park, llam - 8pro Free shuttle from Veterans Park to Parade. Mini-Film Festival Tulsa Gay Community Services Center Thursday, June 8, z~ - till it’s over... For more information about these events, call 7~8-~297 (Gays). Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, June 2000; Volume 7, Issue 6 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, May 2000; Volume 7, Issue 5 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/601 2000 African Americans AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS vaccine aMUSEments arts and entertainment Bars Boy Scouts bullying businesses churches civil unions Democratic party Diversity celebration Gay marriage gay parents Gay Studies hate groups HIV homophobia inequality Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm marriage equality Native Americans OK Spoke Club performing arts PFLAG Pride Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa World Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/93475d8d38486cac1bf21651db9cf1f9.jpg 9a8cdac77a1db86a7dcf018f522954b7 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/bb1a106e509015a738522d97002b6592.pdf cf15973a5275e8195487a21b5d7d7507 PDF Text Text Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulaans, Our Families + Friends : Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community Paper Available In More Than 75 City Locations i Louganis to Lead Pride 2000 ¯ Olympic Champion Will Be Parade Grand ¯ Marsha|l and Black Tie Dinner Speaker The Rev. Mel White to Begin Week’s Events Bomber of London Gay Pub Pleads Guilty LONDON (AP) - A man accused of setting off~in~bs apparently targetedatracial minorities andGays pleaded " guilty to three counts of manslaughter late in February " and admitted causing three explosions that injured more than a hundred people. David Copeland, 23, admitted " planting the bomb that killed three people on April 30,- " at the Admiral Duncan, a Gay pub in central London. " Prosecutors did not immediately accept the ¯ manslaughter pleas, and a further hearing was set for " sometime in March. Copeland also admitted ¯ responsibility for explosions .on April 17 in Brixton, a : south London neighborhood with a large black ¯ population; and April 24in Brick Lane, an east London " neighborhood with a large Banglades.~ population. " NY State’s 1st Gay Mayor " PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (AP)-. Dan Stewart, New York’s first openly Gay mayor, is intimately acquainted ." with Gay-bashing bigots..AYter all he used to beone.." "When I was in high school, two boys went to court over . the right to go to the prom together," Stewart said. "I ¯ spoke out loudly against them on TV, on the steps of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. I made a mockery of them - because I knew who I was, and I was scared ~to. death people would find me out." ¯ Two decades later, Stewart has no such fears. He was " open about his homosexuality when he ran for mayor of ¯ this lakeside city near the Canadian border last fall. "I told the people,’I am what ! am- Take me or leaveme,"’ : Stewart said."Itold them, ’Ifyouchooseto takeme, I’m " going to do one hell of a job for you. But if you choose ¯ not tO take me because I’m Gay, I understand. I used to : be prejudiced too." : Asittumedout, his sexualitywasn’tanissue. Perhaps ¯ it would have been, had hebronght a male partner to a : political event during his,six years on the City Council. ¯ But Stewart keeps his personal life out of the public eye : ~- mostly 60 miles away in Montreal, where his partner ¯ lives. It also helped that his opponent, the five-term " Democratieincumbent, was knOWn for supporting Gay ." and Lesbian issues such as nondiscrimination statutes, ¯ and had long enjoyed the endorsement of Gay lobby ." groups. "The.race was on community issues," Stewart " said. "My opponent never used the words ’sexual ¯ orientation. ’" ¯ Buoyed by endorsements from Republican Gov. ¯ George Pataki and the city police union, the former Air ° Force sergeant and long-haul trucker won by a narrow ¯ margin, becoming one of five openly Gay city mayors ¯ in the country. " In some ways, Stewart has taken more heat for being " GOP than for being Gay. The Empire State Pride : Agenda didn’t endorse him until the llth hour - and then, he insisted that part of the Gay lobby group’s " $1,000 campaign donation go to the Republican Party. : "I always get thesame thing (from Gays) wherever I go: How canyon be Gay and be a Repubhcan. What as wrong with you?Are you insane?,’"- said Stewart, a tall, " dapper man with an enthusiastic manner and a dimpled : grin. "But there’s a change going on. In exit polls over ¯ the past 10 years, consistently ~a third of people who ¯ identified themselves as Gay have said they voted " Republican." : In a recent interview in his second-floor City Hall ¯ office, see Mayor, p. 7 " TULSA - Some Gay community observers might have thought that the annual pride festival organizers would be hard pressed to top their accomplishments of 1999 with US Congressman Barney Frank, Democrat from Massachnsetts, serving as grand marshall of Tulsa’s first Gay Pride Parade. However, event organizers from Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, have, at the very least, matched the stature of last year’s speaker with US Olympic champion, Greg Louganis, to se’ive as Grand Mhrshall for the Millennium Pride Parade this June. Louganis’ appearance will cap a week of Pride events which will begin with an interfaith w orship service featuring the Reverend Dr. Mel White. White is known as an author, for his autobiography, "’Stranger at the Gate," and formerly as a ghostwriter for right wing religious leaders like Jerry Falwell. White more recently has been leading a social change organization, Soul Force, modeled on the ideas of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mohatmas Ghandi. Like White, Louganis is also an anthor and an actor as wall as an athlete. His autobiography, "Breaking the Surface" topped the New York Times bestseller list, and as a lecturer, he has spoken about his chall~nges with a difficult childhood, his struggles in coming out and with dyslexia, his experience with domestic violence and with being HIV positive. Louganis won his first Olympic medal, a silver, at age 16 in the 1976 Games. In 1984, at age 24, he won two gold medals, one for the platform and one for the springboard - the first man in 56 years to accomplish this feat. In 1986, he again won awards the same events in the World Championships, and then in 1988, won double gold medals for diving in two consecutive Olympics. Louganis will speak at a black fie optional dinner to be held at the prestigious Summit Club on Friday, June 9th. Tickets for th,e, event are $75/person and there will be a VIP reception at $50~ person. These events will benefit Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, the parent orgamzation of the Gay Community Center and Oklahoma’s oldest Lesbian and Gay non-religious organization. Organizers Greg Lougams anticipate that the parade will follow the stone route as last year, beginning at the Ga~’ Community Center.at 37th and Peoria and ending. at Veterans Park at 18th and Boulder. The parade will begin at llam. The Pride Festival will also begin at Veterans Park at 1 lain and will continue till about 7 or 8pro, finishing off the week’s events. TOI-IR organizers include Kerry Lewis as chairperson of the overall effort, "Htunanity United for Human Rights - Diversity Celebration 2000," Greg Gatewood,TOHR president and festival chair. Audra Sommers, parade chair, Lynn Moesteller, sponsor chair, Mitchell Savage, media chair, Kris Kohl, festival entertainment chair and Ned Bruha, in charge of festival booths and beverages. Other Pride events include a Soul Force workshop, led by the Rev. Mel White, to be held in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) Lower LevelTheatre on June 3, Saturday, from 2-5pro (free). That evening also at the PAC Doenges Theatre, theTOHR Follies, not seen for a number of years, will reprise, 100 Years of Broadway with tickets available through the PAC. see Pride, p. 11 : Vermont:Married or Partners? MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Lawmakers debated last ~nonth whether to limit a proposed domestic partnership system to stonesex couples or to allow opposite-sex and blood-relative couples to qualify, also. There are some in the Legislature who believe that broadening the proposal might make it more politically palatable to a greater number of people, improving its d~ances of passing. But others argue that such a revision would diminish the central aim of the legislation being drafted by the House Judiciary Committee: providing therights and protections ofeivil marriage to Gay and Lesbian couples. As the Judiciary Committee prepares to finish its work on the bill,that debate is coming into sharper relief. Members of the committee faced the issue, along with the potential political implications. "Iunderstand that there are people who see expanding : this ... enhances the attractiveness of the legislation," said Committee Chairman Thomas Little, R-Shelburue. "’But I’m not sure we have the time to expl.ore all that stuff." "I support that in prineiple, but it’s a significant diversion from what we’ve been working on," said Rep. Steve Hintgen, P-Burlington. "q hope it doesn’t drive this to a halt." "ff you don’t do it you might drive it to a halt," said Rep. Michael Vinton, D-Colchester. In sum, that’s what the comunttee faces. In recognition of that, Little has been trying to develop a companion to the domestic partnership systemknown as reciprocal benefits, that falls short of the marriage-like benefits that would be provided to Gay and ¯ Lesbiancouples. Thereciprocal benefits,.however, might include ¯ workers’ compensation benefits that could flow to a reciprocal ¯ ¯ benefits partner, certain inheritance and real estate and other ¯ property benefits. Althouglino votes have been taken, no consensus has developed ~ in the Judiciary Committee that opposite-sex couple should be ¯ included in the domestic partnership system, which the panel has -" taken to calling "civil domestic unions." There also has not been ¯ a lot of discussion in the committee about permitting blood : relatives- such as two brothers, two sisters, a brother and a sister, or a daughter and her elderly mother - to become domestic : partnerships. ," ¯ But such expansions have been discussed down th~hall in the ¯ Ways and Means Commi ttee, the tax-writing panel that will have to review the tax implications of the bill Rep. Albert Perry, D- ¯ Richford, see Vermont, p. 5 " Gordmans recently invited diva Audra Sommers to try shopping with them again after she first received poor treatment at the Yale Ave. store. Sommers praised the Corporate and store management for their.responsiveness, Gay Men’s Chorale to ¯ Hold Spring Concert TULSA- Council Oak Men’s Chorale will present two concerts on Friday and Saturday, April 7 & 8 at 8pm in the John Williams Theatre of Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center. The concerts, entitled "’Harmonic Diversity" will feature music from Broadway tunes, 5O’s & 60’s pop songs, "sea chanteys," a Welsh lullaby, and a baroque piece. The Green Country Cloggers will perform a cameo number. The Council Oak Men’s Chorale is a fellowship of Gay men dedicated to musical excellence who seek to provide a source of pride, unity and support and to present a positive image for themselves, the Gay community and to society, as a whole. The group is a chapter of the Tulsa-baSed Vocal Pride Foundation, and a member of GALA: the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses. ��Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 712-2324 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial 610-5323 *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th 583~6666 *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria 749-4511 *The Mix, 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square 744-4280 *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan 83~ ~234 *The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan 835-2376 *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 585-3405 *TNT’s, 21145. Memorial 660-0856 *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 584-1308 Tulsa,Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular 74%1508 *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 523 1 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 712-9955 *.Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 494-2665 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 743-5272 *CD Warehouse, 3807e S. Peoria 746-0313 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th 749-3620 *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady 58%2611 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 744-5556 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 838-8503 *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main ""592-0460 *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E 55th H. 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 808-8026 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 742-1460 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 459-9349 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 744-7440 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 *International Tours 341-6866 712-2750 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 582-3018 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 747-0236 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 582-8460 599-8070 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 747-5466 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady 585-1234 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 584-3112 Mingo Valley Howers, 9720c E. 31 663-5934 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 664-2951 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 838-7626 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor 743-4297 Rainbowz on the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 747-5932 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-0617 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921 ,747-4746 *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square ’749-6301 Paul Fay, Car Salesman 260-7829 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 481-0558 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 835-5563 743 - 1733 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding 665-2222 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan 592-0767 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities 579-9593 AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 743-2363 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 587-7314 Black & White, Inc. PUB 14001, Tulsa 74159 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center. 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L!G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 585-1201 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community of Hope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 748-3888 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 712-1511 *Ddaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 742-2457 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & 355-3140 Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 747-7777 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard *Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 o-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: ~James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by Td~ /:~.,,.z~ N~, and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of T~ ~ ~:~ Ntau¢, Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 582-0438 *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A:R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 *Holland Hall _School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the H01y Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral H.. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, PUB 14068,74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dtmstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men). Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.LS.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38,74105 743-4297 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN *Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 *Borders Books & Music. 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH 918-456-7900 *Stonewall League, call for information: *Tablequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 918-453-9360 *Green Country AIDS Coalition, PUB 1570 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main 501-253 -6807 DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253 -5445 Emerald Rainbow, 45 &1/2 Spring St. 501-253-9337 MCC of the Living Spring 501-253-2776 Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 501-253-5332 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-624-6646 Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-253-6001 Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-4074 White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U 134 417-623-4696 * is where you can lind TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. by Michael Kuchwara DENVER (AP) - The audience is greeted by a bare, black brick wall, a single light and a row of wooden chairs and desks. Later, a few video screens and film clips are added. Still, nothing else is really needed to tell ¯ the story of Matthew Shepard and the ¯ effect his-murder had on the town-of ¯ Laramie, Wyo. It is a spartan, yet ¯ appropn,’,ate setting for "The Laramie Project, astirring, emotional tale, almost ¯ epicinscaleas itswirls through the details of this young gay man’s brutal death and ¯ how the residents of Laramie dealt with it. The-play, which had its world premiere ¯ in February at the Denver Theater Center, ¯ presents a cavalcade of characters ¯ portrayedby eight actors from the Tectonic Theater Project, a New Y ork-based troupe. ¯ They even play themselves. "The Laramie Project," written by these actors as well as other Tectonic members ¯ including founder Moises Kaufman, was drawn from their interviews with more than 200 people. Yet it is more than just ,docudrama. It is a story of feeling as well ¯ as fact. Each gets its fair share of stage ¯ time, grounding the evening in reality ¯ without sacrificing the emotional intensity of people trying to deal with their hopes, ¯ fears and prejudices. ¯ What makes "The Laramie Project" so ¯ intriguing are its shades of gray. Nothing is simple. There are no easy answers in coming to terms with Shepard’s death. ¯ Kaufman and ctmpany presenta variety ¯ of memorable portraits culled from their taped interviews. There’s Reggie Fluty, ¯ the policewoman who untied Shepard from ¯ the fence post. As vividly portrayed by ¯ Mercedes Herrero, Fluty is a vibrant ¯ woman, confronted with something so ¯ horrific that she says, at one point, "They ¯ show showed me a picture.., days later I saw a picture of Matthew... I would ¯ have never recognized him." ¯ Equally unnerving are comments from Rulon Stacey, spokesman at the hospital where Shepard died. In Greg Pierotti’s intense performance, Stacey breaks down, ¯ watclfingthecourageofShepard’sparents as they confront their son’s death. Pierotti ¯ also gives weight and an emotional honesty : to the commonsense statements from a ¯ priest, Father Roger, who decides to get involved in leading a vigil for Shepard. ¯ What ties the townspeople together are ¯ their efforts to understand. As the doctor ¯ who first treated Shepard when he was ¯ brought into a Laramie hospital emergency ¯ room says,"This is something that offends us. I used that word a little earlier and I ¯ think that’s a good word. It offends us!" Stephen Belber excels at two of the ¯ showier roles in the play - particularly a ¯ tough-talking taxicab driver who ¯ epitomizes the "live and let live" ¯ .philosophy that threads its way through ." the speeches of many of the many of ¯ people interviewed. ¯ Right now, "The Laramie Project" is ¯ still undergoing changes. Thirty minutes ; were cut from the play after the .first ¯ preview. Even now at two hours and 45 minutes, it could use more of a trim. : Shepard himself is not a character in ¯ "The Laramie Project," but his presence ¯ haunts the play. It hovers sweetly yet sadly over the entire proceedings, as well ¯ as the town he loved so much. That is only appropriate. As one of the residents says at the end of the evening, ’¢I’he last thing Matthew Shepard saw on ¯ this Earth were the sparkling lights of Laramie, Wyo." �Lesbian Survey Results li- In the past two years, you may have seen an gathered 58,000 petition si~latures to call the February amlouncement about a study on how "Lesbians and thei? ¯ by Dave Fleischer 1998 election. They began the cmnpaign With the name, : Senior Fellow, Policy Institute sisters are similar or different." This mmouncement ¯ National Gay and Lesbian Task Force address and phone number of 58.000 voters who they appeared in 200 Lesbian mad Gay/Lesbian periodicals could turn out to vote. As our community faces a new wave of Millennial anti(including Tulsa Family News). It was also sent to 614 ¯ Pro-Gay activists started withno sitnilar list. We cotfld Lesbian/Gay religious orgamzations; 105 Lesbian bars: "¯ Gay ballot measures, it would be easy to be fearful about have- m November 1995. voters across Maine defeated our prospects. After all, eight out of twelve votes on 54 women’s bookstores; 346 cmnpus Lesbian/Gay ¯ homophobic referenda went against us in 1998 and 1999 ml m~ti-Gay measttre. But the "95 cmnpaign didn’t talk Bisexual/Transgender groups; and 83 groups listed as ¯ alone. Yet the shocking thing about our cotmnumty with voters oue-on-ouc to idenlify our supporter,s. Of the "’etlltlicimttlticul tural." ¯ 221.562 people who voted with us, our comnmnity eudcd losing so many elections is that we actually "know how to Tiffs research was conducted by Esther Rothblum, a ¯ win them. the canlpaign -l~aowing the professor of psychonmnc. address and phone What effective strategy logy at the University "... eight out of twelve votes on number of fewer than 3000 ¯ persuades voters to stand of Ver-mont, who Gav.and pro.Gay,voters. - -. :-, with-us? After six years studies Lesbi~m igsue~. homophoble re~erencla went-a.~M~nst .... eontrlbutes ¯ training Gay, lesbian, X\~ began the" 98 cmnpmgn She was interested~in ¯ bisexual and transgender us in 1998 and 1999 alone. with 30(~) on our list..versus to [Lesbian] how Lesbians mid their 58,000 on theirs. Whc~ ¯ (GLBT) leaders around the heterosexual sisters ¯ demoSraphle Yet the shoekin$ thln$ about our e]ectiou day ’98 crone, wc country to run for office and differ on demographic ¯ manage campaigns, I know lost by 7.299 votes, bccansc eommunlty losln$ so many eleetlons factors. ¯ it’ s when we "come out mad 83,409 who voted wiOa us in For exanlple, manv ¯ is that we actually "95 didn’t ttma out to vote ¯ .. }-][ere are some talk" - engage voters onestudies about Lesbimas ¯ again in "98. We lost Ihal on-one and ask them what have found them to be hnow how to win them . . 7’ speeulatlons: ¯ they think. election, but we shouldnt highly educated, not lose [le~’l - so long as Vehen we do, the fuzz)’, very religi,ous, and ¯ lcmn from theexpencucc. unflattering image of us as livi~’lg in l:u’ge cities. ¯ For cxmnple, wc will likely fnce an anti-’Gay repeal oddities from an X-Files episode dissolvcs._ Voters Obviou_’~ly, this does ¯ reconsider who we are and are much less likely m fall vote just like Maine’s m *’liami-Dade Couutx The not describe all may result in ¯ for propaganda that makes us out to be something we’re upconm~g cmnpmgl~ is hatmtcd bx the one wc losl [111977 Lcsbia~, but there It Anita Brvaut"s "’Save timChildren" cauapai~n ¯ not. mav be reasons why beeomln Just as importantly, what proven strategy identifies Fortunatel y, key leaders in SA VI ~ Dade, the local lmlnan Lesbimls are differeut ¯ voters who are already supportive? The very stone rights group, Jorge Murstfli. Shcila O’Fmlell, Gcore flom women iu the ¯ conversation. Because when we do "voter I.D.’" -askiug Kctclholm. mid Griscl R~xlrigncz, have begun to bnihl general U.S. ¯ each voter "Can we count on your vote’?" - we build a their list. By lcachiug lcssous flom other canq)aigus, thcx population. ¯ reliable list of Gay and pro-Gay voters to whom ~ve can have motivated their vohmtccrs to talk face-to-face For example, Lesbians may move to large cities to find VOleI’S. other Lesbians, to move aw@ froth their parents and their ¯ return, to turn out our vote, election after election. Since ¯ many of our strongest supporters often miss clectious, ~vc On July 29. SAVI~ l)adc had its biggest voter I politically conservative home town, or to be more success v~t. In twelve hours. 300 volunteers had facc-toanonwnous. Similarly, Lesbians nmy have high levels of _. lose without this kind of follow-up. Making a voter I.D. list isn’ t glamorous, but it makes or facc couversations with 4.909 voters. SAVE Dadc has education bccanse they didn’t get married innnediately ¯" breaks our campaigns across the country. Maine offers a ~dreadv built its list to iududc 15.000 Gay and pro-(~a after lugh school, or didn’t have clfildren at a you age. useful case study. In February 1998, fine GLBT conmlunit3 vol~rs. In this study, Rothblunt conipared Lesbians’~vith thei?~ ¯ lost Maine’s state-wide law bmnung discrinlination ou Of course. 15.0(~) i s no t cu~) n ~ h. ’l’bc Chfi s finn ( ~o~ d i u sisters. Unlike members of other minority groups (e.g., the basis Of sexual onentation. It had taken Maine leaders will begiu their cmnpmgn with a lisl of 33,000 SUpl)ortcr~ African-Americans, Jews, inunigrants), Lesbians (mad ten years to pass the law: die Christian.C.oalition erased it of their own. Ihe number ol l)ClH~on ~igllaturc~ Ihc~ Gay men) differ m one importm~ respect in that their ten months after it passed, despite a vali-anl battle bv our to put lhc issue on lhc ballot sibhngs me generally members ofthe domimmt gr0tq~ Butdm SAVE l)adc strategy to invite our fi’icnds to Ihi (hctcrosexnalsL In the case of biological sisters, thex How did we lose? The New York Times post-electiou election ~s a winning one. On July 29, as they realized would share the stone race m~d etlmicitv, and have had th~ analysis was ~ shockingly clear. It quoted a Bowdoin what they had done and bcguu, Shcila O’ Farrell c-nmilcd s~une parents. The\ mav also bc close in age. So tiffs me: "’Well. Dave. you szfid 6.000 and I laughed. You ~aid method would allo~, vou’to exmnine the lives of Lesbimls .: College professor with 25 years, of Maine polling ¯ experience, who said, "Maine is no more mtolcrmn than 30 phonc bm~k~ with 10+ vohmtccrs m~d I rolled m~ c~ side by side with sistel.s who m-e not Lesbian. ¯ other states, and given a well-lq_ln "gay;-rights- c&mpatgn, And tomght we exceeded any expectations I ever had A total of 1,2(~- questiotmmres were requested bx would likely split into tw.o canlps, with 55%. supporting do you kuow what? 1 guess that trap we teach rcall’ email, telephouc, or mail. mad 762 of these were retullmd. woi:ks~ I think 1 had quit bclicvmg thal Thanks ’Gay rights’ mad 45% against." A well-rim cmnpaign is Ilcrc are the results of the 184 sister pairs iu which one built on turmng out its base. The low turnont of pro-Gay cliallenging mc " was Lesbim] mid the other \vas heterosexual: voters cost us the election. In tough elections, there is uo SmUt Claus. XVc have - Lvsbians arc older thm] their heterosexual sisters. How did the Christian Coalition tuna out ~ ts supporters. ~lOW who our friends ;u’c if we xv~uit to win:’]’o klloXv xx - Lesbiaus are also more likely to be first-bores when they ~u-c, wc have lo ask. onc-oll-OllC. Then wc C~l~ looking at ages of all l)rother’s mad sisters. (This is ¯ when we couldn’t? They prepared for the election by starting tQ identify their voters well m ad\m~ce. Eigl~t thai List mid check il twice - and win the Iougla election. interesting, because research on Gay men has sho~vn months before electiol~ day, the Cln’istian Coalitiou that lic almad thcnt to be younger sons.) factors? - Hi her education Lesbian . . Y - Lesbians have higher levels of education th,’m do diet r heterog~’,~Ual sisters. - Heterosexual women are more likely to be homemakers than their Lesbian sisters. There ,are no differences in other types of employment status, or on occupational level. - Because Lesbians have higher educationM levels, they would be expected to have a higher individual income. Still, Lesbians mad dleir heterosexual sisters had similar individual mid fanlily incomes. - Heterosexual women were part of formal religions iu adulthood, whd’~as L~lSfan~ Were mtte likely to endorse altenmtive spiritual beliefs. - Lesbians were more likely to be living with a female partner or living alone. Heterosexual sisters were more likely to be married, li vh~g with:a,~ale p.,?r, mer, m~d living with children in a relationslfip - For those wonlen . with a partner (121 Lesbians ,and 149 heterosexual women), heterosexual women have been in this relationsltip for a longer time period ( 11.4 years) than Lesbians (6.87 years). - Lesbians were more likely to be"]iving in a large city than their heterosexual sisters. - There is no sig~fificant difference in how many years sister pairs have been living in their current location. - But Lesbians live further from their previous location than do heterosexual sisters. - Lesbimls live flirther from their lnother :rod from thcilfather than do their heterosexual sisters - l~sbim~s have moved to fl]cir CUlTent locatiou because of their oxvn cducatiou. I [ctm’oscxtud women have movcd to their cu~ent location because of their partuer’s job. - Lesbians have higher self-esteem titan do their beterosexuM sisters -There are at differences bet~veen sister pmrs ou any measure of mentM health (such as depression, m~xietv. m Lesbian communily organizatious ~md c\cnt.s What is it about being a Lesbian that contributes to dcmoglaphic factors? llcrc arc some speculations: 13cing older and firsl boru may result in Increased education. - Not bciug mmTied or havi~ tg children at a yotmg age, living Mone and/or not beiug in a long-term rclationslfip umv. result iu highcr education and geographic mobility. tli~hcr education may result iu becoming I.csbimi etc,) - Liging in l~ge cities nmy expose women to l.esbian z Lesbians and their hEterosexnalsigters ~e 6x~ctlx the " d0nmlfinifies. ............ san~e average height (5 feet 5 inches) but Lesbians w~igh Wlmt is it abont being a Lesbian that contribntcs more (161 lbs on average) than do hctcroscxn~d sisters mental health and other factors’? Ilelc arc some (143 lbs). -Lcsbimis are more likel~ to have been in specu.lati ous: l)sychotherapy than their heterosextu~ sisters. - Do l.esbians reln~fin<~m~l:byedin order to mmff}ain - Both sisters tend to have heMth insurance, but hcMth insurance whereas liet:~ro~eXnM lnm’ried heterosexual sisters are more likely to have health can become homenmkers due to their husbands’ 6cncfits? insurance through their parmer, and to have dental - Are Lesbiaus less focused ou weight and appearance? lnstlr~lce, Or do heavier young women become ~sbians m~d!or hnplications: increase edncadon becanse of fewer dating or relatiouship HeterosexuM women ~e more like census data of U.S options? women than are Lesbians on: m~age, living wifl~ rome - Does Lesbians" greater use of psychotherapy account pm’tner Ctfildren Religion ~ucation Population density for dm lack of mentM hem th differences between ~sbians Convelfience smnples of ~sbim~ flint fiud that I ~sbim~s (a stiglnatized group) and their heterosexnM sisters? live in l~ge cities, ~e lfighly educated, have a lo~v - Does belonging to a supportive conmm~fity account income relative to education, and may not be religious, for Lesbians’ higher self-esteem may ~ more representative of the ~sbians who p~ficipate A �Newspapers Refuse to Print PFLAG .Listing ¯ : ¯ LOS ANGELES (AP) - A family of weekly : newspapers distributed free to 126,000 Central Coast ~ households and businesses has created an outcry over ¯¯ its refusal to publish news deemed favorable to Gay or pro-choice viewpoints. More than a dozen editorial : employees of tWO of ~he papers have quit since the policy came to ,light last week. The papers, which circulate in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles andAtascadero, have been hit with about 400 cancellation-requests. Earlier this week, about 100 people protested outside the County courthouse in San Luis Obispo, some carrying signs that read, "No Bigotry. in My ~owa,’: : The c~rttro~er~y:ste:r0s from:a ¢:ommuuity calendar listing; for~ Parents, Friends and ~Eamily~0f Lesbians ahd ~ays~ Bisexuals .and Transgendered Persons, which ran in the’Atascadero Gazette from Nov. 25 until Feb..17.~’=That’ s whe,n the paper’s editor, Ron Bast, wa~ ioid tlie chain S owner had 6rdered the listing pulled.Bast-said he was told there were to be no storie~ tli~ ~lit~ed Gays or abortionina favorable light. He has since quit, saying he believes the paper has failed in its mission to provide unbiased coverage of the community. Civil rights acavists, meanwhile, said theywere appalled at the action ofcompany owners Mary and David Weyrich."He has th~ fight todo thi~of course, incorporating as a nonprofit organization, outlining possible programs and figuring out how to pay for the gathering place. Travis Blackwell, 33, co-chairman of the planning committee, said he hoped the center would be a place for anyone to getin touch with the Gay community. "And I hope it will raise asvareness, understanding and tolerance for the lesbian, Gay, bisexual and transgender community," Blackwell said. "That’s. one aspect. The other is actuall y having a central place. where we cau all be safe and meet and take part in programming and workshops and things that better each of us as well as our community as a whole.’" Gay centers across the country offer everything from soccer leagnes to medical services, counseling -and day.care. Although cities nationwide of about the same size as-Charlotte have had. them.for years, no other North Carolina city has a center, qocai ;Gay leaders ,said. In 1996, Mecklenburg County commissioners cut arts funding after a local production of the Pulitzer prize-winning play "Angels in America," because of its homosexual content. And last year, Samantha Gellar won a contest for young playwrights in 1999 with her story of two women who meet on a bus, fall in love and share a kiss. The contest sponsors would not allow it to be performed, saying its subject matter was not appropriate for the festival’ s middle and high school audience. . hnttheparttliatupsetmepers°nallyisthathehadaI MiSSiSsippi Lawmakers great deal of support starting out because he was representing this as atmecommuuity .newspap~," Move to Bar Adopbons said Robyn Murphy, past president ~of.the central, i Coast Gay and.L~bian Alliance. . .... i , , . . ; The vtfeytichs m-owned billlioard giant Martin.i Media befoxe the company was sold fo~ $610 mi’llion, t... ,~,~,~ ~,,. :rt.., ~ ..,, u~,~. ~ \Ve~,~,~ : JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi lawmakers moved, to bar Gay couples from adbpting children with a Tuesday debate about morality and the fea~ of e~ag homosexuality. The executive director Wim,~v Tlu~_v mtMi~ho~l a ~lat~mt~.nt ~,i Ihe~r ° Of ~ Misst$$1[~!. ~list Cofl¥1~aUon Boald teld a House subcmnmmee that ehiidr©n rinsed ~ ~s ............. pmtosopn~ tn recent emuoUS.. ..... tnc issuc na ¯. ~ .~ ...- ..: .......¯ ~,:~z,’~n~’~’~ ~1~ U~ith ;nt,~orilW mtt4 ~ih0 tnd~ Wifl~ - ¯ .... ~:~..~.~ .... Ilomosexuals 0~i10,1~ more mt~v to ue troy. ............. ¯ ....-, ..... ~ ...... Opponentssmdtheyfeareddieadoptionbanwould United in God’s Love MCC-United Reverend Cathy Elliot Pastor Sunday Worship 11=00 am 623 N. Maplewood 9181838-1715 " ~ i" f"~ ......... Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community of Hope 2~Lg South Yale, Sundays at llam, "/49-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OFTHE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm ’ ~ " [ .... =~,, v~v,,--° Licensed Professional & National Certified ’ ** * " ..... " ...... v....................... ¯ " ...."Sma ¯ "- mey -;: = m ;’d not-~ ,; onentauon =s irrele ant m adopttons; .... ...... ~ ~ ann.... uast omer mrmer stm;ers ¯ ,~,~-~; t,^^,,_:,,= ~:=,~: ..... editorial content of the publicattons when theylbegan ¯ . _~ :_ ,t.~. r... u..... ~. a:.~. m.~t.rj.ous, xnep,a~e,rs,ue~g~o:p~p~nexntgmt~t~.um ~r,: Barber said he eame to the Capitol on behalf of a . . . , , . wire iwo more scneameo ................. s saidthe : Gaycoupletrymgtoadoptachild ‘They re upstanding Wevrichs ar~ notdictatino content. iuSt our ¯. etuzens ~ ~neynappentouenomosexna~ - notrelevant. ¯ They would make good parents," Barber said. philosophy, which has ~. d~ from day one." " The Rev. Jim Futral, the Baptist leader, said by "The staff onboard has a dear understanding of the ~ allowing Gays to adop,t., the state would encourage Weyrich family and their values ," he said. "In publi sher ¯ homosexual lifestyles. These kids will be influenced meetings throughout the past months,we have covered ¯" in a way we don’ t want them tO beinfluenced," he said these topics in depth." : during the hour-long meeting. Rep. John Reeves, RHe said-the Gazette papers, which promote Jac.kson, the subcommittee chairman, said the bill themselves with the slogan "Hometown Journalism was not meant to punish Gay people but was "trying at its Best" on the bottom of each front page, also to do what’s right by the children." Rep.. Gary refuse advertisin,g from nightclubs and tobacco Chism, R-Columbus, said legislators should be companies. ~’We ve picked.up 13 new advertisers concerned about children and "we shouldn’t place because of this," Hansen said. "We’ve received 400 them. in a lifestyle that’s unnatural." "It gives an e-mails this week that arejust po,sitive mid supportive. indication to that child that this is a proper relationship," Pemple resiXct,,us for’what ~ve ve Said ~and that we Chism said. stand up for it. Mississippi is among five states this year debating One observer says the debaie has at least one upside legislation over adoptions, by Gays, according to - forcing residents to discuss the meaning of the First Hector Vargas,’a lawyer for the Washington-based Amendment. ’YI’he idea that free speech and a free National Gay and Lesbian TaskForce~o,The others.are press is being discussed is extremely healthy,!’ said . Hawaii, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah: vargas Randall Murray ,a California Polytechnic ,,U,niversity,. said judges’ rtmin consideration "should be whether San Luis Obispo, journalism professor¯ While not or not the parents are a loving couple and can provide embracing~Weydchor..his,views, ~e reali~.Lhat he is for the child." " peffecdy secure to set editorial policy. Rather than The bill also says that the state will not recognize impose on him ,o,ur editorial policing, the remedy is ¯ adoptions by Gay couples in other states. That coUnter-speech. " i ’ ~: " : provision could be unconstitutional, Vargas ~id. "_ Several states have been sued over policies banning ¯ Gays from adopting.. Only Horida statutorily bars " Gay couples from adopting. ~ Robin Lemer, staff attorney for the American Civil CHARLOTTE (AP) - Charlotte, the city that has ¯ Liberties Union in Mississippi, said state lawmakers drawn national attention in recent years for its anti- : shouldbe worried about crime committed by children Gay atmbsphere, could have its first-ever community ¯ who grow up without families. ’‘The greater issue is " how can we best raise children to be good adults," she center for Gays as early as 2002. said. The Community Center Planning Committee will spend the next six months scouting for a location, Charlotte Gays Plan Community Center Aft~l"Hours AppointmerltsAvailabl~ 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 21.5, 745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa. O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting limes and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers .... . 9413E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 AAA 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-...-5934 ¯ Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows,.LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 �Georgia Hate Crimes Bill ¯ Free. Confidential HIV Testing- But Rep. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, and other oppo.nents said the Vermont Legislature appears to be moving toward recognition of ’~domestic parmerships’’ rather,than same-sex marriages. The final vote came after opponents argued it was a simple attack on homosexuals. "The billis nothing more than something : based on fear and I think it is an irrational fear,’" : Grossman said. "What horrible thing would happen : to us. It s gratmtous and mearisspirited:’" ~, - : Supporters denied that. "It’s based oh the ¯ ¯ accumulated wisdom and experience of cultures for hate crime. And he wasn’t alone in asking the Hons~ ¯ 7,000 years," said Rep. Shawn Mitchell, R~ J~.di~ary C0mmitte,elo appr~ove stiffer penalties.for Broomfield. "We alwayshave i:ecognfized as-selfcn.mes .~lotivated by race, religion, gender or sexnal !eviklent that marriage i~s ~joinih~dfopt~si te m~mbers onentataon. :~ .,o~ the human species." Pas~hail !said ~h~ Offered the Committeemembers also hear~ ~rom arabbi whose measnre as a reiriforcement OP’gootl publicpolicy." -synagogue was vandalized and a Gay mm~ who was assaulted with a knife at his throat. "Terrorism has an impact both on the victims and an .impact on the community at !arge," said Sen. Vincent Fort, DAtlanta, ~e bill s author. "Hate crimds are terrorism MIDDLETON, Wis. (AP) - Cal!ing.for an end to because of that fear." harassment and narrow-mindedeess, a group of Gay Barron Segar,.a professional fund-raiser, told the and Lesbian teen-agers and their friends,is trying to committee how he was~surrounded by eight menafter -leaving a Gay nightclub in Atlanta:in 1992. One ofthe ¯ persuade a majority of teachersand students to sign a p edge ..calling for tolerance_ 9.f ~students of all men grabbed Segar from behind and helda knife to hi.s .thro.at. "This is what we do to (Gays)," the man i b~k.:grounds and persuasions..! .... : - . . . :, stud, using an, e..pi,thet for~ho~a,os.exuals..~e al’t~ker ¯ , ~ndse,y.Clough., one of t.he s.~,d.e.nts o~g.amzang the ,v;xt.~:~x~;~:;.~.~=~,..~.=..~.~=2~.,:;,_~:.-~. .....~:..~.~,.~ ..... pmage onve~ stud she. ~dentd~es-wim the Ga - ~.,.~.~.~;mto ~g~uuuu mau-m¢ men scattere~; u o Y - 0~,~ . __ .o.;~ ....... hves-w~th;’me~erV day: tstilt~liaTe=iti!~h~es,’’ ¯ coun~.l!mty m. part tw.eause a ~e friend of her family lost a partner to AIDS.. 8he deS..eti’bed, her ;Sdgari~"dt~B~ifhly~~ttaek~dis d0h; ( Tli~ se~’~r~ed tw~ : " W~eks m tail ...... ..... " , ~. childhood as extremely difficiilt~ .r and said she has :: :;~ Rabbi;,TS.= ¯Robert Iehay of ~-Coni~te~ati~ix:,or: found. ,Goys and.lesbians to be’,~’0_~e.~0f the most : VeShalrmre~lled:h0w ~e synagog~e.~ ~D~I~alb. ¯ und..d.~smnd.ingpe°ple I’ve met in.~y~|ifei:r . "- C0tmtv vandalizex~ 1~ 4,e~;ffi-th~ag~iV",~ai~t’~ " ] ne stug~nt ~oup says its goalis to get most of the ¯d ~ag ¯ .. , .r..’~ M ~1-~ ¯ " ,-~ " ¯ ::Nl~ri:sw~ligas~dthewords~bloodsuek~r~~ ot~b~t~ " : school s 1,600 students and 200. teachers.to s~gn a ,~Sihee’thetL~I~l~ysaid,:the c0n~i~galion ~~-had:a ."-pled~e’.~f!~lerance andinthe.p~to~e~at the police.om~atev~’serv~ce~unetion=indMing_ i s¢.h~l a~qepts a!l students ..... weddings .iWe~sleepat¯ni~ht;’;hesaid::"Bat~livavs ~. :rng~schoolisoftenaprimepla~efor~a.ystudents " t~i.tll;an.e~ie :6~,, .in case~°omea,~,;; k~,,,~a,,~ ,,,-: - ~ : ¯ to be dbused, accordimz to a reoort last. Year bv the " Fort~s bill ¯passed -the Senate,bv~jttst’two~rtes ~ Gay,...L~,~fib!an and Strmght Educatto.n Network. The -. ~arlier thi’s m~nth, Thebi!t~,a!lr~S.~n~es to ii~se -. gr°up~,~9_Yed teens in32 states imd f~un~ that 91 percent of Gay and lesbian teens reported up to five years in cases Where.~ey determine the : "homo.phobic" remarks at school and 69perccnt said victims were chosen because of race, color, religion, ¯ theyexperieneedsomeformofharassmentorviolence. Patrick Kelly, an openly Gay freshman, said that national origin, ancestry, ei’hnicity, gendei, disiibility " or s~xiial 0dentationl ...... . while Middleton tends to be more accepting of Gay : students,than many other high schools, there is always ¯ room forJmprovement. ¯ "’ LisaAarli, a teacher who advises the student group, Walk-ln Clinics says she has seen great enthnsiasm over the pledge Gay Marriage Advances ¯ event. "It’ s given a lot of kids someflfiug to Nab onto The Pride StoreV 1307 E. 38th, 2nd.floor Tulsa Gay Cornmfini.ty Services Center 743.GAY S (743-4297) 6-D prn; Sunday ~ Friday 12-D pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center .OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local- Long Distance Cellular- Paging 747’ 1508 Free Car.~klaptor &,. Leather. Case with New Cell Phone TOM NEAL: Red Rock Tulsa- ..... Tuesdays, 5 -8 pm, Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesdays; 5-8 pm,-R~d Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more ilffonnation: 918-584-2325 KEVIN BU,RLESO-,N .... Keller Williams Realty .712-225,2 Burles0n@kwlcom 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An~~e.tn~er Bwker " OP~~S,OPBN~S,OPEN~S SaintAidan Saint Dunstan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 5635 East 71 st. 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati. 582-4128’ The Episcopal Church Welcomes You ATLANTA (AP)- Several hours after Palm Sunday seryices ended at Red Oak United Methodist Church, parishioners found themsdves watching from the cemetery outside as the ehnrch was Consumed by fire set by monists. "I stood there in the graveyard with my members, singing while it burned down," saidthe .Rev. John W: Pace, pastor of the black church in Stoekbridge. ’ It was hopeless. We could not stop the fire." Pace says his congregation was victimized by a : ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ Gay Teens Ask. ,Peers For Tolerance COlorado -Ban-on DENVER, (AP) - A marriage.between, one man and for a lot of different reasons," she,said. :’The kids on one woman would be the 0uly uniOn r~cogni2ed as ¯ the margins ,are being pulled into something big m~d .legally validby the state under a’bill approved by ¯ prayerful in tke school." . .... House lawmakers. The House,-which approved the .measureon a 36-29 vote; sent it to-the-Senate, where -it- probabl.y wDuld :pass,.,according to Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burliugton. Senators approved a shnilar proposal earlier this inonth. Gov. Bill Owens has said ¯ said he beieved the l~gislature sliotfld be.as.inclusive he.would sign the bill if approved by the I eegislature. ¯ as possible in the bill nmv, rather th,-m have to face In its original version, House Bill 1249 would have ~ such questio~m agMn some other, time. "My persom~ authorized courts to enforcenbnee0n0~nic provigions ¯ opimon is I don?t wm~t to have to.go t~ough ins for of prenuptial ¯contracts Spousoring Rep; "Mark " another reason. I don’ t want another ~gislature to go Paschall, R-Arvada, succeeded Monday in.stfippi.ng " tl~ough ~s," he said. all language from the bill-and substituting it with Little wo~d prefer to keep tfie_~co~.e:.’of the bill provisions to ban same-sex.marriages and to ensiire focused on the Gay and ~sbi~ conples who sued for the state, would not recognize S,’une-sex marriages " the fight tomTy in the fi~st place..~at’s ~vhy the ,pefformedJoutside~tsbordet~: :=:~ ,:, ~,, qivii d0m~l[¢.u~on bill~so~eloselyznfi~ors ~age As it did Moilday, the Hbuse on :ruesda) .rejected ¯ statutes. ?We haven’t seen ~y, eviOence that people a motiOn ,to~ send the bill to- the:House~:Jddiciary ¯ that ~e.bro~ers and sisters, bro~ers ~d ’bro~ers, Committeefor a public hearing. Moderate~Republieans " sisters: ~d sisters seek to eslablishthe:s~e,.Nnd of _. on.. that, com~ttee.lastl v~ab joined.~t~b~rats in " : inti~m~ -~i!~ ~:ha~e~felt~th~ kiliing a-’. similar;bill2 Coni~nittee meinb~sargued ~hat discfi~fio~ ~ their efforts to establis~$~ly they should be allowed.to, giv~ ~the-bill a(public~ : u~," ~tfle sMd. ’~e desi~ of the ~iIl, we hope, is hearing; but Paschall and other supporte,,r.s~ said¯ the~ " to ereate~ a NNo~on" ~vherN~e~ ~ n6-~:~ateriM ¯ ~ ~, 7 " -~ ~’ ¯ ~:,..~ =~ .: ~:.~;,~ ~,,,~ : ~. ~:~.~ . -concept l~as :had extensive public input. ¯ ff~en~ between ~fir~age-~fl domeshc"umons) obvious, transparent attempt to kill the bill, said ~d t-herefore no consti~utionM differe-n~’~between House Majority Leader Doug Dean; R-Colorado " ~ tWO." Springs. . However at a r~ent Repub]i~ S~te Co--tree He and other supporters said the measure is : meet~g, Ve~ont Republic.s rejected, at least necess.ary to avoid forcing Colorado to officially ¯ tempos]y, a push by the p~ty’s state chM~, re¢ogmze same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. " Pa~ck G~, for a ConsdmdonM ~en~ent Supporters said a recent ruling by the Vermont " supporting opposite-gender m~fiage o~y, The Supreme .Court called for legislative action on same- ¯ pro~sM stated ~at bemuse ~e state Supreme Court’ s sex mamages, and that action could mean official : derision in B~er v. State open~ ~e door for s~erecognition of such unions. . gender m~age, ~e OenerM Assembly shoed be~ ¯e pro~ss of ~en~ng ~e constitution. ’4, �JeSSeJackson Get H!Y Test :Gallo, Who headed the group,of academic researeher~ studying HIV infection. That group and several other WASHINGTON (AP) - The Rev. Jesse : independent researchers learned in late Jackson stuck a cotton swab between his ." 1995 that the gene is a so-called "viral cheek and gums Thursday to demonstrate : receptor" that the HtV virus attaches to. how easy it is to take an oral test for the ¯ They also discovered that defective virus that causes AIDS and to encourage ." versions of the gene generate a protein other black Americans to be tested. " that suppresses infection by preventing ’q’he crisis has not left. It is no longer " HIV from attaching to cells. "The fron.t-page. It’s not gunfire. It’s not ." likelihood is that this is the molecule that cocame, crack or heroine. It:s not gang ¯ needs to be used for the virus to go from warfare," said the civil rights leader, " one person to another," said New York speaking at the Max Robinson Center of " University’s Dr. Dan Littman, who also the Whitman-Walker Clinic, in one of the ¯ contributed to the academic study. capital’s poorest neighborhoods. "But William Haseltine, chairman and CEO nobody is safe," Jackson said. "I want to " of Human Genome Sciences, maintains send a message to every African-American : companyresearchers did extensive work that does not know his or her HIV/AIDS ¯ isolatingthe gene that justifies the firm’s status to get tested." ." ownership of the patent. Haseltine said Jackson, who said he had taken a blood " the patent will not impede outsid~ research, test for the virus years ago, took the newe~ ] adding that the company is making the oral test to draw attention to the issue as ¯ gene available to academic researchers at hundreds of people gathered in ¯ no cost. He said the patent will only stem Washington for the Johns Hopkins " the unauthorized use of the gene for University 2000 National Conference on commercial purposes. African-Americans and AIDS¯ ¯ AIDSactivists have reacted with venom The results ofJackson’s testate expected " toward the company, which they accused to be ready Saturday but, as is common : of capitalizing on the suffering of others. practice, they will remain confidential. It ¯ "’These guys are the robber barons of the was-not immediately clear if Jackson " genetic age," said Gregg Gonsal v es, policy would release results of his test. " director of the Treatment Action Group, a Blacks make up 13% of the U.S. ; New York-based AIDS lobbying population, but they account for 57% of ¯ organization. ’q’his is not about making all new HIV infections detected and nearly’,.: progress on AIDS; its about making half of all cases of full-blown AIDS, " money.’" according to the Centers for Disease ; Meantime, the U.S. patent office plans Control and Prevention. Additionally, ¯ to enforce new guidelines in March that more treatments have become available, ¯ would require applicants to better but AIDS deaths among blacks increased ¯ demonstrate the function and usefulness 45% between 1991 and 1996, even as ¯ of discoveries. Officials at the National mortality among whites decreased by 24%, " Institutes of Health, however, complain statistics show. " that the new regulations fail to go far Jackson .called on the president, first :~ enough. lady and leading presidential candidates to set an example by submitting to testing, noting, "The first issue is to remove the taboo and reststance to testing." ¯ Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway,-Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. i Clinton Plan May ¯ Benefit HIV Postive ¯ (AP)- In an experiment Patent Could Block ¯¯ WASHINGTON that could significantly, expand federal to patients with the AIDS virus, AIDS Research ~ benefits the Clinton administration is allowing LOS ANGELES (AP) - A feud between .. Maine to provide Medicaid payments to two groups of researchers over who owns ¯ people are HIV-positive but do not yet ¯ the rights to a gene helpful inAIDS therapy have AIDS. Previously, patients could threatens to slow the development of new ; notqualifyuntil theyhadfull-blownAIDS. drugs and treatment, The Los Angeles ¯¯ Health Secretary Donna Shalala said Times has reported. Maryland-based Thursday that Maine would be the first Human Genome Sciences secured a patent ¯ state to offer such a plaff,"whichcan give earlier in February ~hat gives it a 17-year ." more people living with HIV access to claim on a gene that apparently controls ¯ promising therapies.’" Several other states how AIDS begins infecting its victims. : are looking at offering a similar plan, However, the biotech firm only isolated ¯ officials said. "Better research, prevention and decoded the gene. Company officials ¯¯ and treatment is helping people with this acknowledge they had no knowledge of disease livelonger, healthier lives, even ¯ its use when they applied.for a patent in as.we continue our search for a cure," said June 1995. A group of academic scientists ~ Shalala at a conference on black people say they were the ones who proved the ¯ with AIDS. gene could be used tO explain why. some ¯ : Recent studies have showfl that the early people repeatedly exposed t6 HIV never use of.AIDS-fighting drugs can slow the develop the disease. ." disease and increase life expectancy. However, many people with HIV Meantime, the patent, gives Human Genome Sciences control over who can ¯ _generally do not qualify for Medicaid, use the gene in commercial,devel’0p~ient ¯ which provides health insurance to lowof new AIDS drugs, potentially limiting " income Americans, until they have the practical use of the academic research. ¯¯ symptoms and are considered disabled." Without the plan, "the Medicaid The ownership decision by the U.S. Patent ¯ program was in the untenable position of and Trademark Office outraged the group of academic scientists who say thebiotech ¯ having to wait until someone grew so sick ¯ with AIDS that they became disabled" firm co-opted their discovery. ¯ "If the patent office awards a patent to before treatment and drugs conld be made someone who clones a gene, even though ¯ available, said Francis Finnegan, Maine’s they have no notion of its function and no ¯¯ Medicaid director. The state’s five-year demonstration real idea of its use, that would be like ¯ projectbeginsinSeptember.Tobeeligible, saying, ’I found a fungus, therefore I should get credit for penicillin,"’ said the ¯ a participant must be HIV-positive and University of Maryland’s Dr. Robert ¯ haveanincomeofless thanabout $25,000, January April July October DecOnber Even Out Your Monthly Electric Bills. At PSO, we know that changing weather conditions ,throughout the year can cause your monthly electric bills to rise and fall dramatically. Which can make it hard to plan your household budget. That’s why ~ our Average Monthly Payment phn, could be your budgeting solution. W’~da ~ you pay about the same each month, because ifs based on yowprevious 12 months us~e.. That makes budgeting a breeze. AnO best of all, ifs free. AMP is just on~ of several fiem’ble payment options PSO offers_you. For more informatibn,.We’re a~filable 24 hours a day. Or.~’~p for AMP on our website at ~vw.csw.com. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South West Company �Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation. ~’:~whlch is three times the federal poverty ,: level. Before the plan, only children, .: pregnant women and the elderly or disabled with incomes below the poverty ! the 37-year-old mayor mused:about the level were eligible for assistance. The surprising twists and turns in his life. "It’s benefit package will indudedrug therapy, : ~ a strange journey," he said,, shaking office visits, lab services, case ¯ his head. "I started drug and alcohol abuse management, hospitalizations, mental : when I was around 10," he said. health and substance abuse services. ¯ The drug and alcohol abuse worsened About 1,300 Maine residents are when h_e was a teen-ager having conflicts infected with HIV and 350 have AIDS, with his policeman stepfather and according to the Maine Bureau of Health. struggling with the emer~ng realization The new waiver will allow the state to that .he was Gay. offer treatment to about 300 people who "I joined the military when I was 18 to couldn’ t otherwise afford it. Officials said escape a lot of things, and because I wanted the early intervention is expected to reduce o be somebody," Stewart said. "And, I the need for costly hospitalization and onestly thought that in the military, I d prevent addi tional infections. go straight. It didn’t quite work out that Nationally, about 900,000 people are way. I found more Gay people in the infected with HIV, a third of those with military than I’d ever known." full-blown AIDS, said Kathryn Bina, a His eight years in the Air Force brought spokeswoman for the federal Centers for him to this city of 21,000 on the shore of Disease Control and Prevention. A third Lake Champlain. When his tour of duty of those whose HIV hasn’t progressed ended, he started driving a tractor trailer. into AIDS, about 200,000 people, don’t Then came a drug and alcohol relapse. know they have the disease, she said. "I fell flat on my face," Stewart said. Claudia French, acting executive With the help of a network of friends, director of AIDS Action, a national AIDS Stewart struggled to overcome his support group, said more states need to addictions. "I sobered up on Dec. 14, ad’o~t such aplan. ’~roday’s announcement 1988, and I’ve been clean and sober ever will prolong the lives of low-income since." It was the recovery process that Mainers with HIV, but we want all HIVled Stewart out of the closet. "I was 26 positive Americans to have acces s to drugs years old, sitting in the basement of a that could keep them from developing church at a recovery meeting at 1 a.m. on full-blown AIDS," said French. New Year’s Day. I said, ’I can’t stav sober !,f, I .keep hiding the truth,"’ Stewart said. It lifted a huge burden. When you live a lie, you suffer the consequences." Backin the eab of a big rig, he considered SYDNEY, Australia (AP)- This nation’s : his furore. "I wanted a sense of inclusion first experimental heroin "shooting ¯ in the system, having a positive role," gallery" will open later this year in a " Stewart said. He got involved with the AIDS activist group, ACT UP, handing former pinball parlor in Sydney, the Uniting Church, which will run the 18- " out condoms on the street. His activism month government-approved trial, " ultimately led him into mainstream announced at the end of February. " politics. Of roughly 500,000 elected officials at The Site in Kings Cross, a suburb : notorious for drug use and prostitution, " the local and national level across the has been approved by New South Wales : country: about 180 are openly Gayand the police and the state’s health department. : vast majority are Democrats, according to It will be run by an expert on AIDS and ¯ the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a aim to provide a clean, safe environment : .Washington-based group flint seeks to for addicts to take their drugs. "Our ¯ increase the number of Gay and lesbian primary aim in operating the medically ¯ public officials. "It’s hard to overstate the . value of having outstanding opeul3,,’ Gay supervisedinjecting centeris to save lives," said Uniting Church spokesman Rev. ~ and lesbian people in public office, said ¯ Sloan Wiesen, a spokesman for the Gay & Harry Herbert." New South Wales state premier Bob : Lesbian Victory Fund. "When Gay and straight legislators are working together Carr said he understood concerns of local residents who have fought to prevent the : on less contentious issues, like education, gallery being opened, but said it would ; health care, or fixing roads, people are help improve public health. "We think it ¯ more inclined to stand up f0rfairness mayhelp save lives and get the problems ¯ when a nondiscrimination issue comes out of the streets of Kings. Cross into a : up," Wiesen said. Stewart hopes the national attention he " medically-supervisedlocation,’? Cart said. The center’ s medical director Dr. Ingrid ¯ en.j,,o,ys,by .virtue 0f,,b~,ing aGay Republican van Beck said about 200 addicts would ¯ Will neip the city. I m invited to all these use the center to shoot up when it opens, : events - the State of the State address, the possibly as early as July,, just weeks " State of the Union. It gives me the opportunity to get the message out that before Sydney hosts the 2000 Olympic Games. . Plattsburgh exists, and we need" things United Nations drugs experts this week " here. A lot of people around the country want to help, because they want to see me condemned "shooting galleries" but succeed." authorities in Sydney and two other cities Stewart does have some regrets. 0~e is have said they will forge ahead with plans that he never worked up the courage:to to open them. talk to his mother about the fact that he’s Gay before she died in a car acdident four Want to get involved? years ago. "I was making visits to the Need to get tested for HIV or White House on Gay issues, but I was a Coming Out Support Group? afraid to talk to my own mother about it. Call 743-GAYS (4297) It shouldn’ t have been that way," Stewart said, his voice trailing off. Tulsa Gay Another regret was that he taunted the boys who wanted to go to the prom at Services Center Cumberland High School. 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor see Mayor, p. I1 ~ Lesbians and Gay men face many special tax situations whether single or as couples. Electronic filing is available for faster refunds. 747-5466 4021 South Harvard-Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 Are You Gay or .Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here-for you! ~_~’/,~ ’ Evening sup~ group meetings ¯ , ¯ Sho~ trips, outings and retreats ¯ [ Free HIV testing ~or informat~n call Tul~ Native American AIDS Prevention Proj~t ’Shooting Gallery’: to Open in Sydney ¯ Community �The University of Tulsa TWO REVIEWS AND A MUSE! with .a just-too~tight cardboard Slip case [love John ~Villiams’ film scores. I covenng the CD case mid the thick liner really do; they are sweeping, grand things, notes abit too tightly, so that getting die alwaySsuitable for driving to, especially blasted tiring out is enough to prejudice the S~.Wars and Indiana Jones scores¯ your listeafing experience (childproof CD Hedidagreatjob.on 1979’s cases?).If you’re a purist Draciihi, d~ea~iiig, an qt is a nice thing to and a Williams collector., o~atie score that soared .this is for you. If not, well, andswooped al,ong with wish for rent the film. Dr~c~ffd~tly..It s my all= ~ .Jomme~he~mndoahhas peace ~ndha~mony a uewirelease out,and it is score.- too :bad it h~Snot well worth seeking out mid amm~. ~p~oipl~ been reissued comp!etdy buying. A member of the as some of his others have¯ Wolf Clan of the Oneida I wonder if it will What happened was, way (Iroquois) Indians in New ’ever kappen. ~ backwh~, scores were not York, Joaame has put out a released in the version of bestselling, One can, only hope :number heard in the film. Williams award-wi~ufing CDS that was 7::..notorious for arejustincredible tolisten that. Deganawida rerecording .chopped up to (Orenda, ~Matriarch, bits~iof, his: sc0~ds, edited will come along and Lifeblood)¯ She_has a t6gethdri .....ahogether lovely, clear,: bell-like diffe~gntly ~ft0ffa~the film, help create a world voice that .Ires an intimate aad rdea~ed as the ori quality to it that can’t, be that engenders mdtifnpicture s’dundtrack :beat. She ap,,l~ffed in Peter Whnt~.y0a ggt Wasnot the Buffet.t" S y Spirit,:- A laarmony anaong s0u.fidi~,.a~(.~,er~annoying ~re~ng~ d-f - ¯ ~,, peop, " 1 es_~. ’~.-: .-~ .-m!d:,~oug",,:-and Jotmley in,Dance,opened Drum, to~p.ufiS.~!, b.uLa reerea.ted .~rms.~...ash:..o[~,hat rmght ’ : :.. " :~ :;. ’- ~Wo.odstock ~94. :She:~has ha~g:~n~n!h9 soundtrack at somepoint~ ;. been ailed~-aa!~i-ve Ameii.can:yersion of In!re.a~..~ ca~_e~.,, this was disap~ointing, ~; Enya,:.a.1,.lhough; L.~eall~-!-hiak.,that’s This,~beguntochange,firstwithpufists ,~ ,c, ompari~g:,oa.pl~e~.:,~,d,+,oranges. rais~g~:S~jhenwithrecordcompanie,s : Pea~gmai~er,_SJoameyr:i:sanenchanting ,a,ct~[yt,iste~nipg. The score to Williams - r ~lbmn:, wi~h beautiful~melodies. Iti~ sung Close-Eae0unters of the 3rd Kind".was ~ in her~nativg~Oneida Jaaguage, and- the one::of .the. first to be remastered and ~ liner;aotes~.~conta_;n the :story. :and a rel~:witli all cues (music bits) int.act.. ¯ trans!afioa:~into:English of:/he lyrics: It is ~di]s:reallygreat~sincemuchofw.hat , the.p~effeet:~bumt~li-ght~some,oandles, mad~ the sou~dtrack~so great were ~CU! : and relax -~ith, with-its genre :melodies ¯ ."~" ~. " ’: : "- ’.~ ’ ~ ’6 --~ .... ~z ~-~ ~ ,:~-~-~,~,~-,. ,~;’,’::-, ,~:’L~"~’J-~ . ~nta~t. ~twas also great. Then the S-.~y~ i,. mumc,-ofLtl~ ~f~ri~:~ of,~.lroqums V~$i ~l~gy was. released with:.,t..b. ~;~: Co~f~%~li~x~i~ihg,~t6~er-~ter sou~atra_~ks"intact. That was beyond"~:~ many.:cemu~eS-ofW-~;-~-tli~M61iav~k, wonderful. Now, Rhino records has ~ ~Onei~;.Onoiidaga, Cayuga; Seneca; and released, something score purists have " TuscaroralndianNations.~’Peacemaker’s desired since-the film came out: The : Journey isdedicated-to children "Superman". soundtrack, complete, and, ¯" everywhere and to th0se striving for peace no pun intended, uncut. ¯" between people and harmony for all living Great in that the quality of sound is ¯ things. incredible for a score recorded in 1978, ¯ Peacemaker’ s Journey tells the storyof great that the record companies are Deganawida and Hiawatha, who smv the ¯ releasing complete sets of soundtrack CDs. tribes warring ambngst themselVes, and Not so.hot after a listen and the realization : sought to bring peace and harmony to the that Williams copying Williams is not ¯ people~ -Relationships ~etween the tribes really worth a 2" CD set, because almost ¯" had deteriorated into constant war, blood every cue on the two CDs (despite what : feuds~and revenge killings. In danger of the liner notes claim) is almost lifted note : self-destruction; the Iroquois were saved - for.~ note/from Star Wars. Oh a few ¯ by the sudden appearance of a Huron h01y sequences are rearranged, but "Luke ¯" man known as the "Peacemaker." Skywa~ker!s~" i.Theme" is clearly : Deganawida (Two RiverCurrents Flowing recognizable in one cue, and the original ; TogetheO re.ce~yeda vision from the openingnotesfrom"Star Trek" are audible ¯ Creator of peace’and cooperation among in another; in.what one might surmise to ". all Iroquois.Apparently he was hindered bea tributes,Williams borrowing of themes 2 by either.a language or speech difficulty, is nothing new;’,many classical references :... but :~ganaw,ida~ ~eaxttialty,, w:o~ ~the abound in Star Wars; but to blatantly ¯ support of Hiawatha (.Mionwatha - He borrow so much from oneself is just ¯ Makes Rivers), an Onondaga who had lazi~s~’~ ~:of.. li.ke~a~in~;i’~Well, I ~ beeo~n~..~:;Mg~aw.~:~ar~ ~i,ef. With don~f~[ lik¢i~ri~ti~t,g ~ ~,,w.hat can r.borrow from the .~,~gltv~l,~ear~ :: t.h~ir fighiiii~ Mdjoin i6~th~in ale~i~ue. S~n~.~ays,~eco~zes. T0,~,fair, m~be~h~ J~.t d~dd’ "~ h~,~e-lmucl~ tim.e .~d that. w~- tiieifio~t practic~i, s01ution~- ai~d maybe-theirwas why a fully complete score was never released. Still, it’ S a pleasant listen, especially if you recall the thrill of Christopher Reeve in blue tights and hotpants fondly, as I do. Who paid attention to the score? I must say that Rhino has done a fine job on the remastering; the sound quality is, as I said, incredible. The packaging is odd, : ~~end tdiS~fii Degan~widablotted 3ut : thesun"t;6:~dh~,~il~:tfieS:’,elucima~t;’~,i~oi~r ¯ eclipse, visible ’ih(upstate New York ." occurred in 1451 suggesting another ~ possible¯ d~t~ for these events. The ¯ formalion of the League ended the warfare : between its members bri~ging the Iroquois : a period of unprecedented peace and ¯ prosperity. It also brought political unity ¯ and military power. : "Peacemaker’s Journey" will be ~ releasedMarchT, 2000. seeAmuse, p. 11 The Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay & Trans Alliance presents ANiOKLAHOMO PROMO 2000 2-’~ightSi.~~di’,~y ~f:C£11~loid Scintillation B+~n+i’:~,+++~m+~:~+~*~@+~;~;Chi.~olls, and Out of Se~on Friday, Ma~h 24, 7- I2:0~ midnight .GOd Shave (he Queen,Watermelon Woman Indecent Acts: O~car Wilde, Cynam, P~t~ in Motion, and C~sh Sunday, March~ 26, 2-7pm Different for Girls, All Over Me, Under Heal, and Our Mom’s a Dyke ,.+ Chapman Hall Theater, 2835 East Fifth Street : -. :’- ~.: (not~the+:Alleri~Chapman~Activity Center) Eas{ of Delaware Avenue on the University of Tulsa campus. Please look lL~r rainbow flags to lead you in off Delaxvare Avenue. ¯ Thi+ ex;+fit is offered in +6iijunction withomyn,~&Hentage-Month. Actlvtt~es. P!.eg.s,e=,<+c~+ntact,..~g. J~6~s~+~at’ 63.1~:~3 i:!5 to make arrangements for accessibility, accommodations. �A Jurnpin ", Singin " . Movin" and Groovin" Good Time! by Mary Schepers, Do-lt-Yourself-Dyke : infomiation before promising her vast There was your DIYD, on her knees, ¯. array of skills, tools and energy to a friend aching, throbl~ing~-on the verge of tears - : The particulars of die story ,’ire not wondering why her mouth says "yes" ~ important. What matters is that a favor when her brain screams "No, no, no!" No, ¯¯ was asked of the DIYD - to help lay tile. gentle readers, we are not revie~ving the Rule number one: if the task at hand is one DIYD’s-latest forays into courtship, but ¯ that you are not only good at, but have a ~rather her most recent particular vanity over, Volunteer effort to help out watch out! You m’e very "There was a friend in need. As you susceptible! Alld the accumulate handy skills DIYD is the tile and grout ..~and .-become geuerally di~’a. Having refitedevery perceived as arather useful c6nv~i~tionat stiffaeeinher aehln~., indiv:idual, expect to be liouse, she finds herself asked to help out others. wonderizi~,7 Liii unguarded This is quite fair; after moments, whether the ver~e o~ tears all, most of us, your DIYD garage or the front porch included, have accumucould, benefit from the wonderln$ why lated skills and learned tasteful application of her mouth says lessons (someti~nes not ceramic tile. She was, m positive ones) from those fact, ripe for the phscking. ’yes" when her who:have helped us on our She graciously agreed. Wlfich brings us to rule ownprojects: Quid pro qu,o is a conunon currency tn nmnber two: agree on and the world of home set all the parameters improvement; the student around the proposed evolving into the teacher is an apt, and ! project befom.taldng it On: For those o,,f expected, metaphor. you.who shudder at theword "bom~dafies," " In short,_darlings;give backwhat has so ¯" find a word thai works, b~t do i t~ al!d do it generously been shared.with you~Or begin : thoroughly. This not only protec.ts you ficcumulating favors(that can be repaid ~ from unpleasant surPrises, but the party to later in your own moments Of dire need:It i whom you are lending assistance aswelE is common proffer; it is cxpected,~and it’ Nothing can sour a friendship like an is honorable, and as sly as your DIYD : ~tmisin4¢rpreted and gone aw.ry. ’ may seem, she is absolutely honorable.. : Both sid~ should knowwhat is expected, Therein lies the.theme; the exemplar. ¯ ’ what wil! actually occur, ~hat amount of and the moral of our m0nthlytale. Listen’ ¯ dme is involved, how~.much work is closely and ieani from yore DiYD.-And : inv61vht, hoW much each person is. remember that this is a. cautionary story; : responsible for, and~ what the fairexchange not a vehicle for blame,unless R is your will, be. Any changes should be poor DIYD’ S~ who did n°t askfor sufficient E comm,tmi.¢ated u~ front:..,., ." _’ .’," " your DIYD, on her knees, thr0bhi O;on the Warren Vach4 and the NEW YORK CITY ALL,STAR BIG BAND and direct from London! THE JIVIN’ LINDY HOPPERS Sunday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Chapman Music Hall, 3rd &.Cincinnati Tickets: $15,-$20, $2S, ’ *Includes post-performance swing dance Discounts a~aihble ~or~gr6h’p~ and’ ~tudents Call: 596-7111 or Outside Tulsa:~1-800-364-71il "Online:.’Rrano.tulsapac.com Tulsa PerformmgSA~s Center Trust Holland Hall SCHOOL MIDDLE & UPPER SCf-IOOL TESTING (GRADES4 - ll) PRIMARY SCHOOL TOUR (AC~ 3 - GRADE 3) PRIMARY SCHOOL TESTING ~qDERGARTEN- GRADE 1) To reserve your place, please call the i Admlssi~n Ot~ce at .,t81-1111, exte~i~n 25 t. 5666 E. 8 Ist Stre~J~.~ Bet~eea~le.& Sheridan ~ Tulsa ~ www.hollandhalLorg HSllatid Hall admits q~lifid’~studm~i ivfit~ ~egard to rat6 sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, or physical disability. Church,of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday, 1314 North Greenwood, 587-1314 50 New-Books at the Library by Barry Hensley Tulsa City-County Library Over the last few momhs, .the Tulsa City-Cotmty Libraryhas acquired dozens of recent tides of interest to the gay community. Cheek your local branch library for these dries, or call the Readers Services department at 596-7966. LESBIAN FICTION Shy Girl by Elizabeth Stark Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters Hers 3: Brilliant New Fiction by Lesbian Writers 6th Sense: A Cassidy James Mystery by Kate Calloway Bogeywoman: A Novel by Jaimy Gordon Lost Daughters by J. M. Redmann November Ever After by Laura Tones The Other Woman by Ann OiLeary The Vintage.Book oflnternatiomd Lesbian Fiction GAY MALE FICTION Breakfast with Scot by Michae! Downing Comfort and Joy by Jim Grimsley Justice at Risk: A Benjamin Justice by John Morgan,Wilson ~iYnStery k Slip by Rita Ciresi Surrender.Dorothy by Meg Wolitzer Minions of the Moon by Richard Bowes Capital Queers by Fred Hunter Every Manfor Himselfby Orland Oudand His 3: Brilliant New Fiction by Gay Writers LESBIAN NONFICTION The Queen of Whale Cay by Kate Surmnerscale TheWhole Truth:A Case ofMurder on the Appalachian Trail by H. L. Pohlman Monologues and Scenes for Lesbian Actors by CarolynGageJanet, My Mother; and Me: A Menloir of Growing Up by William Murray Baby Precious Always Shines: Selected Love Notes by Gertrude Stein Lesbian Health: Current Assessment and Directions My Lesbian Husband: ALandscape of a Marriage by Barrie Borich Hunting the Witch byEllen Hart Apples and Oranges: My Journey Through Sexual Identity I~y Jan Clausen RestrictedAccess: LeSbians on Disability To Believe in Womem ’What, Lesbians Have Done for America by’ Lillian Faderman GA~ MALE NONFICTION How to Survive Your Own Gay L~e by Pet~ Brass " . Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, G’ianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U S. History by Maureen Orth Crisis of Desire by Robin Hardy Love in A Different Climate by Jeremy Seabrook Finding the Boyfriend Within by Brad Gooch When It’s Time to Leave Your Lover by Neil Kaminsky see Read, p. 1: " �by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. ¯ in public? Who can use which word, and "Faggots !" I was sitting in my car talking ¯¯ in which context? "Gay" and "Lesbian" to my friend Errol when I heard the word. have recently become broadly accepted One of ErroF s cantankerous neighbors- ¯ terms for homosexuality. Some have also no pal, obviously - had barked at us as he ¯ attempted to revaluate "queer." marched past the car. I didn’t know Revaluation succeeds when the labeled whether tO feel outraged or amused. It had ¯ themselves embrace a slur as their own, been a long time since anyone "called me a defusing its negativ e charge. Thus,"Queer name, at least publicly. Sticks mad stones, Theory" is currently being taught in I thought. And did I really mind being a ¯ Ameficau umversities. faggot anyway? Then there’s "faggot." Faggot, as a Still, the hairon my neck Stood up. negative homos’exual label dates back Rude slurs are good e~idence of the pow er ¯ onlyto 1910, although it was used as early of words. Even-if 0nly symbolic, words ¯ as the late 16th century to slur women. In have an ~mpact. Some words ,are deeds. ¯ fact, a number of today’s Gay slurs Linguists study "’speech acts" that shape ¯ including the term "Gay" itself- were ¯ or change the world. Utterances like "I first applied to women. A "Gay" woman promise, "I apologize," "I resign," or "[I ¯ in 1650 Faagland was a prostitute. Robert name you] faggot!" have serious ¯ Scott’s Gay Slang Dictionary (online at consequences (as anyone knows who has http:/!~vww.hurricane.net/.~vizard/ been "pronounced" man or wife). 19.htnfl) lists 156 synonyms for"fag" mad Language can’carry either a positive or ¯ more appear else~vhere in the dictionary. a negative charge. Both sacred speech and (Scott also has 37 terms for "Lesbian.") profane speech are dangerous. In many These include Spmfish-derived’~maricon" religions, no one knows the name of god. ~ and "’pato," French "tapette" (although Or even where onedo..,e.s; the deity’ s name ¯ pede ~srmss~n~),~dd~sh fe~,ele, and is never uttered aloud, Magical words can British/Australian "poofter." Then there ¯ change the world. The secret word are the more obscure "’cot betty," "sesame" opens the cave. Abracadabra ¯ "daffodilly," "fu," "whoopsie boy," and pulls the rabbit from the hat. Uttering a "uffimay" - "muffie’" in Pig Latin. sacred name can have unintended ~’Faggot,’" unlike "Gay". or "Queer," consequences. You might wake sleeping ~ still remains impolite. The ~vord is gods. It’s safer to steer clear of charged ¯ dangerously profane.. Not many of my labels. ¯ academic colleagues are willing to teach A similar sort of ritualized avoidance of courses ~in "Faggot Theory." But the ¯ naming characterizes many kinship profane is always close to the sacred. systems around the word. Son-in-laws ." Because of its charge, "faggot" is more never pronounce the personal names of- ¯¯ hurtful but also thus more useful indefining their wives’ parents, and .vice versa. In who and what we are. When we name ¯ other societies, brothers and sisters avoid each other by the word, we make a strong, each other’, s names like hot potatoes. ~ pt~blic claim to belong to a shared world Anthropology suggests" that such ¯ .~oFfaggotry. So, still sitting in ~ny 4,’if; I "avoidance relations" smooth over areas jnst gave that !@#S% the evil-eye. of potential social conflict. Negativel5 charged words are equally powerful. The profane also carries a wallop. A curse c,’m kill. The villagers I lived with in Vanuatu were always fearful But in 1996, at a Gay pride parade in Providence, R.I., he took the opportunity when someone spoke evil of thegn. Even if someone swore without thinking, in the to make ,’unends, heat of an angry moment, the ancestr~fl "’I stood tip in t¥ont of 3,000 people mad lnade a public apology to the Gay ghosts ufight hear and punish the person who cursed, or the person who ~vas cursed. couununity aud the two gentlemen who went to that prom together," Ste~vart said. or both. "It was very emotional." " Sociologists of the 1970s formulated what tlaey called "labeling theory?" They Stewart 1]as been criticized bv some iu analyzed the ways in which lal~els, like the Gay connnumty for not being more out froht with his personal relationslfips. faggot, impact both society and the individual. Socially. an arsenal of negative He bristles at that. labels maintains power inequalities. Those "’My personal life is extremely private," he said. "People have a lot of gall to on the bottom of the social ladder shoulder the brunt of these terms. Individually, impose their opinions on someone who’ s such slurs unavoidably tinge our sense of trying to make a difference - to tell me who we are. Like muttered curses, they that because I’ ve reached a certain stature, can harm. Even if we are of the strong, I have to promote some Gay agenda." "words may never hurt us" sort, we still ’~¥qaen it comes to being a role model, Stewart believes it’ s more important to be have to take into account their social currency:We must respond tO slurs if only a great mayor than to spotlight his personal to deny their validity and power over us. life. "Having-openly Gay elected people Labeling theory in the 1970s particularly gives us our place at the table mad proves noticed ethnic slurs the N word, the H that we are just as capable as anybody else," Stewart said. "And it helps change word, and all those othe~ lfibels ,that~e today t66 impolite to say. Dhrin~"~iE last people’s minds abont how to consider Gay people in their daily lives. It’s all generation, American speech etiquette about being positive in what you do." (what socio-linguists call "pragmatics") has shifted to make use of these labels hazardous. More recently, the same has occurred with words like faggot. In a way, however, new politeness rules give these words even more power than they once had, as Errol’ s neighbor may have realized. There is a politics of labeling here. Whose words will become the standard labels - the one everyone safely may use IGTA member Call341.6866 International Tours formoreinformation. Massage Therapy Services ~Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. ¯ Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm @SprinL Sprint PCS" The Clear Alternative to Cellular. Sprint PCS" Select Retailer ;99.95 New Sprint PCS Phone :25.00 Less instore rebate $74.95 Net cost Buyany SprintPCS Phone and get $25 off! Everyone is approved! ~LSpriot~PCS service plans inc!ude.’" ¯ F~ee Voicemail ¯ Fr~e Caller ID ¯ Free Call W~g"oFr~3 way ~illing ¯ No a~ ~f~;~5;~tract required ¯ 100% ~pr nt: PCS Nat[~i~ide Network. Tulsa Locatioi~s~ - " 2001 S. Garnett, 437-2~.~.~. 3733 S. Memori.,~ 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: 109 N. Mission, 227-2322 �Meet Local Guys for Hot the other personal ads ) guys you like @Origin. 18+. Additional features from 67 thus is hope reborn, like a phoenix frown the ashes. And the world has changed; it is so much easier to come out earlier. There’ s less a chance of someone being afraid that they’re the only one - like I did, There were no role models. There were no out Gay folk that I could talk to. There were few resources available even at.the library, unless it was reinforcement of the writing in that booklet morn and dad gave me. Thanks to the folks who were willing to come together and fight and be,,,~ocal ~md out when it was much more dangerous to do so, the younger Gay folk do have options we older folk didn~ t have. For thai reason alone, the fight must continue. So get involved, even if it’s coming out to someone you haven’ t yet. The only way to dispel the lies and misi~ffonnation of the radically wgong is to present ourselves as we are - hmnan beings. That h~s done more to change folks around me tha_u all the marching and worn out footwear in the world. And what is it that we all seek, really? Not sex; and people who think that’s what it’s all about are just plain wrong. Tell them so. It’ s about the right to love without being discriminated against. And if they give you guff about that, just tell them what author Lynn Flewelling told me: Love is love. !n April of this year the "Warrior in Two Worlds" documentary will air nationally on PBS. Keep an eye open for the exact time and date in your area. This is a compelling story of Eli Parker, a Seneca Chief and a Union general in the Civil War. Joanne wrote the sound track. It is a nice thing to wish for peace and harmony among peoples; I wonder if it will ever happen. One can only hope thal _ Deganawida will come alo~ag and help create a word that engenders harmony among differing peoples. Maybe then there will be no more Gay bashing, lynching, genocide... Sometimes, with news of another Matthew Shepard-like case -coming along once a week, it’s hard to believe any change is occurring. Yet, I watch TV, and see Will and Grace, and many other shows that have or feature Gay/Lesbian characters, I see films that are about Gay folk even showing here in the crotch of the bible belt (Beautiful Thing, for instance) and can see a difference. Because when I grew up, the only image I had of Gay folk were the man mentioned in the book on birds and bees my parents gave me at 14 - published in 1945 - that stated homosexuals were men who hung around playgrounds in trench coats offering you candy. I remember thinking - in a rare moment when I wasn’t Tuesday, June 6th, an art exhibit, busy suppressing, repressing and denying "United" will open and on Thursday, June - that that was what I had to look forward 8th, there will be a film night. Locations to? That’s what I was? Ick. And the news and times will be announced later. at the time, if Gay folk were mentioned at For more information about these all, "was nothing but images of the most events, call the Gay Community Services whacked out, far out people on the planet. Center at 743-4297 (Gays). Groups who Lovely. want to enter a float in the parade are Now, kids have it much easier. Is it encouraged to attend the float clinic on paradise? No. Obviously not, and there March 11 from 1-4pro at the Center. are people who are very much fighting to prevent growth and understanding, and raising monsters all around us. As Melissa Etheridge wrote in her song "Scarecrow" on the albttm "Breakdown": "’We all gasp Gay Men’s Friendships: Invincible ’this can’t happen here’, we’re all much Cotnmunities by Peter Nardi too civilized, where can these monsters hide?’" She answers: "But they are The Elusive Embrace: Desire and the knocking on our front door, They’re Riddle of ldentity rocking in our cradles, They" re preadfing by Daniel Mendelsolm Prayer Warriors by Stuart Howell Miller in our churches, And eating at our tables." Widescreen Dreaths : Growing Up Gay at And she’s absolutely right; that’s exactly where they are. The boogeymen are out the Movies there; and occasionally they do get you. In by Patrick Horrigan another song on the same album, she Victory Deferred: How AIDS Changed Gay Life in America writes: "There is no marc, There are no ¯ by Johi~-Manual Andriote secrets, We all begin this race at the start, But I have come this far With a truth of the heart. Deep down inside I think we’re all ; OF INTEREST TO EVERYONE the same. Try not to judge someone And ¯ Gay Parents/Straight Schools: Building never shame. I do bdieve that people are ¯ Comnfftnication attd Trust good. They just want hope and respect by Virginia Casper And to be understood. Sometimes it hard ¯ Witness to Revolution: The Advocate sometimes it’s strange But the truth of the ¯ Reports on Gay and Lesbian Politics heart is people can change" ¯ 4 Steps to Financial Securityfor Gay attd And this is true; I’ve seen it happen. Far ¯ Lesbian Couples too infrequently, but it can happen. And ¯ by Harold Lustig that’s the hope that can feed the fire of Multicultural Detective Fiction: Murder change, andkeep us going when it gets too from the Other Side much. And it does feel that way, ¯ Out on Stage: Lesbian andGay Theatre in sometimes. I had gotten to that point, after ". the Twentieth Century seeing the internal strife within the ¯ by Alan Sin.field communities, as well as from outside. ¯ The Queer Sixties by PatriciaJuliana Smith How can we hope to change the world ¯ Gaylaw: Challenging the Apartheid of when we can’t even agree amongst ¯ the Closet ourselves? I’ d certainly decided it wasn’ t ¯ by William Eskridge worth an effort. But my best friend Karin, : To Be Continued, Take Two aftermany years of complaining about the Michele Karlsberg world, has finally taken steps. To at least i by Disidentifications: Queers of Color and make an attempt. And her doing so has ¯ the Performance of Politics reignited a flame within me. And if that ¯ by Jose Munoz spark might ignite another, then perhaps "- Something Inside: Conversations with Gay the tamers of the world can unite. And ¯ Fiction Writers �CouNCiL oak meN’S c or<aLe presents an~eclectic mix.of.choral.literature ranging from Baroque to Broadway, from pop classics of the ’50s and ’60s to a bawdy sea chantey aod an American Folk song featuring the Green Country Cloggers. Friday and Saturday, April 7 & 8, 2000 at 8pm Williams Theatre, Tulsa Performing Arts Center (reception following) Tickets: PAC box office, 596-7111 in Tulsa, 1,800-364-7111 or online at www,tulsapac.com council oak a fellowship of gay men dedicated to musical excellence in the performnnce of choral literature:, providing a source ot" pride, unity, and support, w;h{]e presenting a positive image for ourselves, our community, and society as a whole. FOR MORE INFORMATION about the council oak me~’s Cl~oI~aLe and its parent organization, the non-profit Vocal Pride Foundation,visit our award-winning website at www.counciloak.org. � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Bomber of London Gay Pub Pleads Guilty LONDON (AP) - A man accused of setting off~in~bs i Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulaans, Our Families + Friends : Tulsa’s Largest Circulation CommunityPaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations Louganis to Lead Pride 2000 ¯ Olympic Champion Will Be Parade Grand ¯ Marsha|l and Black Tie Dinner Speaker The Rev. Mel Whiteto Begin Week’s Events TULSA - Some Gay community observers might have thought Rights, the parent apparently targetedatracial minorities andGays pleaded " guilty to three counts of manslaughter late in February " and admitted causing three explosions thatinjuredmore than a hundred people. David Copeland, 23, admitted " planting the bomb that killed three people on April 30,- " at the Admiral Duncan, a Gay pub in central London. " Prosecutors did not immediately accept the ¯ manslaughter pleas, and a further hearing was set for " sometime in March. Copeland also admitted ¯ responsibility for explosions .on April 17 in Brixton, a : south London neighborhood with a large black ¯ population; and April 24in Brick Lane, an east London " neighborhood with a large Banglades.~ population. " NY State’s 1st Gay Mayor " PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (AP)-. Dan Stewart, New York’s first openly Gay mayor, is intimately acquainted ." with Gay-bashing bigots..AYter all he used to beone.." "When I was in high school, two boys went to court over . the right to go to the prom together," Stewart said. "I ¯ spoke out loudly against them on TV, on the steps of the RhodeIsland Supreme Court. Imade amockery ofthem - because I knew who I was, and I was scared ~to. death people would find me out." ¯ Two decades later, Stewart has no such fears. He was " open about his homosexuality when he ran for mayor of ¯ this lakeside city near the Canadian border last fall. "I told the people,’Iam what ! am- Takeme or leaveme,"’ : Stewart said."Itold them, ’Ifyouchooseto takeme, I’m " going to do one hell of ajob for you. But if you choose ¯ not tO take me because I’m Gay, I understand. I used to : be prejudiced too." : Asittumedout, his sexualitywasn’tanissue. Perhaps ¯ it would have been, had hebronght a male partner to a : political event during his,six years on the City Council. ¯ But Stewart keeps his personal life out of the public eye : ~- mostly 60 miles away in Montreal, where his partner ¯ lives. It also helped that his opponent, the five-term " Democratieincumbent, was knOWn for supporting Gay ." and Lesbian issues such as nondiscrimination statutes, ¯ and had long enjoyed the endorsement of Gay lobby ." groups. "The.race was on community issues," Stewart " said. "My opponent never used the words ’sexual ¯ orientation. ’" ¯ Buoyed by endorsements from Republican Gov. ¯ George Pataki and the city police union, the former Air ° Force sergeant and long-haul trucker won by a narrow ¯ margin, becoming one of five openly Gay city mayors ¯ in the country. " In some ways, Stewart has taken more heat for being " GOP than for being Gay. The Empire State Pride : Agenda didn’t endorse him until the llth hour - and then, he insisted that part of the Gay lobby group’s " $1,000 campaign donation go to the Republican Party. : "I always get thesame thing (from Gays) wherever I go: How canyon be Gay and be a Repubhcan. What as wrong with you?Are you insane?,’"- said Stewart, a tall, " dapper man with an enthusiastic manner and a dimpled : grin. "But there’s a change going on. In exit polls over ¯ the past 10 years, consistently ~a third of people who ¯ identified themselves as Gay have said they voted " Republican." : In a recent interview in his second-floor City Hall ¯ office, see Mayor, p. 7 " that the annual pride festival organizers would be hard pressed to top their accomplishments of 1999 withUS Congressman Barney Frank, Democrat from Massachnsetts, serving as grand marshall of Tulsa’s first Gay Pride Parade. However, event organizers fromTulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, have, at the very least, matched the stature of last year’s speaker with US Olympic champion, Greg Louganis, to se’ive as Grand Mhrshall for the Millennium Pride Parade this June. Louganis’ appearance will cap a week of Pride events which will begin with aninterfaithworship service featuring the Reverend Dr. MelWhite. White is known as an author, forhis autobiography, "’Stranger at the Gate," and formerly as a ghostwriter for right wing religious leaders like Jerry Falwell. White more recently has been leading a social change organization, Soul Force, modeled on the ideas of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mohatmas Ghandi. Like White, Louganis is also an anthor and an actor as wall as an athlete. His autobiography, "Breaking the Surface" topped the New York Times bestseller list, and as a lecturer, he has spoken about his chall~nges with a difficult childhood, his struggles in coming out and with dyslexia, his experience with domestic violence and with being HIV positive. Louganis wonhis first Olympicmedal, a silver, at age 16 in the 1976 Games. In 1984, at age 24, he won two gold medals, one for the platform and one for the springboard - the first man in 56 years to accomplish this feat. In 1986, he again won awards the same events in the World Championships, and then in 1988, won double gold medals for diving in two consecutive Olympics. Louganis will speak at a black fie optional dinner to be held at the prestigious Summit Club on Friday, June 9th. Tickets for th,e, event are $75/person and there will be a VIP reception at $50~ person. These events will benefit Tulsa Oklahomans for Human : Vermont:Married or Partners? MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Lawmakers debated last ~nonth whether to limit aproposed domesticpartnership system to stonesex couples or to allow opposite-sex and blood-relative couples to qualify, also. There are some in the Legislature who believe that broadening the proposal might make it more politically palatable to a greaternumber ofpeople, improving its d~ances of passing. But others argue that such a revision would diminish the central aimofthelegislation beingdraftedby theHouse Judiciary Committee: providing therights andprotections ofeivil marriage to Gay and Lesbian couples. As the Judiciary Committee prepares to finish its work on the bill,that debate is coming into sharper relief. Members of the committee faced the issue, along with the potential political implications. "Iunderstand that there are people who see expanding this ... enhances the attractiveness of the legislation," said Committee Chairman Thomas Little, R-Shelburue. "’But I’m not sure we have the time to expl.ore all that stuff." "I support that in prineiple, but it’s a significant diversion from what we’ve been working on," said Rep. Steve Hintgen, P-Burlington. "q hope it doesn’t drive this to a halt." "ff you don’t do it you might drive it to a halt," said Rep. Michael Vinton, D-Colchester. In sum, that’s what the comunttee faces. In recognition of that, Little has been trying to develop a companion to the domestic partnership systemknown as reciprocal benefits, that falls short of the marriage-like benefits that would be provided to Gay and Lesbiancouples. Thereciprocal benefits,.however, might include workers’ compensation benefits that could flow to a reciprocal benefits partner, certain inheritance and real estate and other property benefits. Althouglino votes have been taken,noconsensus has developed in the Judiciary Committee that opposite-sex couple should be included in the domestic partnership system, which the panel has taken to calling "civil domestic unions." There also has not been a lot of discussion in the committee about permitting blood relatives- such as two brothers, two sisters, a brother and a sister, or a daughter and her elderly mother - to become domestic partnerships. ¯ But such expansions have been discussed down th~hall in the Ways and Means Committee, the tax-writing panel that will have to review the tax implications of the bill Rep. Albert Perry, DRichford, see Vermont, p. 5 orgamzation of the Gay Community Center and Oklahoma’s oldest Lesbian and Gay non-religious organization. Organizers anticipate that the Greg Lougams parade will follow the stone route as last year, beginning at the Ga~’ Community Center.at 37th and Peoria and ending. at Veterans Park at 18th and Boulder. The parade will begin at llam. The Pride Festival will also begin at Veterans Park at 1 lain and will continue till about 7 or 8pro, finishing off the week’s events. TOI-IR organizers include Kerry Lewis as chairperson of the overall effort, "Htunanity United for Human Rights - Diversity Celebration 2000," Greg Gatewood,TOHR presidentandfestival chair. Audra Sommers, parade chair, Lynn Moesteller, sponsor chair, Mitchell Savage, media chair, Kris Kohl, festival entertainment chair and Ned Bruha, in charge of festival booths and beverages. Other Pride events include a Soul Force workshop, led by the Rev. Mel White, to be held in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) LowerLevelTheatre onJune3, Saturday,from 2-5pro (free). That evening also at thePACDoenges Theatre,theTOHRFollies, not seen for a number of years, will reprise, 100 Years of Broadway with tickets available through the PAC. see Pride, p. 11 : Gordmans recently invited diva Audra Sommers to try shopping with them again after shefirst receivedpoor treatment atthe Yale Ave. store. Sommers praised the Corporate and store managementfor their.responsiveness, Gay Men’s Chorale to ¯ Hold Spring Concert ¯ TULSA- Council Oak Men’s Chorale will present ¯ two concerts on Friday and Saturday, April 7 & 8 ¯¯ at 8pm in the John Williams Theatre of Tulsa’s ¯ Performing Arts Center. The concerts, entitled "’Harmonic Diversity" will feature music from ~ Broadway tunes, 5O’s & 60’s pop songs, "sea ¯ chanteys," a Welsh lullaby, and a baroque piece. -" The Green Country Cloggers will perform a cameo ¯ number. : The Council Oak Men’s Chorale is a fellowship of Gay men dedicated to musical excellence who : seek to provide a source ofpride, unity and support ," and to present a positive image for themselves, the ¯ Gay community and to society, as a whole. The ¯ group is a chapter of the Tulsa-baSed Vocal Pride Foundation, and a member of GALA: the Gay and " Lesbian Association of Choruses. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial *Full Moon Cafe, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria *The Mix, 2630 E. 15th *Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *Silver Star Saloon, 1565 Sheridan *The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 21145. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd 712-2324 610-5323 583~6666 749-4511 749-1563 744-4280 745-9998 83~ ~234 835-2376 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 Tulsa,Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wireless & PCS, Digital Cellular *Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Kent Balch & Associates, Health & Life Insurance *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 *Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 523 1 E. 41 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 *.Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807e S. Peoria Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 74%1508 743-1000 747-9506 250-5034 665-4580 712-1122 712-9955 494-2665 743-5272 746-0313 581-0902, 743-4117 622-0700 749-3620 58%2611 744-5556 838-8503 712-9379 592-0460 744-9595 610-0880 628-3709 808-8026 742-1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 712-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 664-2951 838-7626 743-4297 747-5932 834-0617 ,747-4746 ’749-6301 260-7829 481-0558 835-5563 743- 1733 665-2222 592-0767 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th *Devena’s Gallery, 13 Brady Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan *Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main ""- *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E 55th H. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Leanne M. Gross, Insurance &financial planning Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly *International Tours Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 19 E. Brady *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Howers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2rid floor Rainbowzon the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921 *Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Fay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counsding *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc. PUB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center. 2207 E. 6 583-7815 *B/L!G/T Alliance, Univ. ofTulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th PI. & Florence *ChurchoftheRestorationUU, 1314N.Greenwood 587-1314 *CommunityofHope United Methodist, 2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Ddaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 o-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: ~- James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1st of each month, the entire contents of this publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by Td~ /:~.,,.z~ N~, and may not be reproduced either in wholeorin partwithout writtenpermissionfromthepublisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of T~€~ ~:~ Ntau¢, Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 582-0438 *HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583-6611 *Tulsa C.A:R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 *Holland Hall _School, 5666 E. 81st 481-1111 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 *House of the H01y Spirit Minstries, 3210e So. Norwood Interfaith AIDS Ministries 438-2437, 800-284-2437 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral H.. 748-3111 NOW, Nat’l Org. forWomen, PUB 14068,74159 365-5658 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 749-4901 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 *R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 O’RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 St. Dtmstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 *TNAAPP (Native American men). Indian Health Care 582-7225 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. forHuman Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.LS.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38,74105 743-4297 UnityChurch ofChristianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN *Borders Books&Music, 3209NWExpressway 405-848-2667 *Borders Books & Music. 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH *Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 *Tablequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 *Green Country AIDS Coalition, PUB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 *Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Emerald Rainbow, 45 &1/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U 134 501-253-7734 501-253-7457 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501-253-2776 501-253-5332 501-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 417-623-4696 * is where you can lind TFN. Notall areGay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. by Michael Kuchwara DENVER (AP) -The audience is greeted by a bare, black brick wall, a single light and a row of wooden chairs and desks. Later, a few video screens and film clips are added. ¯ Still, nothing else is reallyneeded to tell ¯ the story of Matthew Shepard and the effect his-murder had on the town-of ¯ Laramie, Wyo. It is a spartan, yet ¯ appropn,’,ate setting for "The Laramie Project, astirring, emotional tale, almost ¯ epicinscaleas itswirls through thedetails of this young gay man’s brutal death and ¯ how the residents ofLaramiedealtwithit. The-play, which had its world premiere ¯ in February at the DenverTheater Center, ¯ presents a cavalcade of characters ¯ portrayedby eightactors from theTectonic TheaterProject, aNewYork-based troupe. ¯ They even play themselves. "TheLaramie Project," writtenby these ¯ actors as well as otherTectonicmembers including founder Moises Kaufman, was drawn from their interviews with more than 200 people. Yet it is more than just ,docudrama. It is a story of feeling as well ¯ as fact. Each gets its fair share of stage ¯ time, grounding the evening in reality ¯ without sacrificing the emotional intensity of people trying to deal with their hopes, ¯ fears and prejudices. ¯ What makes "The Laramie Project" so ¯ intriguing are its shades of gray. Nothing is simple. There are no easy answers in coming to terms with Shepard’s death. ¯ Kaufmanandctmpanypresenta variety ¯ of memorable portraits culled from their taped interviews. There’s Reggie Fluty, ¯ thepolicewomanwhountied Shepardfrom ¯ the fence post. As vividly portrayed by ¯ Mercedes Herrero, Fluty is a vibrant ¯ woman, confronted with something so ¯ horrific that she says, at one point, "They ¯ show showed me a picture.., days later I saw a picture of Matthew... I would ¯ have never recognized him." ¯ Equally unnerving are comments from Rulon Stacey, spokesman at the hospital where Shepard died. In Greg Pierotti’s intense performance, Stacey breaks down, ¯ watclfingthecourageofShepard’sparents ¯ as they confront their son’s death. Pierotti also gives weightandan emotional honesty : to the commonsense statements from a ¯ priest, Father Roger, who decides to get ¯ involved in leading a vigil for Shepard. What ties the townspeople together are ¯ their efforts to understand. As the doctor ¯ who first treated Shepard when he was ¯ broughtintoaLaramiehospital emergency ¯ room says,"This is something thatoffends us. I used that word a little earlier and I ¯ think that’s a good word. It offends us!" Stephen Belber excels at two of the ¯ showier roles in the play - particularly a ¯ tough-talking taxicab driver who ¯ epitomizes the "live and let live" ¯ .philosophy that threads its way through ." the speeches of many of the many of ¯ people interviewed. ¯ Right now, "The Laramie Project" is ¯ still undergoing changes. Thirty minutes ; were cut from the play after the .first ¯ preview. Even now at two hours and 45 minutes, it could use more of a trim. : Shepard himself is not a character in ¯ "The Laramie Project," but his presence ¯ haunts the play. It hovers sweetly yet sadly over the entire proceedings, as well ¯ as the town he loved so much. That is only appropriate. As one of the residents says at the end of the evening, ’¢I’he last thing Matthew Shepard saw on ¯ this Earth were the sparkling lights of Laramie, Wyo." Lesbian Survey Results In the past two years, you may have seen an amlouncement about a study on how "Lesbians and thei? sisters are similar or different." This mmouncement appeared in 200 Lesbian mad Gay/Lesbian periodicals (including Tulsa Family News). It was also sent to 614 Lesbian/Gay religious orgamzations; 105 Lesbian bars: 54 women’s bookstores; 346 cmnpus Lesbian/Gay Bisexual/Transgender groups; and 83 groups listed as "’etlltlicimttlticul tural." Tiffs research was conducted by Esther Rothblum, a liprofessor of psychology at the University of Ver-mont, who studies Lesbi~m igsue~. She was interested~in how Lesbians mid their heterosexual sisters differ on demographic factors. For exanlple, manv studies about Lesbimas have found them to be highly educated, not very religi,ous, and livi~’lg in l:u’ge cities. Obviou_’~ly, this does not describe all Lcsbia~, but there mav be reasons why Lesbimls are differeut flom women iu the general U.S. population. .... eontrlbutes to [Lesbian] demoSraphle factors? ¯ .. }-][ere are some speeulatlons: - Hi her education may result in beeomln Lesbian . . Y For example, Lesbians may move to large cities to find other Lesbians, to moveaw@froth their parents and their politically conservative home town, or to be more anonwnous. Similarly, Lesbians nmy have high levels of education bccanse they didn’t get married innnediately after lugh school, or didn’t have clfildren at a you age. In this study, Rothblunt conipared Lesbians’~vith thei?~ sisters. Unlike members of other minority groups (e.g., African-Americans, Jews, inunigrants), Lesbians (mad Gay men) differ m one importm~ respect in that their sibhngs me generally members ofthe domimmt gr0tq~ (hctcrosexnalsL In the case of biological sisters, thex would share the stone race m~d etlmicitv, and have had th~ s~une parents. The\ mav also bc close in age. So tiffs method would allo~, vou’to exmnine the lives of Lesbimls side by side with sistel.s who m-e not Lesbian. A total of 1,2(~- questiotmmres were requested bx email, telephouc, or mail. mad 762 of these were retullmd. Ilcrc are the results of the 184 sister pairs iu which one was Lesbim] mid the other \vas heterosexual: - Lvsbians arc older thm] their heterosexual sisters. - Lesbiaus are also more likely to be first-bores when looking at ages of all l)rother’s mad sisters. (This is interesting, because research on Gay men has sho~vn thcnt to be younger sons.) - Lesbians have higher levels of education th,’m do diet r heterog~’,~Ual sisters. - Heterosexual women are more likely to be homemakers than their Lesbian sisters. There ,are no differences in other types of employment status, or on occupational level. - Because Lesbians have higher educationM levels, they would be expected to have a higher individual income. Still, Lesbians mad dleir heterosexual sisters had similar individual mid fanlily incomes. - Heterosexual women were part of formal religions iu adulthood, whd’~as L~lSfan~ Were mtte likely to endorse altenmtive spiritual beliefs. - Lesbians were more likely to be living with a female partner or living alone. Heterosexual sisters were more likely to be married, li vh~g with:a,~ale p.,?r,mer, m~d living with children - For those wonlen . in a relationslfip with a partner (121 Lesbians ,and 149 heterosexual women), heterosexual women have been in this relationsltip for a longer time period ( 11.4 years) than Lesbians (6.87 years). - Lesbians were more likely to be"]iving in a large city than their heterosexual sisters. - There is no sig~fificant difference in how many years sister pairs have been living in their current location. - But Lesbians live further from their previous location than do heterosexual sisters. ¯ by Dave Fleischer : Senior Fellow, Policy Institute ¯ National Gay and Lesbian Task Force ¯ As ourcommunity faces anew wave of Millennial anti- " Gay ballot measures, it would be easy to be fearful about ¯ our prospects. After all, eight out of twelve votes on ¯ homophobic referenda went against us in 1998 and 1999 ¯ alone. Yet the shocking thing about our cotmnumty ¯ losing so many elections is that we actually "know how to ¯ win them. What effective strategy ¯ persuades voters to stand :-, with-us? After six years ¯ training Gay, lesbian, ¯ bisexual and transgender ¯ (GLBT) leaders around the ¯ country to run for office and ¯ manage campaigns, I know ¯ it’ s when we "come out mad ¯ talk" - engage voters one- ¯ on-one and ask them what ¯ they think. ¯ Vehen we do, the fuzz)’, unflattering image of us as ¯ oddities from an X-Files episode dissolvcs._ Voters ¯ reconsider who we are and are much less likely m fall ¯ for propaganda that makes us out to be something we’re ¯ not. Just as importantly, what proven strategy identifies ¯ voters who are already supportive? The very stone ¯ conversation. Because when we do "voter I.D.’" -askiug ¯ each voter "Can we count on your vote’?" - we build a ¯ reliable list of Gay and pro-Gay voters to whom ~ve can ¯ return, to turn out our vote, election after election. Since ¯ many of our strongest supporters often miss clectious, ~vc _. lose without this kind of follow-up. Making a voter I.D. list isn’ t glamorous, but it makes or ¯" breaks our campaigns across the country. Maine offers a useful case study. In February 1998, fineGLBTconmlunit3 ¯ lost Maine’s state-wide law bmnung discrinlination ou the basis Of sexual onentation. It had taken Maine leaders ten years to pass the law: die Christian.C.oalition erased it ten months after it passed, despite a vali-anl battle bv our How did we lose? The New York Times post-electiou analysis was ~ shockingly clear. It quoted a Bowdoin .: College professor with 25 years, of Maine polling ¯ experience, who said, "Maine is no more mtolcrmn than ¯ other states, and given a well-lq_ln "gay;-rights- c&mpatgn, would likely split into tw.o canlps, with 55%. supporting ’Gay rights’ mad 45% against." A well-rim cmnpaign is built on turmng out its base. The low turnont of pro-Gay voters cost us the election. How did the Christian Coalition tuna out ~ ts supporters. ¯ when we couldn’t? They prepared for the election by starting tQ identify their voters well m ad\m~ce. Eigl~t months before electiol~ day, the Cln’istian Coalitiou gathered 58,000 petition si~latures to call the February 1998 election. They began the cmnpaign With the name, address and phone number of 58.000 voters who they could turn out to vote. Pro-Gay activists started withno sitnilar list. We cotfld have- m November 1995. voters across Maine defeated ml m~ti-Gay measttre. But the "95 cmnpaign didn’t talk with voters oue-on-ouc to idenlify our supporter,s. Of the 221.562 people who voted with us, our comnmnity eudcd "... eight out of twelve votes on homophoble re~erencla went-a.~M~nst us in 1998 and 1999 alone. Yet the shoekin$ thln$ about our eommunlty losln$ so many eleetlons is that we actually hnow how to win them . . 7’ the canlpaign -l~aowing the nmnc. address and phone number of fewer than 3000 Gav.and pro.Gay,voters. - -. X\~ began the" 98 cmnpmgn with 30(~) on our list..versus 58,000 on theirs. Whc~ e]ectiou day ’98 crone, wc lost by 7.299 votes, bccansc 83,409 who voted wiOa us in "95 didn’t ttma out to vote again in "98. We lost Ihal election, but we shouldnt lose [le~’l - so long as lcmn from theexpencucc. For cxmnple, wc will likely fnce an anti-’Gay repeal vote just like Maine’s m *’liami-Dade Couutx The upconm~g cmnpmgl~ is hatmtcd bx the one wc losl [111977 It Anita Brvaut"s "’Save timChildren" cauapai~n Fortunatel y, key leaders in SA VI ~ Dade, the local lmlnan rights group, Jorge Murstfli. Shcila O’Fmlell, Gcore Kctclholm. mid Griscl R~xlrigncz, have begun to bnihl their list. By lcachiug lcssous flom other canq)aigus, thcx have motivated their vohmtccrs to talk face-to-face VOleI’S. On July 29. SAVI~ l)adc had its biggest voter I success v~t. In twelve hours. 300 volunteers had facc-tofacc couversations with 4.909 voters. SAVE Dadc has ~dreadv built its list to iududc 15.000 Gay and pro-(~a vol~rs. Ofcourse. 15.0(~) i s not cu~)n~ h. ’l’bc Chfis finn ( ~o~ d i u will begiu their cmnpmgn with a lisl of 33,000 SUpl)ortcr~ of their own. Ihe number ol l)ClH~on ~igllaturc~ Ihc~ to put lhc issue on lhc ballot Butdm SAVE l)adc strategy to invite our fi’icnds to Ihi election ~s a winning one. On July 29, as they realized what they had done and bcguu, Shcila O’ Farrell c-nmilcd me: "’Well. Dave. you szfid 6.000 and I laughed. You ~aid 30 phonc bm~k~ with 10+ vohmtccrs m~d I rolled m~ c~ And tomght we exceeded any expectations I ever had do you kuow what? 1 guess that trap we teach rcall’ woi:ks~ I think 1 had quit bclicvmg thal Thanks cliallenging mc " In tough elections, there is uo SmUt Claus. XVc have ~lOW who our friends ;u’c if we xv~uit to win:’]’o klloXv xx they ~u-c, wc have lo ask. onc-oll-OllC. Then wc C~l~ thai List mid check il twice - and win the Iougla election. that lic almad - Lesbimls live flirther from their lnother :rod from thcilfather than do their heterosexual sisters - l~sbim~s have moved to fl]cir CUlTent locatiou because of their oxvn cducatiou. I [ctm’oscxtud women have movcd to their cu~ent location because of their partuer’s job. - Lesbians have higher self-esteem titan do their beterosexuM sisters -There are at differences bet~veen sister pmrs ou any measure of mentM health (such as depression, m~xietv. etc,) z Lesbians and their hEterosexnalsigters ~e 6x~ctlx the san~e average height (5 feet 5 inches) but Lesbians w~igh more (161 lbs on average) than do hctcroscxn~d sisters (143 lbs). -Lcsbimis are more likel~ to have been in l)sychotherapy than their heterosextu~ sisters. - Both sisters tend to have heMth insurance, but heterosexual sisters are more likely to have health insurance through their parmer, and to have dental lnstlr~lce, hnplications: HeterosexuM women ~e more like census data of U.S women than are Lesbians on: m~age, living wifl~ rome pm’tner Ctfildren Religion ~ucation Population density Convelfience smnples of~sbim~ flint fiud that I ~sbim~s live in l~ge cities, ~e lfighly educated, have a lo~v income relative to education, and may not be religious, may~morerepresentative ofthe ~sbians who p~ficipate m Lesbian communily organizatious ~md c\cnt.s What is it about being a Lesbian that contributes to dcmoglaphic factors? llcrc arc some speculations: 13cing older and firsl boru may result in Increased education. - Not bciug mmTied or havi~ tg children at a yotmg age, living Mone and/or not beiug in a long-term rclationslfip umv. result iu highcr education and geographic mobility. tli~hcr education may result iu becoming I.csbimi - Liging in l~ge cities nmy expose women to l.esbian " d0nmlfinifies. ............ Wlmt is it abont being a Lesbian that contribntcs mental health and other factors’? Ilelc arc some specu.lati ous: - Do l.esbians reln~fin<~m~l:byedin order to mmff}ain hcMth insurance whereas liet:~ro~eXnM lnm’ried can become homenmkers due to their husbands’ 6cncfits? - Are Lesbiaus less focused ou weight and appearance? Or do heavier young women become ~sbians m~d!or increase edncadon becanse of fewer dating or relatiouship options? - Does Lesbians" greater use of psychotherapy account for dmlack ofmentM hemth differences between ~sbians (a stiglnatized group) and their heterosexnM sisters? - Does belonging to a supportive conmm~fity account for Lesbians’ higher self-esteem A Newspapers Refuse to Print PFLAG .Listing LOS ANGELES (AP) - A family of weekly newspapers distributed free to 126,000 Central Coast households and businesses has created an outcry over its refusal to publish news deemed favorable to Gay orpro-choice viewpoints. More than adozeneditorial employees of tWO of ~he papers have quit since the policy came to ,light last week. The papers, which circulate in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles andAtascadero, have beenhit with about 400 cancellation-requests. Earlier this week, about 100 people protested outside the County courthouse in San Luis Obispo, some carrying signs that read, "No Bigotry. in My ~owa,’: : The c~rttro~er~y:ste:r0s from:a ¢:ommuuity calendar listing; for~ Parents, Friends and ~Eamily~0f Lesbians ahd ~ays~ Bisexuals .and Transgendered Persons, which ran in the’Atascadero Gazette from Nov. 25 until Feb..17.~’=That’ s whe,n the paper’s editor, Ron Bast, wa~ ioid tlie chain S owner had 6rdered the listing pulled.Bast-said he was told there were to be no storie~ tli~ ~lit~ed Gays or abortioninafavorable light. He has since quit, saying he believes the paper has failed in its mission to provide unbiased coverage of the community. Civil rights acavists, meanwhile, said theywere appalled at the action ofcompany owners Mary and DavidWeyrich."Hehas th~ fight todothi~ofcourse, ¯ incorporating as a nonprofit organization, outlining : possible programs and figuring outhow to pay for the ¯ gathering place. : Travis Blackwell, 33, co-chairman of the planning ~ committee, said he hoped the center would be a place ¯¯ for anyone to getin touch with the Gay community. "And I hope it will raise asvareness, understanding : and tolerance for the lesbian, Gay, bisexual and transgender community," Blackwell said. "That’s. one aspect. Theotheris actually having a central place. where we cau all be safe and meet and take part in programming and workshops and things that better each of us as well as our community as a whole.’" Gay centers across the country offer everything from soccer leagnes to medical services, counseling -and day.care. Although cities nationwide of about the same size as-Charlotte have had. them.for years, no other North Carolina city has a center, qocai ;Gay leaders ,said. In 1996, Mecklenburg County commissioners cut arts funding after a local production of the Pulitzer prize-winning play "Angels in America," because of its homosexual content. And last year, Samantha Gellar won a contest for young playwrights in 1999 with her story of two women who meet on a bus, fall in love and share a kiss. The contest sponsors would not allow it to be performed, saying its subject matter was not appropriate for the festival’ s middle and high school audience. . United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11=00 am Pastor 623 N. Maplewood 9181838-1715 " ~ i" f"~ ......... Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2~Lg South Yale, Sundays at llam, "/49-0595 A Welcoming Congregation hnttheparttliatupsetmepers°nallyisthathehadaI MiSSiSsippi Lawmakers representing this as atmecommuuity .newspap~," Move to Bar Adopbons said Robyn Murphy, past president ~of.the central, i Coast Gay and.L~bian Alliance. . .... i , , . . ; JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi lawmakers The vtfeytichs m-owned billlioard giant Martin.i moved, to bar Gay couples from adbpting children Mediabefoxe thecompany wassold fo~$610 mi’llion, with a Tuesday debate about morality and the fea~ of great deal of support starting out because he was HOUSE OFTHE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am t... ,~,~,~ ~,,. :rt..,~..,, u~,~. ~ \Ve~,~,~ : e~ag homosexuality. The executive director Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm Wim,~v Tlu~_v mtMi~ho~l a ~lat~mt~.nt ~,i Ihe~r ° Of~Misst$$1[~!. ~list Cofl¥1~aUon Boald teld a p.mt.os.op.n.~.tn..re.ce.nt.e.m.uoUS.. .t.n..c. issu~c ~nas ¯. ~Hou.s~e su.b..c-m.n.:m.m.ee..th.at.e.h¯iidr©n rinsed ~,:~z,’~n~’~’~ ~1~ U~ith ;nt,~orilW mtt4 ~ih0 tnd~ Wifl~ - ¯ Ilomosexuals 0~i10,1~ more mt~v to ue troy. .... ~:~..~.~ .... ............. ¯....-, ..... ~ ...... Opponentssmdtheyfeareddieadoptionbanwould ’ ~ " [ ....=~,, v~v,,-- " ¯ ’ ** * " ..... " ...... v....................... Licensed Professional & National Certified ~ ~ .... ° " ....¯ "- -;: = ;’d -~ ; onentauon =s irrele ant m adopttons; .... ...... uast ann omer mrmer stm;ers Sma mey m not , ¯ ,~,~-~; t,^^,,_:,,= ~:=,~:..... editorial content of the publicattons when theylbegan ¯ . _~ :_ ,t.~. r... u..... ~. a:.~. - m.~t.rj.ous, xnep,a~e,rs,ue~g~o:p~p~nexntgmt~t~.um ~r,: Barber said he eame to the Capitol on behalf of a Aft~l"Hours AppointmerltsAvailabl~ wire iwo more scneameo . . . , , . ................. s saidthe : Gaycoupletrymgtoadoptachild ‘They re upstanding 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 21.5, 745-1111 Wevrichs ar~ notdictatino content. iuSt our ¯. etuzens~ ~neynappentouenomosexna~ -notrelevant. philosophy, which has ~. d~ from day one." "The staff onboard has a dear understanding of the Weyrichfamilyandtheirvalues," he said. "Inpublisher meetings throughout the pastmonths,wehave covered these topics in depth." He said-the Gazette papers, which promote themselves with the slogan "Hometown Journalism at its Best" on the bottom of each front page, also refuse advertisin,g from nightclubs and tobacco companies. ~’We ve picked.up 13 new advertisers because of this," Hansen said. "We’ve received 400 e-mails this week that arejustpo,sitive mid supportive. Pemple resiXct,,us for’what ~ve ve Said ~and that we stand up for it. One observer says the debaie has at least one upside - forcing residents to discuss the meaning of the First Amendment. ’YI’he idea that free speech and a free press is being discussed is extremely healthy,!’ said Randall Murray,a California Polytechnic,,U,niversity,. San Luis Obispo, journalism professor¯ While not embracing~Weydchor..his,views, ~ereali~.Lhat he is peffecdy secure to set editorial policy. Rather than impose on him ,o,ur editorial policing, the remedy is coUnter-speech. " i ’ ~: " Charlotte Gays Plan Community Center CHARLOTTE (AP) - Charlotte, the city that has drawn national attention in recent years for its anti- Gay atmbsphere, could have its first-ever community center for Gays as early as 2002. The Community Center Planning Committee will spend the next six months scouting for a location, ¯ They would make good parents," Barber said. " The Rev. Jim Futral, the Baptist leader, said by ~ allowing Gays to adop,t., the state would encourage ¯ homosexual lifestyles. These kids will be influenced ¯" in a way wedon’ t want them tO beinfluenced," he said : during the hour-long meeting. Rep. John Reeves, RJac. kson, the subcommittee chairman, said the bill was not meant to punish Gay people but was "trying to do what’s right by the children." Rep.. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, said legislators should be concerned about children and "we shouldn’t place them. in a lifestyle that’s unnatural." "It gives an indication to thatchild that this is aproperrelationship," Chism said. Mississippi is among five states this year debating legislation over adoptions, by Gays, according to Hector Vargas,’a lawyer for the Washington-based National Gay and Lesbian TaskForce~o,The others.are . Hawaii, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah: vargas said judges’ rtmin consideration "should be whether or not the parents are a loving couple and can provide for the child." " The bill also says that the state will not recognize ¯ adoptions by Gay couples in other states. That : provision could be unconstitutional, Vargas ~id. "_ Several states have been sued over policies banning ¯ Gays from adopting.. Only Horida statutorily bars " Gay couples from adopting. ~ Robin Lemer, staff attorney for the American Civil ¯ Liberties Union in Mississippi, said state lawmakers : shouldbe worried about crime committed by children ¯ who grow up without families. ’‘The greater issue is " how can we best raise children to be good adults," she said. Red Rock Tulsa. O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting limes and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers .... . 9413E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 ¯ 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-A.A..A-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows,.LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 The Pride StoreV 1307 E. 38th, 2nd.floor Tulsa Gay Cornmfini.ty Services Center 743.GAY S (743-4297) 6-D prn; Sunday ~ Friday 12-D pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center .OKLAHOMA COMMUNICATIONS Local- Long Distance Cellular- Paging 747’ 1508 Free Car.~klaptor &,. Leather. Case with New Cell Phone TOM NEAL: Red Rock Tulsa- Free. Confidential HIV Testing- Walk-ln Clinics - ..... Tuesdays, 5 -8 pm, Center, 1307 East 38th Wednesdays; 5-8 pm,-R~d Rock, 1724 East 8th Daytime appointments available. Call for more ilffonnation: 918-584-2325 KEVIN Keller Williams Realty .712-225,2 Burles0n@kwlcom BU,RLESO-,N.... 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An~~e.tn~er Bwker " OP~~S,OPBN~S,OPEN~S SaintAidan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 Saint Dunstan 5635 East 71 st. 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati. 582-4128’ The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Georgia Hate Crimes Bill ATLANTA (AP)- Several hours after Palm Sunday seryices ended at Red Oak United Methodist Church, parishioners found themsdves watching from the cemetery outside as the ehnrch was Consumed by fire set by monists. "I stood there in the graveyard with mymembers, singing while it burned down," saidthe .Rev. John W: Pace, pastor of the black church in Stoekbridge. ’ It was hopeless. We could not stop the fire." Pace says his congregation was victimized by a hate crime. And he wasn’t alone in asking the Hons~ ~ J~.di~ary C0mmitte,elo appr~ove stiffer penalties.for cn.mes .~lotivated by race, religion, gender or sexnal onentataon. Committeemembers also hear~~rom arabbi whose -synagogue was vandalized and a Gay mm~ who was assaulted with a knife at his throat. "Terrorism has an impact both on the victims and an .impact on the community at !arge," said Sen. Vincent Fort, DAtlanta, ~e bill s author. "Hate crimds are terrorism because of that fear." Barron Segar,.a professional fund-raiser, told the committeehow he was~surrounded by eight menafter -leaving aGay nightclub in Atlanta:in 1992. One ofthe men grabbed Segar from behind and helda knife to ¯ But Rep. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, and other : oppo.nents said the Vermont Legislature appears to be ¯¯ moving towardrecognitionof ’~domesticparmerships’’ rather,than same-sex marriages. The final vote came ¯ after opponents argued it was a simple attack on ¯ homosexuals. "Thebillis nothingmore than something : based on fear and I think it is an irrational fear,’" : Grossman said. "What horrible thing would happen : to us. It s gratmtous and mearisspirited:’" ~, - : ¯ Supporters denied that. "It’s based oh the ¯ accumulated wisdom and experience of cultures for ¯ 7,000 years," said Rep. Shawn Mitchell, RBroomfield. "We alwayshave i:ecognfized as-self- !eviklent that marriage i~s~joinih~dfopt~site m~mbers :~ .,o~ the human species." Pas~hail !said ~h~ Offered the measnre as a reiriforcement OP’gootl publicpolicy." Gay Teens Ask. ,Peers For Tolerance MIDDLETON, Wis. (AP) - Cal!ing.for an end to harassment and narrow-mindedeess, a group of Gay and Lesbian teen-agers and their friends,is trying to ¯ persuade a majority of teachersand students to sign a p edge ..calling for tolerance_ 9.f ~students of all hi.s .thro.at. "This is what we do to (Gays)," the man i b~k.:grounds and persuasions..! .... : - . . . ,:v, s;xtut.d~,:~uxs~i;n~g:;.a~n.~,=e.~.p,i.,t.~h.e=t..f~o.r~~=h2o~~.a,:,;o,_s~.e:.x-~u..a.l.s....~~:.e.~a.~l’,t.~~k.e.r...¯ , ~ndse,y.Clough., one of t.he s.~,d.e.nts o~g.amzang the - ~.,.~.~.~;mto ~g~uuuu mau-m¢ men scattere~; u o pma- ge0~,o~ nve.~ stud _s_he. ~dent.do.;~~ es-w...i.m... the GaY hves-w~th;’me~erV day: tstilt~liaTe=iti!~h~es,’’ ¯ coun~.l!mty m. part tw.eause a €~e friend of her ;Sdgari~"dt~B~ifhly~~ttaek~dis d0h; ( Tli~se~’~r~ed tw~ : family lost a partner to AIDS.. 8hedeS..eti’bed, her " W~eks mtail ...... ..... " ,, ~. childhood as extremely difficiilt~ .r and said she has :: :;~ Rabbi;,TS.= ¯Robert Iehay of ~-Coni~te~ati~ix:,or: found. ,Goys and.lesbians to be’,~’0_~e.~0f the most : VeShalrmre~lled:h0w ~e synagog~e.~ ~D~I~alb. ¯ und..d.~smnd.ingpe°ple I’ve met in.~y~|ifei:r . "- C0tmtv ~ag vandalizex~1~4,e~;ffi-th~ag~iV",~ai~t’~ " ] ne stug~nt ~oup says its goalis to get most of the ¯d .. - , .r..’~ ¯ M ~1-~ ¯ " ,-~ " ¯ ::Nl~ri:sw~ligas~dthewords~bloodsuek~r~~ ot~b~t~ " : school s 1,600 students and 200. teachers.to s~gn a ,~Sihee’thetL~I~l~ysaid,:the c0n~i~galion ~~-had:a ."-pled~e’.~f!~lerance andinthe.p~to~e~at the police.om~atev~’serv~ce~unetion=indMing_ i s¢.h~l a~qepts a!l students..... weddings .iWe~sleepat¯ni~ht;’;hesaid::"Bat~livavs ~. :rng~schoolisoftenaprimepla~efor~a.ystudents " t~i.tll;an.e~ie :6~,, .in case~°omea,~,;; k~,,,~a,,~ ,,,-: -~ : ¯ to be dbused, accordimz to a reoort last. Year bv the " Fort~s bill ¯passed -the Senate,bv~jttst’two~rtes ~ Gay,...L~,~fib!an and Strmght Educatto.n Network. The -. ~arlier thi’s m~nth, Thebi!t~,a!lr~S.~n~es to ii~se -. gr°up~,~9_Yed teens in32 states imd f~un~ that 91 percent of Gay and lesbian teens reported up to five years in cases Where.~ey determine the : "homo.phobic" remarks at school and 69perccnt said victims were chosen because of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ei’hnicity, gendei, disiibility or s~xiial 0dentationl ...... . COlorado -Ban-on Gay Marriage Advances DENVER, (AP) - A marriage.between, one man and one woman would be the 0uly uniOn r~cogni2ed as .legally validby the state under a’bill approved by House lawmakers. The House,-which approved the .measureon a 36-29 vote; sent it to-the-Senate, where -it- probabl.y wDuld :pass,.,according to Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burliugton. Senators approved a shnilar proposal earlier this inonth. Gov. Bill Owens has said he.would sign the bill if approved by the I eegislature. In its original version, House Bill 1249 would have authorized courts to enforcenbnee0n0~nic provigions of prenuptial ¯contracts Spousoring Rep; "Mark Paschall, R-Arvada, succeeded Monday in.stfippi.ng all language from the bill-and substituting it with provisions to ban same-sex.marriages and to ensiire the state, would not recognize S,’une-sex marriages ,pefformedJoutside~tsbordet~: :=:~ ,:, ~,, As it did Moilday, the Hbuse on :ruesda) .rejected a motiOn ,to~ send the bill to- the:House~:Jddiciary Committeeforapublic hearing. Moderate~Republieans _. on.. that, com~ttee.lastl v~ab joined.~t~b~rats in kiliing a-’.similar;bill2 Coni~nitteemeinb~sargued~hat they should be allowed.to, giv~ ~the-bill a(public~ hearing; but Paschall and other supporte,,r.s~ said¯ the~ -concept l~as :had extensive public input. obvious, transparent attempt to kill the bill, said House Majority Leader Doug Dean; R-Colorado Springs. He and other supporters said the measure is necess.ary to avoid forcing Colorado to officially re¢ogmze same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Supporters said a recent ruling by the Vermont Supreme.Court called for legislative action on samesex mamages, and that action could mean official recognition of such unions. ¯ theyexperieneedsomeformofharassmentorviolence. " Patrick Kelly, an openly Gay freshman, said that while Middleton tends to be more accepting of Gay : students,thanmany otherhigh schools, there is always ¯ room forJmprovement. ¯ "’ LisaAarli, a teacher who advises the student group, says she has seen great enthnsiasm over the pledge ¯ event. "It’ s given a lot of kids someflfiug to Nab onto for a lot of different reasons," she,said. :’The kids on ¯ the margins ,are being pulled into something big m~d ¯ prayerful in tke school." . .... ¯ said he beieved the l~gislature sliotfld be.as.inclusive ¯ as possible in the bill nmv, rather th,-m have to face ~ such questio~m agMn some other, time. "My persom~ ¯ opimon is I don?t wm~t to have to.go t~ough ins for " another reason. I don’ t want another ~gislature to go " tl~ough ~s," he said. Little wo~d prefer to keep tfie_~co~.e:.’of the bill focused on the Gay and ~sbi~conples who sued for " the fight tomTy in the fi~st place..~at’s ~vhy the qivii d0m~l[¢.u~on bill~so~eloselyznfi~ors~age ¯ statutes. ?We haven’t seen ~y, eviOence that people ¯ that ~e.bro~ers and sisters, bro~ers ~d ’bro~ers, " sisters: ~d sisters seek to eslablishthe:s~e,.Nnd of " : inti~m~ -~i!~~:ha~e~felt~th~ discfi~fio~~their efforts toestablis~$~ly : u~," ~tfle sMd. ’~e desi~ of the ~iIl, we hope, is " to ereate~ a NNo~on" ~vherN~e~ ~ n6-~:~ateriM ¯ ~ ~, 7 " -~ ~’ ¯ ~:,..~ =~ .: ~:.~;,~ ~,,,~ : ~. ~:~.~ . ¯ff~en~ between ~fir~age-~fl domeshc"umons) ~d t-herefore no consti~utionM differe-n~’~between " ~€ tWO." . However at a r~ent Repub]i~ S~te Co--tree : meet~g, Ve~ont Republic.s rejected, at least ¯ tempos]y, a push by the p~ty’s state chM~, " Pa~ck G~, for a ConsdmdonM ~en~ent " supporting opposite-gender m~fiage o~y, The ¯ pro~sM stated ~atbemuse ~e state Supreme Court’ s : derision in B~er v. State open~ ~e door for s~e- . gender m~age, ~e OenerM Assembly shoedbe~ ¯e pro~ss of ~en~ng ~e constitution. ’4, JeSSeJackson Get H!Y Test WASHINGTON (AP) - The Rev. Jesse : Jackson stuck a cotton swab between his ." cheek and gums Thursday to demonstrate : how easy it is to take an oral test for the ¯ virus that causes AIDS and to encourage ." other black Americans to be tested. " ’q’he crisis has not left. It is no longer " fron.t-page. It’s not gunfire. It’s not ." cocame, crack or heroine. It:s not gang ¯ warfare," said the civil rights leader, " speaking at the Max Robinson Center of " the Whitman-Walker Clinic, in one of the ¯ capital’s poorest neighborhoods. "But nobody is safe," Jackson said. "I want to " send amessage to everyAfrican-American : that does not know his or her HIV/AIDS ¯ status to get tested." ." Jackson, who said he had taken a blood " test for the virus years ago, took the newe~ ] oral test to draw attention to the issue as ¯ hundreds of people gathered in ¯ Washington for the Johns Hopkins " University 2000 National Conference on African-Americans and AIDS¯ ¯ Theresults ofJackson’s testate expected " to be ready Saturday but, as is common : practice, they will remain confidential. It ¯ was-not immediately clear if Jackson " would release results of his test. " Blacks make up 13% of the U.S. ; population, but they account for 57% of ¯ all new HIV infections detected and nearly’,.: half of all cases of full-blown AIDS, " according to the Centers for Disease ; Control and Prevention. Additionally, ¯ more treatments have become available, ¯ but AIDS deaths among blacks increased ¯ 45% between 1991 and 1996, even as ¯ mortalityamongwhites decreasedby24%, " statistics show. " Jackson .called on the president, first :~ lady and leading presidential candidates to set an example by submitting to testing, noting, "The first issue is to remove the taboo and reststance to testing." Patent Could Block AIDS Research LOS ANGELES (AP) - A feud between two groups of researchers over who owns the rights to a gene helpful inAIDS therapy threatens to slow the development ofnew drugs and treatment, The Los Angeles Times has reported. Maryland-based HumanGenomeSciences securedapatent earlier in February ~hat gives it a 17-year claim on a gene that apparently controls how AIDS begins infecting its victims. However, thebiotechfirm only isolated and decoded the gene. Company officials acknowledge they had no knowledge of its use when they applied.for a patent in June 1995. Agroup ofacademic scientists say they were the ones who proved the gene could be used tO explain why. some people repeatedly exposed t6 HIV never develop the disease. Meantime, the patent, gives Human Genome Sciences control over who can use the gene in commercial,devel’0p~ient of new AIDS drugs, potentially limiting the practical use ofthe academic research. The ownership decisionby the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office outraged the group ofacademic scientists whosay thebiotech firm co-opted their discovery. "If the patent office awards a patent to someone who clones a gene, even though they have no notion of its function and no real idea of its use, that would be like saying, ’I found a fungus, therefore I should get credit for penicillin,"’ said the University of Maryland’s Dr. Robert :Gallo, Whoheaded the group,of academic researeher~ studying HIV infection. That group and several other independent researchers learned in late 1995 that the gene is a so-called "viral receptor" that the HtV virus attaches to. They also discovered that defective versions of the gene generate a protein that suppresses infection by preventing HIV from attaching to cells. "The likelihood is that this is the molecule that needs to be used for the virus to go from one person to another," said New York University’s Dr. Dan Littman, who also contributed to the academic study. William Haseltine, chairman and CEO of Human Genome Sciences, maintains companyresearchers did extensive work isolatingthe gene that justifies the firm’s ownership of the patent. Haseltine said thepatentwill notimpede outsid~ research, adding that the company is making the gene available to academic researchers at no cost. He said the patent will only stem the unauthorized use of the gene for commercial purposes. AIDSactivists havereacted withvenom toward the company, which they accused of capitalizing on the suffering of others. "’These guys are the robber barons of the geneticage," saidGreggGonsalves, policy director of the Treatment Action Group, a New York-based AIDS lobbying organization. ’q’his is not about making progress on AIDS; its about making money.’" Meantime, the U.S. patent office plans to enforce new guidelines in March that would require applicants to better demonstrate the function and usefulness of discoveries. Officials at the National Institutes of Health, however, complain that the new regulations fail to go far enough. i Clinton Plan May ¯ Benefit HIV Postive ¯¯ WASHINGTON (AP)- In an experiment that could significantly, expand federal ¯ benefits to patients with the AIDS virus, ~ the Clinton administration is allowing .. Maine to provide Medicaid payments to ¯ people are HIV-positive but do not yet ¯ have AIDS. Previously, patients could ; notqualifyuntil theyhadfull-blownAIDS. ¯ Health Secretary Donna Shalala said ¯ Thursday that Maine would be the first ¯ state to offer such a plaff,"whichcan give ." more people living with HIV access to ¯ promising therapies.’" Several other states : are looking at offering a similar plan, ¯ officials said. "Betterresearch, prevention ¯ and treatment is helping people with this ¯ ¯ disease livelonger, healthier lives, even as.we continue our search fora cure," said ~ Shalala at a conference on black people ¯ with AIDS. ¯: Recentstudies have showfl that the early use of.AIDS-fighting drugs can slow the ." disease and increase life expectancy. However, many people with HIV ¯ _generally do not qualify for Medicaid, ¯ which provides health insurance to low- " income Americans, until they have ¯ symptoms and are considered disabled." ¯ Without the plan, "the Medicaid ¯ program was in the untenable position of ¯ having to wait until someone grew so sick ¯ with AIDS that they became disabled" ¯ before treatment and drugs conld be made ¯ available, said Francis Finnegan, Maine’s ¯ Medicaid director. ¯ ¯ The state’s five-year demonstration projectbeginsinSeptember.Tobeeligible, ¯ a participant must be HIV-positive and ¯ haveanincomeofless thanabout $25,000, ¯Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway,-Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. January April July October DecOnber Even Out Your Monthly Electric Bills. At PSO, we know that changing weather conditions ,throughout the year can cause your monthly electric bills to rise and fall dramatically. Which can make it hard to plan your household budget. That’s why~ ourAverage Monthly Payment phn, could be your budgeting solution. W’~da~you pay about the same each month, because ifs based on yowprevious 12 months us~e.. That makes budgeting a breeze. AnO best ofall, ifs free. AMPis just on~ of several fiem’ble payment options PSO offers_you. For more informatibn,.We’re a~filable 24 hours a day. Or.~’~p forAMP on our website at ~vw.csw.com. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South West Company Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation. Lesbians and Gay men face many special tax situations whether single or as couples. Electronic filing is available for faster refunds. 747-5466 4021 South Harvard-Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 Are You Gay or .Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here-for you! ~_~’/,~ ’ Evening sup~ group meetings ¯ , ¯ Sho~ trips, outings and retreats ¯ [ Free HIV testing ~or informat~n call Tul~ Native American AIDS Prevention Proj~t ~’:~whlch is three times the federal poverty ,: level. Before the plan, only children, .: pregnant women and the elderly or disabled with incomes below the poverty ! the 37-year-old mayor mused:about level were eligible for assistance. The surprising twists and turns in his life. "It’s benefitpackage will indudedrugtherapy, office visits, lab services, case management, hospitalizations, mental health and substance abuse services. About 1,300 Maine residents are infected with HIV and 350 have AIDS, according to the Maine Bureau of Health. The new waiver will allow the state to offer treatment to about 300 people who couldn’ t otherwise afford it. Officials said the early intervention is expected to reduce the need for costly hospitalization and prevent addi tional infections. Nationally, about 900,000 people are infected with HIV, a third of those with full-blown AIDS, said Kathryn Bina, a spokeswoman for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A third of those whose HIV hasn’t progressed into AIDS, about 200,000 people, don’t know they have the disease, she said. Claudia French, acting executive director ofAIDS Action, a national AIDS support group, said more states need to ad’o~t suchaplan. ’~roday’s announcement will prolong the lives of low-income Mainers with HIV, but we want all HIVpositiveAmericans tohave access to drugs that could keep them from developing full-blown AIDS," said French. ’Shooting Gallery’: to Open in Sydney ¯ SYDNEY, Australia (AP)- This nation’s : first experimental heroin "shooting ¯ gallery" will open later this year in a " former pinball parlor in Sydney, the Uniting Church, which will run the 18- " month government-approved trial, " announced at the end of February. " The Site in Kings Cross, a suburb : notorious for drug use and prostitution, " has been approved by New South Wales : police and the state’s health department. : It will be run by an expert on AIDS and ¯ aim to provide a clean, safe environment : for addicts to take their drugs. "Our primary aim in operating the medically supervisedinjecting centeris to save lives," said Uniting Church spokesman Rev. Harry Herbert." New South Wales state premier Bob Carr said he understood concerns of local residents who have fought to prevent the gallery being opened, but said it would help improve public health. "We think it mayhelp save lives and get the problems out of the streets of Kings. Cross into a medically-supervisedlocation,’? Cartsaid. Thecenter’ s medical director Dr. Ingrid van Beck said about 200 addicts would ¯ use the center to shoot up when it opens, : possibly as early as July,, just weeks " before Sydney hosts the 2000 Olympic Games. . United Nations drugs experts this week " condemned "shooting galleries" but authorities in Sydney and two other cities have said they will forge ahead with plans to open them. Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743-GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor the : ~a strangejourney," he said,, shaking ¯ his head. "I started drugand alcohol abuse : when I was around 10," he said. ¯ The drug and alcohol abuse worsened when h_e was a teen-ager having conflicts with his policeman stepfather and struggling with the emer~ng realization that .he was Gay. "I joined the military when I was 18 to escape a lotof things, and because I wanted ~o be somebody," Stewart said. "And, I onestly thought that in the military, I d go straight. It didn’t quite work out that way. I found more Gay people in the military than I’d ever known." His eight years in the Air Force brought him to this city of 21,000 on the shore of Lake Champlain. When his tour of duty ended, he started driving a tractor trailer. Then came a drug and alcohol relapse. "I fell flat on my face," Stewart said. With the help of a network of friends, Stewart struggled to overcome his addictions. "I sobered up on Dec. 14, 1988, and I’ve been clean and sober ever since." It was the recovery process that led Stewart out of the closet. "I was 26 years old, sitting in the basement of a church at a recovery meeting at 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day. I said, ’I can’t stav sober !,f, I .keep hiding the truth,"’ Stewart said. It lifted a huge burden. When you live a lie, you suffer the consequences." Backin the eabofabigrig, he considered his furore. "I wanted a sense of inclusion in the system, having a positive role," Stewart said. He got involved with the AIDS activist group, ACT UP, handing out condoms on the street. His activism ultimately led him into mainstream politics. Of roughly 500,000 elected officials at the local and national level across the country: about 180 are openly Gayand the vast majority are Democrats, according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a .Washington-based group flint seeks to ¯ increase the number of Gay and lesbian ¯ public officials. "It’s hard to overstate the . value of having outstanding opeul3,,’ Gay ~ and lesbian people in public office, said ¯ Sloan Wiesen, a spokesman for the Gay & : Lesbian Victory Fund. "When Gay and straight legislators are working together : on less contentious issues, like education, ; health care, or fixing roads, people are ¯ more inclined to stand up f0rfairness ¯ when a nondiscrimination issue comes : up," Wiesen said. Stewart hopes the national attention he " ¯ en.j,,o,ys,by .virtue 0f,,b~,ing aGayRepublican Will neip the city. I m invited to all these events - the State of the State address, the State of the Union. It gives me the opportunity to get the message out that Plattsburgh exists, and we need" things here. A lot of people around the country want to help, because they want to see me succeed." Stewart does have some regrets. 0~e is that he never worked up the courage:to talk to his mother about the fact that he’s Gay before she died in a car acdident four years ago. "I was making visits to the White House on Gay issues, but I was afraid to talk to my own mother about it. It shouldn’ t have been that way," Stewart said, his voice trailing off. Another regret was that he taunted the boys who wanted to go to the prom at Cumberland High School. see Mayor, p. I1 TWO REVIEWS AND A MUSE! [love John ~Villiams’ film scores. I really do; they are sweeping, grand things, alwaySsuitable for driving to, especially the S~.Wars and Indiana Jones scores¯ Hedidagreatjob.on 1979’s Draciihi, d~ea~iiig, an o~atie score that soared andswooped al,ong with Dr~c~ffd~tly..It s my all= score.- too :bad it h~Snot been reissued comp!etdy as some of his others have¯ What happened was, way backwh~,scores were not released in the version heardin the film. Williams was 7::..notorious for rerecording .chopped up bits~iof, his: sc0~ds, edited t6gethdri .....ahogether diffe~gntly ~ft0ffa~the film, aadrdea~edas the ori mdtifnpicture s’dundtrack qt is a nice thing to wish for peace ~ndha~mony amm~.~p~oipl~ I wonder if it will ’ever kappen. ~ One can, only hope that. Deganawida will come along and help create a world that engenders with .a just-too~tight cardboard Slip case covenng the CD case mid the thick liner notes abit too tightly, so that getting die blasted tiring out is enough to prejudice your listeafing experience (childproofCD cases?).If you’re a purist and a Williams collector., .this is for you. If not, well, rent the film. ~ .Jomme~he~mndoahhas a uewirelease out,and it is well worth seeking out mid buying. A member of the Wolf Clan of the Oneida (Iroquois) Indians in New York, Joaame has put out a :number of bestselling, award-wi~ufing CDS that arejustincredible tolisten to (Orenda, ~Matriarch, Lifeblood)¯ She_has a lovely, clear,: bell-like voice that .Ires an intimate quality to it that can’t, be :beat. Sheap,,l~ffed in Peter Whnt~.y0a ggt Wasnot the laarmony anaong Buffet.t" S y Spirit,:- A s0u.fidi~,.a~(.~,er~annoying d-f€- ¯ ~,, " 1 ’~.- .- Jotmley in,Dance, Drum, to~p.ufiS.~!, b.uLa reerea.ted ~re~ng~ peop,es_~. : ~ .-m!d:,~oug",,:-and opened .~rms.~...ash:..o[~,hat rmght ’ : :.. " :~ :;. ’- ~Wo.odstock ~94. :She:~has ha~g:~n~n!h9 soundtrack at somepoint~ ;. been€ailed~-aa!~i-ve Ameii.can:yersion of In!re.a~..~ ca~_e~.,, this was disap~ointing, ~; Enya,:.a.1,.lhough; L.~eall~-!-hiak.,that’s This,~beguntochange,firstwithpufists ,~ ,c,ompari~g:,oa.pl~e~.:,~,d,+,oranges. rais~g~:S~jhenwithrecordcompanie,s : Pea~gmai~er,_SJoameyr:i:sanenchanting ,a,ct~[yt,iste~nipg. The score to Williams - r ~lbmn:, wi~h beautiful~melodies. Iti~ sung Close-Eae0unters of the 3rd Kind".was ~ in her~nativg~Oneida Jaaguage, and- the one::of .the. first to be remastered and ~ liner;aotes~.~conta_;n the :story. :and a rel~:witli all cues (music bits) int.act.. ¯ trans!afioa:~into:English of:/he lyrics: It is ~di]s:reallygreat~sincemuchofw.hat , the.p~effeet:~bumt~li-ght~some,oandles, mad~ the sou~dtrack~so great were ~CU! : and relax -~ith, with-its genre :melodies ¯ ."~" ~. " ’: : "- ’.~ ’ ~ ’6 --~ ....~z ~-~ ~ ,:~-~-~,~,~-,. ,~;’,’::-, ,~:’L~"~’J-~ . ~nta~t. ~twas also great. Then the S-.~y~ i,. mumc,-ofLtl~ ~f~ri~:~ of,~.lroqums V~$i ~l~gy was. released with:.,t..b.€~;~: Co~f~%~li~x~i~ihg,~t6~er-~ter sou~atra_~ks"intact. That was beyond"~:~ many.:cemu~eS-ofW-~;-~-tli~M61iav~k, wonderful. Now, Rhino records has ~ ~Onei~;.Onoiidaga, Cayuga; Seneca; and released, something score purists have " TuscaroralndianNations.~’Peacemaker’s desired since-the film came out: The "Superman". soundtrack, complete, and, no pun intended, uncut. Great in that the quality of sound is incredible for a score recorded in 1978, great that the record companies are releasing complete sets ofsoundtrack CDs. Notso.hot after a listen and the realization that Williams copying Williams is not really worth a 2" CD set, because almost every cue on the two CDs (despite what the liner notes claim) is almost lifted note - for.~ note/from Star Wars. Oh a few sequences are rearranged, but "Luke Skywa~ker!s~" i.Theme" is clearly recognizable in one cue, and the original openingnotesfrom"StarTrek" are audible in another; in.what one might surmise to beatributes,Williams borrowing ofthemes is nothing new;’,many classical references abound in Star Wars; but to blatantly borrow so much from oneself is just lazi~s~’~ ~:of.. li.ke~a~in~;i’~Well, I don~f~[lik¢i~ri~ti~t,g~~,,w.hat can r.borrow from the .~,~gltv~l,~ear~ S~n~.~ays,~eco~zes. T0,~,fair, m~be~h~J~.t d~dd’"~h~,~e-lmucl~ tim.e .~d that. w~- tiieifio~t practic~i, s01ution~- ai~d maybe-theirwas why a fully complete score was never released. Still, it’ S a pleasant listen, especially if you recall the thrill of Christopher Reeve in blue tights and hotpants fondly, as I do. Who paid attention to the score? I must say that Rhino has done a fine job on the remastering; the sound quality is, as I said, incredible. The packaging is odd, : Journey isdedicated-to children ¯" everywhere and to th0se striving forpeace ¯¯" betweenpeople andharmonyfor all living things. ¯ Peacemaker’ sJourney tells the storyof ¯ Deganawida and Hiawatha, who smv the tribes warring ambngst themselVes, and : sought to bring peace and harmony to the ¯ people~ -Relationships ~etween the tribes ¯" had deteriorated into constant war, blood : feuds~and revenge killings. In danger of : self-destruction; the Iroquois were saved ¯ by the sudden appearance ofa Huron h01y ¯" man known as the "Peacemaker." : Deganawida (Two RiverCurrents Flowing ; TogetheO re.ce~yeda vision from the ¯ Creator of peace’and cooperation among ". all Iroquois.Apparently he was hindered 2 by either.a language or speech difficulty, :... but :~ganaw,ida~ ~eaxttialty,, w:o~ ~the ¯ support of Hiawatha (.Mionwatha - He ¯ Makes Rivers), an Onondaga who had ~ beeo~n~..~:;Mg~aw.~:~ar~ ~i,ef. With :: t.h~irfighiiii~Mdjoin i6~th~inale~i~ue. : ~~end tdiS~fii Degan~widablotted 3ut : thesun"t;6:~dh~,~il~:tfieS:’,elucima~t;’~,i~oi~r ¯ eclipse, visible ’ih(upstate New York ." occurred in 1451 suggesting another ~ possible¯ d~t~ for these events. The ¯ formalion ofthe League ended the warfare : between itsmembers bri~ging the Iroquois : a period of unprecedented peace and ¯ prosperity. It also brought political unity ¯ and military power. : "Peacemaker’s Journey" will be ~ releasedMarchT, 2000. seeAmuse, p. 11 The University of Tulsa The Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay & Trans Alliance presents ANiOKLAHOMO PROMO 2000 2-’~ightSi.~~di’,~y ~f:C£11~loid Scintillation B+~n+i’:~,+++~m+~:~+~*~@+~;~;Chi.~olls, and Out of Se~on Friday, Ma~h 24, 7- I2:0~ midnight .GOd Shave (he Queen,Watermelon Woman Indecent Acts: O~car Wilde, Cynam, P~t~ in Motion, and C~sh Sunday, March~ 26, 2-7pm Different for Girls, All Over Me, Under Heal, and Our Mom’s a Dyke ,.+ Chapman Hall Theater, 2835 East Fifth Street : -. :’- ~.: (not~the+:Alleri~Chapman~Activity Center) Eas{ of Delaware Avenue on the University of Tulsa campus. Please look lL~r rainbow flags to lead you in off Delaxvare Avenue. ¯ Thi+ ex;+fit is offered in +6iijunction withomyn,~& Hentage-Month. Actlvtt~es. P!.eg.s,e=,<+c~+ntact,..~g. J~6~s~+~at’ 63.1~:~3 i:!5 to make arrangements for accessibility, accommodations. A Jurnpin ", Singin " . Movin" and Groovin" Good Time! Warren Vach4 and the NEW YORK CITY ALL,STAR BIG BAND and direct from London! THE JIVIN’ LINDY HOPPERS Sunday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Chapman Music Hall, 3rd &.Cincinnati Tickets: $15,-$20, $2S, *Includes post-performance swing dance ’ Discounts a~aihble ~or~gr6h’p~ and’ ~tudents Call: 596-7111 or Outside Tulsa:~1-800-364-71il "Online:.’Rrano.tulsapac.com Tulsa PerformmgSA~s Center Trust Holland Hall SCHOOL MIDDLE & UPPER SCf-IOOL TESTING (GRADES4 - ll) PRIMARY SCHOOL TOUR (AC~ 3 - GRADE 3) PRIMARY SCHOOLTESTING ~qDERGARTEN- GRADE 1) To reserve your place, please call the i Admlssi~n Ot~ce at .,t81-1111, exte~i~n 25 t. 5666 E. 8 Ist Stre~J~.~ Bet~eea~le.& Sheridan ~ Tulsa ~ www.hollandhalLorg HSllatid Hall admits q~lifid’~studm~i ivfit~ ~egard to rat6 sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, or physical disability. Church,of the Restoration Unitarian Universalist 11 am, Sunday, 1314 North Greenwood, 587-1314 by Mary Schepers, Do-lt-Yourself-Dyke There was your DIYD, on her knees, aching, throbl~ing~-on the verge of tears - wondering why her mouth says "yes" when her brain screams "No, no, no!" No, gentle readers, we are not revie~ving the DIYD’s-latest forays into courtship, but ~rather her most recent Volunteereffort to help out a friend in need. As you accumulate handy skills ..~and .-become geuerally perceived as arather useful indiv:idual, expect to be asked to help out others. This is quite fair; after all, most ofus, your DIYD included, have accumulated skills and learned lessons (someti~nes not positive ones) from those who:have helped us on our ownprojects: Quidpro qu,o is a conunon currency tn the world of home improvement; the student evolving into the teacher is an apt, and expected, metaphor. - " In short,_darlings;give backwhat has so generously been shared.withyou~Orbegin ficcumulating favors(that can be repaid later in yourown moments Ofdire need:It is common proffer; it is cxpected,~and it’ is honorable, and as sly as your DIYD may seem, she is absolutely honorable.. Therein lies the.theme; the exemplar. and the moral of our m0nthlytale. Listen’ closely and ieani from yore DiYD.-And remember that this is a. cautionary story; not a vehicle for blame,unlessR is your poorDIYD’S~ whodidn°taskforsufficient "There was your DIYD, on her knees, aehln~., thr0bhi O;on the ver~e o~ tears - wonderln$ why her mouth says ’yes" when her : infomiation before promising her vast ¯. array ofskills, tools and energy to a friend : The particulars of die story ,’ire not ~ important. What matters is that a favor ¯¯ was asked of the DIYD - to help lay tile. ¯ Rule number one: if the task at hand is one that you are not only good at, but have a particular vanity over, watch out! You m’e very susceptible! Alld the DIYD is the tile and grout di~’a. Having refitedevery c6nv~i~tionatstiffaeeinher liouse, she finds herself wonderizi~,7 Liii unguarded moments, whether the garage or the front porch could, benefit from the tasteful application of ceramic tile. She was, m fact, ripe for the phscking. She graciously agreed. Wlfich brings us to rule nmnber two: agree on and set all the parameters around the proposed ! project befom.taldng it On: For those o,,f you.whoshudderat theword "bom~dafies," ¯" find a word thai works, b~t doi t~ al!ddo it : thoroughly. This not only protec.ts you ~ from unpleasant surPrises, but the party to i whom you are lending assistance aswelE Nothing can sour a friendship like an : ~tmisin4¢rpretedand goneaw.ry. ’ : Both sid~ should knowwhat is expected, ¯ ’ what wil! actually occur, ~hat amount of ¯ dme is involved, how~.much work is : inv61vht, hoW much each person is. : responsible for, and~ whatthe fairexchange will, be. Any changes should be E comm,tmi.¢ated u~ front:..,., ." _’ .’," " 50 New-Books at the Library by Barry Hensley Tulsa City-County Library Over the last few momhs, .the Tulsa City-Cotmty Libraryhas acquired dozens of recent tides of interest to the gay community. Cheek your local branch library for these dries, or call the Readers Services department at 596-7966. LESBIAN FICTION Shy Girl by Elizabeth Stark Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters Hers 3: Brilliant New Fiction by Lesbian Writers 6th Sense: A Cassidy James Mystery by Kate Calloway Bogeywoman: A Novel by Jaimy Gordon Lost Daughters by J. M. Redmann November Ever After by Laura Tones The Other Woman by Ann OiLeary The Vintage.BookoflnternatiomdLesbian Fiction GAY MALE FICTION Breakfast with Scot by Michae! Downing Comfort and Joy by Jim Grimsley Justice at Risk: A Benjamin Justice ~iYnkStSelriypbbyyJoRhintaMCiorregsain,Wilson Surrender.Dorothy by Meg Wolitzer Minions of the Moon by Richard Bowes Capital Queers by Fred Hunter EveryManfor Himselfby OrlandOudand His 3: Brilliant New Fiction by Gay Writers LESBIAN NONFICTION The Queen of Whale Cay by Kate Surmnerscale TheWhole Truth:A Case ofMurderon the Appalachian Trail by H. L. Pohlman Monologues and Scenes for Lesbian Actors by CarolynGage- Janet, My Mother; and Me: A Menloir of Growing Up by William Murray Baby Precious Always Shines: Selected Love Notes by Gertrude Stein Lesbian Health: Current Assessment and Directions My Lesbian Husband: ALandscape ofa Marriage by Barrie Borich Hunting the Witch byEllen Hart ApplesandOranges:MyJourney Through Sexual Identity I~y Jan Clausen RestrictedAccess: LeSbians on Disability To Believe in Womem ’What, Lesbians Have Done for America by’ Lillian Faderman GA~ MALE NONFICTION How to Survive Your Own Gay L~e by Pet~ Brass " . VulgarFavors:Andrew Cunanan,G’ianni " Versace, and the Largest FailedManhunt in U S. History by Maureen Orth Crisis ofDesire by Robin Hardy Love in A Different Climate by Jeremy Seabrook Finding the Boyfriend Within by Brad Gooch When It’s Time to Leave Your Lover by Neil Kaminsky see Read, p. 1: by Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D. "Faggots !" I was sitting inmy car talking to my friend Errol when I heard the word. One of ErroF s cantankerous neighborsno pal, obviously - had barked at us as he marched past the car. I didn’t know whether tO feel outraged or amused. It had been a long time since anyone "called me a name, at least publicly. Sticks mad stones, I thought. And did I really mind being a faggot anyway? Still, the hairon my neck Stood up. Rude slurs are good e~idence of the power of words. Even-if 0nly symbolic, words have an ~mpact. Some words ,are deeds. Linguists study "’speech acts" that shape or change the world. Utterances like "I promise, "I apologize," "I resign," or "[I name you] faggot!" have serious consequences (as anyone knows who has been "pronounced" man or wife). Language can’carry either a positive or a negative charge. Both sacred speech and profane speech are dangerous. In many religions, no one knows the name of god. Or even where onedo..,e.s; the deity’ s name is never uttered aloud, Magical words can change the world. The secret word "sesame" opens the cave. Abracadabra pulls the rabbit from the hat. Uttering a sacred name can have unintended consequences. You might wake sleeping gods. It’s safer to steer clear of charged labels. A similar sort of ritualized avoidance of naming characterizes many kinship systems around the word. Son-in-laws never pronounce the personal names oftheir wives’ parents, and .vice versa. In other societies, brothers and sisters avoid ¯ in public? Who can use which word, and ¯¯ in which context? "Gay" and "Lesbian" have recently become broadly accepted ¯ terms for homosexuality. Some have also ¯ attempted to revaluate "queer." Revaluation succeeds when the labeled ¯ themselves embrace a slur as their own, defusing its negative charge. Thus,"Queer Theory" is currently being taught in ¯ Ameficau umversities. Then there’s "faggot." Faggot, as a negative homos’exual label dates back ¯ onlyto 1910, although it was used as early ¯ as the late 16th century to slur women. In ¯ fact, a number of today’s Gay slurs - ¯ including the term "Gay" itself- were ¯ first applied to women. A "Gay" woman ¯ in 1650 Faagland was a prostitute. Robert ¯ Scott’s Gay Slang Dictionary (online at http:/!~vww.hurricane.net/.~vizard/ 19.htnfl) lists 156 synonyms for"fag" mad ¯ more appear else~vhere in the dictionary. (Scott also has 37 terms for "Lesbian.") These include Spmfish-derived’~maricon" ~ and "’pato," French "tapette" (although ¯ pede ~srmss~n~),~dd~sh fe~,ele, and ¯ British/Australian "poofter." Then there are the more obscure "’cot betty," ¯ "daffodilly," "fu," "whoopsie boy," and "uffimay" - "muffie’" in Pig Latin. ~’Faggot,’" unlike "Gay". or "Queer," ~ still remains impolite. The ~vord is ¯ dangerously profane.. Not many of my ¯ academic colleagues are willing to teach ¯ courses ~in "Faggot Theory." But the profane is always close to the sacred. ." Because of its charge, "faggot" is more ¯ hurtful but also thusmore useful indefining ¯ who and what we are. When we name ¯ each other by the word, we make a strong, each other’, s names like hot potatoes. ~ pt~blic claim to belong to a shared world Anthropology suggests" that such ¯ .~oFfaggotry. So, still sitting in ~ny 4,’if; I "avoidance relations" smooth over areas of potential social conflict. Negativel5 charged words are equally powerful. The profane also carries a wallop. A curse c,’m kill. The villagers I lived with in Vanuatu were always fearful when someone spoke evil of thegn. Even if someone swore without thinking, in the heat of an angry moment, the ancestr~fl ghosts ufight hear and punish the person who cursed, or the person who ~vas cursed. or both. Sociologists of the 1970s formulated what tlaey called "labeling theory?" They analyzed the ways in which lal~els, like faggot, impact both society and the individual. Socially. an arsenal ofnegative labels maintains power inequalities. Those on the bottom of the social ladder shoulder the brunt of these terms. Individually, such slurs unavoidably tinge our sense of who we are. Like muttered curses, they can harm. Even if we are of the strong, "words may never hurt us" sort, we still have to take into account their social currency:We must respond tO slurs ifonly to deny their validity and power over us. Labeling theory in the 1970s particularly noticed ethnic slurs the N word, the H word, and all those othe~ lfibels ,that~e today t66 impolite to say. Dhrin~"~iE last generation, American speech etiquette (what socio-linguists call "pragmatics") has shifted to make use of these labels hazardous. More recently, the same has occurred with words like faggot. In a way, however, new politeness rules give these words even more power than they once had, as Errol’ s neighbormay have realized. There is a politics of labeling here. Whose words will become the standard labels - the one everyone safely may use jnst gave that !@#S% the evil-eye. But in 1996, at a Gay pride parade in Providence, R.I., he took the opportunity to make ,’unends, "’I stood tip in t¥ont of 3,000 people mad lnade a public apology to the Gay couununity aud the two gentlemen who went to that prom together," Ste~vart said. "It was very emotional." " Stewart 1]as been criticized bv some iu the Gay connnumty for not being more out froht with his personal relationslfips. He bristles at that. "’My personal life is extremely private," he said. "People have a lot of gall to impose their opinions on someone who’ s trying to make a difference - to tell me that because I’ ve reached a certain stature, I have to promote some Gay agenda." ’~¥qaen it comes to being a role model, Stewart believes it’ s more important to be a greatmayor than to spotlight his personal life. "Having-openly Gay elected people gives us our place at the table mad proves that we are just as capable as anybody else," Stewart said. "And it helps change people’s minds abont how to consider Gay people in their daily lives. It’s all about being positive in what you do." IGTA member Call341.6866 International Toursformoreinformation. Massage Therapy Services ~EdgarO. Cruz, L.M.T. ¯ Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm @SprinL Sprint PCS" The Clear Alternative to Cellular. Sprint PCS" Select Retailer ;99.95 New Sprint PCS Phone :25.00 Less instore rebate $74.95 Net cost Buyany SprintPCS Phone and get $25 off! Everyone is approved! ~LSpriot~PCS service plans inc!ude.’- " ¯ F~ee Voicemail ¯ Fr~e Caller ID ¯ Free Call W~g"oFr~3 way €~illing ¯ Noa~~f~;~5;~tract required ¯ 100% ~pr nt: PCS Nat[~i~ide Network. Tulsa Locatioi~s~ - " 2001 S. Garnett, 437-2~.~.~. 3733 S. Memori.,~ 6600344 1216 S. Harvard, 587-1778 Sapulpa Location: 109 N. Mission, 227-2322 Meet Local Guys for Hot the other personal ads ) guys you like @Origin. 18+. Additional features from 67 !n April of this year the "Warrior in Two Worlds" documentary will air nationally on PBS. Keep an eye open for the exact time and date in your area. This is a compelling story of Eli Parker, a Seneca Chief and a Union general in the Civil War. Joanne wrote the sound track. It is a nice thing to wish for peace and harmony among peoples; I wonder if it will ever happen. One can only hope thal _ Deganawida will come alo~ag and help create a word that engenders harmony among differing peoples. Maybe then there will be no more Gay bashing, lynching, genocide... Sometimes, with news of another Matthew Shepard-like case -coming along once a week, it’s hard to believe any change is occurring. Yet, I watch TV, and see Will and Grace, and many other shows that have or feature Gay/Lesbian characters, I see films that are about Gay folk even showing here in the crotch of the bible belt (Beautiful Thing, for instance) and can see a difference. Because when I grew up, the onlyimage I had ofGay folk were the man mentioned in the book on birds and bees my parents gave me at 14 - published in 1945 - that stated homosexuals were men who hung around playgrounds in trench coats offering you candy. I remember thinking - in a rare moment when I wasn’t busy suppressing, repressing and denying - that that was what I had to look forward to? That’s what I was? Ick. And the news at the time, if Gay folk were mentioned at all, "was nothing but images of the most whacked out, far out people on the planet. Lovely. Now, kids have it much easier. Is it paradise? No. Obviously not, and there are people who are very much fighting to prevent growth and understanding, and raising monsters all around us. As Melissa Etheridge wrote in her song "Scarecrow" on the albttm "Breakdown": "’We all gasp ’this can’t happen here’, we’re all much too civilized, where can these monsters hide?’" She answers: "But they are knocking on our front door, They’re rocking in our cradles, They" re preadfing in our churches, And eating at our tables." And she’s absolutely right; that’s exactly where they are. The boogeymen are out there; and occasionally they do get you. In another song on the same album, she writes: "There is no marc, There are no secrets, We all begin this race at the start, But I have come this farWith a truth of the heart. Deep down inside I think we’re all the same. Try not to judge someone And never shame. I do bdieve that people are good. They just want hope and respect And to be understood. Sometimes it hard sometimes it’s strange But the truth of the heart is people can change" And this is true; I’ve seen it happen. Far too infrequently, but it can happen. And that’s the hope that can feed the fire of change, andkeepus going whenit gets too much. And it does feel that way, sometimes. I had gotten to that point, after seeing the internal strife within the communities, as well as from outside. How can we hope to change the world when we can’t even agree amongst ourselves? I’ d certainly decided it wasn’ t worth an effort. Butmy best friend Karin, aftermany years ofcomplainingabout the world, has finally taken steps. To at least make an attempt. And her doing so has reignited a flame within me. And if that spark might ignite another, then perhaps the tamers of the world can unite. And thus is hope reborn, like a phoenix frown the ashes. And the world has changed; it is so much easier tocome out earlier. There’ s less a chance ofsomeone being afraid that they’re the only one - like I did, There were no role models. There were no out Gay folk that I could talk to. There were few resources available even at.the library, unless it was reinforcement of the writing in that booklet morn and dad gave me. Thanks to the folks who were willing to come together and fight and be,,,~ocal ~md out when it was much more dangerous to do so, the younger Gay folk do have options we older folk didn~ t have. For thai reason alone, the fight must continue. So get involved, even if it’s coming out to someone youhaven’ t yet. The only way to dispel the lies and misi~ffonnation of the radically wgong is to present ourselves as we are - hmnan beings. That h~s done more to change folks around me tha_u all the marching and worn out footwear in the world. And what is it that we all seek, really? Not sex; and people who think that’s what it’s all about are just plain wrong. Tell them so. It’ s about the right to love without being discriminated against. And if they give you guff about that, just tell them what author Lynn Flewelling told me: Love is love. Tuesday, June 6th, an art exhibit, "United" will openandonThursday, June 8th, there will be a film night. Locations and times will be announced later. For more information about these events, call the Gay Community Services Center at 743-4297 (Gays). Groups who want to enter a float in the parade are encouraged to attend the float clinic on March 11 from 1-4pro at the Center. Gay Men’s Friendships: Invincible Cotnmunities by Peter Nardi The Elusive Embrace: Desire and the Riddle ofldentity by Daniel Mendelsolm Prayer Warriors by Stuart Howell Miller Widescreen Dreaths : Growing Up Gay at the Movies by Patrick Horrigan Victory Deferred: How AIDS Changed Gay Life in America ¯ by Johi~-Manual Andriote ; OF INTEREST TO EVERYONE ¯ Gay Parents/Straight Schools: Building ¯ Comnfftnication attd Trust by Virginia Casper ¯ Witness to Revolution: The Advocate ¯ Reports on Gay and Lesbian Politics ¯¯ 4 Steps to Financial Securityfor Gay attd Lesbian Couples ¯ by Harold Lustig Multicultural Detective Fiction: Murder ¯ from the Other Side Outon Stage: Lesbian andGay Theatre in ". the Twentieth Century ¯ by Alan Sin.field ¯ TheQueerSixties by PatriciaJuliana Smith ¯ Gaylaw: Challenging the Apartheid of ¯ the Closet ¯ by William Eskridge : To Be Continued, Take Two i by Michele Karlsberg Disidentifications: Queers of Color and ¯ the Performance ofPolitics ¯ by Jose Munoz "- SomethingInside: Conversations with Gay ¯ Fiction Writers CouNCiL oak meN’S c or<aLe presents an~eclectic mix.of.choral.literature ranging from Baroque to Broadway, from pop classics of the ’50s and ’60s to a bawdy sea chantey aod an American Folk song featuring the Green Country Cloggers. Friday and Saturday, April 7 & 8, 2000 at 8pm Williams Theatre, Tulsa Performing Arts Center (reception following) Tickets: PAC box office, 596-7111 in Tulsa, 1,800-364-7111 or online at www,tulsapac.com council oak a fellowship of gay men dedicated to musical excellence in the performnnce of choral literature:, providing a source ot" pride, unity, and support, w;h{]e presenting a positive image for ourselves, our community, and society as a whole. FOR MORE INFORMATION about the council oak me~’s Cl~oI~aLe and its parent organization, the non-profit Vocal Pride Foundation,visit our award-winning website at www.counciloak.org. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, March 2000; Volume 7, Issue 3 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hens;ey J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, February 2000; Volume 7, Issue 2 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/598 adoption AIDS AIDS research aMUSEments arts and entertainment Barry Hensley Bars Bill Clinton businesses churches civil unions Community Center Council Oak Men's Chorale Dave Fleischer Diversity celebration Do-It-Yourself-Dyke domestic partners Gay marriage gay politicians Gay Studies Greg Louganis Harmonic Diversity hate crimes bill HIV HIV testing homophobia injection site Jesse Jackson Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm lesbian survey marriage equality Mary Schepers National Gay and Lesbian Task Force performing arts PFLAG Pride Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants The Laramie Project Tom Neal Tulsa Family News violence youth https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/5c20e910de7ca592dd63588152eca356.jpg 5039f94c9a494f334604c83bb2e762fa https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/913cc5281b957402396a10de0ebc77ca.pdf 402d385ff5bf2220bca8bdfefc9b523c PDF Text Text Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends : ,~. Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community Paper Available In More Than 75 City Locations ¯ Co!legeHill Presbyterian Vermont Governor ::Church Welcomes Gays i Signs Gay Union Bill - Brief for Dale v. BOy Scouts by Tim Talley, Associated Press ~rite~ OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Some state lawmakers demanded in mid-April that Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson withdraw from participating in a U:S. Supreme Court case on whether to allow Gay boys and men in the Boy Scouts of America. Resolutions were f’ded in the state House and~ Senate opposing a friend-of-the-court brief Edmondson filed supporting a New Jersey court decision that ordered the Boy Scouts to reinstate a homosexual scout leader. "I think it is a dark day for Oklahoma that we have taken this stand, by and through our attorney general, in favor of Gay rights and against the Boy Scouts," said Rep. Frank Davis, R-Guthrie, a former scout master whose resolution has 70 co-authors. A resolution passed by the Senate says Edmondson’s position "is in dramarie opposition to the moral ideals of.our state and is inappropriate in this case of first impression before the United State Supreme Court." In a statement, Edmondson said he respects the views of lawmakers who oppose his action. But the attorney general said the state’ s position see Attorney; p. 2 TULSA - This last Palm Sunday, the Session (the board of directors) of College Hill Presbyterian Church, one of Tulsa’ s older"mainline" congregations, voted 13 yes, zero no’ s with one abstention to become officially a member of"More Light Presbyterians." College Hill, located a block west of the University of Tulsa is the first Presbyterian congregation in Eastern Oklahoma (o. take the position of welcoming all to attend and serve the church regardless of sexual orientation. More Light Presbyterians is a national network of churches and individuals working for justice, love and the full embrace and inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered persons and their families. The name is taken from the words of the Rev. John Robinson (c. 1620),"w e limit not the truth of God to our College Hill Presbyterian poor reach of mind - by notions of our day and sect - crude, partial and confined. No, let a new and better hope within our hearts be stirred, for God hath yet more light and truth to break forth from the Word." The decision for College Hill came after more than 14 months of prayer, study and discussion. A congregational vote on several statements and positions, one affirming open inclusion, another reaffirming the mission statement of More Light Presbyterians, and for becoming a More Light congregation passed, 87%, 90% and 80% respectively. . Pastor Radford Rader noted, "College Hill has long been a congregation which has stood for jnstice issues and with groups of people who others ignore or exclude.., we cannot remain in the closet, but want to rejoice in who we are as a family of faith. ¯ .we are blessed by our Gay and Lesbian members." College Hill’ s history is one of s0cialjttstice, seeChurch,p.11 by Ross Sneyd, Associated Press Writer ¯ MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Gov. Howard Dean ¯ signed into law on Wednesday, April 26, 2000, a ¯ bill making Vermont the first state to give Gay and ’ Lesbian couples all the rights and benefits of mar¯ riage - without legally declaring it a marriage. ¯ "I think the powerful message is that in Vermont, ¯ we tend to value people for who they are, not what ¯ they are," the Democratic governor said after the House gave the measure final approval Tuesday. ° The bill, which House members supported 79-68, ¯ arrived at the governor’ s desk just before lunch and ¯ was signed quietly prior to a2pmnews confe~e,nce, ¯ Vermont lawmakers didn’t use the term mar" riage to describe the official state sanction. Instead ¯ they set up aparallel track of"civil tmions," which ¯ would give Gay and Lesbian partners the property and other legal fights of spouses. Such unions ¯ would become legal July 1. No state has ever gone ¯ so far in recognizing the relationships that Gay and "- Lesbian couples form. ." Three couples and the lawyers who sued in 1997 ¯ when they were denied marriage licenses watched in the crowded Housechamber as the final roll was ¯ called and House representatives agreed to minor ." changes made by their colleagues in the Senate. ¯ Stacy Jolles and Nina Beck stood cradling their 5¯ month-old son, Seth. Peter Harrigan stood embracing Stan Baker, who held a small necklace from ¯ which his parents’ wedding rings dangled. And ¯ Holly Puterbaugh held hands as Lois Famham ¯ wiped tears from her eyes. "This isn’ t marriage, but it’ s ahuge and powerful bundle of rights that we’ ve ¯ finally gotten," Baker said moments after the vote. ¯ After the vote, Rosana Vestuti, 41, of Montpelier, sat on a window seat as legislators, Gay and ." Lesbian couples and thepress milled about. "It’ s so ¯ nice. I have all this in my eyes," see Vermont, p. 7 GI,s Mom Suing Arm i- Supreme Court Hears Gay Civil ¯ OKC Gay Group Meets WASHINGTON(AP)-Them°ther°fas°ldiermur- " R|ghts Case: Dale vs. BSA With Daily Oklahoman dered in his barracks believes the Army’s attitude , toward Gays created the atmosphere that led to the ¯ killing. Patricia Kutteles of Kansas City, Mo., said she ¯ ¯ would file a claim with the Army, seeking roughly $1.8 million in damages for the death of her son, Pfc. Barry ¯ Wincbell,21. She said fellow soldiers believed Winchell was Gay and harassed him for months before he was : beaten to death while sleeping in his cot last July at Fort : Campbell, Ky. The Army knew about the harassment ¯ but did nothing to stop it, she said. "We want theArmy : to be held accountable," Kutteles said. ¯ Pvt. Calvin Glover, 19, of Sulphur, Okla., was con- ¯ victed of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in -" ¯ prison for the attack. Another soldier was givena 12.5year sentence for lying to investigators and obstructing ¯¯ justice. The killing prompted criticism of the Pentagon’ s policy on homosexuals in the military. Under the policy " known as "don’t ask, don’t teli.;’:~,Gay-members of the : military can continue to serve.as Ibng as they keep their ¯ ¯ sexual orientation to themselves. ¯ Kutteles’ attorney,Adam Pachter, said he plans to file under a federal law that allows people to seek reim- ¯_ bursement from the military for injury or death. The ¯ claim will be sent toMaj. Gen. Robert T. Clark, the ." commander of Fort Campbell, but Army Secretary " Louis Caldem probAbly’will make thef’mal decision on : whether to pay, Pachter said. Kutteles’ claim also al- ¯¯ leges Fort Campbell officials ignored underage drinking on the base and did not provide a way for soldiers to ¯ call 911 from the barracks.:Glover has said he had been drinking prior to theattack~ Maj. Pamela Hart, an Army : ¯ spokeswoman, declined to comment on the claim but said soldiers can now reach 911 from their barracks. She ¯ also said soldiers had received additional training about . ¯ the military’ s policy on Gays. Kutteles said her goal is to get the Army to admit : wrongdoing and take corrective action. "I don’t think : you ~ put a price on your child’ s life,’.’ she said. "Your ¯ world is changed if you lose a child. Nothing caa ever : : rip3at it." WASHINGTON, D.C. - Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is not entitled to expel an exemplary member who is openly Gay from its ranks, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said at the end of April as theU.S. SupremeCourtwas hearingargumentsinBoy Scouts of America v. Dale. The ruling on the case will likely be issued before the term ends in early summer. ’q’he Boy Scouts’ mission is to promote model citizenship and integrity," said Panla Ettdbrick, NGLTF Family Policy Director. "It is ridiculous and wrong to exclude a man whose outstanding personal character fulfills this mission simPlY because he is Gay." "The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case on appeal by the BSA after the August 1999 unanimous decision of the New Jersey,Supreme Court. The court found that the BSA falls under New Jersey’ s anti-discrimination law and cannot deny any person "accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges" because of sexual orientation. Because the Scouts do not organize for a specific anti-Gay message; the New Jersey Supreme Court also found that the inclusion of openly Gay assistant scoutmaster James Dale would not violate the BSA’ s First Amendment rights of free association and free speech. ~ I’llis case represents a classic struggle in our country?s everevolving democracy," said Ettelbrick, a veteran attorney and national expertLon legal-issues facing.the Ga~y~ lesbian~ bisexual and transgender community. "It is the straggle between a group’ s right to establish its own values and the government’ s obligation to ensure that the law does not give effect to those private biases when they are used to inhibit equality." .. . ~ Ettelbrick praised the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, which has served as lead counsel for James Dale and has assembled a broad collection of groups to sign friend-of-thecourt briefs. Those groups range from NGLTF and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to the attorneys-general of 10 states, including Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson (see related story this page). NGLTF’ S brief can be found online via I..ambda’ s website at http:/Iwww.lldef.org/sectionslseetionsldalepresskit/ amicusaclu.html. : ¯ ¯ : ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ " ¯ ¯ ¯_ ¯ ¯ ." ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ; ¯ ¯ ; : ¯ ¯" : : OKLAHOMA CITY - Leaders in Oklahoma City’ s are hailing an early April meeting with Sue Hale, the new executive editor of the Daily Oklahoman. The Daily Oklahoman which was characterized in the Columbia Journalism Review as "the worst newspaper in America" has been known for its unfair treatment of Lesbian and Gay issues, not only on the editorial pages but in regular, "objecfive" newscoverage. Those who met with Hale are participants in a new speakers bureau. "Speakers for Gay and Lesbian Issues" was organized with the goal of reaching out to the straight commtmity to facilitate understanding of the realities of.being Gay and Lesbian. Karen Pars0ns,Nathaniel Batchelder, Paul Thompson, and Rob Abiera attended the meeting with Hale, a thirty-year veteran of the Daily Oklahoman. Hale was chosen to be the successor to Stan Tiner, who left the Daily Oklahoman after several months of working to remold the paper into a more progressive, contemporary medium which would more accurately reflect the diversity of Oklahoma City. Halewas approached after reports.began to surface of her interest in "social justice" issues. And though homophobic diatribes continue to grace the editorial page - still under the firm control of Patrick McGuigan - the rest of the paper was showing signs of neutrality, if not being outright Gay-friendly. One place where the paper was showing signs of openness has been in the movie reviews. Kathryn Jenson White had come from the Oklahoma Gazette (OKC’ s alternative weekly) and had always been of decidedly liberal persuasion. It did not take long after Tiner’ s departure to see that she would continue to be so, and when two GLBT-themed Oscar coatenders see Daily, p. 11 �: Interfaith AIDS Ministries 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants : Dear friends, POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 712-2324 *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 ¯ The present realities of HIV/AIDS and e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinlc net 610-5323 *CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial : decreased focus on and interest in HIV583 -6666 Full Moon Care, 1525 E. 15th Publisher + Editor: : related issues have made providing HIV/ 749-4511 Tom Neal *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria : AIDS servicesadifficnltifnotimpossible 744-4280 Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Sqtmre r task. This is true on a national as well as Writers + contributors: *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 : local level, Late last fall Interfaith AIDS James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, 834-4234 *The Star, 1565 Sheridan : Ministries (IAM) received a letter from Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers 835-2376 *The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan : AIDS National InterfaithNetwork (ANIN) *Renegades/Rainb0w Room, 1649 S. Main 585-3405 Member of The Associated Press that it was closing its doors," as a result of 660-0856 *TNT’s, 2114’S: Memorial : financial difficulties which cumulatively 584-1308 ¯ *Tool Box, 1338 E: 3rd Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the enttre contents " ,.r~l," nc.d " " i " .v." unde ~I ’ ~ Vll~b,l *The Yellow-Bri~k-Road.Pub,~-2630,E...1$th, ........ ;749~1563 hi" this ubli t~on e protecte~l bv US copyright 1998 8y : reaht~l~s ~a~e~t ~n~pq~s~ble,. ~o ttmcgqq Tal~a~BtlstPiesse~Set~ices, &: Pcofe~s~o~als~.~.; : :ahd~may~hd~,be~ep~oduoed e~tlaer m ~/~ ~ Advanced Wireleg~&::P~,S~ Di~ithl Cellulhi ~ ~ ~ i.tJ ~ q47:q508’ ~ w,hol¢ or t~p.a~_ ~’~l~OUt w~atte~a p~.r0~SSlQ~ ~ro~ ~publisheir. ~ *Assdd ih~19I~d!&:M~fi¢~l ~da]ttl)2325 8’: H~ii~c~a~ 74g-’~i000’, Publication of a name or photo does not.indicate a person’ s ¯ :..is With deep r~gret that I must announce Kent Balch &Assr(~htes, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506 sexual orientation. Corr~spbndeii~ i~assumed to be for. : that the boardof Interfaith AIDS Minis*Barnes & N~bl~’ B66ksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 ¯" ’tries has’made the decision to discontinue publication" unlessootherwis~noted,, must be signed & be665-4580 *Barnes &N0bl~Broksellers, 5231 E. 41 : client services. comes.the ao_l¢ property of r~ ~ ’~.’. Nt, w4 Eachreader 712-q 122 Body Piefdfigby Nicole, 2722 E. 15 : I have for srme time continued as the is entitled to 4 copiesof each editt0n at distribution 712-’9955 *Borders Books & MUsic, 2740 E. 21 ¯ directorona.volunteerbasis at the board"g 494-2665 *Borders BOoks’ &MUsic, 8015 S. Yale pointsJ Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. 743~5272 Brooksid~ J~w~lfy,4649 S. Peoria ¯ Work-~.~,~.~ and personal responslbl,~i,7 746_0313~ *CD War~hogs~,’3807c S. Peoria Friead~,..in ~nity Social Org., i~i3 8~2~ 7..4 !.0. ! 582-0~38 ties maKeit impossible for me to continue 295-5868 " -*Cheap Thrills~ 2640 E. 1 lth 583-6611 : to do the job rrsponsibly. It requires more ........ HIV~.~ente~2~i’38Chas’. Page Blvd. Cherry Stl Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4H7 834-4i94~. time and energy than I am now able to *Tulsa C.A.R:E.S., 3507 E. Admiral622-~0700- ¯ Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st. Community Cleani~ag, Kerby Baker 481-1111 ¯ commiLAnd there is no one wilting and 352:9504, 800-742-9468 Tim Daniel, Attorney 834-8378 HOPEI HiV-.Outredch,Pi?~vefifibn:,Edt~cafion able to take my place. 74%3620 : .*H0us.e. O~ the Holy Spitff ~_~nstri¢s,.32!0~ s~~. ’Nb~wood ....... *Deco to Dfsco, 3212 E. 15th The bisard has made the decision t~ 744~55~6 :::-iii~e~ ~iDS MJnislii~s/~ ...... 4381~437, 800-284-2437 ." continue IAM’s existence, at this time. DoghouSe oti:Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 83828~03 :."¥~C~~ United~-i623 :N. Mapi~w00d~: *Elite Books &Videos, 821 S. Sheridan " ~ 838-i715 IAM’s board will continue to meet peri~"58420337, 712-9379 ¯ NAMESPr0ject,.3507 E. Admiral- PlY . *Ross Edward Salon 748-3111 . odicallyand monitor the changing reali:° ¯ 59"2-0460 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main ,., " ’-. 365-5658 NO.W, Nat’l Or.g for Womeri;"POBlZ!0.68174159 ties of HIV/AIDS, its effect on our com744-9595 ¯ OK Spokes Club (bic~clifig), POB 916~,-.74157 " *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria . munity and any future role IAM may play ¯ in meeting needs. It is the ministry’ s hope, 6t0-0880- ¯ *OSU-TUiSa ’ Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI: ’ " 628-3709. ¯ ..PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med: Ctr. 749-4901 : of course, that the future will bring a cure.’. 808-8026 ¯ *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria .Gay & Lesbian-Affordable Daycare 587-7674 " that some day gatherings will be in re¯ 742~1460 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st " membrance only. Prime-Timer~P.O. Box 52118, 74152 459-9349 ¯ R.A.I:N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network~ ........ 749-4195 ¯ Learme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning The board and I wish to express our 744-7440 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney 584~2325 ¯ deepest appreciation for you support of ¯ Red Ro~k Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 ..... *Sandra’ J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 ; O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults the work of this ministry over the many 341-6866 " years of its existence. Without that sup*International Tours O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth 7.12-2750 425-7882 ¯ port IAM would not have been able to Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th ¯ St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 582-3018 *Jared’ s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 492-7140 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st serve the hundreds of individuals which it 747-0236 ¯ *St. Jerome’ s Parish Church, 205 W. King David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering .582-3088 " has assisted with practical, emotional, and 582-8460 ¯" *Tulsa,~ea United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯ spiritual support. Thank you on behalf of The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 599-8070 ¯ TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 ¯ those we have served for the many gifts of *Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15 ¯ 747-5466 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 595-4105 : your time, your talents, and your support. Tulsa County HealthDepartment, 4616 E. 15 585-1234 ¯ " *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only I appreciate the opporttmity the minis584-3112 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd try has provided me to serve those af¯ Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743:4297 663 -5934 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform!Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 fected by HIV/AIDS and to get to know 664-2951 ¯ *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place ¯ and work with all of you. It has been very 838-7626 : *Tulsa Community College Campuses " hard for me to step away from this work Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 743 -4297 ¯ *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 ¯ knowing there is so much more to be *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor ¯ 747-5932 749-8833 ¯ done. However, I know I have reached Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696,74101 Unity Church of Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown 834-0617 Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning that pl ace where, even though there is a lot BARTLESVILLE 834-7921, 747-4746 Teri Schutt Rex Realtors more I would have liked to have done, I *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 749-6301" Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square have done all I can do for now. I would ask ¯ OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN 260-7829 Paul Tay, Car Salesman that you continue your prayers of those Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 481-0558 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis living:~ith and affected by HIV/A~DS Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 835-5563 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard and fofthOse who minister to them, for a 743-1733 ¯ TAHLEQUAH Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling cure for this,devastating disease, and frr ¯ 665-2222 918~456-7900 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan Stonewall League, call for information: those who have served Interfaith AIDS ¯ 918-456-7900 592-0767 *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church Ministries. Thank you and God bless you. *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis ¯ Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 Faithfully, Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand - Chaplain Diane Zike, Director 579-9593 ¯ AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates 743-2363 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria -587-7314o : EUREKASI~;RINGS, ARKANSAS. Black & White, Inc.POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 501-253-7734 " Bless Ttl~ LO~d at~All Tirn~ -Chflstian Ce-n’tdr/2207 E. 6 58327815- "~ Auttmm’ Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7457 : *B/LiG/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 ¯ *Jim & Brent’ s Bistro, 173 S. Main 585-1201 501-253-6807 " "focused on the issue of state’s rights" *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-5445 ¯ and that the high court’, s ruling in the case. *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St, 501-253-9337 : "will have no direct effect in Oklahoma." *Churchof :the Restorafion UU., t3 t:4N:Greenwood 587-1314" : MCC:0f the Living Spring 501-253-2776 " "Oklahoma does not have the same anti*CommtmityofHopeUnitedMethodist,2545 S. Yale 747-6300 : Geek to Go!,TC Specialist, POB 429 749-0595 501-253-5332 . discrimination law as New Jersey," *Comrmmity Unitarian-Universalist Congregation ¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 748-3888 501-624-6646 " Edmondson said. "For me and my office, Council Oak Men’ s Chorale Positive Idea Marketing Plans 712-1511 ¯ Sparky’ s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 " this matter was soldy decided on the *DelawarePlayhouse, 1511 S. Delaware advancement of states’ rights." 742-2457 : White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253 -4074 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 Theissue of states’ rights involves powDignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & : JOPLIN, MISSOURI ers reserved to the states under the 10th 355-3140 Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 Amendment and immunity from lawsuits 747-7777 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard under the 1 lth Amendment. * Free Spirit Women’ s Center, call for location & info: 587-4669 ¯ Edmondson, a former Boy Scout and * is where you can find TFN. Not allare Gay-owned but allare Gay-friendly. Friend ForA Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 see Attorney, p.7 ¯ reques ; L’.am no longer able to d.o _; ! �by Christopher Graft, Associated Press Writer On the day Unilever bought Slim-Fast for $2.3 billion and Ben & Jerry’s for $326 million, it was the smaller purchase that captured the headlines and attention nationwide. The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Associated Press were among the major news organizations that focused on the purchase of the tiny ice cream company, mentioning the acquisition of the much-larger Slim-Fast only to savor the unusual pairing of the fatten, ing and dieting duo. Why? Why does a $326 million purchase gain more attcntionthatva$2.3~billionone?Qu~fle-simplybecauseno ¯ one ldab~s 6r~ cares ~h6 !o~vns Shn~-Fast." ~ . , Butdle ’ldid,&. ’.J erry. " mlamey ~’" ""~ care ~ . ,, ! , y.:,. ¯ ! y k~d~Be~duidflie who owns th~s’c0mpa@.~ h~;ce ~dffay~ b~fi ~ttnazed’l~ ~. the wide interest in Ben & Jerry’ s. By the news media. " And by peo_p,te in general. Because, to be blunt about it, ¯ Ben & Jerry s is a tiny company, with an insignificant share of the ice cream market. The appeal, though, stems from the fact there are two real guys at the heart of this i : company; two guys who want t6~do good. No faceless multinational ctlialj._"~,y with layers of bureau...cracy. This xs Ben and Je~’.~,~-stlll doing a little scooping here and there, and always keeping their eyes on social concerns. And that strikes a nerve with the publicl i Twoguys who want to do good. Helping out the little guy by earmarking 7.5% of the pretax p.r.ofits for charity and : running campaigns to help children and savethe family farm. Two guYS. Doing good. ¯ Bernie Sanders strikes that same nerve. This past week ~ found him gushingly profiled in the New York Times and ¯ prominently featured in the Boston Globe, the National ¯ Journal.and on Nagonal Public Radio. H~ is just one of 435 members of the U.S. House - and ye’~ he reaps far ¯ more than his share of publicity - just like Ben and Jerry ¯¯ do. Why? Because he, too, strikes a nerve. Bernie is the fighter for the little guy, taking on the powerful pharma- Editor’s note: the following are remarks made by new NGLTF Executive Director Elizabeth Toledo at the National Press Club at apress conference held on April.25. "Good morning. I am here this morning to discuss the state of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender movement (GLBT) for equality in the United States. As many state legislatures across the land wrap tip their work and adjourn, we are seeing a frenzied pace of legislative activity surrounding GLBT issues. For only the second year in our movement’ s history, we have seen bills favorable to our community outnumber unfavorable bills - and the ratio is rapidly increasing. So far this year, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has tracked 466 bills, of which 288 are favorable and 178 are unfavorable. By comparison, last year, we tracked 269 favorable bills and 205 unfavorable bills. A trend has emerged which shows that although the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender population remains under fierce attack, the movement toward civil rights for all is steadily gaining strength. Today the Vermont House of Representatives is poised to give final approval to a bill that would allow same-sex couples the right to enter into official civil unions sanctioned by the state. If approved and signed into law, the Vermont bill will do what no state has ever done before - it will pr0~ide same~s,¢x couples wi~ al! of the fights, benefits iitid ~i~0fi-iilsNties Of niarfiag~ thai a state can offer. Vermont has garnered a lot of attention, and rightfully so. But did_you know_ about Georgia? Indiana? Mai_ne? Alabama?’GeOrgia this Tear foi~ ,the firs:t!time ever: has passed and enacted a hate crimes law. Indiana has passed and enacted a hate crimes data collection law. While not a full-blown hate crimes law, it represents the first rime hidianalegislators have ever reacted favorably to a GLBT issue. Maine has passed and forwarded to the voters a full-scale civil rights law that includes sexual orientation. In Alabama, the House has passed an historic bill adding .sexual orientation to the existing hate crimes law. The bill is scheduled to come up for a heating in the Senate tomorrow. Five states - Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Wisconsin - have defeated attempts to either pass or strengthen anti-same-sex marriage laws. ¯ was there. This state has always been seen as a bastion of ¯ common sense and a breeder of courageous people. Yes, Vermont’ s pastoral image is of a bygone era of ¯ village squares and hillside farms. But its political image, its heritage, in fact, is of courage, of caring, of going where others fear to tread. ¯ Ralph Flanders was about as conservative as they ~ come. But he had the courage to stand up in the U.S. ¯ Senate and call for an end to Joe McCarthy’ s red-baiting, "... More and more in recent years Vet¯ taking a stand that for Flanders was steeled in the values mont has been out front in tackling tough ¯ in the Bill of Rights. And so it was for George Aiken, ¯ fighting against :the banks, the rai!roadS, and~ flae marble probl.ems. There is something about the ¯ and:~~ani,t.~i,n~t.u.stries in the ’3Os~ and spegaki~g up yche,It ¯ . exper~~ ¯ ,.small ~s~ze of the state that ¯ allows .... ¯ : ¯ ¯ - others,would not .about the~ ,folly’,.of,Vietnam. :, . . . .. ¯ :nlentat~i0ii. Aiad ther is something a~ well More and mpre in. recent ~ears V,e.rmont:has been out ¯ front in tackling tough problems. There is something about the attitude of its polltieal leaders : about the small size of the state that allows experimentaand people, an attitude that champions eivll ¯ tion. And there is something as well about the attitude of ¯ its political leaders and people, an attitude that champions r~ghts and foeuse~ on the little guy. ¯ civil rights and focuses on the little guy. ¯ As difficult as it seems for some people, As difficult as it seems for somepeople, the debate this ¯ year over extending benefits to Gay and Lesbian couples the debate this year over extending ¯ .is part of that tradition. Again the eyes of the nation are on benefits to Gay and Le~hian couples ~ the state. Certainly there is apprehension and even oppo¯ sition, but it is reassuring and pleasing to see how much is part of that tradition..." : applause thereis. A South Carolinanewspaper writes that theseindi~iduals, but it als0 has s0me~ng to do with the ¯ "Vermont has offered a sensible model for secular civil ¯ state, its people and its heritage. ¯ unions;" the Arizona Daily Star says "this is probably the In a time when many people feel disconnected from best solution possible to an emotional, important debate ¯ their communities, when they feel overwhelmed by the that strains the bounds of Americans’ tolerance and stresses and strains of everyday life, Vermont seems to ¯ respect for each other," and the Concord (N.H.) Monitor offer an anchor and a hope. Vermont is small enough.to ; says Vermont has "passed what was a test of conscience." retain the seBs¢ of community lost elsewhere, and is ¯ A tourist promotion campaigns a few decades back unafraid to try the unconventional - to stand up for the ¯ proclaimed that Vermont is what America was. It is more ¯ accurate today to say that Vermont is what America litde guy. Ben, Jerry, Bernie and the others are not creating a new ¯ wants to be. image for Vermont: They are simply building on what ceutical industry or whoever is his enemy of the moment. It is remarkable, actually, that Vermont gets as much attention as it does - through Ben, Jerry, and Bernie, and through U.S. Sens. Pat Leahy and Jim Jeffords and Gov. Howard Dean, all of whom have images of straight talkers in a business full of bluster. I suspect the nation’ s high interest in things Vermont has something to do with ¯ The pace of activity this year continues a trend we first ¯ noticed in 1999, a breakthrough year for the GLBT ; .- movement. Last year’ s legislative victories included his" toric advances in such disparate states as California, : Kentucky, New Hampshire and Nevada. In California, legislators passed and the governor signed a trio of bills : "...Vermont has garnered a lot of : attention, and ghtf lly But did you know about Georgla.9 Indlana.~ Maine.9 Alabama? Georgia this year for the first time ever has passed and enacted a hate erlmes law. Indiana has passed and enacted a hate cr~mes data collection law..." that established a statewide registry for same-sex couples, added sexual orientation to the nondiscrimination clauses under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act and offered public school students some protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In Kentucky, tWO cities..and two_ 9oun.ties ad~pted, proGLBT civil rights measures. In New Hampshire, a law preventing same-sex couples from adopting children was repealed. And Nevada became the 1 lth state to ban job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. ~While we hav~ l~geiy ~picked-ul~iii flJ~ ~e’a~’2000 where we left off, the news is not all good. Two states Utah and Mississippi -have passed bills preventing same-sex couples from adopting children. Two state legislatures - Colorado and West Virginia- passed laws preventing same-sex couples from marrying, and Callfornia voters approved a measure banning the state from recognizing same-sex marriages in other states. The number of states that have explicitly passed laws banning same-sex mamage will reach 33 if the Colorado governor signs that statefs legislation. Such activity reflects the unfortunate reality of our movement. There is a checkerboard quality to the legal and cultural victories for the LGBT movement, and too often the difference between legitimacy and illegitimacy in the eyes of society may rest on something as arbitrary as a state boundary. Many residents of thiS country assume that the great strides of the civil rights movement have afforded broad protection against discrimination for " all. In fact the legal reality is that those of us in same sex relationships have not been fully protected from discrimination in housing,jobs, family law, education - virtually every aspect of our lives is subject to discrimination and sadl y, hate violence or harassment remains a reality in every state in the nation. Too often the cultural strides that are made in the media, in places or worship, in schools and universities and in the workplace are misinterpreted as a sign that equality has been won. I’ll give you an example. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force frequently receives phone calls from same-sex couples asking for alist of states in which they can legally marry. These individuals see shows like Will and Grace or Dawson’ s Creek. They worship in churches or synagogues that welcome them. They are out in the workplace or at school. They just assume, like many heterosexual Americans, that the barriers of discrimination have been eradicated. The reality, of course, is quite different¯ Not a single state allows same.sex mamage. 39 states allow Gay, ¯ "Lesbian, Bisexual:and Transgender employees.to be fired from our jobs. 28 states lack hate crimes law s that include sexual orientation. 18 states criminalize loving, same-sex relationships. - .~ " T~day the GLBT movement i~ at a crossroads We.are under open assault by those who would deny us basic " .human rights., and at the same time the nation.is witness" ing a surge in support for our cause. Ourtives, our liberty, our pursuit of happiness depend upon our ability " to build strong political infrastructure and organize on the " state and local level. " Local orgamzing has always been the trademark of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Fortunately, we ,’. are not alone. Today, the state and local political infra: structure of the GLBT movement in the United States is ," stronger than it has ever been before. ¯ In 1996, NGLTF helped found the Federation of State" wide LGBT Political Organizations. see NGLTF, p. 11 �College Course to Focus On Net Hate Groups o.. BOSTON (AP) - One shows an image of a slain Gay man burning in hell Another claims the FBI has declared war on white Christians. A third pretends to pay homage to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., then suggests the civil rights leader was a sex fiend, a communist and a "plastic god." They ~e radical, hate-driven Internet sites and they are increasing rapidly. This fall, they also will be the basis for a communications class at Emerson College called Hate.com. Robert Hilliard, an Emerson communications prof~e,ssor, vlans to use ,the sites to examine how radical gxpups use fi!e Internet to recrmt new members. " " Hilliard became interested in extremists~ when.he’ stumbled across a far-right talk radio show, and later wrote abook on the topic with Boston College professor Michael Keith. "We began to listen and we said, ’Here we were, communications professionals and we didn" t know about these people,’" Hilliard said. "People have got to know what these people are saying." Their book, "Waves of Rancor: Tuning in the Radical RighC’ was well-received and ended up on President Clinton’ s summer reading list. Hilliard’ s says his class will .examine how the groups target xmpressionable youth, how they multiply and how they foment rage¯ More than 300 extremistWeb sites are on the Internet today, ranging from neo-Nazi alliances to Gay and Lesbian haters to Holocaust denials sites, according to the watchdog Southern Poverty Law Center¯ In 1998, the group counted 254 such Web sites, up from 163 in 1997. Experts say extremists are careful’not to urea away viewers with upfront, inflammatory statements or epithets. Instead, rock music and games draw in new members gradually. One Neo-Nazi site features bands like RaHoWar, which stands for Racial Holy War. "Others attract viewers with seemingly mainstream articles, but the articles can lead to racist and conspiratorial theories bolstered with passages from the Bible and alternative historians. Hilliard plans toinvite some hate site creators to the class, giving them a chance to defend their work. One rote creator satdhe s open to such challenges. I thi the media is extremely biased against my point of view and I want to provide an alternative to their news," said Don Black, creator of Stormfront, one of the Web’ s oldest white nationalist sites. Hilliard and others emphasize that extremist sites are fully protected by the First Amendment and stress they are not calling for their removal. However, Hilliard makes no bones about his hopes that students work to combat them. ’q?hese are people saying’ We must arm ourselves for a holy war to rid the world of those who are not white, Aryan Christians or those who disagree with our points of view,’" he said. Idaho Public TV Faces Program Challenges IDAHO FALLS, Idaho. (AP) :- Adding a disclaimer to .controversial programming on Idaho Public Television may pacify prograrnm~ug restrictions from the .Legislature while allowing the station to keep federal funding. Idaho Board Of Education member Curtis ’Eaton ¯ proposed.Friday the board require PublieTelevision tO air a disclaimer stating the station does not sanction acts or events depicted in programming. In a letter dated,April 13, Eaton asked.the ¯board to consider the option-as a way torectncile what he describes aft contradictory statements in recent.legislation that require the board to regulate programming deemed to promote acts illegal in Idaho. The controversy over programming began last. spring, when Idaho Public Television General Manager Peter Morrill decided to air"It’ s Elementary," an hour-long documentary about how five public school districts across the country dealt with teaching kids about homosexuality. Christian conservatives lobbied the board to veto the program, but in June 1999 the board voted unanimously not to interfere with Morrill’ s programming decision. But the Legislature got involved this spring by including restrictions in a funding package for the network that reouire the board to monitor and reject programming that "promotes, supports or encourages the violation of Idaho criminal statutes." Because sodomy is illegal in Idaho, the bill could be interpreted to mean programs like"It’ s Elementary" should be cut. Or, because robbery is an Idaho felony, documentaries about legendary thieves Bonme and Clyde might be barred. But board member Harold Davis said he agreed with the restrictions and felt "It’ s Elementary’ crossed the line iiito promoting "the Gay lifestyle." He opposed Eaton’ s proposal, saying it was not sufficient to meet Legislative demands for new policy. Methodists Callings,For:+ Investigation of Bishop SACRAMENTO (AP) - Some parishioners want religious leaders to investigate the United Methodist Church bishop who decided not to charge 68 ministers who attended and endorsed a Lesbian wedding. The western region of the United Methodist Church’ s College of ~3ishops received two letters from parishioners, asking for aninvestigationinto whether Bishop Melvin Talbert disregarded church laws, including one banning same-sex unions. Bishop Elias Galvan of Seattle, a member of the religious body, said the o letters would be reviewed to see if they merit complaint status. John Stumbo, a Fort Valley, Ga., lawyer and member of the Coalition for United Methbdist Accountability, said the complaints centered around comments Talbert made when he announced that there was no basis f01~ a trial. At the time, Talbert said it was more important for the church to be all -inclusive than to puuish someone for blessing a union not officially sanctioned by the churcJa; But Stumbo said Talbert and the church’ s investigative committee disregarded a church law against homosexual, marriage in reaching their decision, If the-College of Bishops finds grounds for complaint, a separate committee wouldinvestigate whether Talbert should be tried in a church court, which would have the power to impose a number of penalties, including expulsion. Talbert’ s secretary said the bishop was travding and could not be reached for comment. The Rev. Don Fado of St..Mark’ s United Methodist Church in Sacramento performed the January 1999 ceremony for church members Ellie Charlton, 64,and. Jeanne BametL 69. He and 67 other ministers offiCiated en masse at the ceremony. University Denial of Benefits Ruled Legal P1TTSBU-RGH (AP) - The University of Pittsburgh has-legally denied health benefits to same-sex partners of employees, an AlleghenyCounty judge ruled. Judge Robert Gallo said that Pitt’ s policy is neutral because health benefits are offered to all employees regardless of sexual orientation, and Pitt also denies benefits to unmarried partners of heterosexual employees. "This ruling dearly iupholds what has been the university’ s .position, thr0~ghout these proem,dings - namely that the universityhealth benefits plan is legal and nondiscriminatory," Pitt spokesman Ken Service said. But. Deborah Henso~, ia’former Pittinstn~ctor Who-’ sued when the university denied benefits to her Le~.bian partner, said she’would appeal to Common~ wealth Court. ’~Fhis is.important in terms of fairness.,, and equality," Hens, on s~d.."pitt has .l~e~¯ ~gh~ng tooih and nail, in my opiuion,tojus ,tff,y~ disenmina~tton against Gay and Lesbi~in persons. Henson and six others were plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging that Pitt violated a city ordinance banning discrimination against Gay~ and Lesbians. I-Ienson’ s attorneys had wanted the case to be heard by the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, which hears complaints about violations of the city ordinance. Ga!lo said the commission has no jurisdiction over Pitt. In November, Gov. Tom Ridge signed a law exempting state universities and colleges from being forced by city anti-discrimination laws to provide same-sex benefits. Pitt is a state-affiliated institution. United in God’s Love ¯ MCC-Un=ted Sunday WOrship 11:00 am 1623 N. Maplewood Reverend Cathy Elliot Pastor 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community of Hope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 .... A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon - Sandra Hill Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E: Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-111 1 Red Rock Tulsa- O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-58.4=2325 Mingo Valley Flowers ~9413 E. 31St St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouplo Psychothorapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 �The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) .. i . 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday ’12-9 pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the cOnter Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583-,1248 Red Rock Tulsa ,. Free Confidential,:HIV,Testing Walk-in Clihics ........ Tuesdays, 5-8 pm, Center, 1307 East38tti ...... Wednesdays, 5-8 pm, R¢0.~ock, 1724_~_s.L8~h Daytime appointments availal~le. Call for more information; 918-584 2325 KEVIN ESON Keller Will, ms -712;2 252 ..~ Bur]es~n@kw.com 26D I East 21st Street, gte. 100, Tulsa 7~’1~ , ~ An Ind@endg~t Member ~roher "Recognizing that Pitt’ s health care contract on its face prohibits Pitt from providing benefits to both same sex and heterosexual unmarried couples, making n~ distinction between the two, it is dear that the commi ssion would be precluded from finding that an unlawful practice had been committed by Pitt," Gallo’ s written ruling said. Other universities in Pennsylvania that offer samesex benefit~ include the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College and DickinsfnCollege. C.amegie Mdlon University.faculty earlier this month accepted a recommendation-that the:,.university ,provide samesex benefits as wall..CMU’ s board of trustees must approve the recommendation as well before samesex benefits will be extended, according to university spokesman Don Hale. BOSh on Vermont Civil Unions TEMPLE, Texas (AP)- Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush refused to be drawn into comment on Vermont’s civil unions, which would grant to same~sex couples some 300 state benefits of marriage, including medical decision-making, tax breaks and inheritance. Bush has opposed recognizing same-sex unions in Texas. "They have a right to pass a law," Bush said. "It’ s the right of the state to .make that decision just like it’s the right of the state of South Carolina to make the decision on the flag." Bush also met with a group of Gay Republicans last week in Austin and said he was "a better person" for heating their stories but still disagreed with them on Gay marriage. The Texas governor answered questions after making an elementary school appearance to_~,r.omote "character education" on the anni .v.ersary of the Columbine shootings. School District InC0urt Fi0r Rejecting Gay Club ,,7i?ne,G~y,~cltlb ~, 0n!y .n~et ~t’e~ ,h~ ~s qo~.l~.u~:~.g,rpup. thin, must ~efi( siJa~e aiii£.~hy insurance~ Th~ ~i~a’l~ ;sn ’t~16~l t6 liand ~tU~t t’l,y..¢~ oL c~uh ~ha~e.t0~ay.fQr~ :,es si Coh~:saia’.’C6iien ~’d: pcrsp.e.,,~tive~ of’G~y~ a~a)’?!;~in~."Seida ti~Z them ~ ~ 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 SaintDunstan 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Clark delivered opening and dosing arguments while Richard Van Wagoner, another Salt Lake City lawyer, grilled Seidel on her decision to disqualify PRISM but sanction the Polynesian Club and the Odyssey of the Mind Club. ’Seidel also nixed a women’ s literature club, saying she had suggested a genderless literature club instead. Campbell seemed particularly interested in that decision a~d asked for ~ ".... district records on it. ." The judge frequently turned oia Dan: Larsen, an ¯ assistant Utah state attorney general d~fending the ¯ school district, attacking his argiamentsand declaring school administrators were not hb~v~:the law. Dis- trict Superintendent Darlene Roblds: who was in the ¯ courtroom but did not testify, S~iid tti~ school board ¯ "wasla:t tr~_’0g to violate studen[s" ~F,ifst Amendment ¯ ~nghk~ and welcomed any ~]anfi~ohC ~ ll~ear~ "bring on, the m~tte~r~ , Lesbian Housing Rights NEW YORK (AP) - A lawyer for a Lesbian medical student asked a state appeals court to order Yeshiva University to let the woman and her domestic partner live together in school-subsidized housing. James Esseks told a five-judge panel of the New York State Supreme Court’ s Appellate Division that Yeshiva’ s policy discriminates on the basis of marital status and sexual orientation in violation of city and state law. Esseks said the university pern-ts married students to live in school housing only with spouses and children. Because Gay couples cannot legally marry, the policy has a disparate, discriminatory impact on them, he said. Esseks represents Sara Levin, 28, of San Francisco, a fourth-year student at Yeshiva’ s Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Yeshiva University is the oldest and largest institution of higher education under Jewish auspices in the United States. University Members Protest Anti-GaY Slurs SALT Li~KE CITY (AP) - A fede~r,al judge recently shai~ly questioned a’s~hoor distiict s refuSai.to’sancGORHAM, "{~/Iaine (AP) - Abou(.125.~t_udent~, staff tibia’ "d" ’ ~ ~d:¢rff ~ dub ’ that would-focus:,on:Gay "~-: and administrators attended a meeting following three IJYe:sbjan~ssu¢si"’~ust (~ecaus~ yo~gof6"safi’6ol’d~i incidents o£ anti-Gay bias at the University of Southm~y~.~0!~ -th~ii,~’~iis~ Aiii~iidifiefi{iights; U..S," ern Maine. One student and two others were arrested Di~ft Jildg~ Teiah’ chmp~~tttold’.a lawyer for’the _ by Gorhamand USM policein connection with one of S~,t-~ .city’s~tiool ~’~&:Campbell made.no " the three_’in.cidents, all of which took place during a d~Li~ionlasr m’or~,...B.~t.~:.i.s e.x_pected’t0 nile ~60n ¯ one-week period earlier this spring. President Richo..n~a’reqye~ by stud~,nt org~:z~r~’i6b~c~ia~lVadnfiil: - : ard Pattenande assured participants.at Wednesday’ s is~t6r~ find .~_~ "PRrSM~’Peoi~l~ R~spectingIm~ :Tmeeting that anti-Gay acts will not be tolerated. pdrt~t s~iAl Mov-&ia~nt~ = ter@o:rary school privi- :’ "USM stands unflinchingly for equality~. -. homopholeges. Campbell will then’decide the crux of the case: bid has.no place at USM," Pattenande said.. w3aether schoql 9ffici~s violated the First AmendThe incidents began on the weekend of April 8-9 meat or their own- policy in sh~bb~ag., PRIS M:Tot-? when anti.Gay graffiti was foundin Woodward Hall. merly the Gay-Straight Alliaiice and_now, reconsti-. The graffiti referred to a resideatadvisor. The next ttitM M’ii~i" aii ac~id’6G~i~ ib~ar to satisfy new district: incidenthappened on April 13 when the same c[abrules, Woodward resident advisor and anotheradvisor in_ .Cynthia ~¢i_.dd i. the_Oi, S_tri’~? s. _as~istani,~upe~nten-: tervenedin an out-of-control party. Both were taunted ¯ dent, struggled on the stand Tliurs~y.~0¢xplaii~ why., ~ with violent, anti-Gay threats. Last Saturday, another PRISM didn’ t.qualify as, an academic_club;.contend: ¯ dormitory.staff workerfoundawritten-anti-Gay death ing,it represents a~ narrow..viewpoi~ o.n ~.~.erican threat had been slipped under her’dtbr~" ....... hist6ry and sociology In 1996, the school districi el.i_nu,’na,ted all nonacademicdubs’i:aiher.than idlow Qay .dub at East RighS&ooL a mbve.that ,was in~federat court ..... .....",.. ~ .... ~, , ,. i~qrpos; ,oLtll.e .cfii~ is tbi~i~ss history"f~bifi:the SaintAidan ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ~O~i~ :Uec~U~ ~e’d0ii~t t~ch c,,urri~ulum from the viewpini:dfGays and Legblans. ’. . Stephen.Clark, l¢.gal director for the American Civil ,Liberties, U,ni" on of Utah, argued that the denial was a straighff0.r~v)ffd First Amendment v,iolation. Clark also contends the district manipulated its own club policy and sealed its decision against PRISM with a new, still unwritten rule disqualifying clubs advocating an "exclusive viewpoint" of subjects. ’ Alhb:ama H ate:i::Cii :i:m es Law Revision In:Trouble MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - At:i~n-danc~..at. a Senate comfifittee meeting could determine the fate Of lcgist~tif~;to ~;po,laxkA!.~b._a~a,~’.A~h~.qrim,es !~w to indud~ NXnald~r~e~a~:.ti...on. !.7~.e .t)i:!$ pa~ red ~ R~ 49-39:on.April 6..George, Olssom Mbntgomery .area coordinator for-the Gay and Le~ian,Al!iartc,e .of Alabama~,s~d ’.~e ,J~c!~ci_ary _Co~t.t~ ~: sharply which commi.B~me,_~a~bcrs shoN,upat tlag ~t iil~eting. Committee, cL~irman.:Rodger,:,Smi,ih~ianan, a supporter Of the bill, agreed thdco~tteeii spfit 5050 and,attendance,could determine t!~.outcome. Alabama law already mandates, mini.mm:n prison terms that felons must serve for crimes motiyated by race, color, religion, national origin, :ethnicity or physical or mental disability. For instance,, if a person committed a crime that is normally punishable by one to 10 years in prison, the hate crimes law mandates the person must serve at least two years in prison. �TB Spreading In : "threatened sextmlly" by other inmates said they had been raped. Transgender Group :". andIf 1.1% they have AIDS or another sex~mlly ATLANTA (AP) - A tuberculosis out- ¯ transmitted disease, they’ll be spreading break in the Transgender commtulities of : it to their partners, he said. "These people Baltimore and New York City may be : are g,oing to be getting out of prison and spreading to 0ther:cities, the government ¯¯ they re going to be having sex with their wives or husbands," Hemley said. said recently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 26 ac- : The sweeping 46-question survey .,asks tive cases and 37 dormant cases of tuber- ¯ about jailhouse consensual sex, culosis, most of them connected to mem- : autoeroticism and rape. About 3,600 of bers of the transgender community inthe : Kentucky’ s 15.300 prisoners have been two cities. ¯ asked to participate. The survey is volunThe’ CD~,, ~s~ th~t~m~ig~asgender to: !, ~tary and_anonymouL Funded in part b~ a encbn~Ss~"cro~-~dr~ss~dr~,~ those who .: ~$1,600 ~ant from ’Morehe~id~State,! the ":~i ~ques~i~res have~n ~ent to i.m~tes haveig~.,derg0~eI and indi~id~Jai~ ~tio ~re’plafining to un~ ¯ ’. dt three Of the state’ s .12 male prisons and dergo sex-change operations. All of the : toinmatesatthestate’sonlyfemaleprison. ¯ Results will be released this fall. cases in Baltimore were men except for Hensley’ s research has "extraordinary four women who w’ere either family memvalue," said Cindy Stmckman-Johuson, a bers of the men or health care workers professor of psychology at the University who treated them. Many had a strain of of South Dakota. But ~ topic is so taboo TB treated with common antibiotics. The that few scholars focus on it, she said. government said 62% of the tuberculosis "We should have hundreds of people patients tested positive for HIV, the virus studying it," Struckman-Johnson said. that causes AIDS. People with HIV are "Sex in prison is a major cause of violence susceptible to tuberculosis and could die ... of upset and turmoil, a major cause of if not treated. disease." Transgenders often travd to many citPrisoners’ rights advocates also say the ies frequenting social clubs and particisexuality data could be useful. "Prison is paring in fashion and dance competitions. a very violent place and ff (officials) can "Frequent travel and social network links get a better idea about the reality of prison identified among the Baltimore and NYC rape and what’ s going on, hopefully they cases have raised concern that thi~ strain caTu be more prepared to deal with that ¯ . may be circulating in other’~ities issue," said Kara Gotsch, a public policy among young, mobile transgender percoordinator with the Washington, D.C.sons with HIV infection," the CDC said in based National Prison Project of the a report¯ American Civil Liberties Union. The CDC is checking for additional Struckman-Jotmson said some prison cases linked to the same strain in Atlanta, administrators try to quash these kinds of "Baltimore, Boston, New YorkCity, Philastudies out of concern about negative pubdelphia and Washington, D.C. licity. But Morehead State administrators and Kentucky prison officials approved Hensley’ s study. Hensley also has co-written an article on conjugal visitation in Mississippi, and LOS ANGELES (AP) - There’ s more to his study on consensual homosexual acthe B ruce Willis appearances on"Friends" tivity in male prisons in Oklahoma is than a potential ratings boost. The actor, scheduled for publication in December in who agreed to be a guest star on NBC’ s a prison-related academic journal. "Friends" for three episodes during the May ratings "sweeps," is donating earnings from the show to five charities. The amount of money wasn’ t disclosed. The American Foundation for AIDS MOSCOW (AP) - Authorities in a SibeResearch, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the rian region plan to open a separate prison Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundafor inmates infected with HIV, the virus tion, the Rape Treatment Center and that causes AIDS, a news report said last UCLA Unicamp for underprivileged chilmonth. dren will share the money, Willis publiAbout 600 HIV-positive convicts are cist Paul Bloch said. serving time in prisons of the Irkutsk On "Friends," Willis plays the widregion, and another 300 infected people owed father of Ross’ new girlfriend. Willis are held in pre-trial detention, said Boris became friendly with "Friends" actor Gronik, chief of the regional Justice MinMatthew Perry when they both starred in istry branch in charge of prison administhe movie "The Whole Nine Yards." tration. Gronik said afflicted inmates present a danger to other prisoners, and need to be removed; the ITAR=Tass news agency reported. "Unless they are all gathered in one place, the situation may get out MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) - A Morehead of control," Gronik was quoted as saying. State University professor is conducting a Russia already has one special prison study on prison sexuality, a topic he says for HIV-positive convicts, ITAR-Tass has been shrouded in silence but must be said. The jail is located in the Baltic Sea dealt with. The information could be used enclave of Kaliningrad, which has one of to combat the spread of AIDS and imthe highest concentrations of AIDS cases prove prison safety. Christopher Hensley, in Russia. a sociology professor who directs In a separate development, authorities Morehead’s Institute for Correctional in the southern Siberian republic of Research and Training, said the survey is Buryafia, next door to lrkutsk, said 101 the first of its kind in Kentucky. HIV cases have been registered in the Hensley studied prison sex in Oklarepublic, up from 24 at the start of the homa and found that nearly one in four year, ITAR-Tass reported. male prisoners had engaged in sexual HIV has been spreading fast in Russia activities with fellow inmates. Overall. and more than 30,000 registered cases 13.8% of all prisoners said they had been March. Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. Actor Bruce Willis Donating to Charity Russian Prison For HIV+ Inmates Study on Prison Sex in Kentucky Medical Excellence And Compass.ionate Care Since 1926. ¯ ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER Medical Excellence ¯ Compassionate Care �reviewed by Barry Hensley . In the mid 1960’ s, Garlandstarted reTulsa City-County Library ¯ cording her memories and feelings on a Judy Garland’ s fascinating and tumul- " reel to reel tape recorder. Theoretically, it tuous.life has become the subject of yet ¯ was to be a verbal, and hopefully moneyanothercontroversialbiography, thistime " making autobiography, butinreality,forby Gerald Clarke, author tifiedbyherfavoritewine, of "Capote." Goddess of "Extraordinarily Blue Nun, it became a tiGay men of a certain age, . oor, at~ ehoosln , . ~ade.ag~in~t~pe°p!eand Judy died inlJun~iof. 196~,~ ~ cbmpafli~s~ "who"~ had :- ¯ ¯ -P., .... t~ ~,~ .",: ""~ .;.wronged her. C~arlde a week. before’thei tone.-" .... hns ’ ds,,the wall rio.t in York, which started the modem ~ Tulsa’s only~o/essional " - , body p!ercing Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here for you! ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ E~ening support group meetings Relationship workshops Short trips, outings and retreats Free HIV testing Gay rights, movement. From Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," through a series of film successes, to s ome embarras sing televi sion performances, and, fin.ally., to aging songstress staging substandard tunes written by her lover, Judy Garland’s career was a rollercoaster ride unparalleled in showbiz history. "s. ems especially proud her 77 ..... that he had access to these volatile personal life tapes, although at least one other Garland biography has utilized them. The conthey were probably tent of the tapes is very interesting, although painfully sad, as she lashes out at the people who .made Lesbian encounters millions off of her name that are mentioned in but left her penniless. With the exception of ~et Happy’..." some films and her celebrated Carnegie Hall concert, Clarkelargely ignores Garland’ s pro. .Through thenewspapers, radio and television, the public eagerly watched her fessional life, preferring to give us lurid career rise and fall many times over a gossip and personal problems instead of thirty year period. Each triumphant peranalyzing her varied career. In fact, of the formance was soon followed by some sort almost 500 pages in this book, only four of disaster. Extraordinarily poor at choosare dedicated to’q’he Judy Garland Show ," ing husbands, the public followed her the 1963 CBS series that was the last, volatile personal life as well, although sustained effort of her career (and which they were probably unaware of a few is currently available on DVD.) Lesbian encounters that are mentioned in Reviewers and fans seem intensely poGet Happy. Cycling down to an untimely larized about their opinions of this book. an-d-litigation filled end, Judy’s stormy (Check out the Amazon.corn reviews!) life finally exhausted and frustrated her While listing over 50 pages of notes and friends, fans and family. Her story is one acknowledgements, Clarke often relies of the greatest indictments against the on unverifiable comments, some of them excessive use of drugs and alcohol that quite ugly. He also seems obsessed with American popular culture has produced. Judy’s sex life, a topic well covered in After ten years of interviews and meJudy Garland: The Secret Life ofan Ameriticulous investigation, Clarke has written can Legend, by David Shipman. Howa huge tome, second onl y to Gerold Frank’ s ever, his decade of research pays off occa700 page biography, "Judy," in 1975. sionally, with someinteresting stories and Clarke had access to the personal diary of comments, although we must be aware Dottle Ponedel, Judy’ s longfime makeup that what we are reading is quite probably woman, who apparently found that Judy as much a juicy novel as it is a serious was the most interesting thing in her life. biography. Either way, it’ s an intriguing Clarke also interviewed many of Judy’ s read. costars, friends, directors and conductors, Check out Get Happy, as well as many including Arfie Shaw, Lena Home, and of Garland’ s films or music at any branch Judy’ s most influential husband, SidLuft. Library, or call Central at 596-7977. as wall, although naware d a few For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project Call JOHN RAGAN, the friend!y, caring real estate agent who understands your special needs! 918-583-2125 800-559-1558 ~.NewNest.com she said, wiping the tears and gesturing at the joyous chaos on the House floor. Their jubilahon was matched by anger among opponents, who have complained that lawmakers weren’ t listening to their concerns. "The people of the state of Vermont will be back in November and this legislation will be repealed," said John Nelson, a 70-year-old retired salesman. The state Supreme Court unammously ruled in December that the couples were being unconstitutionally denied therights and benefits of mamage. The legislature decided to establish a parallel system for Gays rather than broaden marriage statues to include Gays and Lesbians. The civil unions essentially duplicate marriage, but are not recognized under federal law denying Gay couples benefits such as Social Security andirmnigrafion. Under the law, Gay ~ouples will be able to go to their town clerks and have their unions certified by a judge or by a member of the clergy. Breakups will be handled in Family Court. the parent of a former Boy Scout, said there have been 255 requests for the state to join friend-of-the-court briefs since he became attorney general in 1995. The state has signed on to 111 of them, 68 dealing with states’ rights. "In making those decisions, we have always tried to focus on the legal issues rather than the political ones," he said. But lawmakers said Edmondson’s action makes ~*. appear the state opposes the right of the Boy Scouts to choose their own leaders. "’Drew Edmondson has put Oklahoma on record in the highest court in the land as being in favor of the homosexual movement against the Boy Scouts," said Rep. Bill Graves, R-OKC,-an outspoken opponent of civil rights for Gay people. "I thought the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court was an outrage," Graves said. Editor’s note: the switchboard for the Oklahoma House of Representatives is 800-522-8502. �Editor’s lugte: due to gremh’nesque glitches tn the e-mail, our regular "Amusements" column by Jim Christjohn never got to the editorial desk. Unfortunately this came to light at first::lighr’the mormng before going to’.press, andbeing brave, but northat brave, :I dtdt no:t invoke the wrath of the dembn~ by Waking him at 5:30am. Future issues.~will feature interviews by Christjohn: with members of the cast of der of wonders, to TULSA! This Pulitzer and Tony award winning work by the late Jonathan Larson-was introduced to Tulsa theatre and media, folk at a.recent PAC reception. Coordinated by the ever gracious and lovely Tracey Norvell, fed a grea~ llmch by the Polo GrilF s Tal.madge Powell, and wowed by perfomances by two .current Broadway casrmembers flown into Tul sa for ithe; ~vent.,~’sa~_~ hear,~d.: the veff~ .era ergetie,(~md:cute-)-p~.~l~!ce~, Jeffre~ ~ !1 ~ deseribethe off-off Broadway .and shaky origins of cal, will be at the Rent, as well as the Tulsa Performing tragic death of an Arts Center beginaeortic aneurysm ning May 30 thro’ of composer/ June 4th. As the writer Jonathan promoters, the Larson on the very Tnlsa-based Ceeve of the show’s lebrity Attracsuccessful opentions, note intering. est in the ill-fated Larson drew ship has been _ ~om Sesma inspiration for great, resulting in Rent from Puccini’s La Boheme but set television programs, a"major motion pichis work in New York’ s East Village and ture," novels and "even a cookbook." with people living with HIV (rather than Indeed. TB), Lesbian lawyers, drag queens inThe show was written by Peter StOne, stead of Parisian poets and painters. known for other shows: 1776, T~e Will The music draws on!the traditions of Rogers Follies, My One & Orii~, and music and lyrics are by Maury Yeston .. American gospel and in the words of.the Houston Chronicle~ "Rent .is that rare. (Nine, Grand Hotel). musical whose content and style areo£the Titanic won multiple’q’ony" awards~in present rather than the past.. 1997 and New York Observer critic, Rex words of pro.d.ucer Jeffr,y Sellers~ tradiReed claims, " you will never see anything this impressive anywhere elser on’ to benefit Saint Joseph Residence + Regional AIDS Interfaith.Network Saturday, June 3rd, 10-5, + Sunday, June 4th, 1-5 $10 donation at the door or in advance. David Daniel, 1603 S. Carson Wiley Parsons, 1601 S. Carson Monty + Jane Butts, 240 E. Woodward Blvd. Brett + Maricarolyn Swab, 2112 S. Norfolk Ave. Dr. Robert & Dena Hudson, 2707 S. Rockford Rd. Tickets for this~,t~Jr may be obtaL"gd at each home. For more intormation, call Charles Faudree, Inc, at 747-9706. tional :upt wn . t_h_eatre;,t.e..Broadway, Broadway." Certainly,Titanic seems cer~ .... was not-:~’our.characters ;,our stories, our tain t0 pl~hse the target audience ofCelebi; "" music, i. 2;.S~1~8 addecL that ,The.New rity Attractions and to bring in any nlmi: "~ York Ti~oa~.s,:q,a~:.,ed ;~e~t~Ya, shimm~ hope for-~e ~A.meri_.c~n ber of charter buses full of traditional ~ea~ ¯ concur wiffi him m~d’w.-ith th~Pe~q~ng theatr~igoers. ~ .... Theatre Tulsa Goes Gay!?!_,-. ~ Arts Center’s..director~-.33lm~e~i~ iii~t .......for T~s.a.;:R.¢.n.t j~!O~ag0~erdue! Tulsa Family News is delighted to re.:., Rent 9Li.t.lbe ip:Tulsa, f,om Augusi 29Rt ceive notice that ............ Io tP+~9..Pt., 3rd :~ith TheatreZul~a’ S fi-I ev.~i~n.g and marl: nal seasonproducnee, performances. tionis theTerrence Tickets, range, be:.. McNallyhit,Lips $25 to. $55 Together, Teeih ,a~..dgQ:on ~.ale on Apart." June 12. Call 596It Will run April 7111,800-36428, 29, and May3~731I. or go to 6 at 8,l~.~,; ~e~e_w.ill be a:~ma~lee all PAC Jolm~H. ;~ Do, you got :Hope? ~ Willidins :Tkeatre.’ ..... : Fran~_ .~ ,C.~thy Kc~ting’, s favodte~ulsa Veto S~fanic~directs this "adult sitmi:" tion" drama:~dae elegant beach house " designer_ ,~gd..H!.V/AtDS . fund.raise-~,~ Charles-Faudree,-once again has, o~ga; on Fi~I~taii~i:~;brother and sister and nized the Hope Cafid~eli.~ht ~0ur for ea~! y, their i(d~tig~e~pouses attempt to cel-: June. TI~.,"~,eve~t not,rnly, heips i~aise f~d~i ebrat~i=tll~-~t~6~li:0f July. Surrounded 6if: bo.th s[d~Tb,~]~e~ii~ve h~ses~Ga~.~i~ieff:~ " me" two sfi~:~i~t ~codpqeg’exi~Xa* own !ives ~[li~it;sorrow, and a gnawmgup.,,~t~my~! ~es their‘ affluen! hab’-’ it~ hfid]SeR~ pi~jii~li~s ~i~zle~n the:sum:~ I groups;p~c~yide~car~, toW-opl, e liv~:ii~ see some6fTulsa s most beau~i~f~@~, ~’;" ~i’¢ " ~ " rated, homes.- ......... -,.:~.... Tl~e T~fl:aa 1§’ one ~ ,~(e!,ty-~Ndest The pub!ic:tour on SituMay, i~; 3rd arts ,0.~g._a~!..~a,tlons .. and -ael~owle~t~mg and Sunday~ Jun¢.4th i%~tures fiv~ l~0mes Gay~i~ ,th~"th~iff~ is ’a big step, n~ot t6 ¯ for a donation of only $10. Ticke,ts fi3r tliis me~tidff~cNali~ is one Of tour may be obtainld a~ each..home ¯ temporary pla~fights so check this proThere is also a donor tour featuring four duction out, W~:don’t get that many ¯ more homes on Iune 1 for those who chances trsee theatre in Tulsa which acknowledges-the eXistence ofGaypeople: " donate $125. And patrons (donations of than $450) will gather at Doug & 525,600 Minutes : more Susan Pielsticker on June 10th. Having said that, the extraordinary new For more information, call Charles Ameficanmusical, Rent, is coming, won- " Faudree, Inc. at 747-9706. ,"~l)~:" ~" ?’Q *~ "~ .... - ; .... THE MUSEUM SHOP AT PHILBROOK 748.5304 �by Busaba Sivasoboom BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - They giggled like girls and limp-wristed their high-fives, but when these players spiked a volleyball, opponents knew they were facing some of the meanest men on a Thai April 29, May 5 & 7, 2000 Prices Start. at Just $15! Act Now! Call 587-4811 Bacldin 1996, a transvestite volleyball team with a woman coach overcame an anti-homosexual campaign to keep them out and competed!ha meffs national club volleyball championship They won both the tournament and the hearts.of the crowd. Now; their tale has been turned into a movie titled "Satree-lek," or "Iron Ladies," and it’ s quickly turning into one of the biggest box office hits in Thai history - while spotlighting the country’s ambiguous feelings about transvestites and homosexuality. Director Yongyoot Thongkongtoon said that on the surface, Thai society is open and tolerant of transvestites and homosexuality. The two are often equated in the popular mind, though not all transvestites are homosexuals, or vice versa. Transvestite cabarets are popular with tourists and several television shows feature transvestites-prompting an edict last year by the government to broadcasters to tone it down. The order, however, has widely been ignored. But Yongyoot told The Associated Pres s that transvestism was a lifestyle far removed from that led by most Thais, and his debut film takes a look at how other people : react to having transvestites as neighbors, rivals and colleagues. In the movie, the team was insulted by words and gestures at the beginning of the tournament. However, when they showed they could play as well, and better- than their rivals, they gradually gained respect from fans and other players. "I chose to present it as a comedy, because I thought a drama might be boring," said Yongyoot, who formerly directed TV commercials. "An audience is more easily attracted by a comedy film." When the movie began showing nationwide in March, it became an instant hit and pulled in more thaii 100 million baht ($2.7 million) in thefirst month, 10 times what it cost to make. That already makes it second Thai film in all-rime box office receipts behind the 150 million baht (dlrs 4 million) earned by "Nang Nak," last year’ s arty retelling of an old ghost legend that is credited with giving a new breath of life to the moribund Thai film industry. Pakorn Pimton, a transvestite and coordinator of the Gays Against AIDS group, said he was unsurprised by the success of the movie and he hoped it would open useful debate. Gays are accepted as entertainers, Pakom said, because Thais d(, see movie stars and television program hosts as serious. ,~ "Howe~,if they go beyond’that line to be a doct~,~polifiCi~, banker Or top~nfili,~ tary official - I guess the answer is no, Pakorn said. "We still use a two-tier measure for members of our society." Violence against homosexuals is rare in Thailand, Pakorn said, but many barriers remain against open homosexuals. The Gay rights movement is weak. His group regularly receives calls from homosexuals who -fear coming out of the closet because they risk their jobs or status. Kitikorn Meesapya, senior psychologist at the Department of Mental Health’ s, said that Thais can accept homosexuals that keep a low profile. Homosexuals in Parliament and the military are well treated until their lifestyles are publicly exposed - a fairly rare occurence. "But then they will fac~ harsh criticism from society," Kitikorn said, expressing hope that "Satree-lek" might encourage more tolerance and help some people to express themselves as homosexuals. For Kongrith Singnukote, one of the 1996 champion players, the film’ s strongest point is that it’*talks about peacefully living together in society by accepting the differences of each person." Kongrith works as a bank teller. He goes to work in men’s clothes, but wears makeup and ¯" speaks in a girlie voice. All his colleagues ¯ know he is a transvestite. Kongrith says : he gets teased a bit, but no one has ever ¯ shown violence toward him. He says he is : grateful that his family accepts him as he : is. : Being the subject of a hit movie hash~ t ¯ raised.his celebrity ambitions,however, and he doesn’t see a career for himself : beyond retail service. "I know that thereis ¯ ¯ a barrier for us," he says. "For now, I’m satisfied at being what I am." December MonthlyElectric Bills. At PS0, we kn0w ihat, changing .... "same each month, because ifs based.on your previous 12 months umge. ~ :~ make~ budgeting a breeze. Andbest of all, ifs free. AMP!s just one of several flem’ble payment options PSO offers you. For more information, we’re available 24 hours adag Or S’tgn up for AMP on our website at vccc,v.csw.corm weather condi~qp~:throughout ~e year can cause ~ m0nthly e~ bills to rise and fall dramatically. Which can make it hard to plan your household lmdget~That’s ,why ~ our Average Monflxly Payment plan, could be your budgeting solution. With ~ youpay about the PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY. OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South West Company ¯ species for conservation. By fostering a A walk-through butterfly exhibit at the Tulsa Zoo and Living Mus~umwil! open ¯ greater understanding of the needs and the life,cycle of butterflies we can hdp conon May 6 and will continue through October 8. The exhibit is open from 10am - " serve these delicate creatures. In addition tothe butterfly enclosure, 5pm and visitors can experience hundreds -" of native butterflies up-el0se and in flight. : knownas"Butterfly Landing," the grounds Nearly 30 species of North American ¯ aroundtheexhibithavebeen planted with butt.efflies.and ~ few s,p~..’es of moths will : butterfly-attracting plants to encourage v~s~tataon by someof our natt,~e butterfly be represented itl an enel6~&l garden set: residents. Thebutterflies exhibited inside ring, near the Animal Kingdom Building and features a variety of flowering plants. ¯ Butterfly Landing have not been taken This exlfibit is free wi~ the ~regular Zoo ~¯ from:the wild but are procured through admission. ¯ certified butterfly suppliers. Exhibits describing the lifecycle of the Wings of Wonder is set within a 30x 96’ ¯ greenhouse covered with a light mesh to ¯ butterfly, the differences between moths and butterflies, common butterflies of contain the animals. The exhibit features ¯ Oklahoma, chrysalis and butterfly !dent!a "chrysalis house" where visitors can watch as each butterfly emerges from its :¯ fication, and about attracting butterflies chrysalis or pupa and prepares for flight. ¯ to yards will be included in the exhibit. Also planned for this summer is a vision Winding stone pathways, a water feature, benches, and educational exhibits enhance ¯ exhibit that will enable visitors to see like : a butterfly. The Animal Kingdom Buildthe exhibit area. Wings of Wonder is dedicated to in- . ing will also house agift cart specializing ¯ in butterfly-related books, souvenirs, and creasing visitor knowledge and appreciagifts. Info: 669-6600 or www.tulsazoo.org tion of butterflies which are signature r �in common? - in both cases by Lament.. Lindstrom, Ph.D. ¯ What do you call a dead Blond in a somebody is gonna closet? lose a trailer house! ¯ - a 1964 hide and seek champion! And there are many more jokes about being Gay than about beThe recent flush of Blend jokes is an interesting Straight. We usually "~V’hy is it so hard abide by the politeness ing cultural phenomenon. constraints ofjoke-telli~, Jokes are more than just for women to find funny. They are also danin fact, because we realize gerous because they are that jokes (even "just-amen that are polilical. Over thepastfew jok~sT’) have this political " weight. ,Th..o~se who feel tSe decad~s~: change~ iri sensitive, earing,, ~ ’ Sfing~hidd~n ’within the Amefi’~t"~ ~olitib~[ arena have affectedboth the conlaughter sometimes proand ’ gee dl- ook"m .... test when etiquette breaks tent and practice Ofjoking. Itis alittleless easy than down. GLAAD, the Gay & it used to be to joke about - because those guys Lesbian Alliance Against ethnic and religious already have groups, handicap, gender, Defamation, for example, or gender-orientation. has attempted to police the ho rlends!?’ Blonds have emerged as a telling of certain Gay jokes safe target in politically in the m~ss media, notably on a number of morning radio shows conscious, if not always politically corwhose sleazy hosts are keen to boost their rect, America. Andmany jokes that previmarket share. Such policing, of course, if ously featured Jews- or Blacks or Gays successful merely shrinks the arenas in have been reworked into Blond jokes. which Faggot jokes are safely told. They This is not to say that offensive joking still circulate freely in less public Spaces. has disappeared. Rather, it is just a little Each time I teach Cultural Anthropolless public. American politeness convenogy, I have my students as a group collect tions demand that I should not tell a joke jokes from their friends. I figure that these whose "butt" is in my audience, unless I, joke archives provide good evidence about too, am in the targeted category, or unless which of the joints of American society I already have a close relationship’~vith currently ache the most. those I potentially offend. But I can joke Last week, the students brought in about all I want as long as the butt can’ t hear me, 150 jokes. For the first time in years, none or if I do indeed intend to offend. of these was a"faggot"joke. And the only The website, www.whitepride.com, for ethnic joke was turned in by a clueless example, offers along list of by now very Japanese woman, happily ignorant of the stale Jewish, Black, and "faggot" jokes. American politics of public joking. InHere’ s a sample groaner from the"white stead, nearly half the collection consisted pride" boys: Why was the faggot fired from his job at the sperm back? - for drinking on the job! Romantic W ekend Package.-Accommodations Frida3, Saturday or Sunday night. Bottle ofwine, souvenir keepsake millennium corkscrew ¯ Souvenir etched glasses ¯ Specialq chocolate tklights ¯ Deluxe continental breakfast ¯ Late checkout ¯ Specialq rooms $I 80 ¯ Deluxe rooms $160 ¯ Valid weekends in February. Does not include taxes Tulsa’s Premier Boutique Hotel 14t~ & Main ¯ Tulsa ¯ 587.8200 Member: Historic Howls ofAmerica Featuring The Chalkboard Restauram, a dining landmark of Blond jokes. Blonds, poor things, are nowadays the butt of choice when American jokesters are nervous and unsure of our audience. What do Blonds put behind their ears to attract boyfriends? - their ankles! Jokesters sometimes complain about the "political correctness" that has narrowed the contexts in which they can safely perform. "Come on, it’s only a joke!" But of course jokes aren’t just jokes. They are also assertions about the world, or at least one particular view of the world. The lines that jokes ckaw between the funny and the unfunny reflect local understandings of normality. Jokes are potent oral texts that, retold over and over again, maintain certain ways of thinking about people and behavior. Our collection also included several "counter-jokes" whose butt is strategically reversed. There are, for example, Brunette jokes - the futile ripostes of oppressed Blonds. There are also "stupid men jokes" - invented jokes that attempt to counteract the dominant targeting of women within the’universe of American jokes. Why do brides wear white? - so they will match the other domestic appliances! Why did God create man? - because a vibrator can’t mow the lawn! .Even ironic jokes, such as this, refresh established ways of thinking about men, women, and the gendered division of labor. In particular, the swarm of jrke~ flying constantly around a community protects existing systems of inequality. People joke "downwards" more than they do upwards.~ :People joke far more often about the powerless than they about the powerful. There are far more jokes about women than there are about men. "More jokes about ethnic and religious minorities than the white-bread Protestant mainstream. More jokes about the handicapped than about the able. More jokes about the old than the young. More jokes about Oklahoma than about California. Do you know what an Oklahoma divorce and a Texas tornado have While these attempts to resist inequality by shifting a joke’s target upwards may have only limit ie~." politigal,fimpact, it sfillfecls"goodtolaflgh.: ~:: ~ -~’~ Why is it so hard for women to find men that are sensitive, caring, and go~dqo~king? -~ because those guys _~ already have boyfriends! IGTA Call 341.6866 member i’!~ International ToUrs formore information. Massage Therapy Services Voice Mai!~:918-697:9282 Lic. #C4133 Lamont Lindstrom teaches anthopology at the University of Tulsa. Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro �Meet Local Guys for Hot Ti @Odgi ¯ ¯ : ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ election - and what could be the most importantelectionofourgeneration. The GLBT voting bloc has proven to be one of "All About My Mother" and"Boys Don’ t the most powerful constituencies in the Cry" - actually showed up in OKC, she country in recent election cycles. If our made it abundantly clear that she had been voters are motivated to the polls and elect completely won overby them and was not supportive leaders, we could have the about to be shy about saying so in print. opportunity to shape groundbrealdng leSympathy towards GLBT issues might : gal protection. If the nation elects leaders be expected from someone like White, ¯ who are hostile to all that NGLTF stands ¯ but it was definitely a surprise to see the for, we could witness a serious backlash much nibre conservative reviewer, Jerry ¯ to our h~rd-won gains. Shottefi~irk, being taken in by the Ma- ¯ Dr. Martin Luther King. once said the ¯ .donna:Rupert Everett"Next Bgst Thing." moral arc of the universeis long but bends Surprises were cropping up in the rest .: toward justice. Dr. King was right - but !~f th~ p,gper ~. W~I!, indu~g the busi- ¯ with our continued o!;gahi~gg g~ad motif ~es .,~..; o ~ .w~i~ g~ ~)le on .~_~o ~,~ ~jzatmn, we ~ make ~at,ii~.~;0’~,.~ :~est~c p~mership~ p,6ilc~es..a~.ong OkI’fi- ¯ much more qmckly fioma compames- mcludiffg qu,otes from: $ ~,,-.~oundectir~ 1973, ttie ~Lucent’s I~aren Par~ons w~o is involved : Lesbian Tbsk Force W~’l?s to~iiniinate inLuqent~sLesbianandGayemployees’ ¯ prejudice, uiolence and iwustice against ;brgani’zafion, EQUAL!. :- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexualgtn~l T~ransgen: Striking, 5wey r, was.a group of :. &red people at the local, state dnd naarticles;oii 1~ hate crimes in the Sun- ¯ tional level. As part ofdbrOaddr ~Ocial iday, March 20 issue. Mostof these ar- : justicemovementforfreOdom;]usticeand titles appeared in ~ Community see- : equality, NGLTF is creattYg d Worm that fion, Milch w’as’d~_i’ilh~lPdedia.the late : ~respects and celebrates_ ttie’diversity of ~F,dition ’on Stmday’. The~e, in b!a~k and .’. ’human expression and identity where all White, was the opeii as~ertidii.’.tiia~ Okla- i .people may fully participate in society. h°ma City"s Human Rights CASmmlssi°n .Was abolished by(the City Council bemuse they iesent&!havingt.6 deal with the issue. 0fiG@’Ri~h?s, cbml~iete, with ~uote by c.ottt~,¢ilmenqbi~r~Je@ Fo~hee: .-.; "The councilis tiredof.th6is~ue’hlways being b~ought forward, and flae vehicle that is alWays brin~g.i’.t forward is the human rights comm, ss~on...~ If the vehicle is bringing you dompany that you don’ t want ... then you do away with the vehicle." In meeting with Hale, Speakers for Gay and Lesbian Issues hoped that they would open a dialog between the Daily Oklahoman and the Gay and Lesbian community of Oklahoma City. According to Speakers, Hale provided them with many opportunities by asking many questions about Gay and Lesbian issues. Speakers for Gay and Lesbian Issues noted the positive trend in the paper’ s coverage of Gay issues. Hale revealed that those changes had come at a price: while the articles on hate crimes had generated both positive and negative responses fromreaders, some of the negative responses had been vicious and involved actual threats. But, Hale also said she was not going to let that stop her from continuing to cover controversial issues. She said that when a story generates strong reactions on both sides, she knows she’ s doing her job right. This federation consists of political groups that fight for equality. In just four years’ time, the Federation has grown to represent members in every state in the union, gro,wthinsuch ashort period of time. With the Federation’s help, last year NGLTF was able to produce the largest :~ grassroots mob~fion:in put moyem~ntfs history. We helped organize some 350 rallies and other events in all 50 state capitols, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, during a one-week period. Our campaign called Equality Begins at Home- and the work of the Federation paved the way for the wonderful successes we have seen in the past year. Now many state legislatures are wrapping up their business and adjourning. Attention will soon shift to the November i I ] " During WWII, the church Sheltered.Japa; nese-American students who were given the opportunity to study at TU ratherth~a,n,,, " beincarceratedinAmerican"internment camps. Later the church was involved in the "Sanctuary" movement which offered relocation of Central American political refugees, both documented and-undocumented. Aletter issued to members of the church, signed by Rader and Clerk of the Session, Kathy Evanson, notes, "None of these actions changes who we are as a congregation; but, they declare who we area and what we want to be in our relationships with one another. We are still a loyal, supporting congregation of the Presbyterian Church,U.S.A. We have done nothing improper according to our denomination’ s constitution. We are not changing any signage, letterhead, preaching or program. We are declaring inclusion and affirmation of all our members and our openness to a group of people long rejected and stigmatized by society, and within the Christian commtmity... College Hill is a majority "straight" church but with visible and welcome Lesbian and Gay families. Editor’s note: Tulsa Family News publisher and editor, Tom Neal is a member of College Hill Presbyterian Church. An Evening With The Quilt On Thursday evening, May 25, the NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will sponsor an evening of meditation and remembrance at Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 So. Harvard in Tulsa, from 7-9 pm. You. are invited to drop in anytime during this time period to meditate, pray, or simply view the Quilt. Feel free to stay just a few minutes, or as long as you wish. The NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter invites everyone who has been touched by the AIDS pandemic to take a moment from their evening to remember and reflect. For more information, please contact the NAMES Project Tulsa at (918) 748-3111 or TulsaQnilt@usa.net �Humanity Unites f’or Hu’man Rights Diversity .Celebration 2000 Grand Marshalls for the Millennium Parade Dr. Grethe Cammermeyer Distinguished Veteran of the United States Armed Forces Gre£! Lou~lanis US Olympic Champion Pride Week Events, .Interfaith Worship Service The Tulsa Performin£l Arts Center Speaker: the Reverend Dr. Mel W.hite, author and activist Friday, June 2, from 7pro (free) TOHR Folbes. 1OO Years of Broadway Saturday, June 8, 8pm, $15 PAC Doenges Theatre Black Tie Optional Dinner ~i:Featuri~ 6re~q Louganis The Summit Club Friday, June 9th, $75 person VIP reception at $50 person. Benefitin~l Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Ri/thts, the parent or~Ianization of the Gay Community Center Millennium Pa~de 2000 Saturday, June IO, llam Beginning at the Gay Community Center at 87th and Peoria and endin~i at Veterans Park at 18th and BouIder The Pride Festival Veterans Park, llam 8pro For more information about these events, caIl 748-4297 (gays). � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Brief for Dale v. BOy Scouts by Tim Talley, Associated Press ~rite~ - OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Some state lawmakers demanded in mid-April that Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson withdraw from participating in a U:S. Supreme Court case on whether to allow Gay boys and men in the Boy Scouts of America. Resolutions were f’ded in the state House and~ Senate opposing a friend-of-the-court briefEdmondson filed supporting a New Jersey court decision that ordered the Boy Scouts to reinstate a homosexual scout leader. "I think it is a dark day for Oklahoma that we have taken this stand, by and through our attorney general, in favor of Gay rights and against the Boy Scouts," said Rep. Frank Davis, R-Guthrie, a former scout master whoseresolutionhas70co-authors.Aresolutionpassed by the Senate says Edmondson’s position "is in dramarie opposition to the moral ideals of.our state and is inappropriate in this case of first impression before the United State Supreme Court." In a statement, Edmondson saidhe respects the views of lawmakers who oppose his action. But the attorney general said the state’ s position see Attorney; p. 2 Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends : ,~. Tulsa’s Largest Circulation Community PaperAvailable In More Than 75 City Locations ¯ Co!legeHill Presbyterian ::Church Welcomes Gays TULSA - This last Palm Sunday, the Session (the board of directors) of College Hill Presbyterian Church, one of Tulsa’ s older"mainline" congregations, voted 13 yes, zero no’ s with one abstention to become officially a member of"More Light Presbyterians." College Hill, located a block west of the University of Tulsa is the first Presbyterian congregation in Eastern Oklahoma (o. take the position of welcoming all to attend and serve the church regardless of sexual orientation. More Light Presbyterians is a national network of churches and individuals working for justice, love and the full embrace and inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered persons and their families. The name is taken from the words of the Rev. John Robinson (c. 1620),"we limit not the truth of God to our poor reach of mind - by notions of our day and sect - crude, partial and confined. No, let a new and better hope within our hearts be stirred, for Godhath yet more light and truth to break forth from the Word." The decision for College Hill came after more than 14 months ofprayer, study and discussion. Acongregational voteon several statements and positions, one affirming open inclusion, another reaffirming the mission statement of More Light Presbyterians, and for becoming a More Light congregation passed, 87%, 90% and 80% respectively. . Pastor Radford Rader noted, "College Hill has long been a congregation which has stood for jnstice issues and with groups of people who others ignore or exclude.., we cannot remain in the closet, but want to rejoice in who we are as a family of faith. ¯ .we are blessed by our Gay and Lesbian members." College Hill’ s history is one of s0cialjttstice, seeChurch,p.11 College Hill Presbyterian GI,s Mom Suing Arm i- Supreme Court Hears Gay Civil WASHINGTON(AP)-Them°ther°fas°ldiermur- " R|ghts Case: Dale vs. BSA dered in his barracks believes the Army’s attitude , toward Gays created the atmosphere that led to the killing. Patricia Kutteles of Kansas City, Mo., said she would file a claim with the Army, seeking roughly $1.8 million in damages for the death of her son, Pfc. Barry Wincbell,21. Shesaidfellow soldiers believed Winchell was Gay and harassed him for months before he was beaten to death while sleeping in his cot last July at Fort Campbell, Ky. The Army knew about the harassment but did nothing to stop it, she said. "We want theArmy to be held accountable," Kutteles said. Pvt. Calvin Glover, 19, of Sulphur, Okla., was convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison for the attack. Another soldier was givena 12.5- year sentence for lying to investigators and obstructing justice. Thekillingprompted criticism ofthePentagon’ s policy onhomosexuals in the military. Under the policy known as "don’t ask, don’t teli.;’:~,Gay-members of the military can continue to serve.as Ibng as they keep their sexual orientation to themselves. Kutteles’ attorney,Adam Pachter, saidheplans to file under a federal law that allows people to seek reimbursement from the military for injury or death. The claim will be sent toMaj. Gen. Robert T. Clark, the commander of Fort Campbell, but Army Secretary Louis CaldemprobAbly’will make thef’mal decision on whether to pay, Pachter said. Kutteles’ claim also alleges Fort Campbell officials ignored underage drinking on the base and did not provide a way for soldiers to call 911 from the barracks.:Glover has said he had been drinking prior to theattack~ Maj. Pamela Hart, an Army spokeswoman, declined to comment on the claim but said soldiers cannow reach 911 from their barracks. She also said soldiers hadreceived additional training about the military’ s policy on Gays. Kutteles said her goal is to get the Army to admit wrongdoing and take corrective action. "I don’t think you~put aprice on your child’ s life,’.’ she said. "Your world is changed if you lose a child. Nothing caa ever rip3at it." ¯ WASHINGTON, D.C. - Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is not ¯ entitled to expel an exemplary member who is openly Gay from ¯ its ranks, the National Gay and LesbianTask Force said at the end ¯ ofApril as theU.S. SupremeCourtwas hearingargumentsinBoy Scouts of America v. Dale. The ruling on the case will likely be : issued before the term ends in early summer. : ’q’he Boy Scouts’ mission is to promote model citizenship and ¯ integrity," said Panla Ettdbrick, NGLTFFamily Policy Director. : "It is ridiculous and wrong to exclude a man whose outstanding ¯ personal character fulfills this mission simPlY because he is ¯ Gay." -" "The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case on appeal by the ¯ BSA after the August 1999 unanimous decision of the New ¯¯ Jersey,Supreme Court. The court found that the BSA falls under New Jersey’ s anti-discrimination law and cannot deny any per- " son "accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges" : because of sexual orientation. ¯ Because the Scouts do not organize for a specific anti-Gay ¯ message; the New Jersey Supreme Court also found that the ¯ inclusion of openly Gay assistant scoutmasterJames Dale would ¯ not violate the BSA’ s First Amendment rights offree association ¯ and free speech. ." ~€I’llis case represents a classic struggle in our country?s ever- " evolving democracy," said Ettelbrick, a veteran attorney and : national expertLon legal-issues facing.the Ga~y~ lesbian~ bisexual ¯ and transgender community. "It is the stragglebetween agroup’ s ¯ right to establish its own values and the government’ s obligation ¯ to ensure that the law does not give effect to those private biases when they are used to inhibit equality." .. . ~ : Ettelbrick praised the Lambda Legal Defense and Education ¯ Fund, which has served as lead counsel for James Dale and has ¯ assembled a broad collection of groups to sign friend-of-the- . court briefs. Those groups range from NGLTF and the National ¯ Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) : to the attorneys-general of 10 states, including Oklahoma Attor- : ney General Drew Edmondson (see related story this page). ¯ NGLTF’ S brief can be found online via I..ambda’ s website at : http:/Iwww.lldef.org/sectionslseetionsldalepresskit/ : amicusaclu.html. i Vermont Governor Signs Gay Union Bill by Ross Sneyd, Associated Press Writer ¯ MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Gov. Howard Dean ¯ signed into law on Wednesday, April 26, 2000, a ¯ bill making Vermont the first state to give Gay and ’ Lesbian couples all the rights and benefits of mar- ¯ riage - without legally declaring it a marriage. ¯ "I think the powerful message is that in Vermont, ¯ we tend to value people for who they are, not what ¯ they are," the Democratic governor said after the House gave the measure final approval Tuesday. ° The bill, which House members supported 79-68, ¯ arrived at the governor’ s deskjust before lunch and ¯ was signed quietly prior to a2pmnews confe~e,nce, ¯ Vermont lawmakers didn’t use the term mar- " riage to describe the official state sanction. Instead ¯ they set up aparallel track of"civil tmions," which ¯ would give Gay and Lesbian partners the property and other legal fights of spouses. Such unions ¯ would become legal July 1. No state has ever gone ¯ so far in recognizing the relationships that Gay and "- Lesbian couples form. ." Three couples and the lawyers who sued in 1997 ¯ when they were denied marriage licenses watched in the crowded Housechamber as the final roll was ¯ called and House representatives agreed to minor ." changes made by their colleagues in the Senate. ¯ Stacy Jolles and Nina Beck stood cradling their 5- ¯ month-old son, Seth. PeterHarrigan stood embracing Stan Baker, who held a small necklace from ¯ which his parents’ wedding rings dangled. And ¯ Holly Puterbaugh held hands as Lois Famham ¯ wiped tears fromher eyes. "This isn’ tmarriage, but it’ s ahuge and powerful bundle ofrights that we’ ve ¯ finally gotten," Baker said moments after the vote. ¯ After the vote, Rosana Vestuti, 41, of Montpelier, sat on a window seat as legislators, Gay and ." Lesbian couples and thepress milled about. "It’ s so ¯ nice. I have all this in my eyes," see Vermont, p. 7 ¯ OKC Gay Group Meets With Daily Oklahoman OKLAHOMACITY -Leaders in OklahomaCity’ s are hailing an early April meeting with Sue Hale, : the new executive editor of the Daily Oklahoman. ¯ The Daily Oklahoman which was characterized in ¯ the Columbia Journalism Review as "the worst : newspaper in America" has been known for its ¯ unfair treatment of Lesbian and Gay issues, not ¯ only on the editorial pages but in regular, "objec- ¯ five" newscoverage. ¯ Those who met with Hale are participants in a ¯ new speakers bureau. "Speakers for Gay and Les- ¯ bian Issues" was organized with the goal of reach- ¯ ing out to the straight commtmity to facilitate ¯ ¯ understanding of the realities of.being Gay and Lesbian. Karen Pars0ns,Nathaniel Batchelder, Paul ¯ Thompson, and Rob Abiera attended the meeting ¯ with Hale, a thirty-year veteran of the Daily Okla- " homan. ¯ Hale was chosen to be the successor to Stan ¯ Tiner, who left the Daily Oklahoman after several ¯ months of working to remold the paper into a more ¯ progressive, contemporary medium which would ¯ more accurately reflect the diversity of Oklahoma ." City. ¯ Halewas approached after reports.began to surface of her interest in "social justice" issues. And ¯ though homophobic diatribes continue to grace the editorial page - still under the firm control of ¯ Patrick McGuigan - the rest of the paper was ¯ showing signs of neutrality, if not being outright ; Gay-friendly. ¯ One place where the paper was showing signs of ¯ openness has been in the movie reviews. Kathryn ; Jenson White had come from the Oklahoma Ga- : zette (OKC’ s alternative weekly) and had always ¯ been of decidedly liberal persuasion. It did not take ¯" long after Tiner’ s departure to see that she would : continue to be so, and when two GLBT-themed : Oscar coatenders see Daily, p. 11 _; ! Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial Full Moon Care, 1525 E. 15th *Gold Coast Coffee House, 3509 S. Peoria Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Sqtmre *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *The Storm, 2182 S. Sheridan *Renegades/Rainb0w Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114’S: Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E: 3rd 712-2324 610-5323 583-6666 749-4511 744-4280 745-9998 834-4234 835-2376 585-3405 660-0856 584-1308 *The Yellow-Bri~k-Road.Pub,~-2630,E...1$th, ........ ;749~1563 Tal~a~BtlstPiesse~Set~ices, &: Pcofe~s~o~als~.~.; : Advanced Wireleg~&::P~,S~ Di~ithl Cellulhi ~ ~ ~ i.tJ ~ q47:q508’ *Assdd ih~19I~d!&:M~fi¢~l ~da]ttl)2325 8’: H~ii~c~a~ 74g-’~i000’, Kent Balch &Assr(~htes, Health & Life Insurance 747-9506 *Barnes & N~bl~’ B66ksellers, 8620 E. 71 250-5034 *Barnes &N0bl~Broksellers, 5231 E. 41 Body Piefdfigby Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & MUsic, 2740 E. 21 *Borders BOoks’ &MUsic, 8015 S. Yale Brooksid~ J~w~lfy,4649 S. Peoria *CD War~hogs~,’3807c S. Peoria *Cheap Thrills~ 2640 E. 1 lth Cherry Stl Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 665-4580 712-q 122 712-’9955 494-2665 743~5272 746_0313~ 295-5868 581-0902, 743-4H7 Community Cleani~ag, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney *Deco to Dfsco, 3212 E. 15th DoghouSe oti:Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books &Videos, 821 S. Sheridan *Ross Edward Salon ~"58420337, Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main ,., " ’-. *Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI: Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med: Ctr. .Gay & Lesbian-Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Learme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra’ J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly *International Tours Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th *Jared’ s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Kerfs Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696,74101 Richard’ s Carpet Cleaning Teri Schutt Rex Realtors 834-7921, Scribner’ s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 622-~0700- 352:9504, 800-742-9468 74%3620 744~55~6 83828~03 712-9379 59"2-0460 744-9595 6t0-0880- 628-3709. 808-8026 742~1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 7.12-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 664-2951 838-7626 743 -4297 747-5932 834-0617 747-4746 749-6301" 260-7829 481-0558 835-5563 743-1733 665-2222 592-0767 Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, POB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria 743-2363 Black & White, Inc.POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 -587-7314o Bless Ttl~ LO~d at~All Tirn~ -Chflstian Ce-n’tdr/2207 E. 6 58327815- *B/LiG/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence *Churchof:the RestorafionUU., t3t:4N:Greenwood 587-1314" *CommtmityofHopeUnitedMethodist,2545 S. Yale 747-6300 *Comrmmity Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’ s Chorale 748-3888 *DelawarePlayhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free SpiritWomen’ s Center, call for location&info: 587-4669 Friend ForA Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 POB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlinlc net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers Member of The Associated Press Issued on or before the 1 st of each month, the enttre contents hi" this ubli t~on e protecte~l bv US copyright 1998 8y ~/~ ~ :ahd~may~hd~,be~ep~oduoed e~tlaer m ~ w,hol¢ort~p.a~_ ~’~l~OUt w~atte~a p~.r0~SSlQ~~ro~ ~publisheir. ~ Publication of a name or photo does not.indicate a person’ s sexual orientation. Corr~spbndeii~ i~assumed to be for. publication" unlessootherwis~noted,, must be signed & becomes. the ao_l¢ property ofr~ ~€’~.’. Nt,w4 Eachreader is entitled to 4 copiesof each editt0n at distribution pointsJ Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. : Interfaith AIDS Ministries : Dear friends, ¯ The present realities of HIV/AIDS and : decreased focus on and interest in HIV- : related issues have made providing HIV/ : AIDS servicesadifficnltifnotimpossible r task. This is true on a national as well as : local level, Late last fall Interfaith AIDS : Ministries (IAM) received a letter from : AIDS National InterfaithNetwork (ANIN) that itwas closing its doors," as a result of : financial difficulties which cumulatively ¯ .v". und" e,.r~l",nc.d ~I ’ ~ Vl"l~b,"l i " : reaht~l~s ~a~e~t ~n~pq~s~ble,. ~o ttmcgqq ¯ :..is With deep r~gret that I must announce : that the boardof Interfaith AIDS Minis- ¯" ’tries has’made the decision to discontinue : client services. : I have for srme time continued as the ¯ directorona.volunteerbasis at the board"g ¯ reques ; L’.am no longer able to d.o ¯ Work-~.~,~.~ and personal responslbl,~i,7 582-0~38 ties maKeit impossible forme to continue ¯ Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st. 481-1111 ¯ HOPEI HiV-.Outredch,Pi?~vefifibn:,Edt~cafion 834-8378 : .*H0us.e. O~ the Holy Spitff ~_~nstri¢s,.32!0~ s~~. ’Nb~wood ....... :::-iii~e~ ~iDS MJnislii~s/~ ...... 4381~437, 800-284-2437 ." :."¥~C~~ United~-i623 :N. Mapi~w00d~: " ~ 838-i715 ¯ NAMESPr0ject,.3507 E. Admiral- PlY . 748-3111 . ¯ NO.W, Nat’l Or.g for Womeri;"POBlZ!0.68174159 365-5658 ¯ OK Spokes Club (bic~clifig), POB 916~,-.74157 " . ¯ *OSU-TUiSa ’ " ’ ¯ ¯ ..PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 : ¯ *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 " ¯ Prime-Timer~P.O. Box 52118, 74152 " ¯ R.A.I:N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network~ ........ 749-4195 ¯ ¯Red Ro~k Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 ..... 584~2325 ¯ ; O’ RYAN, support group for 18-24 LGBT young adults O’RYAN, Jr. support group for 14-17 LGBT youth " St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 ¯ ¯ St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 ¯ *St. Jerome’ s Parish Church, 205 W. King .582-3088 " ¯" *Tulsa,~ea United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯ ¯TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 ¯ ¯ Tulsa County HealthDepartment, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 : ¯ Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only " ¯ TulsaOkla. for HumanRights, c/o The PrideCenter 743:4297 ¯ T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform!Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ¯ : *Tulsa Community College Campuses " ¯ *TulsaGay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 ¯ ¯ Unity Church of Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 ¯ Friead~,..in ~nity Social Org., i~i3 8~2~ 7..4 !.0. ! HIV~.~ente~2~i’38Chas’. Page Blvd. " -- 583-6611 : to do thejob rrsponsibly. It requires more ........ *Tulsa C.A.R:E.S., 3507 E. Admiral- 834-4i94~. time and energy than I am now able to BARTLESVILLE *Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 ¯ OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 ¯¯ TAHLEQUAH Stonewall League, call for information: 918~456-7900 ¯ *Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 ¯ Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 ¯ NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIVtesting every other Tues. 5:30-8:30, call for dates : EUREKASI~;RINGS, ARKANSAS. "~ Auttmm’ Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 ¯ *Jim & Brent’ s Bistro, 173 S. Main DeVito’ s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St, : MCC:0f the Living Spring : Geek to Go!,TC Specialist, POB 429 ¯ Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery ¯ Positive Idea Marketing Plans Sparky’ s, Hwy. 62 East : White Light, 1 Center St. : JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 501-253-7734 " 501-253-7457 : 501-253-6807 " 501-253-5445 ¯ 501-253-9337 : 501-253-2776 " 501-253-5332 . 501-624-6646 " 501-253-6001 " 501-253-4074 ¯ * is where you can find TFN. Not allare Gay-owned but allare Gay-friendly. commiLAnd there is no one wilting and able to take my place. The bisard has made the decision t~ continue IAM’s existence, at this time. IAM’s board will continue to meet periodicallyand monitor the changing reali:° ties of HIV/AIDS, its effect on our community and any future role IAM may play inmeeting needs. It is the ministry’ s hope, of course, that the future will bring a cure.’. that some day gatherings will be in remembrance only. The board and I wish to express our deepest appreciation for you support of the work of this ministry over the many years of its existence. Without that support IAM would not have been able to serve the hundreds of individuals which it has assisted withpractical, emotional, and spiritual support. Thank you on behalf of thosewehave served for themany gifts of your time, your talents, and your support. I appreciate the opporttmity the ministry has provided me to serve those affected by HIV/AIDS and to get to know and work with all of you. It has been very hard for me to step away from this work knowing there is so much more to be done. However, I know I have reached that place where, even though there is alot more I would have liked to have done, I have done all I can do for now. I would ask that you continue your prayers of those living:~ith and affected by HIV/A~DS and fofthOse who minister to them, for a cure for this,devastating disease, and frr those who have served Interfaith AIDS Ministries. Thank you and God bless you. Faithfully, - Chaplain Diane Zike, Director "focused on the issue of state’s rights" and that the high court’, s ruling in the case. "will have no direct effect in Oklahoma." "Oklahoma does not have the same antidiscrimination law as New Jersey," Edmondson said. "For me and my office, this matter was soldy decided on the advancement of states’ rights." Theissue ofstates’ rights involves powers reserved to the states under the 10th Amendment and immunity from lawsuits under the 1 lth Amendment. Edmondson, a former Boy Scout and see Attorney, p.7 by Christopher Graft, Associated Press Writer On the day Unilever bought Slim-Fast for $2.3 billion and Ben & Jerry’s for $326 million, it was the smaller purchase that captured the headlines and attentionnationwide. TheNew York Times, The Washington Postand The Associated Press were among the major news organizations that focused on the purchase of the tiny ice cream company, mentioning the acquisition of the much-larger Slim-Fast only to savor the unusual pairing of the fatten, ing and dieting duo. ceutical industry or whoever is his enemy of the moment. It is remarkable, actually, that Vermont gets as much attention as it does - through Ben, Jerry, and Bernie, and through U.S. Sens. Pat Leahy and Jim Jeffords and Gov. Howard Dean, all of whom have images of straight talkers in a business full of bluster. I suspect the nation’ s high interest in things Vermont has something to do with "... More and more in recent years Vetmont has been out front in tackling tough Why? Why does a $326 million purchase gain more attcntionthatva$2.3~billionone?Qu~fle-simplybecauseno ¯ probl.ems. There is something about the one ldab~s 6r~ cares ~h6 !o~vns Shn~-Fast." ~ . , ~ ¯ . ¯ Butdle k~d~Be~duidflie ’ldid,& J " ~’" ""~ ~ ,.small ~s~ze of the state that allows exper~- ¯ ! y ,, ! , y.:,. . ’. erry. mlamey care . .... ¯ ¯ : ¯ who owns th~s’c0mpa@.~ h~;ce ~dffay~ b~fi ~ttnazed’l~ ~. :nlentat~i0ii. Aiad ther is something a~ well the wide interest in Ben & Jerry’ s. By the news media. And by peo_p,te in general. Because, to be blunt about it, Ben & Jerry s is a tiny company, with an insignificant share of the ice cream market. The appeal, though, stems from the fact there are two real guys at the heart of this company; two guys who want t6~do good. No faceless multinational ctlialj._"~,y with layers of bureau...cracy. This xs Ben and Je~’.~,~-stlll doing a little scooping here and there, and always keeping their eyes on social concerns. And that strikes a nerve with the publicl Twoguys who want to do good. Helping out the little guy by earmarking 7.5% of the pretax p.r.ofits for charity and running campaigns to help children and savethe family farm. Two guYS. Doing good. Bernie Sanders strikes that same nerve. This past week found him gushingly profiled in the New York Times and prominently featured in the Boston Globe, the National Journal.and on Nagonal Public Radio. H~ is just one of 435 members of the U.S. House - and ye’~ he reaps far more than his share of publicity - just like Ben and Jerry do. Why? Because he, too, strikes a nerve. Bernie is the fighter for the little guy, taking on the powerful pharma- " about the attitude of its polltieal leaders ¯ and people, an attitude that champions eivll i r~ghts and foeuse~ on the little guy. : As difficult as it seems for some people, the debate this year over extending i benefits to Gay and Le~hian couples is part of that tradition..." : theseindi~iduals, but it als0 has s0me~ng to do with the state, its people and its heritage. ¯ In a time when many people feel disconnected from ~ their communities, when they feel overwhelmed by the ¯ stresses and strains of everyday life, Vermont seems to ¯ offer an anchor and a hope. Vermont is small enough.to retain the seBs¢ of community lost elsewhere, and is ¯ unafraid to try the unconventional - to stand up for the ¯ litde guy. ¯ Ben, Jerry, Bernie and the others are not creating a new image for Vermont: They are simply building on what Editor’s note: the following are remarks made by new NGLTF Executive Director Elizabeth Toledo at the National Press Club at apress conference held on April.25. "Good morning. I am here this morning to discuss the state of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender movement (GLBT) for equality in the United States. As many state legislatures across the land wrap tip their work and adjourn, we are seeing a frenzied pace of legislative activity surrounding GLBT issues. For only the second year in our movement’ s history, we have seen bills favorable to our community outnumber unfavorable bills - and the ratio is rapidly increasing. So far this year, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has tracked 466 bills, of which 288 are favorable and 178 are unfavorable. By comparison, last year, we tracked 269 favorable bills and 205 unfavorable bills. A trend has emerged which shows that although the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender population remains under fierce attack, the movement toward civil rights for all is steadily gaining strength. Today the Vermont House of Representatives is poised to give final approval to a bill that would allow same-sex couples the right to enter into official civil unions sanctioned by the state. If approved and signed into law, the Vermont bill will do what no state has ever done before - it will pr0~ide same~s,¢x couples wi~ al! of the fights, benefits iitid ~i~0fi-iilsNties Of niarfiag~ thai a state can offer. Vermont has garnered a lot of attention, and rightfully so. But did_you know_ about Georgia? Indiana? Mai_ne? Alabama?’GeOrgia this Tear foi~ ,the firs:t!time ever: has passed and enacted a hate crimes law. Indiana has passed and enacted a hate crimes data collection law. While not a full-blown hate crimes law, it represents the first rime hidianalegislators have everreacted favorably to aGLBT issue. Maine has passed and forwarded to the voters a full-scale civil rights law that includes sexual orientation. In Alabama, the House has passed an historic bill adding .sexual orientation to the existing hate crimes law. Thebill is scheduled to come up for a heating in the Senate tomorrow. Five states - Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Wisconsin - have defeated attempts to either pass or strengthen anti-same-sex marriage laws. ¯ The pace of activity this year continues a trend we first ¯ noticed in 1999, a breakthrough year for the GLBT ; .- movement. Last year’ s legislative victories included his- " toric advances in such disparate states as California, : Kentucky, New Hampshire and Nevada. In California, legislators passed and the governor signed a trio of bills : "...Vermont has garnered a lot of : attention, and ghtf lly But did you know about Georgla.9 Indlana.~ Maine.9 Alabama? Georgia this year for the first time ever has passed and enacted a hate erlmes law. Indiana has passed and enacted a hate cr~mes data collection law..." that established a statewide registry for same-sex couples, added sexual orientation to thenondiscrimination clauses under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act and offered public school students some protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In Kentucky, tWO cities..and two_ 9oun.ties ad~pted, pro- GLBT civil rights measures. In New Hampshire, a law ¯ preventing same-sex couples from adopting children was repealed. And Nevada became the 1 lth state to ban job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. ~While we hav~ l~geiy ~picked-ul~iii flJ~ ~e’a~’2000 - where we left off, the news is not all good. Two states - Utah and Mississippi -have passed bills preventing " same-sex couples from adopting children. Two state " legislatures - Colorado and West Virginia- passed laws preventing same-sex couples from marrying, and Call- " fornia voters approved a measure banning the state from " recognizing same-sex marriages in other states. The " number of states that have explicitly passed laws banning same-sexmamagewill reach 33 ifthe Colorado governor ,’. signs that statefs legislation. : Such activity reflects the unfortunate reality of our ," movement. There is a checkerboard quality to the legal ¯ and cultural victories for the LGBT movement, and too " ¯ was there. This state has always been seen as a bastion of ¯ common sense and a breeder of courageous people. Yes, Vermont’ s pastoral image is of a bygone era of ¯ village squares and hillside farms. But its political image, its heritage, in fact, is of courage, of caring, of going ¯ where others fear to tread. Ralph Flanders was about as conservative as they ~ come. But he had the courage to stand up in the U.S. ¯ Senate and call for an end to Joe McCarthy’ s red-baiting, ¯ taking a stand that for Flanders was steeled in the values ¯ in the Bill of Rights. And so it was for George Aiken, ¯ fighting against :the banks, the rai!roadS, and~ flae marble ¯ and:~~ani,t.~i,n~t.u.stries in the ’3Os~ and spegaki~g up yche,It ¯¯ - others,would not .about the~ ,folly’,.of,Vietnam. :, . . . .. More and mpre in. recent ~ears V,e.rmont:has been out ¯ front in tackling tough problems. There is something : about the small size of the state that allows experimenta- ¯ tion. And there is something as well about the attitude of ¯ its political leaders and people, an attitude that champions ¯ civil rights and focuses on the little guy. ¯ As difficult as it seems for somepeople, the debate this ¯ year over extending benefits to Gay and Lesbian couples ¯ .is part of that tradition. Again the eyes of the nation are on ~ the state. Certainly there is apprehension and even oppo- ¯ sition, but it is reassuring and pleasing to see how much : applause thereis. A South Carolinanewspaper writes that ¯ "Vermont has offered a sensible model for secular civil ¯ unions;" theArizonaDaily Star says "this is probably the ¯ ¯ best solution possible to an emotional, important debate that strains the bounds of Americans’ tolerance and ¯ respect for each other," and the Concord (N.H.) Monitor ; says Vermont has "passed what was a test of conscience." ¯ A tourist promotion campaigns a few decades back ¯ proclaimed that Vermont is what America was. It is more ¯ accurate today to say that Vermont is what America ¯ wants to be. often the difference between legitimacy and illegitimacy in the eyes of society may rest on something as arbitrary as a state boundary. Many residents of thiS country assume that the great strides of the civil rights movement have afforded broad protection against discrimination for " all. In fact the legal reality is that those of us in same sex relationships have notbeen fully protectedfrom discrimination in housing,jobs, family law, education - virtually every aspect of our lives is subject to discrimination and sadl y, hate violence or harassment remains a reality in every state in the nation. Too often the cultural strides that are made in the media, in places or worship, in schools and universities and in the workplace are misinterpreted as a sign that equality has been won. I’ll give you an example. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force frequently receives phone calls from same-sex couples asking for alist of states in which they can legally marry. These individuals see shows like Will and Grace or Dawson’ s Creek. They worship in churches or synagogues that welcome them. They are out in the workplace or at school. They just assume, like many heterosexual Americans, that the barriers of discrimination have been eradicated. The reality, of course, is quite different¯ Not a single state allows same.sex mamage. 39 states allow Gay, "Lesbian, Bisexual:and Transgender employees.to be fired from ourjobs. 28 states lack hate crimes law s that include sexual orientation. 18 states criminalize loving, same-sex relationships. .~ " T~day the GLBT movement i~ at a crossroads We.are under open assault by those who would deny us basic .human rights., and at the same time the nation.is witnessing a surge in support for our cause. Ourtives, our liberty, our pursuit of happiness depend upon our ability to build strong political infrastructure and organize on the state and local level. Local orgamzing has always been the trademark of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Fortunately, we are not alone. Today, the state and local political infrastructure of the GLBT movement in the United States is stronger than it has ever been before. In 1996, NGLTFhelped found the Federation of Statewide LGBT Political Organizations. see NGLTF, p. 11 College Course to Focus On Net Hate Groups BOSTON (AP) - One shows an image of a slain Gay man burning in hell Another claims the FBI has declared war on white Christians. A third pretends to pay homage to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., then suggests the civil rights leader was a sex fiend, a communist and a "plastic god." They ~e radical, hate-driven Internet sites and they are increasing rapidly. This fall, they also will be the basis for a communications class at Emerson College called Hate.com. Robert Hilliard, an Emerson communications prof~e,ssor, vlans to use ,the sites to examine how radical gxpups use fi!e Internet to recrmt new members. " " Hilliard became interested in extremists~ when.he’ stumbled across a far-right talk radio show, and later wrote abookonthe topic withBoston College professor Michael Keith. "We began to listen and we said, ’Here we were, communications professionals and we didn" t know about these people,’" Hilliard said. "People have got to know what these people are saying." Their book, "Waves of Rancor: Tuning in the Radical RighC’ was well-received and ended up onPresident Clinton’ s summerreading list. Hilliard’ s says his class will .examine how the groups target xmpressionable youth, how they multiply and how they foment rage¯ More than 300 extremistWeb sites are on the Internet today, ranging from neo-Nazi alliances to Gay and Lesbian haters to Holocaust denials sites, according to the watchdog Southern Poverty Law Center¯ In 1998, the group counted 254 such Web sites, up from 163 in 1997. Experts say extremists are careful’not to urea away viewers with upfront, inflammatory statements or epithets. Instead, rock music and games draw in new members gradually. OneNeo-Nazi site features bands like RaHoWar, which stands for Racial Holy War. "Others attract viewers with seemingly mainstream articles, but the articles can lead to racist and conspiratorial theories bolstered with passages from the Bible and alternative historians. Hilliard plans toinvite some hate site creators to the class, giving them a chance to defend their work. One rote creator satdhe s open to such challenges. I thi the media is extremely biased against my point of view and I want to provide an alternative to their news," said Don Black, creator of Stormfront, one of o.. the Web’ s oldest white nationalist sites. Hilliard and others emphasize that extremist sites are fully protectedby the First Amendment and stress they are not calling for their removal. However, Hilliardmakes no bones abouthis hopes that students work to combat them. ’q?hese are people saying’We must arm ourselves for a holy war to rid the world of those who are not white, Aryan Christians or those who disagree with our points of view,’" he said. Idaho Public TV Faces Program Challenges IDAHO FALLS, Idaho. (AP) :-Adding adisclaimer to .controversial programming on Idaho Public Television may pacify prograrnm~ug restrictions from the .Legislature while allowing the stationto keep federal funding. Idaho Board Of Education member Curtis ’Eaton ¯ proposed.Friday the board require PublieTelevision tO air a disclaimer stating the station does not sanction acts or events depicted in programming. In a letter dated,April 13, Eaton asked.the ¯board to consider the option-as a way torectncile what he describes aft contradictory statements in recent.legislation that require theboard to regulateprogramming deemed to promote acts illegal in Idaho. The controversy over programming began last. spring, when Idaho Public Television General Manager Peter Morrill decided to air"It’ s Elementary," an hour-long documentary abouthow five public school districts across the country dealt with teaching kids about homosexuality. Christian conservatives lobbied the board to veto the program, but in June 1999 the board voted unanimously not to interfere with Morrill’ s programming decision. But the Legislature got involved this spring by including restrictions in a funding package for the network that reouire the board to monitor and reject programming that "promotes, supports or encourages the violation of Idaho criminal statutes." Because sodomy is illegal in Idaho, the bill could be interpreted tomeanprograms like"It’ s Elementary" should be cut. Or, because robbery is an Idaho felony, documentaries about legendary thieves Bonme and Clyde mightbebarred. ButboardmemberHarold Davis said he agreed with the restrictions and felt "It’ s Elementary’ crossed the line iiito promoting "the Gay lifestyle." Heopposed Eaton’ s proposal, saying itwas not sufficient to meet Legislative demands for new policy. Methodists Callings,For:+ Investigation of Bishop SACRAMENTO (AP) - Some parishioners want religious leaders to investigate the United Methodist Church bishop who decided not to charge 68 ministers who attended and endorsed a Lesbian wedding. The western region of the United Methodist Church’ s College of ~3ishops received two letters from parishioners, asking for aninvestigationinto whether Bishop Melvin Talbert disregarded church laws, including one banning same-sex unions. Bishop Elias Galvan of Seattle, a member of the religious body, said the o letters would be reviewed to see if they merit complaint status. John Stumbo, a Fort Valley, Ga., lawyer and member of the Coalition for United Methbdist Accountability, said the complaints centered around comments Talbert made when he announced that there was no basis f01~ a trial. At the time, Talbert said it was more important for the church to be all-inclusive than to puuish someone for blessing a union not officially sanctioned by the churcJa; But Stumbo said Talbert and the church’ s investigative committee disregarded a church law against homosexual, marriage in reaching their decision, If the-College of Bishops finds grounds for complaint, a separate committee wouldinvestigate whether Talbert should be tried in a church court, which would have the power to impose a number of penalties, including expulsion. Talbert’ s secretary said thebishop was travding and could not be reached for comment. The Rev. Don Fado of St..Mark’ s United Methodist Church in Sacramento performed the January 1999 ceremony for churchmembers Ellie Charlton, 64,and. Jeanne BametL 69. He and 67 other ministers offiCiated en masse at the ceremony. University Denial of Benefits Ruled Legal P1TTSBU-RGH (AP) - The University of Pittsburgh has-legally denied health benefits to same-sex partners of employees, an AlleghenyCounty judge ruled. Judge Robert Gallo said that Pitt’ s policy is neutral because health benefits are offered to all employees regardless of sexual orientation, and Pitt also denies benefits to unmarried partners of heterosexual employees. "This ruling dearly iupholds what has been the university’ s .position, thr0~ghout these proem,dings - namely that the universityhealth benefits plan is legal and nondiscriminatory," Pitt spokesman Ken Service said. But. Deborah Henso~, ia’former Pittinstn~ctorWho-’ sued when the university denied benefits to her Le~.- bian partner, said she’would appeal to Common~ wealth Court. ’~Fhis is.important in terms of fairness.,, and equality," Hens,on s~d.."pitt has .l~e~¯ ~gh~ng tooih and nail, inmy opiuion,tojus,tff,y~ disenmina~tton against Gay and Lesbi~in persons. Henson and six others were plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging that Pitt violated a city ordinance banning discrimination against Gay~ and Lesbians. I-Ienson’ s attorneys had wanted the case to be heard by the Pittsburgh CommissiononHumanRelations, whichhears complaints about violations of the city ordinance. Ga!lo said the commission has nojurisdiction over Pitt. In November, Gov. Tom Ridge signed a law exempting state universities and colleges from being forced by city anti-discrimination laws to provide same-sex benefits. Pitt is a state-affiliated institution. United in God’s Love ¯ MCC-Un=ted Sunday WOrship 11:00 am 1623 N. Maplewood Reverend Cathy Elliot Pastor 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 .... A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm 3210b S. Norwood, Info: 224-4754, Chris or Sharon - Sandra Hill Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E: Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 Red Rock Tulsa- O’RYAN Oklahoma Rainbow Young Adult Network Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-58.4=2325 Mingo Valley Flowers ~9413 E. 31St St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouplo Psychothorapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) .. i . 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday ’12-9 pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the cOnter Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583-,1248 Red Rock Tulsa,. Free Confidential,:HIV,Testing Walk-in Clihics ........ Tuesdays, 5-8 pm, Center, 1307 East38tti ...... Wednesdays, 5-8 pm, R¢0.~ock, 1724_~_s.L8~h Daytime appointments availal~le. Call for more information; 918-584 2325 KEVIN ESON Keller Will,ms -712;2 252 ..~ Bur]es~n@kw.com 26D I East 21st Street, gte. 100, Tulsa 7~’1~ , ~ An Ind@endg~t Member ~roher SaintAidan ~ ~ SaintDunstan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You "Recognizing that Pitt’ s health care contract on its face prohibits Pitt from providing benefits to both same sex and heterosexual unmarried couples, making n~ distinction between the two, it is dear that the commi ssion would be precluded from finding that an unlawful practice hadbeen committedbyPitt," Gallo’ s written ruling said. Other universities in Pennsylvania that offer samesex benefit~ include the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College and DickinsfnCollege. C.amegie MdlonUniversity.faculty earlier this monthaccepted a recommendation-that the:,.university ,provide samesex benefits as wall..CMU’ s board of trustees must approve the recommendation as well before samesex benefits will be extended, according to university spokesman Don Hale. BOSh on Vermont Civil Unions ¯ Clark delivered opening and dosing arguments ¯ while Richard Van Wagoner, another Salt Lake City ¯ lawyer, grilled Seidel on her decision to disqualify ¯ PRISM but sanction the Polynesian Club and the ¯ Odyssey of the Mind Club. ’Seidel also nixed a ¯ women’ s literature club, saying she had suggested a ¯ genderless literature club instead. Campbell seemed ¯ particularly interested in that decision a~d asked for ¯ district records on it. ~ ".... ." The judge frequently turned oia Dan: Larsen, an ¯ assistant Utah state attorney general d~fending the ¯ school district, attacking his argiamentsand declaring school administrators were not hb~v~:the law. Dis- - trict Superintendent Darlene Roblds: who was in the ¯ courtroom but did not testify, S~iid tti~ school board ¯ "wasla:t tr~_’0g to violate studen[s" ~F,ifst Amendment ¯ ~nghk~ and welcomed any ~]anfi~ohC ~ ll~ear~ "bring on, the m~tte~r~ , TEMPLE,Texas (AP)-Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush refused to be drawn into comment on Vermont’s civil unions, which would grant to same~sex couples some 300 state benefits of marriage, including medical decision-making, tax breaks and inheritance. Bush has opposed recognizing same-sex unions in Texas. "They have a right to pass a law," Bush said. "It’ s the right of the state to .make that decision just like it’s the right of the state of South Carolina to make the decision on the flag." Bush also met with a group ofGay Republicans last week in Austin and said he was "a better person" for heating their stories but still disagreed with them on Gay marriage. The Texas governor answered questions after making an elementary school appearance to_~,r.omote "character education" on the anni .v.ersary of the Columbine shootings. School District InC0urt Fi0r Rejecting Gay Club SALT Li~KE CITY (AP) - A fede~r,al judge recently shai~ly questioned a’s~hoor distiict s refuSai.to’sanctibia’ "d" ’ ~~d:¢rff ~ dub ’ that would-focus:,on:Gay "~-: IJYe:sbjan~ssu¢si"’~ust (~ecaus~ yo~gof6"safi’6ol’d~i m~y~.~0!~ -th~ii,~’~iis~ Aiii~iidifiefi{iights; U..S," Di~ft Jildg~ Teiah’ chmp~~tttold’.a lawyer for’the S~,t-~ .city’s~tiool ~’~&:Campbell made.no d~Li~ionlasr m’or~,...B.~t.~:.i.s e.x_pected’t0 nile ~60n o..n~a’reqye~ by stud~,nt org~:z~r~’i6b~c~ia~lVadnfiil: is~t6r~ find .~_~ "PRrSM~’Peoi~l~ R~spectingIm~ pdrt~t s~iAl Mov-&ia~nt~= ter@o:rary school privileges. Campbell will then’decide the crux of the case: w3aether schoql 9ffici~s violated the First Amendmeat or their own-policy in sh~bb~ag., PRISM:Tot-? merly the Gay-Straight Alliaiice and_now, reconsti-. ttitM M’ii~i" aii ac~id’6G~i~ ib~ar to satisfy new district: c[abrules, - _ .Cynthia ~¢i_.dd i. the_Oi,S_tri’~? s._as~istani,~upe~nten-: ¯ dent, struggled on the stand Tliurs~y.~0¢xplaii~ why., PRISM didn’ t.qualify as, an academic_club;.contend: ing,it represents a~ narrow..viewpoi~ o.n ~.~.erican hist6ry and sociology In 1996, the school districi el.i_nu,’na,ted all nonacademicdubs’i:aiher.than idlow Qay .dubat East RighS&ooL ambve.that ,was in~federat court..... .....",.. ~ .... ~, , ,. ,,7i?ne,G~y,~cltlb ~, 0n!y .n~et ~t’e~ ,h~ ~s qo~.l~.u~:~.g,rpup. thin, must ~efi( siJa~e aiii£.~hy insurance~ Th~~i~a’l~ ;sn ’t~16~l t6 liand ~tU~t t’l,y..¢~ oL c~uh ~ha~e.t0~ay.fQr~ :,es si Coh~:saia’.’C6iien ~’d: i~qrpos; ,oLtll.e .cfii~ is tbi~i~ss history"f~bifi:the pcrsp.e.,,~tive~ of’G~y~ a~a)’?!;~in~."Seida ti~Z them ~O~i~ :Uec~U~ ~e’d0ii~t t~ch c,,urri~ulum from the viewpini:dfGays and Legblans. ’. . Stephen.Clark, l¢.gal director for the American Civil ,Liberties, U,ni"on of Utah, argued that the denial was a straighff0.r~v)ffd First Amendment v,iolation. Clark also contends the district manipulated its own club policy and sealed its decision against PRISM with a new, still unwritten rule disqualifying clubs advocating an "exclusive viewpoint" of subjects. Lesbian Housing Rights NEW YORK (AP) - A lawyer for a Lesbian medical student asked a state appeals court to order Yeshiva University to let the woman and her domestic partner live together in school-subsidized housing. James Esseks told a five-judge panel of the New York State Supreme Court’ s Appellate Division that Yeshiva’ s policy discriminates on the basis of marital status and sexual orientation in violation of city and state law. Esseks said the university pern-ts married students to live in school housing only with spouses and children. Because Gay couples cannot legally marry, the policy has a disparate, discriminatory impact on them, he said. Esseks represents Sara Levin, 28, of San Francisco, a fourth-year student at Yeshiva’ s Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Yeshiva University is the oldest andlargest institution of higher education under Jewish auspices in the United States. University Members Protest Anti-GaY Slurs GORHAM, "{~/Iaine (AP) - Abou(.125.~t_udent~, staff and administrators attended ameeting following three incidents o£ anti-Gay bias at the University of Southern Maine. One student and two others were arrested _ by GorhamandUSMpolicein connection with one of " the three_’in.cidents, all of which took place during a ¯ one-week period earlier this spring. President Rich- - : ard Pattenande assured participants.at Wednesday’ s :Tmeeting that anti-Gay acts will not be tolerated. :’ "USM stands unflinchingly for equality~. -. homophobid has.no place at USM," Pattenande said.. The incidents began on the weekend of April 8-9 when anti.Gay graffiti was foundin Woodward Hall. The graffiti referred to a resideatadvisor. The next incidenthappened on April 13 when the same Woodward resident advisor and anotheradvisor intervenedin an out-of-control party. Both were taunted ~ with violent, anti-Gay threats. Last Saturday, another ¯ dormitory.staff workerfoundawritten-anti-Gay death threat had been slipped under her’dtbr~" ....... ’ Alhb:ama Hate:i::Cii :i:mes Law Revision In:Trouble MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - At:i~n-danc~..at. a Senate comfifittee meeting could determine the fate Of lcgist~tif~;to ~;po,laxkA!.~b._a~a,~’.A~h~.qrim,es !~w to indud~NXnald~r~e~a~:.ti...on.!.7~.e.t)i:!$ pa~red~R~ 49-39:on.April 6..George, Olssom Mbntgomery .area coordinator for-the Gay and Le~ian,Al!iartc,e .of Alabama~,s~d ’.~e ,J~c!~ci_ary _Co~t.t~~: sharply which commi.B~me,_~a~bcrs shoN,upat tlag~tiil~eting. Committee, cL~irman.:Rodger,:,Smi,ih~ianan, a supporter Of the bill, agreed thdco~tteeii spfit 50- 50 and,attendance,could determine t!~.outcome. Alabama law already mandates, mini.mm:n prison terms that felons must serve for crimes motiyated by race, color, religion, national origin, :ethnicity or physical or mental disability. For instance,, if a person committed a crime that is normally punishable by one to 10 years in prison, the hate crimes law mandates the person must serve at least two years in prison. TB Spreading In Transgender Group ATLANTA (AP) - A tuberculosis outbreak in the Transgender commtulities of Baltimore and New York City may be spreading to 0ther:cities, the government said recently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 26 active cases and 37 dormant cases of tuberculosis, most of them connected to members of the transgender community inthe two cities. The’ CD~,, ~s~ th~t~m~ig~asgender to: encbn~Ss~"cro~-~dr~ss~dr~,~ those who haveig~.,derg0~eI and indi~id~Jai~ ~tio ~re’plafining to un~ dergo sex-change operations. All of the cases in Baltimore were men except for fourwomenwho w’ere eitherfamilymembers of the men or health care workers who treated them. Many had a strain of TB treated with common antibiotics. The government said 62% of the tuberculosis patients tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. People with HIV are susceptible to tuberculosis and could die if not treated. Transgenders often travd to many cities frequenting social clubs and participaring in fashion and dance competitions. "Frequent travel and social network links identified among the Baltimore andNYC cases have raised concern that thi~ strain ¯ . may be circulating in other’~ities among young, mobile transgender persons withHIV infection," theCDCsaid in a report¯ The CDC is checking for additional cases linked to the same strain in Atlanta, "Baltimore, Boston,NewYorkCity, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Actor Bruce Willis Donating to Charity LOS ANGELES (AP) - There’ s more to theBruceWillis appearances on"Friends" than a potential ratings boost. The actor, who agreed to be a guest star on NBC’ s "Friends" for three episodes during the May ratings "sweeps," is donating earnings from the show to five charities. The amount of money wasn’ t disclosed. The American Foundation for AIDS Research, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Elizabeth Glaser PediatricAIDS Foundation, the Rape Treatment Center and UCLAUnicamp for underprivileged children will share the money, Willis publicist Paul Bloch said. On "Friends," Willis plays the widowedfather ofRoss’ new girlfriend. Willis became friendly with "Friends" actor Matthew Perry when they both starred in the movie "The Whole Nine Yards." Study on Prison Sex in Kentucky MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) - A Morehead State University professor is conducting a study on prison sexuality, a topic he says has been shrouded in silence but must be dealt with. The information could be used to combat the spread of AIDS and improve prison safety. Christopher Hensley, a sociology professor who directs Morehead’s Institute for Correctional Research and Training, said the survey is the first of its kind in Kentucky. Hensley studied prison sex in Oklahoma and found that nearly one in four male prisoners had engaged in sexual activities with fellow inmates. Overall. 13.8% of all prisoners said they had been : "threatened sextmlly" by other inmates : and 1.1% said they had been raped. ". If they have AIDS or another sex~mlly ¯ transmitted disease, they’ll be spreading : it to their partners, he said. "These people : are g,oing to be getting out of prison and ¯¯ they re going to be having sex with their wives or husbands," Hemley said. : The sweeping 46-question survey .,asks ¯ about jailhouse consensual sex, : autoeroticism and rape. About 3,600 of : Kentucky’ s 15.300 prisoners have been ¯ asked to participate. The survey is volun- !, ~tary and_anonymouL Funded in part b~ a .: ~$1,600 ~ant from ’Morehe~id~State,! the ":~i ~ques~i~res have~n ~ent to i.m~tes ¯ ’. dt three Of the state’ s .12 male prisons and : toinmatesatthestate’sonlyfemaleprison. ¯ Results will be released this fall. Hensley’ s research has "extraordinary value," said Cindy Stmckman-Johuson, a professor of psychology at the University of South Dakota. But~topic is so taboo that few scholars focus on it, she said. "We should have hundreds of people studying it," Struckman-Johnson said. "Sex inprisonis amajor cause ofviolence ... of upset and turmoil, a major cause of disease." Prisoners’ rights advocates also say the sexuality data could be useful. "Prison is a very violent place and ff (officials) can get a better idea about the reality ofprison rape and what’ s going on, hopefully they caTu be more prepared to deal with that issue," said Kara Gotsch, a public policy coordinator with the Washington, D.C.- based National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union. Struckman-Jotmson said some prison administrators try to quash these kinds of studies out of concern about negativepublicity. But Morehead State administrators and Kentucky prison officials approved Hensley’ s study. Hensley also has co-written an article on conjugal visitation in Mississippi, and his study on consensual homosexual activity in male prisons in Oklahoma is scheduled for publication in December in a prison-related academic journal. Russian Prison For HIV+ Inmates MOSCOW (AP) - Authorities in a Siberian region plan to open a separate prison for inmates infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, a news report said last month. About 600 HIV-positive convicts are serving time in prisons of the Irkutsk region, and another 300 infected people are held in pre-trial detention, said Boris Gronik, chief of the regional Justice Ministry branch in charge of prison administration. Gronik said afflicted inmates present a danger to other prisoners, and need to be removed; the ITAR=Tass news agency reported. "Unless they are all gathered in one place, the situationmayget out of control," Gronik was quoted as saying. Russia already has one special prison for HIV-positive convicts, ITAR-Tass said. The jail is located in the Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad, which has one of the highest concentrations of AIDS cases in Russia. In a separate development, authorities in the southern Siberian republic of Buryafia, next door to lrkutsk, said 101 HIV cases have been registered in the republic, up from 24 at the start of the year, ITAR-Tass reported. HIV has been spreading fast in Russia and more than 30,000 registered cases March. Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. Medical Excellence And Compass.ionate Care Since 1926. ¯ ¯ ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER Medical Excellence ¯ Compassionate Care ~ Tulsa’s only~o/essional " - , bodyp!ercing Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here for you! ¯ E~ening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project Call JOHN RAGAN, the friend!y, caring real estate agent who understands your special needs! 918-583-2125 800-559-1558 ~.NewNest.com reviewed by Barry Hensley . In the mid 1960’ s, Garlandstarted re- Tulsa City-County Library ¯ cording her memories and feelings on a Judy Garland’ s fascinating and tumul- " reel to reel tape recorder. Theoretically, it tuous.life has become the subject of yet ¯ was to be a verbal, and hopefully moneyanothercontroversialbiography, thistime " making autobiography, butinreality,forby Gerald Clarke, author tifiedbyherfavoritewine, of "Capote." Goddess of "Extraordinarily Blue Nun, it became a ti- Gay men of a certain age, . oor, at~ ehoosln , . ~ade.ag~in~t~pe°p!eand Judy died inlJun~iof. 196~,~ ¯-P. .... ~,~ :- ¯ ~ .; cbmpafli~s~ "who"~ had a week. before’thei tone.-" .... hn,s t~ d.s",,,:the ""~ ’.wronged her. C~arlde wall rio.t in York, her 77 ..... "s. ems especially proud which started the modem that he had access to these Gay rights, movement. From Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," through a series of film successes, to someembarrassing television performances, and, fin. ally., to aging songstress staging substandard tunes written by her lover, Judy Garland’s career was a rollercoaster ride unparalleled in showbiz history. . .Through thenewspapers, radio and television, the public eagerly watched her career rise and fall many times over a thirty year period. Each triumphant performance was soon followedby some sort of disaster. Extraordinarily poor at choosing husbands, the public followed her volatile personal life as well, although they were probably unaware of a few Lesbian encounters that are mentioned in Get Happy. Cycling down to an untimely an-d-litigation filled end, Judy’s stormy life finally exhausted and frustrated her friends, fans and family. Her story is one of the greatest indictments against the excessive use of drugs and alcohol that American popular culture has produced. After ten years of interviews and meticulous investigation, Clarke has written ahuge tome, second only to GeroldFrank’ s 700 page biography, "Judy," in 1975. Clarke had access to the personal diary of Dottle Ponedel, Judy’ s longfime makeup woman, who apparently found that Judy was the most interesting thing in her life. Clarke also interviewed many of Judy’ s costars, friends, directors and conductors, including Arfie Shaw, Lena Home, and Judy’ s mostinfluential husband, SidLuft. she said, wiping the tears and gesturing at the joyous chaos on the House floor. Their jubilahon was matched by anger among opponents, who have complained that lawmakers weren’ t listening to their concerns. "The people of the state of Vermont will be back in November and this legislation will be repealed," said John Nelson, a 70-year-old retired salesman. The state Supreme Court unammously ruled in December that the couples were being unconstitutionally denied therights and benefits of mamage. The legislature decided to establish a parallel system for Gays rather than broaden marriage statues to include Gays and Lesbians. The civil unions essentially duplicate marriage, but are not recognized under federal law denying Gay couples benefits such as Social Security andirmnigrafion. Under the law, Gay ~ouples will be able to go to their town clerks and have their unions certified by a judge or by a member of the clergy. Breakups will be handled in Family Court. volatile personal life as wall, although they were probably naware d a few Lesbian encounters that are mentioned in ~et Happy’..." tapes, although at leastone other Garland biography has utilized them. Thecontent of the tapes is very interesting, although painfully sad, as she lashes out at the people who .made millions off of her name but left her penniless. With the exception of some films and her celebrated Carnegie Hall concert, Clarkelargely ignores Garland’ s professional life, preferring to give us lurid gossip and personal problems instead of analyzing her varied career. In fact, of the almost 500 pages in this book, only four are dedicated to’q’heJudy GarlandShow," the 1963 CBS series that was the last, sustained effort of her career (and which is currently available on DVD.) Reviewers and fans seem intensely polarized about their opinions of this book. (Check out the Amazon.corn reviews!) While listing over 50 pages of notes and acknowledgements, Clarke often relies on unverifiable comments, some of them quite ugly. He also seems obsessed with Judy’s sex life, a topic well covered in Judy Garland: The SecretLife ofanAmerican Legend, by David Shipman. However, his decade ofresearch pays off occasionally, with someinteresting stories and comments, although we must be aware that what we are reading is quite probably as much a juicy novel as it is a serious biography. Either way, it’ s an intriguing read. Check out Get Happy, as well as many of Garland’ s films or music at any branch Library, or call Central at 596-7977. the parent of a former Boy Scout, said there have been 255 requests for the state to join friend-of-the-court briefs since he became attorney general in 1995. The state has signed on to 111 of them, 68 dealing with states’ rights. "In making those decisions, we have always tried to focus on the legal issues rather than the political ones," he said. But lawmakers said Edmondson’s action makes ~*. appear the state opposes the right of the Boy Scouts to choose their own leaders. "’Drew Edmondson has put Oklahoma on record in the highest court in the land as being in favor ofthe homosexual movement against the Boy Scouts," said Rep. Bill Graves, R-OKC,-an outspoken opponent of civil rights for Gay people. "I thought the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court was an outrage," Graves said. Editor’s note: the switchboardfor the Oklahoma House of Representatives is 800-522-8502. Editor’s lugte: due to gremh’nesqueglitches tn the e-mail, our regular "Amusements" column byJim Christjohn never got to the editorial desk. Unfortunately this came to light at first::lighr’the mormng before going to’.press, andbeing brave, but northat brave, :I dtdt no:t invoke the wrath of the dembn~ by Waking him at 5:30am. Future issues.~willfeature interviews by Christjohn: with members of the cast of cal, will be at the Tulsa Performing Arts Centerbeginning May 30 thro’ June 4th. As the promoters, the Tnlsa-based Celebrity Attractions, note interest in the ill-fated ship has been _ ~om Sesma great, resulting in televisionprograms, a"major motion picture," novels and "even a cookbook." Indeed. The show was written by Peter StOne, known for other shows: 1776, T~e Will Rogers Follies, My One & Orii~, and music and lyrics are by Maury Yeston .. (Nine, Grand Hotel). Titanic wonmultiple’q’ony" awards~in 1997 and New York Observer critic, Rex Reed claims, " you will never see anyder of wonders, to TULSA! This Pulitzer and Tony award winning work by the late Jonathan Larson-was introduced to Tulsa theatre and media, folk at a.recent PAC reception. Coordinated by the ever gracious and lovely Tracey Norvell, fed a grea~ llmch by the Polo GrilF s Tal.madge Powell, and wowed by perfomances by two .current Broadway casrmembers flown into Tulsa forithe; ~vent.,~’sa~_~ hear,~d.: the veff~ .era ergetie,(~md:cute-)-p~.~l~!ce~, Jeffre~ ~€!1€~ deseribethe off-off Broadway .and shaky origins of Rent, as well as the tragic death of an aeortic aneurysm of composer/ writer Jonathan Larson on the very eve of the show’s successful opening. Larson drew inspiration for Rent from Puccini’s La Boheme but set his work in New York’ s East Village and with people living with HIV (rather than TB), Lesbian lawyers, drag queens instead of Parisian poets and painters. The music draws on!the traditions of American gospel and in the words of.the Houston Chronicle~ "Rent .is that rare. musical whose content and style areo£the present rather than the past.. words of pro.d.ucer Jeffr,y Sellers~ tradithing this impressive anywhere elser on’ tional :upt wn . t_h_eatre;,t.e..Broadway, Broadway." Certainly,Titanic seems cer~ .... was not-:~’our.characters ;,our stories, our tain t0 pl~hse the target audience ofCelebi; "" music, i. 2;.S~1~8 addecL that ,The.New rity Attractions and to bring in any nlmi: "~ York Ti~oa~.s,:q,a~:.,ed ;~e~t~Ya, shimm~ ber ofcharter buses full of traditional ~ea~ ¯ choonpceufrowr-i~ffei h~iAm.mmeri~_d.c’w~n.-ith th~Pe~q~ng theatr~igoers. ~ .... Theatre Tulsa Goes Gay!?!_,-. ~ Arts Center’s..director~-.33lm~e~i~ iii~t .......for T~s.a.;:R.¢.n.tj~!O~ag0~erdue! Tulsa Family News is delighted to re.:., Rent 9Li.t.lbe ip:Tulsa, f,om Augusi 29Rt ceive notice that TheatreZul~a’ S final seasonproductionis theTerrence McNallyhit,Lips Together, Teeih Apart." It Will run April 28, 29, and May3- 6 at8,l~.~,; ~e~e_w.ill be a:~ma~lee all PAC Jolm~H. ............Io tP+~9..Pt., 3rd :~ith -I ev.~i~n.g and marl: nee,performances. Tickets, range, be:.. $25 to.$55 ,a~..dgQ:on ~.ale on June 12. Call 596- 7111,800-364- ~731I. or go to Willidins :Tkeatre.’ ..... : Veto S~fanic~directs this "adult sitmi:" tion" drama:~dae elegant beach house " on Fi~I~taii~i:~;brother and sister and their i(d~tig~e~pouses attempt to cel-: ebrat~i=tll~-~t~6~li:0f July. Surrounded 6if: bo.th s[d~Tb,~]~e~ii~ve h~ses~Ga~.~i~ieff:~ " me" two sfi~:~i~t ~codpqeg’exi~Xa* own!ives ~[li~it;sorrow, and agnawmgup.,,~ t~my~!~es their‘ affluen! hab’-’ it~ hfid]SeR~ pi~jii~li~s ~i~zle~n the:sum:~ ,"~l)~:" ~" ?’Q *~ "~ .... - ;.... ~’;" ~i’¢ " ~ " Tl~eT~fl:aa 1§’one~,~(e!,ty-~Ndest arts ,0.~g. a~!..~a,tlons ..and -ael~owle~t~mg Gay~i~ ,th~"th~iff~ is ’a big step, n~ot t6 ¯ me~tidff~cNali~ is one Of temporary pla~fights so check this production out, W~:don’t get that many ¯ chances trsee theatre in Tulsa which acknowledges-the eXistence ofGaypeople: " 525,600 Minutes : Having said that, the extraordinary new Ameficanmusical, Rent, is coming, won- " ;~ Do, you got:Hope? ~ Fran~_.~,C.~thy Kc~ting’, sfavodte~ulsa designer_ ,~gd..H!.V/AtDS .. fund.raise-~,~ Charles-Faudree,-once again has, o~ga; nized theHopeCafid~eli.~ht~0urforea~!y, June. TI~.,"~,eve~t not,rnly,heips i~aise f~d~i groups;p~c~yide~car~, toW-opl,e liv~:ii~ see some6fTulsa s mostbeau~i~f~@~, rated, homes.- ......... -,.:~.... The pub!ic:tour on SituMay, i~; 3rd and Sunday~ Jun¢.4th i%~tures fiv~ l~0mes for a donation ofonly $10. Ticke,ts fi3r tliis tour may be obtainld a~ each..home ¯ There is also a donor tourfeaturing four more homes on Iune 1 for those who donate $125. And patrons (donations of more than $450) will gather at Doug & Susan Pielsticker on June 10th. For more information, call Charles Faudree, Inc. at 747-9706. I to benefit Saint Joseph Residence + Regional AIDS Interfaith.Network Saturday, June 3rd, 10-5, + Sunday, June 4th, 1-5 $10 donation at the door or in advance. David Daniel, 1603 S. Carson Wiley Parsons, 1601 S. Carson Monty + Jane Butts, 240 E. Woodward Blvd. Brett + Maricarolyn Swab, 2112 S. Norfolk Ave. Dr. Robert & Dena Hudson, 2707 S. Rockford Rd. Tickets for this~,t~Jr may be obtaL"gd at each home. For more intormation, call Charles Faudree, Inc, at 747-9706. THE MUSEUM SHOP AT PHILBROOK 748.5304 April 29, May 5 & 7, 2000 Prices Start. at Just $15! Act Now! Call 587-4811 December MonthlyElectric Bills. At PS0, we kn0w ihat,changing .... "same each month, because ifs basedweather condi~qp~:throughout~e year can cause~m0nthlye~ bills to rise and fall dramatically. Which can make it hard to plan your householdlmdget~That’s,why~ our Average Monflxly Payment plan, could be your budgeting solution. With~youpay about the .on your previous 12 months umge. ~ :~make~ budgeting a breeze. Andbest of all, ifs free. AMP!sjust one of several flem’ble payment options PSOoffersyou. For more information, we’re available 24 hours adag Or S’tgn up for AMP on our website at vccc,v.csw.corm PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY. OF OKLAHOMA A Central and South West Company by Busaba Sivasoboom BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - They giggled like girls and limp-wristed their high-fives, but when these players spiked a volleyball, opponents knew they were facing some of the meanest men on a Thai Bacldin 1996, a transvestite volleyball team with a woman coach overcame an anti-homosexual campaign to keep them out and competed!ha meffs national club volleyball championship They wonboth the tournamentandthehearts.of the crowd. Now; their tale has been turned into a movie titled "Satree-lek," or "Iron Ladies," and it’ s quickly turning into one of the biggest box office hits in Thai history - while spotlighting the country’s ambiguous feelings about transvestites and homosexuality. DirectorYongyootThongkongtoon said that on the surface, Thai society is open and tolerant of transvestites and homosexuality. The two are often equated in the popular mind, though not all transvestites are homosexuals, or vice versa. Transvestite cabarets are popular with tourists and several television shows feature transvestites-prompting an edict last year by the government to broadcasters to tone it down. The order, however, has widely been ignored. ButYongyoottoldTheAssociatedPress that transvestism was a lifestyle far removed from that led by most Thais, and his debut film takes a look at how other people : react to having transvestites as neighbors, rivals and colleagues. In the movie, the team was insulted by words and gestures at the beginning of the tournament. However, when they showed they could play as well, and better- than their rivals, they gradually gained respect from fans and other players. "I chose to present it as a comedy, because I thought a drama might be boring," said Yongyoot, who formerly directed TV commercials. "An audience is more easily attracted by a comedy film." When the movie began showing nationwide in March, it became an instant hit and pulled in more thaii 100 million baht ($2.7 million) in thefirst month, 10 times what it cost to make. That already makes it second Thai film in all-rime box office receipts behind the A walk-through butterfly exhibit at the Tulsa Zoo and Living Mus~umwil! open onMay 6 and will continue through October 8. The exhibit is open from 10am - 5pmand visitors canexperiencehundreds ofnative butterflies up-el0seand in flight. Nearly 30 species of North American butt.efflies.and ~ few s,p~..’es ofmoths will be represented itl an enel6~&l garden setring, near the Animal Kingdom Building and features a variety offlowering plants. This exlfibit is free wi~ the ~regular Zoo admission. Wings ofWonderis set withina30x 96’ greenhouse covered with a light mesh to contain the animals. The exhibit features a "chrysalis house" where visitors can watch as each butterfly emerges from its chrysalis or pupa and prepares for flight. Winding stone pathways, a water feature, benches, andeducational exhibits enhance the exhibit area. Wings of Wonder is dedicated to increasing visitor knowledge and appreciation of butterflies which are signature 150 million baht (dlrs 4 million) earned by "Nang Nak," last year’ s arty retelling of an old ghost legend that is credited with giving a new breath of life to the moribund Thai film industry. Pakorn Pimton, a transvestite and coordinator of the Gays Against AIDS group, said he was unsurprised by the success of the movie and he hoped it would open useful debate. Gays are accepted as entertainers, Pakom said, because Thais d(, see movie stars and television program hosts as serious. ,~ - "Howe~,ifthey go beyond’that line to be a doct~,~polifiCi~, banker Or top~nfili,~ tary official - I guess the answer is no, Pakorn said. "We still use a two-tier measure for members of our society." Violence against homosexuals is rare in Thailand, Pakorn said, but many barriers remain against open homosexuals. The Gay rights movement is weak. His group regularly receives calls fromhomosexuals who -fear coming out of the closet because they risk their jobs or status. Kitikorn Meesapya, senior psychologist at the Department of Mental Health’ s, said that Thais can accept homosexuals that keep a low profile. Homosexuals in Parliament and the military are well treated until their lifestyles are publicly exposed - a fairly rare occurence. "But then they will fac~ harsh criticism from society," Kitikorn said, expressing hope that "Satree-lek" might encourage more tolerance and help some people to express themselves as homosexuals. For Kongrith Singnukote, one of the 1996 champion players, the film’ s strongest pointis that it’*talks about peacefully living together in society by accepting the differences of each person." Kongrith works as a bank teller. He goes to work in men’s clothes, but wears makeup and ¯" speaks in a girlie voice. All his colleagues ¯ know he is a transvestite. Kongrith says : he gets teased a bit, but no one has ever ¯ shown violence toward him. He says he is : grateful that his family accepts him as he : is. : Being the subject of a hit movie hash~ t ¯ raised.his celebrity ambitions,however, and he doesn’t see a career for himself : beyondretail service. "I know that thereis ¯¯ a barrier for us," he says. "For now, I’m satisfied at being what I am." ¯ species for conservation. By fostering a greaterunderstanding of theneeds and the ¯ life,cycle of butterflies we can hdp con- " serve these delicate creatures. -" In addition tothe butterfly enclosure, : knownas"Butterfly Landing," the grounds ¯ aroundtheexhibithavebeen planted with : butterfly-attracting plants to encourage : v~s~tataon by someof our natt,~e butterfly residents. Thebutterflies exhibited inside ¯ Butterfly Landing have not been taken ~ from:the wild but are procured through ¯ certified butterfly suppliers. ¯ ¯ Exhibits describing the lifecycle of the butterfly, the differences between moths ¯ and butterflies, common butterflies of ¯ Oklahoma, chrysalis and butterfly !dent!- : fication, and about attracting butterflies ¯ to yards will be included in the exhibit. ¯ Also planned for this summer is a vision ¯ exhibit that will enable visitors to see like : a butterfly. The Animal Kingdom Build- . ing will also house agift cart specializing ¯ in butterfly-related books, souvenirs, and gifts. Info: 669-6600 orwww.tulsazoo.org r by Lament.. Lindstrom, Ph.D. What do you call a dead Blond in a closet? - a 1964 hide and seek champion! The recent flush of Blendjokes is an interesting cultural phenomenon. Jokes are more than just funny. They are also dangerous because they are polilical. Overthepastfew decad~s~: change~ iri Amefi’~t"~ ~olitib~[ arena have affectedboth the content and practice Ofjoking. Itis alittleless easy than it used to be to joke about ethnic and religious groups, handicap, gender, or gender-orientation. Blonds have emerged as a safe target in politically conscious, if not always politically correct, America. Andmanyjokes that previously featured Jews- or Blacks or Gays have been reworked into Blond jokes. This is not to say that offensive joking has disappeared. Rather, it is just a little less public. American politeness conventions demand that I should not tell a joke whose "butt" is in my audience, unless I, too, am in the targeted category, or unless I already have a close relationship’~vith those I potentially offend. But I can joke all I want as long as the butt can’ t hear me, or if I do indeed intend to offend. Thewebsite, www.whitepride.com, for example, offers along list of by now very stale Jewish, Black, and "faggot" jokes. Here’ s a sample groaner from the"white pride" boys: Why was the faggot fired from his job at the sperm back? - for drinking on the job! Jokesters sometimes complain about the "political correctness" that has narrowed the contexts in which they can safely perform. "Come on, it’s only a joke!" But of course jokes aren’t just jokes. They are also assertions about the world, or at least one particular view of the world. The lines that jokes ckaw between the funny and the unfunny reflect local understandings of normality. Jokes are potent oral texts that, retold over and over again, maintain certain ways ofthinking about people and behavior. Why do brides wear white? - so they will match the other domestic appliances! .Even ironic jokes, such as this, refresh established ways of thinking about men, women, and the gendered division of labor. In particular, the swarm of jrke~ flying constantly around a community protects existing systems of inequality. People joke "downwards" more than they do upwards.~ :People joke far more often about the powerless than they about the powerful. There are far more jokes about women than there are about men. "More jokes about ethnic and religious minorities thanthe white-bread Protestant mainstream. More jokes about the handicapped than about the able. More jokes about the old than the young. More jokes about Oklahoma than about California. Do you know what an Oklahoma divorce and a Texas tornado have in common? - in both cases ¯ somebody is gonna ¯ lose a trailer house! And there are many more jokes about being Gay than about being Straight. We usually "~V’hy is it so hard abide by the politeness constraints ofjoke-telli~, for women to find in fact, because we realize that jokes (even "just-amen that are jok~sT’) have this political " weight. ,Th..o~sewhofeel tSe sensitive, earing,, ~ ’ Sfing~hidd~n ’within the .a.n..d ’geed-look"m - because those guys already have ho rlends!?’ laughter sometimes protest when etiquette breaks down. GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, for example, has attempted to police the telling ofcertainGayjokes in the m~ss media, notably on a number of morning radio shows whose sleazy hosts are keen to boost their market share. Such policing, of course, if successful merely shrinks the arenas in which Faggot jokes are safely told. They still circulate freely in less public Spaces. Each time I teach Cultural Anthropology, I have my students as a group collect jokes from their friends. I figure that these joke archives provide good evidence about which of the joints of American society currently ache the most. Last week, the students broughtin about 150 jokes. For the first time in years, none ofthese was a"faggot"joke. And the only ethnic joke was turned in by a clueless Japanese woman, happily ignorant of the American politics of public joking. Instead, nearly half the collection consisted of Blond jokes. Blonds, poor things, are nowadays the butt of choice when American jokesters are nervous and unsure of our audience. What do Blonds put behind their ears to attract boyfriends? - their ankles! Our collection also included several "counter-jokes" whose butt is strategically reversed. There are, for example, Brunette jokes - the futile ripostes of oppressed Blonds. There are also "stupid men jokes" - invented jokes that attempt to counteract the dominant targeting of women within the’universe of American jokes. Why did God create man? - because a vibrator can’t mow the lawn! While these attempts to resist inequality by shifting a joke’s target upwards may have only limitie~." politigal,fimpact, it sfillfecls"goodtolaflgh.: ~:: ~ -~’~ Why is it so hard for women to find men that are sensitive, caring, and go~dqo~king? -~ because those guys _~ already have boyfriends! LamontLindstrom teaches anthopology at the University of Tulsa. Romantic W ekend Package.-- Accommodations Frida3, Saturday or Sunday night. Bottle ofwine, souvenir keepsake millennium corkscrew ¯ Souvenir etched glasses ¯ Specialq chocolate tklights ¯ Deluxe continental breakfast ¯ Late checkout ¯ Specialq rooms $I80 ¯ Deluxe rooms $160 ¯ Valid weekends in February. Does not include taxes Tulsa’s Premier Boutique Hotel 14t~ & Main ¯ Tulsa ¯ 587.8200 Member: Historic Howls ofAmerica Featuring The Chalkboard Restauram, a dining landmark IGTA Calmlem3b4er1.6866i’!~ International ToUrsformore information. Massage Therapy Services Voice Mai!~:918-697:9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pro "All About MyMother" and"Boys Don’ t Meet Local Guys for Hot Ti @Odgi Cry" - actually showed up in OKC, she madeit abundantly clear that shehad been completely won overby them and was not about to be shy about saying so in print. Sympathy towards GLBT issues might be expected from someone like White, but it was definitely a surprise to see the much nibre conservative reviewer, Jerry Shottefi~irk, being taken in by the Ma- .donna:Rupert Everett"Next BgstThing." ¯ election - and what could be the most ¯ importantelectionofourgeneration. The : GLBT voting bloc has proven to be one of ¯¯ the most powerful constituencies in the country in recent election cycles. If our ¯ voters are motivated to the polls and elect ¯ supportive leaders, we could have the ¯ opportunity to shape groundbrealdng le- : gal protection. If the nation elects leaders ¯ who are hostile to all that NGLTF stands ¯ for, we could witness a serious backlash ¯ to our h~rd-won gains. ¯ Dr. Martin Luther King. once said the ¯ moral arc of the universeis long but bends Surprises were cropping up in the rest .: toward justice. Dr. King was right - but !~f th~ p,gper ~. W~I!, indu~g the busi- ¯ with our continued o!;gahi~gg g~ad motif ~es .,~..; o ~ .w~i~ g~ ~)le on .~_~o ~,~ ~jzatmn, we~make ~at,ii~.~;0’~,.~ :~est~c p~mership~ p,6ilc~es..a~.ong OkI’fi- ¯ much more qmckly fioma compames- mcludiffg qu,otes from: $~,,-.~oundectir~1973, ttie ~Lucent’s I~aren Par~ons w~o is involved : Lesbian Tbsk Force W~’l?s to~iiniinate inLuqent~sLesbianandGayemployees’ ¯ prejudice, uiolence andiwustice against ;brgani’zafion, EQUAL!. :- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexualgtn~l T~ransgen- : Striking, 5wey r, was.a group of :. &red people at the local, state dnd naarticles; oii 1~hate crimes in the Sun- ¯ tional level. As part ofdbrOaddr ~Ocial iday, March 20 issue. Mostof these ar- : justicemovementforfreOdom;]usticeand titles appeared in ~€ Community see- : equality, NGLTF is creattYg d Worm that fion, Milch w’as’d~_i’ilh~lPdedia.the late : ~respects and celebrates_ ttie’diversity of ~F,dition ’on Stmday’. The~e, in b!a~k and .’. ’human expression and identity where all White, was the opeii as~ertidii.’.tiia~ Okla- i .people mayfully participate in society. h°ma City"s Human Rights CASmmlssi°n i I ] .Was abolished by(the City Council bemuse they iesent&!havingt.6 deal with the issue. 0fiG@’Ri~h?s, cbml~iete, with ~uote by c.ottt~,¢ilmenqbi~r~Je@ Fo~hee: " During WWII, the church Sheltered.Japa- .-.; "The councilis tiredof.th6is~ue’hlways ; nese-American students who were given being b~ought forward, and flae vehicle the opportunity to study atTU ratherth~a,n,,, that is alWays brin~g.i’.t forward is the " beincarceratedinAmerican"internment human rights comm, ss~on...~ If the vehicle is bringing you dompany that you don’ t want ... then you do away with the vehicle." In meeting with Hale, Speakers for Gay and Lesbian Issues hoped that they would open a dialog between the Daily Oklahoman and the Gay and Lesbian community of Oklahoma City. According to Speakers, Hale provided them with many opportunities by asking many questions about Gay and Lesbian issues. Speakers for Gay and Lesbian Issues noted the positive trend in the paper’ s coverage of Gay issues. Hale revealed that those changes had come at a price: while the articles on hate crimes had generated both positive and negative responses fromreaders, some of the negative responses had been vicious and involved actual threats. But, Hale also said she was not going to let that stop her from continuing to cover controversial issues. She said that when a story generates strong reactions on both sides, she knows she’ s doing her job right. This federation consists ofpolitical groups that fight for equality. In just four years’ time, the Federation has grown to represent members in every state in the union, gro,wthinsuch ashort period of time. With the Federation’s help, last year NGLTF was able to produce the largest :~ grassroots mob~fion:inputmoyem~ntfs history. We helped organize some 350 rallies and other events in all 50 state capitols, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, during a one-week period. Our campaign - called Equality Begins at Home- and the work of the Federation paved the way for the wonderful successes we have seen in the past year. Now many state legislatures are wrapping up their business and adjourning. Attention will soon shift to the November camps. Later the church was involved in the "Sanctuary" movement which offered relocation of Central American political refugees, both documented and-undocumented. Aletter issued tomembers ofthe church, signed by Rader and Clerk of the Session, Kathy Evanson, notes, "None of these actions changes who we are as a congregation; but, they declare who we area and what we want to be in our relationships with one another. We are still a loyal, supporting congregation of the Presbyterian Church,U.S.A. We have done nothing improper according to our denomination’ s constitution. We are not changing any signage, letterhead, preaching or program. We are declaring inclusion and affirmation of all our members and our openness to a group of people long rejected and stigmatized by society, and within the Christian commtmity... College Hill is a majority "straight" church but with visible and welcome Lesbian and Gay families. Editor’s note: Tulsa Family Newspublisher and editor, Tom Neal is a member of College Hill Presbyterian Church. An Evening With The Quilt On Thursday evening, May 25, the NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will sponsor an evening of meditation and remembrance at Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 So. Harvard in Tulsa, from 7-9 pm. You. are invited to drop in anytime during this time period to meditate, pray, or simply view the Quilt. Feel free to stay just afew minutes, or as long as you wish. The NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter invites everyonewhohas been touchedby the AIDS pandemic to take a moment from their evening to remember and reflect. For more information, please contact the NAMES Project Tulsa at (918) 748-3111 or TulsaQnilt@usa.net Humanity Unites f’or Hu’man Rights Diversity .Celebration 2000 Grand Marshalls for the Millennium Parade Dr. Grethe Cammermeyer Distinguished Veteran of the United States Armed Forces Gre£! Lou~lanis US Olympic Champion Pride Week Events, .Interfaith Worship Service The Tulsa Performin£l Arts Center Speaker: the Reverend Dr. Mel W.hite, author and activist Friday, June 2, from 7pro (free) TOHR Folbes. 1OO Years of Broadway Saturday, June 8, 8pm, $15 PAC Doenges Theatre Black Tie Optional Dinner ~i:Featuri~ 6re~q Louganis The Summit Club Friday, June 9th, $75 person VIP reception at $50 person. Benefitin~l Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Ri/thts, the parent or~Ianization of the Gay Community Center Millennium Pa~de 2000 Saturday, June IO, llam Beginning at the Gay Community Center at 87th and Peoria and endin~i at Veterans Park at 18th and BouIder The Pride Festival Veterans Park, llam 8pro For more information about these events, caIl 748-4297 (gays). Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, May 2000; Volume 7, Issue 5 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, April 2000; Volume 7, Issue 4 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper Periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/600 2000 AIDS AIDS Quilt aMUSEments arts and entertainment Barry Hensley Bars Boy Scouts businesses churches civil unions Daily Oklahoman Diversity celebration Elizabeth Toledo Gay marriage Gay Studies George W. Bush harassment hate groups HIV HIV prevention homophobia housing Idaho Public Television Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm marriage equality military inclusion Murder NAMES Project National Gay and Lesbian Task Force NGLTF Partner Benefits performing arts Pride prison Raging Lesbian Read All About It restaurants slurs Supreme Court Tom Neal tuberculosis Tulsa Family News Tulsa Zoo United Methodist Church universities University of Pitsburgh https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/6b7e676bb8ca66b2d4d4e77ec98183bb.jpg 70277c751b7608bff4b6a6a9ebd57143 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/a3ba05665eee0d1b153fdde340f774b0.pdf 6e78e6b1fae615e50dacbb10ea0a31df PDF Text Text ¯ Servin Lesbian Ga Bisexual + Transg~n~er_ed ~ul__Fa~s_, ~r Fa~ili~.~ Friends : Gays Excluded From HEAR the Quilt AIDS Day- Dec, 1 i Tulsa’s "Diversity" ¯ World Council Oak Men’s Chorale Benefit ¯ Metropolitan Ministry Lauds Local Mix ¯ TULSA- The fifth and largest display of The NAMES : But Sees On!y Race, Religion + Ethnicity Project will behdd at tbeTulsa Conventi,o,.n Center on NEWS ANALYSIS ~- When is "diversity" not diverse? Only in ¯ on December 1 - 3. The event entitled, HEAR The Tulsa where "do-gooder" organizations, like Tulsa Metropolitan ¯ Quilt" will open with student tours during daytime hours on World AIDS Day, Friday, December 1. Ministry (TMM), the National Conference on Community and The opening ceremonies for the general public for Justice (NCCJ), and others can sin~ the praises of interfaith ¯ "HEAR The Quilt" will be proceeded by the tradi¯ tolerance and understanding while excluding or ignoring Lesbian ] tionalWorldAIDS Day candlelightmarch.Themarch and Gay Tulsans, regardless of faith. ¯ will begin at the Courthouse Plaza just west of 5th and ¯ In this case, TMM issued a"Statement in Support of Diversity" ¯ which defines diversity only in terms of race, ethnicity and ¯¯ Denver at 6:30, Friday evening.Marchers are encour¯ religion. TMM’s new executive director the Rev. Stephen Cranford ¯ aged to bring organizational banners and bells; candles ¯ will be provided. Parking is available at the Convenstated that he did not know if the omission was deliberate. tion Center garage. The march will follow a short However, TMM staff said that the text of the statement was ¯ route through downtown Tulsa and will return to the written by TMM board president, Dr. Sandra Rana, who is a ¯ convention center for the Quilt’s opening at 8pro. leader in Tulsa’s Islamic community. Members of Tulsa’s IsThis display of the Quilt will feature 188 sections TULSA (TFN) - Tulsa Deputy Chief of Police Bobby " lamic community have made hostile remarks towards Gays on ¯ of the Quilt, each twelvefeet square. The display will ¯ L. Busby will be the featured speaker at the Nov. several occasions, most recently when a Muslim representative meeting of Tulsa Oldahomans for Human Rights ¯ at a NCCJ Trialogue on Marriage said that his society would ,¯ be free and open to the public. Organizers note that (TOHR) at the Gay Community Services Center at 21st ¯ murder any Gay men who attempted to marry each other. Dr. ¯ the Quilt has the power to teach, to touch hearts, and to change minds. & Memorial.The meeting begins at 7:30pm. Topics for ’ Rana did not respond to messages left about the "Statement in In conjunction with the "HEAR The Quilt" Disdiscussion with the Chief Busby will include expanding ¯ Support of Diversity". " play, the Council Oak Men’s Chorale under the Tulsa’s "diversity" training for new police recruits and TMM has a history of mostly ignoring Lesbian and Gay issues ¯ for in-service training to include sexual orientation as ¯ with one notable exception: the support of an amendment to ¯ direction of Rick Fortner will perform at Hope Uni¯ Oklahoma’s hate crimes statute which Tulsa Representative Don tarian Church, 8432 South Sheridan Road, Tulsa on wall as rate and etlmicity. Also on the agenda will be : Saturday evening,December2 atT:30pm. Admission discussion of recent police visits to local Gay and : Ross introduced in the legislative session prior to last year’s. ¯ ¯ Lesbian_nightclubs. All are invited to attend. Radford Rader, pastor of College Hill Presbyterian Church, an ¯ is free, with a suggested $10 donation. Proceeds will ¯ benefit the NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter. TOHR will also hold a new volunteer orientation on officially welcoming congregation of Lesbians and Gay men and There also. will be an interfaith worship service Nov. 9th at 7pm at the Center. Center organizers also ¯ member of the TMM executive board, responded that the state(coordinated by Reverend Cathy Elliott, pastor of held an open house for the new facility in October. They " ment was meant to address racial and ethnic diversity because of note that about 80 people attended the event including ¯¯ the coming of the KKK. It was written right before the incident ¯ MCC United Church) to be held at the Quilt display a substantial number of visitors in town for a leather at the Jewish cemetery. Rader stated that he did not feel that the ¯ on Sunday, Dec. 3at 9:30am. ¯ For more information, call (918) 748-3111 or send event. TOHR also hosted a Feastfor,~riends dinner exclusion was deliberate. e-mail to info@TulsaQuilt.org see TMM, p. 9 with raised over $1,000 for The NAMES Project. ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ Deputy Police Chief To Speak At TOHR, Nov. 14 ¯ Hate In Vermont ¯ Gay Grandmothers Just Maine To Vote Again Want to See Grandkids On Gay Civi, I Rights BROOKFIELD, Vt. (AP) - Mark Hackett was thunderstruck when he looked at the fence facing prop- ¯ TULSA (TFN) - It’s a sad story when families get caught up in ¯ HALLOWELL, Maine (AP) - Maine’s latest referhomophobia and prejudice. It’s common when couples separate " endum on civil fights for Gay citizens resurrects erty he owns on Vermont Route 14. "Exaente the Fag," after one or the other parent realizes that they are Lesbian or Gay. ¯ familiar arguments on both sides, but this time propoit declared, its message clear despite the misspelling. ¯ And when thelegal system gets involved, often the Gay parent ¯¯ nents have polished the proposal and picked up a Hackett, who is Gay, rents the property to two fami- ¯ potentially influential ally. In wirming support from loses, though around the US and evenin Oklahoma, courts cases lies, one of whom has been feuding with the property the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, backers owner next door on whose fence the hate message was ." are holding that Lesbians or Gay men are not ipso facto bad spray-painted. Although Hackett as landlord has been ¯¯ parents. But when grandparents are involved, it’s even more ¯ have sought to buttress an exemption for religious institutions. They have also sought to counter claims difficult because the law defers almost completely to parents. only peripherally involved in the neighborhood dispute, ¯ That’s where two Tulsa women, Julene and Schrie, find ¯ that the measure would award anything special or its message was obvious to him. "It’s clearly there for me to see.., the message to my ¯¯ themselves. Both were once married to men and have children ¯ endorse specific sexual behavior. Last time around, the Catholic church sat out the tenant was,’ See how your landlordlikes that,’ "Hackett ¯ fromthose relationships. ¯ dection debate, saying it could not support a law Some of those kids have no problem with their Lesbian moms. said. "I just think the ’Take Back Vermont’ message is making it OK to say stuff like that. I don’t have a ¯ And one of them didn’t have a problem with them, when she ¯ enacted by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Angus problem with people voting Democratic or Republican ¯¯ needed free babysitting and before she was married to a man ¯¯ .King because of ambiguities in its language. The enacted measure was repealed in February 1998 who’s areligious fundamentalists. Now the daughter and the sonor supporting any candidate they want... But you start ¯ in-law who says he’s the head of the house find that "it’s in the ¯ before it ever took effect by a rare "people’s veto" seeing that stuff around the state and it’s not about ¯ best interest of the kids" that the kids not see their grandmother ¯ referendum vote. The outcomein that special election politics, it’s about hate." : was 51% for repeal and 49% against. And it is happening more and more around Vermont ¯¯ or her partner who’s just as close. This time, with numerous other matters on state Legal experts hold out little hope, and even if there were ~ in this heated and polarized campaign season. In ¯ grounds for a court case, judges and juries in Oklahoma are often ¯ ballots expected to produce a bigger voter turnout, Burlington, the Outright Vermont office has taken to locking its doors and taking other security precautions ¯¯ .not sympathetic. But this does not deter friends of the women ¯¯ approval of Question 6 would again expand the Maine Human Rights Act. The proposal would inafter two different men walked into the office on Oct. 13 ¯ who praise them for their kindness and support to their friends " dude the category of"sexual orientation" in a list of and employees when they find themselves in need. and threatened to kill a staff member. "The first one The women own a local dub out on Garnett which while it is ¯ groups protected against discrimination in the areas basically asked her what she was going to do to elimi- ¯ not a Lesbian or Gay oriented venue has patron who are remark- ¯¯ of employment, housing or access to public accomnate herself, then told her if she didn’t eliminate hersdf modations and the extension of credit. The new he would," see Vermont, l~. 2 "¯ able supportive of the pair. version, however, approved by the Legislature and Bar employee, Tummy Peevyhouse, was particularly outspo¯ ken in her concern for her friends and employers, as was also a DIRECTORY P. 2 signed by the governor in April, is more limited than ¯ bar patron, Tommy Clown. Frustrated by the limitations offered the repealed law. "We’ve repeatedly said work needs P. 3 EDITORIAL to be done to clean up the language," says Catholic by the legal system, Peevyhouse’s response was if the law allows P. 4 US & WORLD NEWS ¯ this [situation], then the law needs to be changed. diocesan spokesman Marc Mutty. "And we did that." P. 6 HEALTH NEWS ¯ Besides the religious exemption, the new version Meanwhile, the grandmothers just wait and have faith that as ¯ P. 8 ENTERTAINMENT specifies that no change in affirmative action requiretheir grandsons reach legal maturity, they will reassert themments is intended and see Maine, p.3 P. 10 GAY STUDIES " selves and come to see them on their own. �918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 Tulsa~Clubs & Restaurants FOB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159. e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net 712-2324 *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 610-5323 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal 583-2119 *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine Writers + eontributom: James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry 835-2376 *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche. Lament Lindstrom. Esther 744-4280 Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 834-4234 ~ *The Star, 1565 Shelida~, Mem~ber of The Associated Press.. ~ _ ~ ~, *Renegades/Rainbow Room, i649 S~. M~in 585,3405 Issued 0ffor,befot~ th6 1 ~t of~ each month, ~ entire contents *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial §~920836 ~ Of this publicatioxi are protected by US 6opyright 1998 by 1584-1308 *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd To/.~/:k~,,~ N~ and may not be~ptoduce~ eitherin whole 749-1563 *The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th or in part without written permission from the publisher. Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 sexual orientation. ~orrespondence is assumed to be for 250-5034 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 "pi~blication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & be665-4580 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 comes the sole property of TM- ~/c¢,,,,~... Nv~,. Each reader is 712-1122 Body Piercing by Nieole, 2722 E. 15 entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution 712-9955 *Border~ Books & Music, 2740 E.21 points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. 494-2665 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 743 -5272 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 742-2457 746-0313 ¯ *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & 295-5868 *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. llth ¯ Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 747-7777 622-0700 ¯ *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 ¯¯ *Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 747-6827 749-3620 Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 *Deco to Disco; 3212 E. 151h 582-0438 744-5556 ¯ Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria 583-6611 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd, 838-8503 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan 834-4194 369-8555 ¯ *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 834-8378 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 584-0337, 712-9379 Ross Edward Salon 592-0460 ¯ *HouseoftheHoly SpiritMinstries,1517 S. Memorial 224-4754 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main 838-1715 744-9595 ¯¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 748-3111 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 610-0880 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 551h P1. ¯ 365-5658 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 628-3709 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. ¯ OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 808-8026 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 742-1 460 ¯¯ *OSU-Tulsa *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 749-4901 PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 459-9349 Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planniug ¯ 587-7674 *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 744-7440 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly 745-1111 ¯ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 749-4195 341-6866 ¯¯ R.A:I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network *International Tours 584-2325 712-2750 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 151h 425-7882 582-3018 : St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 492-7140 747-0236 ¯ St. Dtmstan’,s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 582-3088 582-8460 ¯ *St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 599-8070 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 747-5466 ¯ *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 595-4105 585-1234 ~ Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only 584-3112 ¯¯ *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c!o The Pride Center 743-4297 663-5934 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 664-2951 : T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 838-7626 ¯ *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 743 -4297 ; *Tulsa Community College Campuses *The Pride Store ¯ *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 21st & Memorial 743-4297 747-5932 Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 ¯ Unity Church of Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 834-0617 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-7921, 747-4746 .. BARTLESVILLE Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 749-6301 ¯ Barflesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 918-337-5353 260-7829 PaulTay, Car Salesman ¯ TAHLEQUAH 481-0558 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 918-456-7900 835-5563 :¯ Stonewall League, call for information: Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 918-456-7900 Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 743-1733 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling ¯ Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-936~3 665-2222 *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan ¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS 592-0767 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 501-253-7734 website for Tulsa Gays & Lesbians : Autumn Br~,eeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 www.gaytulsa~.org 501-253~7457 T,,t~ ^~-~.A~=~~ Cha;-bh~i; ~:chOOIS&~. Universities "- Jim &Brent s Bistro 173 S. Main A!~r~ ~Xrr~ t+~,~ ~r ~tT~ 7’h~:~ [-’ ~ ’~ ~ ~ :~ "~ ~-95~ .... ~eVito~s’R~S~L -5 Ce~ter~ St.’’ t. ~ ..... ,. ,: 1, ~ ~,1-~53~ 501 253 ~5 743 -2363 : ¯ ~d R~nbow , 45 ~!~ Spnng ’ St : ......... ~1 So~s U~ Ch~ch, 2952 S. Peofi a 501-253-9337 MCC of ~e ~ving Spring 5~-7314 ¯ Black & ~te, ~c. ~B 1~01, T~sa 74159 Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 501-253~2776 583-7815 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 501-253 -5332 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 583-9780 B/.L/G/T-Alliance, Univ, of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 501-624-6646 Positive Idea Marketing Plans ....... 585-1201 Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074 587-1314 Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood 747-6300 JOPLIN, MISSOURI *Community of Hope Church, 2545 S. Yale Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 748-3888 Council Oak Men’s Chorale * is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay- friendly. 712-1511 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware said Keith Elston, executive director of the group dedicated to Gay and Lesbian youth. "The other one was much more blunt that he was going to ’kill fags.’ " Burlington police are investigating the incidents, but there have been no arrests and Outfight Vermont has become much more carefUl about tr~ng.t9 prgvide~ .saf.e.ty t° i.ts staff, volunteers and especially its clients. From tasteless bumper stickers to graffiti on highway pavement, it’s apparently become socially acceptable in the political climate of 2000 to use derogatory terms for Gays and Lesbians that once were considered epithets. There have been scattered but persistent reports at schools across the state about anti-Gay incidents and harassment. On the pavement of the road approaching the Champlain Bridge near Fort~i~conderoga inNew York someone recently spray-painted in large white letters "FAGS," with arrows pointing over the bridge into Vermont. "How much more explicit can you be about creating an aura of fear for day-to-day life?" said Lynne Bond, a psychology professor at the University of Vermont who has studied Gay and Lesbian issues. Vermont’s new civil unions law, granting most of the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples, clearly has prompted a broad public discussion about the lives of Gays and Lesbians. There are deeply held beliefs about the morality - or some would say immorality - of homosexuality. But before the civil unions debate, those beliefs were rarely expressed in langnage that’s so offensive to Gays and Lesbians. "It seems to me that some people, have broken out of the social constraints of civility that I think people were honoring during the legislative process," said Beth Robinson, the Middlebury attorney who argued the lawsuit that led to civil unions. People who oppose civil unions say they’ve been unfairly maligned because just they don’t agree with the law. They complain that they’ve been described as bigots, hate-mongerers and homophobes. They say that their ’Take Back Vermont’ signs and other political placards havebeen knocked over, defaced with Gay symbols and stolen. "I think there have been ugly incidents on both sides," Republican gubernatorial candidate Ruth Dwyer said at a debate in Lyndon Center last week. Still, it once was eousidered ill-mannered at best to use such terms as fag and dyke aad queer in civil conversation. The anger over civil unions appears to have erased that unwritten rule in Vermont, at least for the time being. And that makes many Gay and Lesbian Vermonters feel as if they’re under attack, even if it’s a small minority of civil union opponents who:are behind the hate. ~ : ~ ~P~@I’O ~ 6*~[re~, frimtrated lthat 1 didn-t~get ~d~* ~ivil ~iOrls bill killed Legislature, some of them have taken it. upon themselves to link an ominous, mystical Gay agenda to the civil union bill," - Elston.said. ’,’They’ve.been-falsely suggest~ ing that there s something in the civil unions bill that requires the teaching of homosexuality in schools. They’ve been foolishly suggesting that Outfight teaches homosexuality in the schools, that we’re distributing pornography." see Vermont, p.3 �World Watch: News Not Covered in Our Daily by Tom Neal, editor/gadfly/publisher It’s old fashioned to place as much import on a daily newspaper but then as a newspaper publisher and editor of now seven years, I am somewhat committed to the concept. Unlike the internet, radio and television, those more ephemeral of media, the printed word, even on acid filled newsprint leaves a legacy, a picture of where we are and where we were, in a way that is more accessible and probably more permanent. This new and irregularly published column, like much of this newspaper’s coverage, intends to bring to attention things which otherwise might not get addressed. And while our daily newspaper, The Tulsa World is not the worst newspaper in America, it does have some foibles, some journalistic lapses which stem from its parochial circumstances: a privately owned, smaller town paper with a historically greater emphasis on coverage of wealthy whites, rather than minority citizens and issues. It’s better than it used to be but... We are in the height of the United Way campaagn, and as in years past, The Tulsa World is a major supporter of TulsaArea UnitedWay (TAUW). This is notintrinsically a bad thing. TAUW does do much good for many. But TAUW also funds organizations which engage in discnminatory practices and itself may discriminate. There are ongoing questions about the true percentage of funds which go to services rather than administration. One might think that The Worm would at least look into these issues. But year after year, The World’s coverage of United Way is a public relations flakmeister’s dream, with shameles sly promotional stories aboutTAUW funded agencies which nm during the United Way fundraising campaign. Can we doubt that ifTAUW were funding’~penly racist or anti-semitic agencies that The World would write about it? Despite claims of separation between the newsroom, and advertising and ownership, The Worm has a clear conflict of interest between its promotion of United Way and its commitment to good journalism. The World will change when they know that their readers like you and me find their practices unacceptable. Not to pick on Joe Worley, executive editor but ultimately he’s responsible for the decision to coddle Tulsa Area United Way and its bad mannered (and in one case, clearly lncohapetent) management. Joe’s ntunber is published on page A-2 everyday. Let him know when The World’s doing a good job of covering Lesbian and Gay issues (overall, they’re doing better these days) but also let him know what’s not working too. ’In the current, embittered political atmosphere, it is difficult to counter such arguments. And so it feeds on itself and results in slogans that once would have been considered epithets being painted on a neighbor’s fence. Although it’s unpleasant for many Vermonters, regardless of their homosexuality, people who have been involved said they will continue speaking out. "You have to just keep on.telfing the truth, over and over again," El~n ~akl. !’Everyti~n~,thCy ~y lie~ ~a~bgut you,’yqq l~av¢ t~ exp0~e. ~em ~s [i~e~ on~!,Y0q ~aYq ~to ~t~lil,th~ .tnifl~ people hear that message." "They Don’t Want Civil Rights, They Want Special Rights" cated to attacking or restricting the rights of Lesbian-and Gay citizens - and their staff are usually rude and arrogant. But not to hold them accountable is to let them assume that all agree with their prejudice. Needless-to-say, in this election, if you are reading this before Nov. 7th, please consider the difference between the Republicans and the Democrats. As bad as the Democrats may be in Oklahoma, on a national level, that party has clearly talked and walked the talk. Positions for fair treatment of Lesbian and Gay citizens are in the Democratic platform and have been honored in action by the national party, not perfectly, but under Clinton and Gore, more than ever before. Bush and the Republicans may have moderated some of their anti-Gay, neo-nazi rhetoric (though not the Oklahoma party) but this is the party which brought us years of indifference to the HIV/AIDS crisis under Reagan, as well as a documented hostility to addressing anti-Gay hate crimes, let alone civil rights issues like employment, fair housing, military service, legal recognition, of our relationships and families, etc. It’s not that I especially like Gore, or that Bush isn’t an idiot, it’s just that given the choice, we have no choice. This guy will be making the next Supreme Court appointments. And decisions which have been crucial to our lives (like Bowers v. Hardwick which said that straight oral sex is constitutionally protected but the same act for Gays can be a felony crime, Dale v. the Boy Scouts of America, Colorado’s Amendment 2) have all been mostly narrowly decided cases. Another Scalia, or Clarence Thomas, the type of choices we’ve seen from Republican presidents, would not bode us well. Vote like your life depends on it- in many ways, it does. -Tom Neal, editor & pubisher Early this morning, before I was really awake, or maybe late last night drowsing with the television on, the history channel was showing footage about the struggle Black Americans had to end legal segregation. This part of recent American history is a particular interest of mine but this was mostly things I’d heard or seen before. But then there was an image that caught my attention, one I’d never seen before. An old black and white image showed a white Southerner marching with a placard Saying, "They don’t want civil rights, they want SPECIAL rights!" And here I thought that particular carnard wg~ newly minted to mischaracterize the desire of Lesbian and Gay persons to live our lives relatively unmolested, with a some semblance of the same opportunities which non-Gay citizens enjoy. Perhaps I should not have been surprised. In the fight over whether Lesbian and Gay Americans should serve openly in defense of our country, almost word-for-word rhetoric was trotted out to oppose Gays as was used to oppose racial integration of the US military. Prejudice, like taxes and death, is, it seems, fundamental to the human condition, with Americans, like others, occasionally transcending our biases. After many shameful years of oppression, America has slowly set aside some of its racism. But different prejudices, seeing a void, have come forward. In response, we can do several things. Many simply seek to live their own lives, quietly, avoiding harassment as best as possible. Others speak out as best they can. But all who are citizens can vote, and after the election, can contact those who are supposed to be representing us. Of course, in Oklahoma, this is often an exercise in frustration. Our elected federal leaders are nearly all dedi- that there would .be no. requirement for employers to provide benefits for the partners of Gay and Lesbian workers. "The diocese has never been opposed to any of the proposals," Mutty says. But he says changes this year not only made it possible for the church to sign on as an advocate, but were also aimed at making the measure acceptable to a majority of people statewide. Michael Heath of the Christian Civic League of Maine, a leader of one of the major groups opposing the measure, says the shift from neutrality to advocacy by the Catholic diocese was a major setback. The prospect of a busy balloting day is also a concern for opponents, he says. "If there’ s a big turnout of voters, then a lot of sort of impulsive voters are going to be there," Heath says, fretting that those unfamiliar with details of the proposal may not appreciate its impact. Heath says the morality of homosexuality remains central to the debate and that conferring rights with this proposal could lead to further Gay demands. "It lays the foundation for a lot of other things," Heath says. Observers on both sides suggest much of the Maine electorate appears-to have grown weary of the issue, which in one form or another has occupied debate on public policy for at least two decades. In 1992, the first local Gay fights law was passed by the Portland City Council. Three w.gr~s later, Maine~ vot.,¢,r~,~rejected a proposal to prevent municipal and other government bodies.in the state from passing laws barring anti-Gay discrimination. In 1997, after years of legislative warring, a state civil rights law was enacted. But just months later, the people’s veto vote forced by opponents repealed that. "It was very close the last time it went around. I know there’s been a lot of work on both sides," says bakery worker Sara Wagner in Hallowell. "I hope it passes." In a brief, streetside interview, Wagner said her awareness of discrimination faced by people she knew of made the ballot question more than an abstract matter of principle. "It has real life implications," she said. Heath, in contrast, maintains the proponents’ claims of acturd discrimination are specious. "It’s obviously not widespread," he says. Earlier this month, in response tO an inquiry by one of the referendum bill’s leading legislative champions, Attorney General Andrew Ketterer advised that ~at least the threat of discrimination is real under existing statutes. "The federal and state law, as currently written and interpreted by the courts, do not prohibit the denial or termination of employment, the denial of credit, the denial of public acco~nmodation or the denial of housing because of sexual orientation," Ketterer wrote. The most recent campaign finance reports show that supporters from the Maine Coalition for Equal Rights, now known as YES on 6, reported donations of nearly $260,000 and expenditures of $240,000. The Christian Action League collected $37,500, but is also opposing proposals on video gambling and doctorassisted suicide. According to a recent poll by the Portland research firm Critical Insights Inc., respondents favored the referendum by 59% to 29%, with 11% undecided. Question 6 on Maine’s ballot asks: "Do you favor ratifying the action of the 119th Legislature whereby it passed an act extending to all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation the same basic rights to protection against discrimination now guaranteed to citizens on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in the areas of employment, housing, public~acco.ram~datipa~.a~d~cr~edi[ .and where th~ a~t expregs’ly~s~te~ confers legislative approval Of, or sp~,i~ d’gtig tb; any person or group of persons?" ¯ Okla. Reps. = Total Zeros : ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ Not that it should come as any surprise to anyone, but the Human Rights Campaign, HRC, reports in their scorecard for the 106th Congress that Oklahoma’s Representatives and our Senators, Largent, Cobum, Watkins, Watts, Istook, Lucas, Nickles and Inhofe received total zeros on 10 questions about legislation of concern to Gay citizens. This is why voting matters, friends. - TFN �Scouts Fire Gay Man SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - A Boy Scout executive was stripped of his Eagle Scout status and fired by the Boy Scouts of America National Council 10 days after he publicly admitted he is Gay, his attorney said. Len Lanzi, Boy Scouts Los Padres Council executive director, worked for the scouting organization 14 years before he was terminated by mail. "We plan to pursue all legal remedies available to him," said Lanzi’s attorney, Steven Serratori, whose Century City firm specializes in employment law "I think it’s fair to say that everybody is surprised at the arrogance of the Boy Scouts," Serratori said. "To think in this day and age that they think they can fire someone based on their sexual orientation..." A U.S. Supreme Court rnling last summer upholding the Boy Scouts" right to exclude Gay members does not apply to its employees, the lawyer said. Lanzi, whose territory includes Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, is believed to be the highestranking Boy Scout executive to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality since the Supreme Court ruling in June. Los Padres Boy Scout board members told the Santa Barbara News-Press their options were limited because of the national council’s policy on Gays. "We could contradict the national Boy Scout policy, and possibly risk the whole council being decommissioned, or we can go along with firing him," said Karl Eberhard a member of the Los Padres Boy Scouts board. "I maintain that the whole thing is completely idiotic," he added. Neighbors Don’t Mind Alabama Ga " Nudists WAVERLY, Ala. (AP) - h grovel road winds through John Bales’ wilderness resort. It looks like any of the paths leading to hunting lodge_s where countless Southern men spend weekends this time of year. Then, you come to the sign: "Clothing optional area." This isn’t your ordinary, out-of-the-way spot in the woods of east Alabama. Bales owns Black Bear Camp, a 33-acre resort catering to Gay men who enjoy nature au naturel. Black Bear Camp isn’t for hunting. It’ s for socializing. The clientele tends to be Gay men best described as the rugged type: Many have beards and bellies and would rather sit around the lodge watching football on TV than go to a Gay bar. "Probably more than 50% of our customers are married or divorced with kids," Bales said. "’We don’t get the flamboyant type." There were rumblings when another clothing-optional campground for Gay men opened near the south Alabama town of Geneva a couple of years ago. A Lesbian-operated retreat where guests wear clothes, Camp Sister Spirit, drew heated protests in 1993 after opening in rural Mississippi. But Bales hasn’t heard any complaints from surrounding Lee County or nearby Waverly, a town of " h 160 people, many,of them elderly. I know my ne.l.g .bors. They know I m Gay, and they know I opened ttus place," he said. "There hasn’t been a problem with it." Many residents don’t know the camp exists: Bales doe’Sn’t adverd~ locally, and there are no signs indicatinglthat a dbfhing-opti0nal resort for Gays is just off busy U.S. 280. But people who do know about the camp don’t seem concerned about what’s going on in the woods north of Auburn. "If that’ s what turns them on, let ’em go on," said Waverly town clerk DeLene Cawley. "If I belonged to a nudist colony that’s where I’d want to be." A leader of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Alabama isn’t surprised by the lack of controversy. "As long as there’s no loud music and people keep to themselves I wouldn’t think people would have a problem with it," said David White. Bales, a 57-year-old math professor at Tuskegee University, didn’t set out to get into the clothingoptional resort business. He began buying land around Little Loblockee Creek in 1982 and began building 1ears later with plans for the camp to provide a source of income when he retires in 2009. There’s bunk space for 24 in the 3,600-square-foot lodge, which has a tin roof and all the comforts of home plus some: Internet access, satellite TV, a hot tub and an above-ground swimming pool with deck. Bales has had as many as 30 customers on a weekend, but the more typical crowd is six or seven. "It was not my original intention to be clothingoptional," he said. "But shortly after I opened, I began to get inquiries from clothing-optional groups asking whether that was allowed. "It didn’t take me long to realize that the remoteness and seclusion of the camp made than a natural option and a good niche market to enter." With prices ranging from $8 for daytmae guests to $40 a night for double occupancy bunks, Bales hopes to break even this year as far as operating costs go. He weeds out the occasional unannounced visitor just looking for a good time. "No one wants to come down here and have people who are looking at naked guys and propositioning them for sex," he said. "That will drive away my business.’" Journalist Group Calls For Partner Benefits COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Society of Professional Journalists approved a resolution calling for news organizations to provide benefits for domestic parmers of their Gay and Lesbian employees. . The measure was opposed by some SPJ members who said the professional organization should not get involved in employment matters such as benefits. Delegates approved the resolution by a margin of 85 to 36 at SPJ’s national convention. Sally Lehlman, SPJ’s diversity chair, said the resolution would ensure that Gay and Lesbian journalists are not treated "like second class citizens in the newsroom." "It’s not about employment from our perspecfive. It’ s about fairness and accuracy in content, which emerges in part from fairness in the newsroom," she said. Mark Scarp, an editorial writer for the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Tribune, and member of SPJ’s executive committee, said the group should follow its precedent of leaving employment issues up to unions. "I personally support domestic partner benefits but I believe it qualifies as an employer-employee relations issue," Scarp said. "We’re a professional association and I felt it wasn’t appropriate for us to make a determination on such an issue." A few years ago, SPJ comuussioned a survey on reporters’ salaries, but would not get into trying to persuade employers to improve pay, Scarp said. Gay Couple Get Abducted Child Back CATHEDRAL CITY, California (AP) - A 10-yearold boy abducted by his grandfather who accused the child’s caretakers of promoting a Gay lifestyle has been returned to the couple. Miguel Washington was surrendered to authorilies by relatives in Pennsylvania and returned to the home of his uncle, Paul Washington Jr., and Timothy Forrester. "Right now he’s really happy to be home," Washington Jr. said. "We’re absolutely elated. Our family is united again." An attorney for Paul Washington Sr. and Sandra Washington, Mignel’s grandparents and Washington Jr.’s parents, said his clients intend to pursue custody. "My clients don’t feel that’s the best home for him," said attorney Bill Hence Jr. "I’m very disappointed in the agencies that were supposed to be protecting the United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship 11:00 am 1623 N. Maplewood Reverend Cathy Elliot Pastor 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community of Hope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Service, 6pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 �The Pride Store 21st Street & Memorial Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center 3 Strand Communications Long Distance 4.9C/minute $4.99 monthly fee 24 hours a day - 7 days a week Call 447-8602 Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tues. & Thurs., 5 -8 pm at the Center, 1307 East 38th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 fights of the child." A hearing was scheduled for December. Miguel was born to Angelena Washington, the younger Washington’s mentally disabled sister, who was impregnated while living in an assisted-care facility, family members said. At the time, family members informally agreed to have him raised by Washington Jr., a hardware store salesman, and Forrester, a teacher. Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Tex Ritter said his office had not decided if charges will be filed in the abduction. The elder Was hington picked up Miguel for an overnight fishing trip on Oct. 6 and never brought him back, Washington Jr. said. Instead, Washington and For/ester received a letter from a Los Angeles law firm Oct. 7 stating that Miguel had been removed from their home and accusing the pair of "actively promoting or influencing a Gay lifestyle for the minor." The letter cited Miguel’s participation in ballet and "Gay art class" instead of baseball as one reason for the boy’s removal. issues and fear that it would create confusion among childr+n over sexual orientation matters, said Sue Krampe, executive director. The debate on whether to conunue to allow Gays to mentor children surfaced recently after Brian Combs, a case manager and minister at Christ View Christian Church, quit after learning a homosexual was a mentor in the program. The board was deadlocked in a vote earlier this month. Combs had been the only person to raise a complaint prior to the first vote. But since then, the agency has fielded 18 telephone calls in opposition to allowing Gays in the program, Krampe said. Volunteers had been asked their sexual orientation during the initial screening process and parents were allowed to veto amatela based on their answers. Nationally, only a "handful" of the 500 chapters of the American Big Brothers-Big Sisters prohibits homosexuals~from mentoring children, Krampe said. Each local chapter can set ~ts own policies on the issue. she said. Germany Ready to Recognize Gay Partners Newspaper Chain to Offer Partner Benefits BERLIN (AP)- Germany’s governing coalition wants to pass a law giving equal legal status to Gay couples early in November, politicians stated. Leaders from the Social Democratic and Greens parties said they plan to have the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, approve the bill Nov. I0. Conservatives, however, control a majority in the upper house of parliament and have criticized the law. To get around their opposition that could scuttle the bill, lawmakers laid out a plan Friday to divide the legislation into two parts. The government majority in parliament would pass administrative regulations creating the legal framework for Gay couples without the upper house’ s agreement. However, the upper house will still be called on to approve lifting the disadvantages to Gays contained in labor and tax codes. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP)- Six of the eight B ooth newspapers in Michigan will offer benefits to partners of Gay employees starting in January. The papers that will offer the benefits are The Ann Arbor News. The Bay City Times, The Flint Journal, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, the Kalamazoo Gazette and The Saginaw News. The eight Booth newspapers are owned by Advance Publications, based in New York. George Arwady, publisher of the Kalamazoo paper, said the new benefits were "pretty well accepted" by employees. "It’ s a matter of equitable treatment for our employees," Arwady said. "We have not made a big deal out of it, mad it’s not a big deal." Margaret DeRitter, an editor at the Gazette, said she was pleased by the amaouncement. "I wasn’t aware of employees internally pushing for.it," said DeRitter, who is Gay and a 12-year employee of the paper. "I thought it was great the company would do this without any prompting from the staff. It says they value all of their employees and want to be fair and equitable." ACLU Trying Bias Reduction Program ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia is one of three states chosen by the American Civil Liberties Union to pilot a program to educate teachers about bullying of Gay and Lesbian students. The ACLU says students who identify themselves as Gay are more than four times as likely to suffer bullying than heterosexual students. Gary Weber, legal director of the Georgia ACLU, said Gay students also have higher rates of absenteeism and suicide. The program will use panels - including a Gay student, perhaps a parent of a Gay student, a school administrator or classroom teacher and an attorney - to explain the legal liabilities schools face if they ignore harassment. The ACLU will begin contacting schools in November to schedule traimng sessions. Districts that refuse the training may be called by an ACLU attorney to briefly explain legal liabilities. Kentucky and Indiana are the other two pilot states. No date has been set for expanding the program, which was developed in northern California, to other states, ACLU spokesman Eric Ferrero said. Big .Brothers, Big Sisters Bans Gay Volunteers OWENSBORO, Ky (AP) - The local chapter of Big Brothers-Big Sisters, which links children with adult mentors, will no longer allow Gays to participate in the program. The board voted 10-9 to bar openly Gay volunteers following a closed-door meeting. Board members had raised concerns about health Mother of Slain Soldier Appeals Army Decision WASHINGTON (AP)-The mother of a Fort Campbell soldier who was murdered in iris barracks is seeking to overturn the denial of her $1.8 million wrongful death claim against the Army Kutteles sent an appeal of the Sept. 27 decision by the military to Army Secretary Louis Caldera. Kutteles, of Kansas City, Mo., said fellow soldiers believed Winchell was Gay and harassed him for months before he was beaten to death with a baseball bat while sleeping in his cot July 5, 1999 at a post in Kentucky. The Army knew about the harassment but did nothing to stop it, she said. Pvt. Calvin Glover of Sulphur, Okla., was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Winchell. Another soldier was given a 12 1/2-year sentence for lying to investigators. The Army inspector general issued a report in July on Winchell’s murder. The report found evidence of low morale mad antiGay behavior among members of Winchell’s unit, D Company, 2nd Battalion of the 502nd Infantry Regiment. It concluded, however, that the chain of command at Fort Campbell responded,a:ppropriately with respect to enforcing the Pentagon S policy of permitting Gays to serve in the military so long as they keep their sexual orientation private. Kutteles says should Caldera side with her, the Army would be taking full responsibility for Winchell’s death. "We have to do this for our son’s sake. He died, and I want his death to be meaningful," she said. "I want other mothers and fathers not to have to go through this." �Easier-to-Swallow Anti-AIDS Pills WASHINGTON (AP).- The government approved a new easier-to-use version of a standard AIDS drug that may ease patient complaints that the medicine is too hard to swallow. The drug is ddI, often used in the multi-drug cocktails that AIDS patients take to fight the virus. Until now, patients have had to chew, or dissolve in water, two large, bitter-tasting ddI pills twice a day. Those pills also frequently were blamed for diarrhea and other gastrointestinal side effects. The Food and Drug Administration approved a once-a-day capsule version of ddI. Swallowing the capsule, to be sold under the brand name Videx F_C, means no nasty taste problem. An FDA spokeswoman said thenew ddI may cause fewer dangerous interactions with other medications that AIDS patients take, because the capsule does not contain a buffering ingredient used in thechewable version. Also, manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb contends a special coating on the new version means it may cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Although Bristol-Myers nev er ddirecdy compared the old and new ddI to prove that, the FDA said getting rid of that old buffering ingredient may indeed help. Bristol-Myers did not reveal whenVidex EC would begin.selling, or if it would cost the same as the old version,-,. Researchers & Drug Co. Dispute Results Dr. James Kahn of the University of California at San Francisco, the smdy’s lead author, said the company withheld important data and then tried to suppress publication. The company denies both claims. In an arbitration complaint last month, Immune Response also demanded $7 million to ; 10 million from Kahn and the tmiversity, claiming dissemination of the negative findings caused,it financia], harm, university attorney :Christopher Patti said. The university contends Kahn was-allowed to publ.ish the results. The study of 2,527 patients in the United States found that Remune did boost levels of infection-fighting white blood cells, but the authors questi,o....n~fl whether the effect was clinically significant. JAMA editor Dr. Catherine DeAngelis defended the journal’s decision to publish. ’q’his study stands on its own scientific merit," she said. "It was peer-reviewed as ~uch." In a JA1V[A editorial, she said the dispute illustrates what can happen when disagreement erupts between researchers and a funding sponsor who "has a proprietary interest in the findings." Moss said the study was published without the consent of some of the researchers. The company and one of the dissenting researchers, Dr. John Turner of Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia, drafted a letter Monday to DeAngelis, decrying publication of a manuscript that contains "incomplete and inaccurate information." The final manuscript contains "some major statistical flaws," said Turner, who believes HIV-1 lmmunogen can slow disease progression. "ff I were HIV-positive, I would batter down any door necessary to get it, period," Turner said. CHICAGO (AP)-A study suggesting that a vaccine-like AIDS treatment is ineffective has provoked a public dispute bet w een the manufacturer that paid for much of the study and doctors who say the company tried to squelch their research. CHICAGO (AP) - A funny thing hapThe study’s conclusions, published in a pened to Dr. Jerome Kassirer at a recent recent Journal of the American Medical lecture to medical students about financial Association, echo doubts about HIV- 1 Imconflicts of interest for doctors: It turned munogen that were expressed several years out the free buffet was provided by amajor ago by advisers to the U.S~ Food and Drug drug company. Kassirer had a blunt mesAdministration. The results suggest that sage: Medical schools and training prowhen added to the drug regimen for HIVinfectedpatients,HIV-11mmunogenfailed " grams "must teach that there is no free to reduce the ri sk of dev doping full-blown ¯ lunch. No free dinner. Or textbooks. Or AIDS. The drug cames the brand name .. even a ballpoint pen." From freebies for medical students to Remune. ¯ Immune Response Corp., the drug’s " research funding that can taint study remanufacturer, contends that researchers " sults to the growing practice of marketing prescription medicine direcdy to consumomitted favorable data and skewed the results. The company entereda fairly com- . ers, drug_companies have a growing and mon arbitration process during which it " sometimes unseemly influence on doctried to produce "a more balanced manu- : tors, according to articles, studies and ediscript," said Dr. Ronald Moss, the ¯ torials published recently in the Journal of company’s vice president of medical and " the American Medical Association. The relationship between research and scientific affairs. Instead, the researchers " ~~:.~¥i~lated daeir~eonttaomalagreement and i indus~try appears to beunde.r growing scmr. 1~blish~in~oinplete findings; Moss ~aid.~ .... ’ fihy~The edit6fof, the: New’ E~tgl~tnd Jour"It seems like tabloid journalism that " nal of Medicine wrote an extraordinary lAMA would not investigate this further" " critique in May, saying scien.ce_ is being~ compromised by the growing influence ot before publishing, Moss said, HIV-1 Immunogea was developed by ." induslry money. That same month, the the late Dr. Jonas Salk, who created the ." Harvard Medical School said it would not first polio vaccine. It was developed be- ." ease its conflict of interest standards, confore powerful "drug cocktails" including ¯ sidered the toughest in the nation, and protease inhibitors became standard HIV : Dean Joseph B. Martin called for a natreatment, and Immune Response says : tional dialogue on the issue. Most experts agree that research needs subjects’ use of such drugs affected the : industry dollars. The top 10 pharmaceutifindings in the JAMA study. ". Doctors Org. Cites Conflicts of Interest Power Connect. Public Service Company of Oklahoma Service Is Now Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around-the-clock answers to your - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. o~ Clip And Save CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Servieio a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 ~ " ~1’:’1, Falta De S ,aminis~ro:, 1,.888-218-3924 1Nblie Settee C Imy d Okhhoma �Mary Schepers and Kathleen Pendergrass and several other artists present a showing and sale of: Clay sculptures, pottery anF:Lddcorative work, silk batik paintings, etchih and lithographs; jewelry and beadwork, handcrafted bath soap and salts and more. Saturday, November 11, 10 - 6pm 2727 East 56th Street 743-6740 cal companies spent nearly $23 billion on clinical research last year- more than the nearly $18 billion provided by the National Institutes of Health, JAMA editor Dr. Catherine DeAngelis said. The problem is when researchers have f’mancial interests in companies funding their work. DeAngelis said such research is lower in quality and more likely to report findings favorable to the company, One study found ,that. 7,6 percent of the faculty researchers at the University of California at San Francisco~aad personal financial ties to their drug company sportsorslastyear.Mostwereshort-termspeak- Celebrating 27 Years of Choice Sunday, November 12, 2000. 1:3(.1 - 3:30 p.m. :"~’° fob~heldat Resonat~~e " ~ Champagne, Coffee, Chocolates $25 per ~ndividual [’lea.~ R.S.V.P. to the NARAL L)ffice: 4.4-9585 : ¯ " " : ing engagements or consulting agreements with minimal payments. ¯ State and federal-guidelines require researchers to disclose certain financial ties, . and a UCSF policy prohibits faculty in- ¯ volvedinindustry-sponsoredresearchfrom " receiving any compensation from the corn- " pany during the study. Elizabeth Boyd and Lisa Bert, with UCSF’s Institute for Health Policy Studies, said a campus committee "worked to accommodateallbutthemostovertlyconflicting relationships in the interest of encouraging its faculty, and, presumably, encouraging future outside investment in the university." The authors suggested that financial ties may be more prevalent at other universities with less stringent policies. A 19982000 study of 89 major universities found that only 17-19%- had specific limits or prohibitions on relationships with industry. While most had co~fflict of interest policies, the3, were not as effective because they don’t spell what is prohibited, the authors said. Dr. Jordan Cohen, president of the Association of Americau Medica! Colleges, announced that the group is forming a task force to investigate conflicts of interest and reach a consensus on what types of relationships with drug companies should be allowed, days, washing the condoms with water and soap afteruse. Researchers will check the condoms for rips or tears and examine the participants to make sure that’reuse doesn’t cause rashes or irritations. "In terms of the whole spectrum of birth control, it’s not the best," Said Barbara Lea-Kruger, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS division."Butifwe’retalkingabout women who don’t have access to other forms of birth control and who come from a culture wheremenareless willing touseacondom, it’s a Viable alternative." Seniors & HIV/AIDS CANTON, Ohio (AP) - Older people sometimes have an awkward approach to sexual issues that puts them at risk for HIV, health counselors say. Susan J. McCollum, who teaches people 50 and older about the risks of contracting HIV, said older people must be aware of the risks. "It’s dangerous for any group of people to think they’re immune," said McCollum, a counselor for Planned Parenthood of Stark County. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of older people becoming infected is increasing. An estimated 10.9 percent, of men with HIV and 9.4 percent of women with HIV are 50 and older. "People that age have not grown up with condoms, like people who are in their 20s," McCollum said. "For a woman in her 60s to talk to a man about condoms.. ." McCollum also said it’s an awkward adjustmentforpeoplewhoarenewly single after having been in along-term marriage or relationship. "Women4Oandolderdon’t want to grow old alone," McColhma told The Repository for a story published Sundav."They’reputtingthemselvesoutthere, but they don’t know enough, or they’re not able to talk about condoms. It puts them at a real disadvantage." Around the world, an estimated 85,000 women, middle-age and older, have been Women’s Corldo[~ infected with HIV. McCollum has had young women come for HIV testing who want her to talk to their mothers about NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A condom for risky sexual behavior. women that never quite caught on in the KimJackson, spekeswomanfortheOhio United States is being studied to see if AIDS Coalition, said that while her group reusing it can make it more economical does not offer educational programs speand help fight AIDS in developing couneifieally targeting seniors, older people do tries. The United Nations AIDS program participate. "We have a general education has been distributing the Reality Female program for people of all ages," Jackson Condom to women in areas such as subsaid. "We are seeing more people that age Saharan Africa, which has been-devasattending our programs. We had several tated by AIDS. people in their 70s at our last program." The key to providing female condoms, Bonnie Bolitho, executive director of which retail for $2 to $3 apiece, to poor " Planned Parenthood of Stark County, said women is making them affordable, said ; many older people have the incorrect idea Dr. Susan A. Ballagh, the clinical trial’s thatHIV-AIDS is a "homosexual" disprincipal investigator~ ..-~ :. ~ ; :;~ .ease~ ~ thatit aff~ts O~[y yo~mgtpeople. ~;- -TheChicago-based F.emal¢ H~alth Com~ i :. "rl~ere ~. s tl~ts e~e~ that :~It-cot~’ ’~t~pen’ " to pan~,theproduct’ssolemannfaclurer, sells ~ me,"’ she said. "You’re talking about of the condoms to international family plan- ¯ group of people who have been monoganing agencies for as little as 70 cents a , mous for most of their lives. Now, they’re piece. ; at a different stage of life. Some haven’t But women’s condoms could be even ¯ put a lot of thought into how it (HIV) more economical if they were reused. Re- ¯ affects them." searchers at Eastern Virginia Medical " According to Bolitho, "It’s the age-old, School arerecntiting 80 couples to test the ; overarchiugproblemoftalkingaboutsexu_ condoms. Half the couples will use the ¯ ality, and it’s plain old-fashioned denial. condom once. The other couples each will ; Denial is one of our great enemies." use a single condom five times over 15 ~ May Help HIV Fight Oklaiaorna NAI,L.\I... covdia!iv ~.t~,v~v~ v,ott to a chocolate and champa~r~~ ~ete in support of abortion and reprt~d~ctive rights in Oklahoma : ¯ : ." ¯ " " ¯ " �by Jim Christjohn, entertaiment editor ] child out once in a while. I wasn’t expectHey folks, welcome to the time of the ¯ ing a great movie, but it surprised me. The year when we celebrate the fact that the " filmis well acted - hard to find in a movie starting children; Indians helped the well written; and li...We saw pilgrims onlyto be superbly filmed. thanked with And it had some"The Little Vampire." slaughter and rething for everyone moval from ancesOK, now stop laughing. - it didn’t "talk tral lands. Go down" to kids, nor America! It’s good to let the inner did it avoid being The first thanksfunny in an adult giving was basichild out once in a while. way. cally a four day celThe film is ebration/party I wasn’t expeetlng a great ’~’:~-m~bout a young wherein the Native movie, but it surprised me. American boy who Americans promoves to England vided the food, fun, The film is well acted due to his father’s and games. It rebusiness. HE’s ally wasn’t about hard to find in a movie miserable,being an religion at all, as the outsider - and lore surrounding it starring children; picked on at school, wouldhave youbein particular by two well written; lieve. Anditwasn’t twins. It certainly too long after that brought back s ome whentheEuropean memories in that invaders started respect. I knew a pair of twins who were getting a bit greedy for the profits land the scourge of Hurst Junior high, and it conld bring from new immigrants, and so, was kind of like watching a flashback in the name of- God, "took" the land from except with better accents. Anyway, our the Natives. Oh, and there was a religious hero has a fixation with men in capes aspect to it, once the "pilgrims" figured sound familiar? (Hint: Read last month’s out how to work the land from the Natives column.) and didn’t need them anymore..,,It was And Io and behold, he meets a boy either convert or die for the heathen Navampire, and they form a close friendship. fives. Ah, the things the don’t tell you in This results in many misadventures, inschool - or church. cluding foiling a would be vampire hunter On to more cheerier thoughts - I drug and the aforementioned bullies. I highly my curmudgeonly editor to a film recently. recommend seeing this film, because it’s a (Well, OK, he wanted to go, too, and fun ride, entertaining, while putting forth hasn’t been terribly curmudgeonly lately.) some good-thoughts. A lot of care andlove We saw "The Little Vampire." OK, now went into this film, and it shows. stop laughing. It’s good to let the inner and superbly filmed... " Tmditionalists,ofcourse, abhor that each " Choralewillperform.AndonDec.9,there year December holidays begin earlier and " will be a gala dinner in the Great Hall, earlier. Christmas in September isincreas- ¯ Chaired by friends to the community, Catherine Seger ingly a reality. and Hillary Kitz. But one of the And of course, lolocal traditions cal A-listers, which we don’t Talmadge Po-well mind seeing early and Steve Wright nearly so much is are helping out by Philbrook chairing the Patron Museum’s annual and Party holiday celebration Treeview. and exhibition, The featured artHome for the Holiist for Home for the days. The event Holidays is Lisa kicks off with the Regan of the GarFestival of Trees. denDeva Sculpture T,he ~Fe~sfival Co. Regan, whose tures trees, work is seen wreaths, and more through out Tulsa’ s by local artists, degardens, has been signers and school shown in Better children. The event Homes and Garis chaired by Lou dens, shows her Hodgson and cawork at Mayfest. terer Mark Lackey Her commemorative ornament, shown is artist liaison. At the museum members’ opening on " above, .is an aluminum tree with bead Dec. 2 at noon, the Council Oak Men’s ¯ accents. GIFTS OF THE S£ASON! COUNCIL OAK MEN’S CHORALE ALL SOULS UNITARIAN �E[ecUon Day, Nov. 7 Who Will Pick the NEW SUPREHES? by Tom Neal, editor/publisher Although the National Conference for Community and Justice claims to be an anti-hate group, for at least the last 4-5 years this anti-bias organi~tion has activdy discriminated against Gay & Lesbian Tulsans as well as failing to speak out when Gay & Lesbian Tulsans were targets of physical violence as well as recipients of legislative and other attacks on their civil rights. At their Trialogue on Marriage, hosted by Boston Avenue Methodist Church (a church which has been host to several events at which Lesbian and Gay Tuls’ans were attacked or excluded), Trialogue organizer Mr. Levson, then cantor of Temple Israel, stated that JOI g 0 Decisions we make at the ballot box will resonate for decades, including the make-up of the Supreme Court. Our choice: continue the path of progress or take a sharp U-turn back to the anti-glbt politics of the ’80s. We need your voice for our jobs, for our families, for our lives. II B HATE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN COME OUT VOTING ¯ www.hrc.org Tuesday, November 7 Election Day HRC WATCH PARTY Because win or lose, it’s good to be among friends 9 PM 3340 South Peoria, Tulsa, OK Must be 21 Cash Bar HRC envisions an America where lesbian and gay people are ensured of their basic equal rights. You can help us do our work by joining us for either or :both of ~the:se~ ev~t..s~ (or by jgining ~HRC - ’ ii~’~ !j~ :i~3-" ~i ~li !~8~[2913 ;r emaii hrctulsaoHahoma@ aol.com). HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN~ he and other NCCJ organizers deliberately excluded same gender mamage from discussionbecauseit would have been"too controversial." This was done despite the facts that the issue could not have been more prominent in public discussion because of court cases in Hawaii, and even though the issue is still in debate in many Christian denominations and in several Jewish organizations. NCCJ has repeated been asked to reform their actions: to add openly Gay or Lesbian persons to their board of directors, to speak out on legislative issues, to live what they say they are about. To date, they have refused to do so, preferring to raise substantial sums from Tulsa "society" events such as honoring Bob Lorton, owner of The Tulsa World for his "human rights" work despite the fact that The World for at least 15 years had documented antiGay business practices which they publicly defended and despite The Wordls acknowledgement of racist hiring practices in their newsroom in response to an EEOC complaint. Some Gay community observers, however, wonder how it is that the hate groups, like the KKK, don’t manage to forget Lesbians and Gay men including them in their hate rhetoric, but the folks who supposedly are "allies" manage only to hear the KKK’s racist and anti-Sem~itic comments. Groups who endorsed the "Statement in Support of Diversity" include a number who have been supportive of Lesbians and Gay men. These include: Community of Hope, All Souls, Hope and Community Unitarians, Fellowship Congregatxonal ¯ Church- UCC, Jewish Federation of Tulsa and even the Metropolitan Community ¯ Church United (MCC). Calls to All Souls, MCC-United, and Fellowship Congrega¯ tional were not returned. Perry Simons, ¯ executive director of Jewish Federation ¯ said that organization does not discrimi: hate on sexual orientation. ¯ In contrast, Father Rick Hollingsworth, ¯ oftheParishChurchofSaintJeromewrote ¯ a letter in protest of the the "Statement in ¯ Support of Diversity" ¯ In it, he notes that, "The Parish Church ,¯ of St Jerome is certainly in support of celebrating and supporting the wonderful ¯ diversity, which surrounds us in our beau" tiful city... I am concerned however that ¯ the statement on diversity see TMM, p. 10 �Timothy W. Daniel homophobic District Attorney, Harley Name Games by Michael Craft Kaiser, and a New Age feminist, Miriam Reviewed by Barry Hensley Westerman, who is somehow convinced Tulsa City-County Library that Gay pom"hurts women." Add to this, It takes a speci~ talent to pull off a the nephew, Thad, trying out for the school murder mystery novel and one of the better play and Mark’s lover, Gay mystery series, Mark Nell, who is trying to deManning mysteries by "...Anthropologist cide whether to move his Michael Craft, has a clever architectural practice to the new entry, Name Games. Sherry Ortner, small town from Chicago. Delving into an unlikely drawing on the When Cantrell (who has topic, the world of miniaman3, health problems) is .tures, Craft has created a French feminist discovered murdered, the fun, although not particuexhibitionis turned upside larly suspenseful mystery. Simone Beauvolr, down and things really get Set in rural Wisconsin, once proposed that uncomfortable when the main character Mark Manning is now the publisher of ’Man is to CultUre as Sheriff becomes the primary suspect. Manning, the local newspaper and Woman is to aided by his sleuths at the leading a very open and out life with a longlime part- Nature.’ Ortner was newspaper, set out to clear the Sheriff. ner, while raising a neThe characters in Name seeking a reason for glected nephew. The big Games are nicely drawn, news in town is the upcomwhy, almost everyif a bit stereotypical ]]ae ing Midwest Miniatures Society Exhibition, which where, people value town, Dumont, is remarkably (and a bit unrealistiattracts enthusiasts worldwhat men do more cally) progressive and unwide. Two of the most prominent figures in this than they value what concerned about the iGay influence~ of Manning and little underworld, Carroll his cohorts. (Could there Cantrell and Bruno women do.. ¯ " really be a town like this in Herisson , who happen to today’s America?) be arch rivals, are being The obligatory sex scenes are really just flown in. Grace Lord, a sweet little old lady,is hosting and coordinating the ev~nt. ¯¯ uninspired dream sequences, and leave a little too much to the imagination. The The Sheriff, Doug Pierce, a closeted Gay ¯ mystery is a fun and exciting ride, but it is man, is in the midst of a reelection bid while dealing with a pornography trial ¯¯ certainly nothing special. In fact, this novice mystery reader managed to figure involving "dirty book stores" on the edge of town. The trial is being pushed by the ] our whodunit long before the end of the ¯ for Human Rights (TOHR) said that the lack of inclusiveness raised concerns and ~ would likely be addressed in upcoming : organizational meetings for a formal response. is not as broad as it should be. This is evidenced I believe by the omission of : Sexual Orientation as part of that diversity : in the statement. Gay and Lesbian persons are an integral and love diversity. We have many relipart of Tulsa’s rich diversity which When joined together with other forms of diver- ¯ gions, many nationalities, many cultures sity create community. When Rabbi Marc ¯ here, and we’re taught to respect them. When the hell ~s someone going to respect Fitzerman was speaking this last Sunday ¯ us for our diversity? If you want to do at the rededication, He was very dear, ’Those who hate Jews, usually hate Catho- :¯ something to help, there’s a number to call, and an ever popular website to visit. lics, Those who hate Catholics usually ¯ It’s the Human Rights Campaign Foundahate Gay and Lesbian people...’ ¯ As a Pastor of a Parish which primarily ¯ uon, 800-498-0382, or www.hrc.org. When we stand up and show people that serves the Gay and Lesbian community ¯ we do exist, especially in great numbers, and as a religious leader who is openly ¯ then things are going to happen. Or, as Gay, I am unable to sign the document ¯ Melissa Etheridge said, "when you free without the inclusion of Sexual Orientauon as-part Of that .,diu~si.ty..._,: i ¯ " your mind, a rockin’ jam will follow." If Our people have~J~en, the Unfox~:unate .:, we can each one of us find one person, or victims of bigotry, prejudice and hate ¯ child, to reach, then we’ve taken the first crimes for centuries, including the holo- ¯¯ steps in stopping fascism. Hitler ended up caust. To not speak openly about these ¯ in a bunker, having shot his wife and sticking the guninhis mouthbefore shootissues promotes the silence, which has imprisoned Gay and Lesbian children of " ing. I think many Other fascists (read ¯ fundamentalists) forget that fact. Hatred God for far too long." ¯ Father Hollingsworth toldTulsa Family ¯ turns inward, but not before the hater has devastatingly hurt others. Something that News that he read his letter to his congre¯ shouldbetaughtinEVERY SundaySchool gation and that the response has been over-" class. And please remember one thing: whelmingly supportive of his position. Greg Gatewood of Tulsa Oklahomans : VOTE!!!!!!! Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appoinlments are available. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Support Group is here:f0r yotJ!:~’ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ " ~’~’~.~" ~-’-" Evening support group meetings Relationship workshops Short trips, outings and retreats Free HlVtesting For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project 918.588.1900, x4275 or x4276 �-International Fresh Start Seeking men & women to help with expansion in the area. Must be independent, goal-oriented, have a great attitude and excellent people skills. Call 663:5323. Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236,~ues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm - College Hill Presbyterian Church ody TI- ,ll Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing In response to God’s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a commtmity of God’s people called to tell others the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, servzce, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living, loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voi~ for peace and justice. Our congregation.welcomes all persons who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Christ’s church. M~a~~s!~.9~ ~-:,Opt: ~-.~i!...~9,Pl..~. regardless of race, .ethnic origin, worldly condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. Sunday Worship. 1 lam 712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) by Karin Gregory all the people their relatives hfite." Many "Man Shot in Local Gay Bar", "Teenof them, of course, in the name of Jesus. ager Assaulted Because Suspects Believed Stealing a line from an old Woody Allen Him Gay","’We Don’ t Have Hate Crimes movie,"if Jesus came down and saw what in Brown County’". was going on in his name, he’d never stop Seems everywhere you look now, there throwing up." are hate crimes against the G/L/B/T comIf you’ve read my columns from the ~’munity, or-alleged hate beginning (and I thank "!crimes~ or people denying -"...Bach in those days, BOTH of you, by the way!), ;hate crimes exist. There you know I’m a fledgling, we didn’t have hate are even those very few Who coming out only after evdeny homosexuality exis ts, crimes. Well, we did, but eryone else has not only we didn’t call them that. and I believe our Dishonblazed the trail for me, but orable George W. Bush to made that trail a four lane Boys who were Gay just be among them (I don’ t ~ ve highway! So no, I’ve had to be beaten up and up a chance to let you all NEVER experienced what take it "llke a man", or know you MUST vote Nomost of you have in your vember 7). they had to develop those "out" lives. I still think I Interesting news about can walk hand in hand with queen-llke attitudes of the teenager. Not that it a woman in public, or kiss death that would scare doesn’t happen at every her on a residential street .school, but the school any quarterback into his in Dallas (and have!), and where this took place is the not receive any flack from tiny, homophoble, same one from which our it. But I taught public neanderthal area of his disti9,guished arts and enschool for eight years, ten body eafled a mind .... " tertainment editor .graduyears too many, and I know ated. Back in those days, what kids say to each other, we didn’t have hate crimes. Wall, we did, not caring that their words hurt. More but we didn’t call them that. Boys who importantly, I’ve heard teachers and other were Gay just had to be beaten up and take school staff go on the attack against gays, it "like a man", or they had to develop saying that the Bible doesn’t condone it. those queen-like attitudes of death that We’ve had this discussion before, but I would scare any quarterback into his tiny, just want to let you know that your chilhomophobic, neanderthal area of his body dren may be being taught by ahomophobic called a mind. teacher. And believe me, teachers still do One of my friends, the one who thinks have influence on children. So children we’re all going to hell, says all Crimes like are taught to hate another child because murder, assault, rape, etc. are hate crimes. that child may be different. Obviously, if I disagree. There are certainly crimes of I can look through a gay newspaper and passion. There are premeditated crimes. pick out,just by going through one quarter There are even assaults with deadly weapof it, three separate stories on hate crimes, ons with intent to kill. But they are for a there’s a problem. One that needs to be purpose - to either get rid of someone so addressed. Well, it’s been addressed, but disturbing to you (like a wife, husband, many ar~ turning their heads. While crime mother-in-law), or to get money to buy is rampant on the streets, and hate crimes drugs, cigarettes, or "fabulous" outfits. against the G/L/B/T community has skyThe people committing these crimes may rocketed, the legislature still cools its heels hate the person AT THAT TIME, but not over this issue. always. In other words, the criminals It shouldn’t have to take television to aren’t their own self-proclaimed Adoif fire me up, but watching highlights from Hitlers, who have decided to take all logic the "Equality Rocks" concert on VH- 1 did and reason and bury them, sending us back it for me. During the evening, the parents into the Dark Ages. But there ARE people of several hate crime victims, Matthew who are self-proclaimed Hirers, whether Shepard’s parents and James Byrd’s parthey want to believe it or not, spreading ents among them, gave a small speech that NOT the words of Jesus, but the words of had the more than 45,000 audience crying hate to a nation. openly. Then Melissa Etheridge, herself Maybe they weren’t the ones who beat not able to contain tears, sang her song up Matthew Shepard and left him to die, or about. Matthew Shepard, "Scarecrow." the ones who had a direct hand in James How can people, after watching that, Byrd’s death, or the people who raped still believe that these boys should have Brandon Teena, only to shoot him to death died? How can anyone hate a group of repeatedly, later. But they had a hand in people just because they .are different? each one of these deaths. For eachone How can they facethemselve~in themom- *. you-reading:this..fight now, there are at ing,-knowin~ thav they~ce*contril~me~.., in least 20 (at least in Texas and Oklahoma) ANY way, to these deaths? How many ignorant people who believe that homotimes can we turn away and do nothing? sexuality isn’t something you’re born with. We have a revolution going on in this That you can change if you want to. That country. Most people don’t want to beyou’ve chosen to be laughed at, beaten up, lieve it. They’d rather dose their doors. fired from your job, ostracized from your Hell, so would I, but I can see the revolufamilies. These are the people who have tion coming even stronger than before. raised the suspects in the above headlines. .The one consistent thing thatI was taught They’ve "carefully taught" their children m school about the United States is that we to, as the "South Pacific" song goes, "hate are a melting pot see Lesbian, p.lO �Healing VROJECT AIDS Memorial ~.uilt ~ wareness" World AIDS Day Candlelight Memorial March Friday, December 1st, 6:30pm Tulsa Civic Center Plaza, 5th & Denver The NAMES Project Quilt Opening, 8pm This advertisement is donated by Tulsa Family News. TFN appreciates the opportunity to support this showing of the Quilt, and The NAMES Project. � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Deputy Police Chief To Speak At TOHR, Nov. 14 TULSA (TFN) - Tulsa Deputy Chief of Police Bobby L. Busby will be the featured speaker at the Nov. meeting of Tulsa Oldahomans for Human Rights (TOHR) at the Gay Community Services Center at 21st &Memorial.The meeting begins at 7:30pm. Topics for discussion with the ChiefBusby will include expanding Tulsa’s "diversity" training for new police recruits and for in-service training to include sexual orientation as wall as rate and etlmicity. Also on the agenda will be discussion of recent police visits to local Gay and Lesbian_nightclubs. All are invited to attend. TOHR will also hold a new volunteer orientation on Nov. 9th at 7pm at the Center. Center organizers also held an openhouse for thenew facility in October. They note that about 80 people attended the event including a substantial number of visitors in town for a leather event. TOHR also hosted a Feastfor,~riends dinner with raised over $1,000 for The NAMES Project. Hate In Vermont BROOKFIELD, Vt. (AP) - Mark Hackett was thunderstruck when he looked at the fence facing property he owns on Vermont Route 14. "Exaente the Fag," it declared, its message clear despite the misspelling. Hackett, who is Gay, rents the property to two families, one of whom has been feuding with the property owner next door on whose fence the hate message was spray-painted. Although Hackett as landlord has been only peripherallyinvolved in the neighborhood dispute, its message was obvious to him. "It’s clearly there for me to see.., the message to my tenant was,’ Seehow yourlandlordlikes that,’ "Hackett said. "I just think the ’Take Back Vermont’ message is making it OK to say stuff like that. I don’t have a problem with people voting Democratic or Republican or supporting any candidate they want... But you start seeing that stuff around the state and it’s not about politics, it’s about hate." And it is happening more and more around Vermont in this heated and polarized campaign season. In Burlington, the Outright Vermont office has taken to locking its doors and taking other security precautions after two differentmen walked into the office on Oct. 13 and threatened to kill a staff member. "The first one basically asked her what she was going to do to eliminate herself, then told her if she didn’t eliminate hersdf he would," see Vermont, l~. 2 DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 ¯ Servin Lesbian Ga Bisexual + Transg~n~er_ed ~ul__Fa~s_, ~r Fa~ili~.~ Friends : Gays Excluded From i Tulsa’s "Diversity" ¯ Metropolitan Ministry Lauds Local Mix : But Sees On!y Race, Religion + Ethnicity ¯ NEWS ANALYSIS ~- When is "diversity" not diverse? Only in ¯ Tulsa where "do-gooder" organizations, like Tulsa Metropolitan ¯ Ministry (TMM), the National Conference on Community and ¯ Justice (NCCJ), and others can sin~ the praises of interfaith ¯ tolerance andunderstandingwhile excluding or ignoringLesbian ¯ and Gay Tulsans, regardless of faith. In this case,TMMissued a"Statement in Support ofDiversity" ¯ which defines diversity only in terms of race, ethnicity and ¯ religion. TMM’s newexecutive director theRev. StephenCranford ¯ stated that he did not know if the omission was deliberate. However, TMM staff said that the text of the statement was written by TMM board president, Dr. Sandra Rana, who is a leader in Tulsa’s Islamic community. Members of Tulsa’s Is- " lamic community have made hostile remarks towards Gays on ¯ several occasions, most recently when a Muslim representative ¯ at a NCCJ Trialogue on Marriage said that his society would ¯ murder any Gay men who attempted to marry each other. Dr. ’ Rana did not respond to messages left about the "Statement in ¯ Support of Diversity". TMMhas a history of mostly ignoring Lesbian and Gay issues ¯ with one notable exception: the support of an amendment to ¯ Oklahoma’s hate crimes statute whichTulsa Representative Don : Ross introduced in the legislative session prior to last year’s. ¯ Radford Rader, pastor ofCollegeHill Presbyterian Church, an ¯ officially welcoming congregation of Lesbians and Gay men and ¯ member of the TMM executive board, responded that the state- " ment was meant to address racial and ethnic diversity because of ¯ the coming of the KKK. It was written right before the incident ¯ ¯ at the Jewish cemetery. Rader stated that he did not feel that the exclusion was deliberate. see TMM, p. 9 ¯ Gay Grandmothers Just Want to See Grandkids TULSA (TFN) - It’s a sad story when families get caught up in ¯ homophobia and prejudice. It’s common when couples separate after one or the other parent realizes that they are Lesbian or Gay. ¯ And when thelegal systemgets involved, often the Gay parent ¯ loses, though around the US and evenin Oklahoma, courts cases ." are holding that Lesbians or Gay men are not ipso facto bad ¯ parents. But when grandparents are involved, it’s even more ¯ difficult because the law defers almost completely to parents. ¯ That’s where two Tulsa women, Julene and Schrie, find ¯ themselves. Both were once married to men and have children ¯ fromthose relationships. ¯ Some of those kids have no problem with their Lesbian moms. ¯ And one of them didn’t have a problem with them, when she ¯ needed free babysitting and before she was married to a man ¯ who’s areligious fundamentalists. Now the daughter and the son- ¯ in-law who says he’s the head of the house find that "it’s in the ¯ best interest of the kids" that the kids not see their grandmother ¯ or her partner who’s just as close. ¯ Legal experts hold out little hope, and even if there were ¯ grounds for a court case, judges andjuries in Oklahoma are often ¯ .not sympathetic. But this does not deter friends of the women ¯ ¯ who praise them for their kindness and support to their friends and employees when they find themselves in need. ¯ The women own a local dub out on Garnett which while it is not a Lesbian or Gay oriented venue has patron who are remark- " able supportive of the pair. ¯ Bar employee, Tummy Peevyhouse, was particularly outspo- ¯ ken in her concern for her friends and employers, as was also a ¯ bar patron, Tommy Clown. Frustrated by the limitations offered by the legal system, Peevyhouse’s response was if the law allows ¯ this [situation], then the law needs to be changed. ¯ Meanwhile, the grandmothers just wait and have faith that as ¯ their grandsons reach legal maturity, they will reassert them- " selves and come to see them on their own. HEAR the Quilt World AIDS Day- Dec, 1 ¯ Council Oak Men’s Chorale Benefit ¯ TULSA-The fifth andlargestdisplay ofTheNAMES Project will behddat tbeTulsa Conventi,o,.n Centeron ¯ on December 1 - 3. The event entitled, HEAR The Quilt" will open with student tours during daytime ¯ hours on World AIDS Day, Friday, December 1. The opening ceremonies for the general public for ¯ "HEAR The Quilt" will be proceeded by the tradi- ] tionalWorldAIDS Day candlelightmarch.Themarch ¯ will begin at the Courthouse Plazajust west of 5th and ¯ Denver at 6:30, Friday evening.Marchers are encour- ¯ aged to bring organizational banners andbells; candles ¯ will be provided. Parking is available at the Conven¯ tion Center garage. The march will follow a short ¯ route through downtown Tulsa and will return to the convention center for the Quilt’s opening at 8pro. This display of the Quilt will feature 188 sections ¯ of the Quilt, each twelvefeet square. The display will , be free and open to the public. Organizers note that ¯ the Quilt has the power to teach, to touch hearts, and ¯ to change minds. In conjunction with the "HEAR The Quilt" Dis- " play, the Council Oak Men’s Chorale under the ¯ direction of Rick Fortner will perform at Hope Uni- ¯ tarian Church, 8432 South Sheridan Road, Tulsa on : Saturday evening,December2 atT:30pm. Admission ¯ is free, with a suggested $10 donation. Proceeds will ¯ benefit the NAMES Project Tulsa Area Chapter. There also. will be an interfaith worship service (coordinated by Reverend Cathy Elliott, pastor of MCC United Church) to be held at the Quilt display ¯ on Sunday, Dec. 3at 9:30am. ¯ For more information, call (918) 748-3111 or send e-mail to info@TulsaQuilt.org ¯ Maine To Vote Again On Gay Civi,I Rights ¯ HALLOWELL, Maine (AP) - Maine’s latest refer- " endum on civil fights for Gay citizens resurrects ¯ familiar arguments on both sides, but this time propo- ¯ nents have polished the proposal and picked up a ¯ potentially influential ally. In wirming support from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, backers have sought to buttress an exemption for religious ¯ institutions. They have also sought to counter claims ¯ that the measure would award anything special or ¯ endorse specific sexual behavior. Last time around, the Catholic church sat out the ¯ dection debate, saying it could not support a law ¯ enacted by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Angus ¯ .King because of ambiguities in its language. The ¯ enacted measure was repealed in February 1998 ¯ before it ever took effect by a rare "people’s veto" ¯ referendum vote. The outcomein that special election : was 51% for repeal and 49% against. ~ This time, with numerous other matters on state ¯ ballots expected to produce a bigger voter turnout, ¯ approval of Question 6 would again expand the ¯ Maine Human Rights Act. The proposal would in- " dude the category of"sexual orientation" in a list of ¯ groups protected against discrimination in the areas ¯ of employment, housing or access to public accom- ¯ modations and the extension of credit. The new version, however, approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor in April, is more limited than the repealed law. "We’ve repeatedly said work needs to be done to clean up the language," says Catholic diocesan spokesman Marc Mutty. "And we did that." Besides the religious exemption, the new version specifies thatno change in affirmative action requirements is intended and see Maine, p.3 Tulsa~Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 744-4280 745-9998 *The Star, 1565 Shelida~, 834-4234 ~ *Renegades/Rainbow Room, i649 S~. M~in 585,3405 *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial §~920836 *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd ~ 1584-1308 *The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 Body Piercing by Nieole, 2722 E. 15 *Border~ Books & Music, 2740 E.21 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. llth Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 743-1000 250-5034 665-4580 712-1122 712-9955 494-2665 743 -5272 746-0313 295-5868 581-0902, 743-4117 622-0700 749-3620 744-5556 838-8503 369-8555 712-9379 592-0460 744-9595 610-0880 628-3709 808-8026 742-1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 712-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 664-2951 838-7626 743-4297 747-5932 834-0617 834-7921, 747-4746 749-6301 260-7829 481-0558 835-5563 743-1733 665-2222 592-0767 *Deco to Disco; 3212 E. 151h Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 551h P1. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planniug Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. Skelly *International Tours Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 151h *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store Rainbowz on the River B+B,POB 696, 74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square PaulTay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling *Wherehouse Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 FOB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159. e-mail: TulsaNews@earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + eontributom: James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche. Lament Lindstrom. Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw Mem~ber of The Associated Press.. ~ _ ~ ~ , Issued 0ffor,befot~ th6 1 ~t of~ each month,~entire contents Of this publicatioxi are protected by US 6opyright 1998 by To/.~/:k~,,~ N~and may not be~ptoduce~ eitherin whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’s sexual orientation. ~orrespondence is assumed to be for "pi~blication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of TM-€~/c¢,,,,~... Nv~,. Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. ¯ *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & ¯ Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 ¯ *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 ¯ *Free SpiritWomen’s Center, call for location&info: 587-4669 ¯ Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 ¯ Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd, 583-6611 ¯ *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834-4194 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education 834-8378 ¯ *HouseoftheHoly SpiritMinstries,1517 S. Memorial 224-4754 ¯ *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 ¯ NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 748-3111 ¯ NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 ¯ OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 74157 ¯ *OSU-Tulsa ¯ PFLAG, POB 52800, 74152 749-4901 ¯ *Planned Parenthood, 1007 S. Peoria 587-7674 ¯ Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 ¯ R.A:I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 ¯ *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 584-2325 : St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 ¯ St. Dtmstan’,s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 492-7140 ¯ *St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 ¯ *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 ~ Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 595-4105 ¯ Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only ¯ Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c!o The Pride Center 743-4297 : T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 ¯ *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule ; *Tulsa Community College Campuses ¯ *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 21st & Memorial 743-4297 ¯ Unity Church ofChristianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 .. BARTLESVILLE ¯ Barflesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 ¯ TAHLEQUAH : Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 ¯ Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 ¯ Green Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-936~3 ¯ EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS www.gaytulsa~.org - website for Tulsa Gays & Lesbians : Autumn Br~,eeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734 T,,t~ ^~-~.A~=~~ Cha;-bh~i; ~:chOOIS&~. Universities "- Jim &Brent s Bistro 173 S. Main 501-253~7457 A!~r~ ~Xrr~t+~,~~r~tT~ 7’h~:~ [-’ ~ ’~ ~ ~ :~ "~~-95~....~eVito~s’R~S~L -5 Ce~ter~ St.’’ t. ~ ..... ,. ,: 1, ~ ~,1-~53~ ~1 So~sU~Ch~ch, 2952 S. Peofia 743-2363 : ¯~dR~nbow, 45 ~!~ Spnng ’St: .....5.01.2.5.3 ~5 Black & ~te, ~c. ~B 1~01, T~sa 74159 5~-7314 ¯ MCC of ~e ~ving Spring 501-253-9337 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 B/.L/G/T-Alliance, Univ, of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood *Community of Hope Church, 2545 S. Yale *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation Council Oak Men’s Chorale *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 583-7815 583-9780 585-1201 & Florence 587-1314 747-6300 749-0595 748-3888 712-1511 Geek to Go!, PC Specialist, POB 429 501-253~2776 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 Positive Idea Marketing Plans ....... 501-624-6646 Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074 JOPLIN, MISSOURI Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 * is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. said Keith Elston, executive director of the group dedicated to Gay and Lesbian youth. "The other one was much more blunt that he was going to ’kill fags.’ " Burlington police are investigating the incidents, but there have beenno arrests and cOauretffUiglhatbVoeurtmtro~nntgh.at9s pbregcvoidme~e .msauf.ec.hty mt°oir.tes staff, volunteers and especially its clients. From tasteless bumper stickers to graffiti on highway pavement, it’s apparently become socially acceptable in the political climate of 2000 to use derogatory terms for Gays and Lesbians that once were considered epithets. There have been scattered but persistent reports at schools across the state about anti-Gay incidents and harassment. On the pavement of the road approaching the Champlain Bridge near Fort~i~conderoga inNew Yorksomeonerecently spray-painted in large white letters "FAGS," with arrows pointing over the bridge into Vermont. "How much more explicit can you be about creating an aura of fear for day-to-day life?" said Lynne Bond, a psychology professor at the University of Vermont who has studied Gay and Lesbian issues. Vermont’s new civil unions law, granting most of the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples, clearly has prompted a broad public discussion about the lives of Gays and Lesbians. There are deeply held beliefs about the morality - or some would say immorality - of homosexuality. But before the civil unions debate, those beliefs were rarely expressed in langnage that’s so offensive to Gays and Lesbians. "It seems to me that some people, have broken out of the social constraints of civility that I think people were honoring during thelegislativeprocess," said BethRobinson, the Middlebury attorney who argued the lawsuit that led to civil unions. People who oppose civil unions say they’ve been unfairly maligned becausejust they don’t agree with the law. They complain that they’ve been described as bigots, hate-mongerers and homophobes. They say that their ’Take Back Vermont’ signs and other political placards havebeen knocked over, defaced with Gay symbols and stolen. "I think there have been ugly incidents on both sides," Republican gubernatorial candidate Ruth Dwyersaid atadebatein Lyndon Center last week. Still, it once was eousidered ill-mannered at best to use such terms as fag and dyke aad queer in civil conversation. The anger over civil unions appears to have erased that unwritten rule in Vermont, at least for the time being. And that makes many Gay and Lesbian Vermonters feel as if they’re under attack, even if it’s a small minority of civil union opponents who:are behind the hate. ~ : ~ ~P~@I’O~6*~[re~, frimtrated lthat 1 didn-t~get ~d~* ~ivil ~iOrls bill killed Legislature, some of them have taken it. upon themselves to link an ominous, mystical Gay agenda to the civil union bill," - Elston.said. ’,’They’ve.been-falsely suggest~ ing that there s something in the civil unions bill that requires the teaching of homosexuality in schools. They’ve been foolishly suggesting that Outfight teaches homosexuality in the schools, that we’re distributing pornography." see Vermont, p.3 World Watch: News Not Covered in Our Daily by Tom Neal, editor/gadfly/publisher It’s old fashioned to place as much import on a daily newspaper but then as a newspaper publisher and editor of now seven years, I am somewhat committed to the concept. Unlike the internet, radio and television, those more ephemeral of media, the printed word, even on acid filled newsprint leaves a legacy, a picture of where we are and where we were, in a way that is more accessible and probably more permanent. This new and irregularly published column, like much ofthis newspaper’s coverage, intends to bring to attention things which otherwise might not get addressed. Andwhile our daily newspaper, The Tulsa Worldis not the worst newspaper in America, it does have some foibles, some journalistic lapses which stem from its parochial circumstances: a privately owned, smaller town paper with a historically greater emphasis on coverage of wealthy whites, rather than minority citizens and issues. It’s better than it used to be but... We are in the height of the United Way campaagn, and as in years past, The Tulsa World is a major supporter of TulsaAreaUnitedWay (TAUW). This is notintrinsically a bad thing. TAUW does do much good for many. But TAUW also funds organizations which engage in discnminatory practices and itself may discriminate. There are ongoing questions about the true percentage of funds which go to services rather than administration. Onemight think that The Wormwouldat least look into these issues. But year after year, The World’s coverage of United Way is a public relations flakmeister’s dream, with shamelesslypromotional stories aboutTAUWfunded agencies which nm during the United Way fundraising campaign. Canwedoubt thatifTAUWwere funding’~penly racist or anti-semitic agencies that The World would write about it? Despite claims of separation between the newsroom, and advertising and ownership, The Worm has a clear conflict of interest between its promotion of United Way and its commitment to good journalism. The World will change when they know that their readers like you andme find their practices unacceptable. Not to pickonJoe Worley, executive editor butultimately he’s responsible for the decision to coddle Tulsa Area United Way and its bad mannered (and in one case, clearly lncohapetent) management. Joe’s ntunber is published on page A-2 everyday. Let him know when The World’s doing a good job of covering Lesbian and Gay issues (overall, they’re doing better these days) but also let him know what’s not working too. ’In the current, embittered political atmosphere, it is difficult to counter such arguments. And so it feeds on itself and results in slogans that once would have been considered epithets being painted on a neighbor’s fence. Although it’s unpleasant for many Vermonters, regardless of their homosexuality, people who have been involved said they will continue speaking out. "You have to just keep on.telfing the truth, over and over again," El~n ~akl. !’Everyti~n~,thCy ~ylie~ ~a~bgut you,’yqq l~av¢ t~ exp0~e. ~em ~s [i~e~ on~!,Y0q ~aYq ~to ~t~lil,th~ .tnifl~ people hear that message." "They Don’t Want Civil Rights, They Want Special Rights" Early this morning, before I was really awake, or maybe late last night drowsing with the television on, the history channel was showing footage about the struggle Black Americans had to end legal segregation. This part ofrecent American history is a particular interest of mine but this was mostly things I’d heard or seen before. But then there was an image that caught my attention, one I’d never seen before. An old black and white image showed a white Southerner marching with a placard Saying, "They don’t want civil rights, they want SPECIAL rights!" And here I thought that particular carnard wg~ newly minted to mischaracterize the desire of Lesbian and Gay persons to live our lives relatively unmolested, with a some semblance of the same opportunities which non-Gay citizens enjoy. Perhaps I should not have been surprised. In the fight over whether Lesbian and Gay Americans should serve openly in defense of our country, almost word-for-word rhetoric was trotted out to oppose Gays as was used to oppose racial integration of the US military. Prejudice, like taxes and death, is, it seems, fundamental to the human condition, with Americans, like others, occasionally transcending our biases. After many shameful years of oppression, Americahas slowly set aside some of its racism. But different prejudices, seeing a void, have come forward. In response, we can do several things. Many simply seek to live their own lives, quietly, avoiding harassment as best as possible. Others speak out as best they can. But all who are citizens can vote, and after the election, can contact those who are supposed to be representing us. Of course, in Oklahoma, this is often an exercise in frustration. Our elected federal leaders are nearly all dedicated to attacking or restricting the rights of Lesbian-and Gay citizens - and their staff are usually rude and arrogant. But not to hold them accountable is to let them assume that all agree with their prejudice. Needless-to-say, in this election, if you are reading this before Nov. 7th, please consider the difference between the Republicans and the Democrats. As bad as the Democrats may be in Oklahoma, on a national level, that party has clearly talked and walked the talk. Positions for fair treatment of Lesbian and Gay citizens are in the Democratic platform and have been honored in action by the national party, not perfectly, but under Clinton and Gore, more than ever before. Bush and the Republicans may have moderated some of their anti-Gay, neo-nazi rhetoric (though not the Oklahoma party) but this is the party which brought us years of indifference to the HIV/AIDS crisis under Reagan, as well as a documented hostility to addressing anti-Gay hate crimes, let alone civil rights issues like employment, fair housing, military service, legal recognition, of our relationships and families, etc. It’s not that I especially like Gore, or that Bush isn’t an idiot, it’s just that given the choice, we have no choice. This guy will be making the next Supreme Court appointments. And decisions which have been crucial to our lives (like Bowers v. Hardwick which said that straight oral sex is constitutionally protected but the same act for Gays can be a felony crime, Dale v. the Boy Scouts of America, Colorado’s Amendment 2) have all been mostly narrowly decided cases. Another Scalia, or Clarence Thomas, the type of choices we’ve seen from Republican presidents, would not bode us well. Vote like your life depends on it- in many ways, it does. -Tom Neal, editor & pubisher that there would .be no. requirement for employers to provide benefits for the partners of Gay and Lesbian workers. "The diocese has never been opposed to any of the proposals," Mutty says. But he says changes this year not only made it possible for the church to sign on as an advocate, but were also aimed at making the measure acceptable to a majority of people statewide. Michael Heath of the Christian Civic League of Maine, a leader of one of the major groups opposing the measure, says the shift from neutrality to advocacy by the Catholic diocese was a major setback. The prospect of a busy balloting day is also a concern for opponents, he says. "If there’ s a big turnout of voters, then a lot of sort ofimpulsive voters are going to be there," Heath says, fretting that those unfamiliar with details of the proposal may not appreciate its impact. Heath says the morality of homosexuality remains central to the debate and that conferring rights with this proposal could lead to further Gay demands. "It lays the foundation for a lot of other things," Heath says. Observers on both sides suggest much of the Maine electorate appears-to have grown weary of the issue, which in one form or another has occupied debate on public policy for at least two decades. In 1992, the first local Gay fights law was passed by the Portland City Council. Three w.gr~s later, Maine~ vot.,¢,r~,~rejected a proposal to prevent municipal and other government bodies.in the state from passing laws barring anti-Gay discrimination. In 1997, after years of legislative warring, a state civil rights law was enacted. But just months later, the people’s veto vote forced by opponents repealed that. "It was very close the last time it went around. I know there’s been a lot of work on both sides," says bakery worker Sara Wagner in Hallowell. "I hope it passes." In a brief, streetside interview, Wagner said her awareness of discrimination facedby people sheknew ofmade the ballot questionmore than an abstract matter of principle. "It has real life implications," she said. Heath, in contrast, maintains the proponents’ claims of acturd discrimination are specious. "It’s obviously not widespread," he says. Earlier this month, in response tO an inquiry by one of the referendum bill’s leading legislative champions, Attorney General Andrew Ketterer advised that ~at least the threat of discrimination is real under existing statutes. "The federal and state law, as currently written and interpreted by the courts, do not prohibit the denial or termination of employment, the denial of credit, the denial of public acco~nmodation or the denial of housing because of sexual orientation," Ketterer wrote. The most recent campaign finance reports show that supporters from the Maine Coalition for Equal Rights, now known as YES on 6, reported donations of nearly $260,000 and expenditures of $240,000. The Christian Action League collected $37,500, but is also opposing proposals on video gambling and doctorassisted suicide. According to a recent poll by the Portland research firm Critical Insights Inc., respondents favored the referendum by 59% to 29%, with 11% undecided. Question 6 on Maine’s ballot asks: "Do you favor ratifying the action of the 119th Legislature whereby it passed an act extending to all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation the same basic rights to protection against discrimination now guaranteed to citizens on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in the areas of employment, housing, public~acco.ram~datipa~.a~d~cr~edi[ .and where th~ a~t expregs’ly~s~te~ confers legislative approval Of, or sp~,i~ d’gtig tb; any person or group of persons?" ¯ Okla. Reps. = Total Zeros : Not that it should come as any surprise to anyone, but ¯ the Human Rights Campaign, HRC, reports in their ¯¯ scorecard for the 106thCongress thatOklahoma’s Representatives and our Senators, Largent, Cobum, Watkins, ¯ Watts, Istook, Lucas, Nickles and Inhofe received total ¯ zeros on 10 questions about legislation of concern to Gay ¯ citizens. This is why voting matters, friends. - TFN Scouts Fire Gay Man SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - A Boy Scout executive was stripped of his Eagle Scout status and fired by the Boy Scouts of America National Council 10 days after he publicly admitted he is Gay, his attorney said. Len Lanzi, Boy Scouts Los Padres Council executive director, worked for the scouting organization 14 years before he was terminated by mail. "We plan to pursue all legal remedies available to him," said Lanzi’s attorney, Steven Serratori, whose Century City firm specializes in employment law "I think it’s fair to say that everybody is surprised at the arrogance of the Boy Scouts," Serratori said. "To think in this day and age that they think they can fire someone based on their sexual orientation..." A U.S. Supreme Court rnling last summer upholding the Boy Scouts" right to exclude Gay members does not apply to its employees, the lawyer said. Lanzi, whose territory includes Santa Barbara and SanLuis Obispo counties, is believed to be the highestranking Boy Scout executive to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality since the Supreme Court ruling in June. Los Padres Boy Scout boardmembers told the Santa Barbara News-Press their options were limited because of the national council’s policy on Gays. "We could contradict the national Boy Scout policy, and possibly risk the whole council being decommissioned, orwecan go along with firing him," said Karl Eberhard a member of the Los Padres Boy Scouts board. "I maintain that the whole thing is completely idiotic," he added. Neighbors Don’t Mind Alabama Ga " Nudists WAVERLY, Ala. (AP) -h grovel road winds through John Bales’ wilderness resort. It looks like any of the paths leading to huntinglodge_s wherecountless Southern men spend weekends this time of year. Then, you come to the sign: "Clothing optional area." This isn’t your ordinary, out-of-the-way spot in the woods of east Alabama. Bales owns Black Bear Camp, a 33-acre resort catering to Gay men who enjoy nature au naturel. Black Bear Camp isn’t for hunting. It’ s for socializing. The clientele tends to be Gay men best described as the rugged type: Many have beards and bellies and would rather sit around the lodge watching football on TV than go to a Gay bar. "Probably more than 50% of our customers are married or divorced with kids," Bales said. "’We don’t get the flamboyant type." There were rumblings when another clothing-optional campground for Gay men opened near the south Alabama town of Geneva a couple of years ago. A Lesbian-operated retreat where guests wear clothes, Camp Sister Spirit, drew heated protests in 1993 after opening in rural Mississippi. But Bales hasn’t heard any complaints from surrounding Lee County or nearby Waverly, a town of " h 160 people, many,of them elderly. I know my ne.l.g .- bors. They know I mGay, and they know I opened ttus place," he said. "There hasn’t been a problem with it." Many residents don’t know the camp exists: Bales doe’Sn’t adverd~ locally, and there are no signs indicatinglthat a dbfhing-opti0nal resort for Gays is just off busy U.S. 280. But people who do know about the camp don’t seem concerned about what’s going on in the woods north of Auburn. "If that’ s what turns them on, let ’em go on," said Waverly town clerk DeLene Cawley. "If I belonged to a nudist colony that’s where I’d want to be." A leader of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Alabama isn’t surprised by the lack of controversy. "As long as there’s no loud music and people keep to themselves I wouldn’t think people would have a problem with it," said David White. Bales, a 57-year-old math professor at Tuskegee University, didn’t set out to get into the clothingoptional resort business. He began buying land around Little Loblockee Creek in 1982 and began building 1ears later with plans for the camp to provide a source of income when he retires in 2009. There’s bunk space for 24 in the 3,600-square-foot lodge, whichhas a tin roof and all the comforts ofhome plus some: Internet access, satellite TV, a hot tub and an above-ground swimming pool with deck. Bales has had as many as 30 customers on a weekend, but the more typical crowd is six or seven. "It was not my original intention to be clothingoptional," he said. "But shortly after I opened, I began to get inquiries from clothing-optional groups asking whether that was allowed. "It didn’t take me long to realize that the remoteness and seclusion of the camp made than a natural option and a good niche market to enter." With prices ranging from $8 for daytmae guests to $40 a night for double occupancy bunks, Bales hopes to break even this year as far as operating costs go. He weeds out the occasional unannounced visitor just looking for a good time. "No one wants to come down here and have people who are looking at naked guys and propositioning them for sex," he said. "That will drive away my business.’" Journalist Group Calls For Partner Benefits COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Society of Professional Journalists approved a resolution calling for news organizations to provide benefits for domestic parmers of their Gay and Lesbian employees. . The measure was opposed by some SPJ members who said the professional organization should not get involved in employment matters such as benefits. Delegates approved the resolution by a margin of 85 to 36 at SPJ’s national convention. Sally Lehlman, SPJ’s diversity chair, said the resolution would ensure that Gay and Lesbian journalists are not treated "like second class citizens in the newsroom." "It’s not about employment from our perspecfive. It’ s about fairness and accuracy in content, which emerges in part from fairness in the newsroom," she said. Mark Scarp, an editorial writer for the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Tribune, and member of SPJ’s executive committee, said the group should follow its precedent of leaving employment issues up to unions. "I personally support domestic partner benefits but I believe it qualifies as an employer-employee relations issue," Scarp said. "We’re a professional association and I felt it wasn’t appropriate for us to make a determination on such an issue." A few years ago, SPJ comuussioned a survey on reporters’ salaries, but would not get into trying to persuade employers to improve pay, Scarp said. Gay Couple Get Abducted Child Back CATHEDRAL CITY, California (AP) - A 10-yearold boy abducted by his grandfather who accused the child’s caretakers of promoting a Gay lifestyle has been returned to the couple. Miguel Washington was surrendered to authorilies by relatives in Pennsylvania and returned to the home ofhis uncle, Paul Washington Jr., and Timothy Forrester. "Right now he’s really happy to be home," Washington Jr. said. "We’re absolutely elated. Our family is united again." An attorney for Paul Washington Sr. and Sandra Washington, Mignel’s grandparents and Washington Jr.’s parents, said his clients intend to pursue custody. "My clients don’t feel that’s the best home for him," said attorney Bill Hence Jr. "I’m very disappointed in the agencies that were supposed to be protecting the United in God’s Love MCC-United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11:00 am Pastor 1623 N. Maplewood 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Service, 6pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-444-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 The Pride Store 21st Street & Memorial Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center 3 Strand Communications Long Distance 4.9C/minute $4.99 monthly fee 24 hours a day - 7 days a week Call 447-8602 Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tues. & Thurs., 5 -8 pm at the Center, 1307 East 38th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.com 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 fights of the child." A hearing was scheduled for December. Miguel was born to Angelena Washington, the younger Washington’s mentally disabled sister, who was impregnated while living in an assisted-care facility, family members said. At the time, family members informally agreed to have him raised by Washington Jr., a hardware store salesman, and Forrester, a teacher. Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Tex Ritter said his office had not decided if charges will be filed in the abduction. The elder Washington picked up Miguel for an overnight fishing trip on Oct. 6 andnever brought him back, Washington Jr. said. Instead, Washington and For/ester received a letter from a Los Angeles law firm Oct. 7 stating that Miguel had been removed from their home and accusing the pair of "actively promoting or influencing a Gay lifestyle for the minor." The letter cited Miguel’s participation in ballet and "Gay art class" instead of baseball as one reason for the boy’s removal. Germany Ready to Recognize Gay Partners BERLIN (AP)-Germany’s governing coalition wants to pass a law giving equal legal status to Gay couples early in November, politicians stated. Leaders from the Social Democratic and Greens parties said they plan to have the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, approve the bill Nov. I0. Conservatives, however, control a majority in the upper house of parliament and have criticized the law. To get around their opposition that could scuttle the bill, lawmakers laid out a plan Friday to divide the legislation into two parts. The government majority in parliament would pass administrative regulations creating the legal frameworkforGay couples without the upper house’ s agreement. However, the upper house will still be called on to approve lifting the disadvantages to Gays contained in labor and tax codes. ACLU Trying Bias Reduction Program ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia is one of three states chosen by the American Civil Liberties Union to pilot a program to educate teachers about bullying of Gay and Lesbian students. The ACLU says students who identify themselves as Gay are more than four times as likely to suffer bullying than heterosexual students. Gary Weber, legal director of the Georgia ACLU, said Gay students also have higher rates of absenteeism and suicide. The program will use panels - including a Gay student, perhaps a parent of a Gay student, a school administrator or classroom teacher and an attorney - to explain the legal liabilities schools face if they ignore harassment. TheACLU will begin contacting schools in November to schedule traimng sessions. Districts that refuse the training may be called by an ACLU attorney to briefly explain legal liabilities. Kentucky and Indiana are the other two pilot states. No date has been set for expanding theprogram, which was developed in northern California, to other states, ACLU spokesman Eric Ferrero said. Big .Brothers, Big Sisters Bans Gay Volunteers OWENSBORO, Ky (AP) - The local chapter of Big Brothers-Big Sisters, which links children with adult mentors, will no longer allow Gays to participate in the program. The board voted 10-9 to bar openly Gay volunteers following a closed-door meeting. Board members had raised concerns about health issues and fear that it would create confusion among childr+n over sexual orientation matters, said Sue Krampe, executive director. The debate on whether to conunue to allow Gays to mentor children surfaced recently after Brian Combs, a case manager and minister at Christ View Christian Church, quit after learning a homosexual was a mentor in the program. The board was deadlocked in a vote earlier this month. Combs had been the only person to raise a complaint prior to the first vote. But since then, the agency has fielded 18 telephone calls in opposition to allowing Gays in the program, Krampe said. Volunteers had been asked their sexual orientation during the initial screening process and parents were allowed to veto amatela based on their answers. Nationally, only a "handful" of the 500 chapters of the American Big Brothers-Big Sisters prohibits homosexuals~ from mentoring children, Krampe said. Each local chapter can set ~ts ownpolicies on the issue. she said. Newspaper Chain to Offer Partner Benefits GRANDRAPIDS, Mich. (AP)- Six of the eight Booth newspapers in Michigan will offer benefits to partners of Gay employees starting in January. The papers that will offer the benefits are The Ann Arbor News. The Bay City Times, The Flint Journal, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, the Kalamazoo Gazette and The Saginaw News. The eight Booth newspapers are owned by Advance Publications, based in New York. George Arwady, publisher of the Kalamazoo paper, said the new benefits were "pretty well accepted" by employees. "It’ s a matter of equitable treatment for our employees," Arwady said. "We have not made a big deal out of it, mad it’s not a big deal." Margaret DeRitter, an editor at the Gazette, said she was pleased by the amaouncement. "I wasn’t aware of employees internally pushing for.it," said DeRitter, who is Gay and a 12-year employee of the paper. "I thought it was great the company would do this without any prompting from the staff. It says they value all of their employees and want to be fair and equitable." Mother of Slain Soldier Appeals Army Decision WASHINGTON (AP)-The mother of a FortCampbell soldier who was murdered in iris barracks is seeking to overturn the denial of her $1.8 million wrongful death claim against the Army Kutteles sent an appeal of the Sept. 27 decision by the military to Army Secretary Louis Caldera. Kutteles, of Kansas City, Mo., said fellow soldiers believed Winchell was Gay and harassed him for months before he was beaten to death with a baseball bat while sleeping in his cot July 5, 1999 at a post in Kentucky. The Army knew about the harassment but did nothing to stop it, she said. Pvt. Calvin Glover of Sulphur, Okla., was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Winchell. Another soldier was given a 12 1/2-year sentence for lying to investigators. The Army inspector general issued a report in July on Winchell’s murder. The report found evidence of low morale mad anti- Gay behavior among members of Winchell’s unit, D Company, 2nd Battalion of the 502nd Infantry Regiment. It concluded, however, that the chain of command at Fort Campbell responded,a:ppropriately with respect to enforcing the Pentagon S policy of permitting Gays to serve in the military so long as they keep their sexual orientation private. Kutteles says should Caldera side with her, the Army wouldbe taking full responsibility for Winchell’s death. "We have to do this for our son’s sake. He died, and I want his death to be meaningful," she said. "I want other mothers and fathers not to have to go through this." Easier-to-Swallow Anti-AIDS Pills WASHINGTON (AP).- The government approved a new easier-to-use version of a standard AIDS drug that may ease patient complaints that the medicine is too hard to swallow. The drug is ddI, often used in the multi-drug cocktails that AIDS patients take to fight the virus. Until now, patients havehad to chew, or dissolve in water, two large, bitter-tasting ddI pills twice a day. Those pills also frequently were blamed for diarrheaand other gastrointestinal side effects. The Food and Drug Administration approved a once-a-day capsule version of ddI. Swallowing the capsule, to be sold under the brandname Videx F_C, means no nasty taste problem. An FDA spokeswoman said thenew ddI may cause fewer dangerous interactions with other medications that AIDS patients take, because the capsule does not contain abuffering ingredient used in thechewable version. Also, manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb contends a special coating on the new version means it may cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Although Bristol-Myers never ddirecdy compared the old and new ddI to prove that, the FDA said getting rid of that old buffering ingredient may indeed help. Bristol-Myers did notreveal whenVidex EC would begin.selling, or if it would cost the same as the old version,-,. Researchers & Drug Co. Dispute Results CHICAGO (AP)-A study suggesting that a vaccine-like AIDS treatment is ineffective has provoked a public dispute between the manufacturer that paid for much of the study and doctors who say the company tried to squelch their research. The study’s conclusions, published in a recent Journal of the American Medical Association, echo doubts aboutHIV- 1 Immunogen that were expressed several years ago by advisers to the U.S~ Food and Drug Administration. The results suggest that when added to the drug regimen for HIVinfectedpatients, HIV-11mmunogenfailed " to reduce the risk of devdopingfull-blown ¯ AIDS. The drug cames the brand name .. Remune. ¯ Immune Response Corp., the drug’s " manufacturer, contends that researchers " omitted favorable data and skewed the results. The company entereda fairly com- . mon arbitration process during which it " tried to produce "a more balanced manu- : script," said Dr. Ronald Moss, the ¯ company’s vice president of medical and " scientific affairs. Instead, the researchers " ~~:.~¥i~lated daeir~eonttaomalagreement and i r. 1~blish~in~oinpletefindings;Moss ~aid.~ .... "It seems like tabloid journalism that " lAMA would not investigate this further" " before publishing, Moss said, HIV-1 Immunogea was developed by ." the late Dr. Jonas Salk, who created the ." first polio vaccine. It was developed be- ." fore powerful "drug cocktails" including ¯ protease inhibitors became standard HIV : treatment, and Immune Response says : subjects’ use of such drugs affected the : findings in the JAMA study. ". Dr. James Kahn of the University of California at San Francisco, the smdy’s lead author, said the company withheld important data and then tried to suppress publication. The company denies both claims. In an arbitration complaint last month, Immune Response also demanded $7 million to ; 10 millionfrom Kahn and the tmiversity, claiming dissemination of the negative findings caused,it financia], harm, university attorney :Christopher Patti said. The university contends Kahn was-allowed to publ.ish the results. The study of2,527 patients inthe United States found that Remune did boost levels ofinfection-fighting white blood cells, but the authors questi,o....n~fl whether the effect was clinically significant. JAMA editor Dr. Catherine DeAngelis defended thejournal’s decision to publish. ’q’his study stands on its own scientific merit," she said. "It was peer-reviewed as ~uch." In a JA1V[A editorial, she said the dispute illustrates what can happen when disagreement erupts between researchers and a funding sponsor who "has a proprietary interest in the findings." Moss said the study was published without the consent of some of the researchers. The company and one of the dissenting researchers, Dr. John Turner of Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia, drafted a letter Monday to DeAngelis, decrying publication of a manuscript that contains "incomplete and inaccurate information." The final manuscript contains "some major statistical flaws," said Turner, who believes HIV-1 lmmunogen can slow disease progression. "ff I were HIV-positive, I would batter down any door necessary to get it, period," Turner said. Doctors Org. Cites Conflicts of Interest CHICAGO (AP) - A funny thing happened to Dr. Jerome Kassirer at a recent lecture to medical students about financial conflicts of interest for doctors: It turned out the free buffet was provided by amajor drug company. Kassirer had a blunt message: Medical schools and training programs "must teach that there is no free lunch. No free dinner. Or textbooks. Or even a ballpoint pen." From freebies for medical students to research funding that can taint study results to the growing practice of marketing prescription medicine direcdy to consumers, drug_companies have a growing and sometimes unseemly influence on doctors, according to articles, studies and editorials published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The relationship between research and indus~try appears to beunde.r growing scm- ’ fihy~The edit6fof, the:New’ E~tgl~tnd Journal of Medicine wrote an extraordinary critique in May, saying scien.ce_ is being~ compromised by the growing influence ot induslry money. That same month, the Harvard Medical School said it would not ease its conflict of interest standards, considered the toughest in the nation, and Dean Joseph B. Martin called for a national dialogue on the issue. Most experts agree that research needs industry dollars. The top 10 pharmaceuti- Power Connect. Public Service Company of Oklahoma Service Is Now Available 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around-the-clock answers to your - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. o~Clip And Save CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Servieio a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 ~ " ~1’:’1, Falta De S,aminis~ro:, 1,.888-218-3924 1Nblie Settee C Imy dOkhhoma Mary Schepers and Kathleen Pendergrass and several other artists present a showing and sale of: Clay sculptures, pottery anF:Lddcorative work, silk batik paintings, etchih and lithographs; jewelry and beadwork, handcrafted bath soap and salts and more. Saturday, November 11, 10 - 6pm 2727 East 56th Street 743-6740 Oklaiaorna NAI,L.\I... covdia!iv ~.t~,v~v~ v,ott to a chocolate and champa~r~~ ~ete in support of abortion and reprt~d~ctive rights in Oklahoma Celebrating 27 Years of Choice Sunday, November 12, 2000. 1:3(.1 - 3:30 p.m. :"~’° fob~heldat Resonat~~e - " ~ Champagne, Coffee, Chocolates $25 per ~ndividual [’lea.~ R.S.V.P. to the NARAL L)ffice: 4.4-9585 cal companies spent nearly $23 billion on : days, washing the condoms with water clinical research last year- more than the ¯ and soap afteruse. Researchers will check nearly $18 billion provided by the Na- : the condoms for rips or tears and examine tional Institutes of Health, JAMA editor ." the participants to make sure that’reuse Dr. Catherine DeAngelis said. ¯ doesn’t cause rashes or irritations. The problem is when researchers have " "In terms of the whole spectrum of birth f’mancial interests in companies funding " control, it’s not the best," Said Barbara their work. DeAngelis said such research ¯ Lea-Kruger, spokeswoman for the Viris lower in quality and more likely to " ginia Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS report findings favorable to the company, division."Butifwe’retalkingaboutwomen One study found ,that. 7,6 percent of the : who don’t have access to other forms of faculty researchers at the University of ¯ birth control and who come from a culture California at San Francisco~aad personal " wheremenareless willing touseacondom, financial ties to their drug company sport- " it’s a Viable alternative." sorslastyear.Mostwereshort-termspeak- : ing engagements or consulting agreements Seniors & HIV/AIDS with minimal payments. ¯ State and federal-guidelines require re- CANTON, Ohio (AP) - Older people searchers to disclose certain financial ties, . sometimes have an awkward approach to and a UCSF policy prohibits faculty in- ¯ sexual issues that puts them at risk for volvedinindustry-sponsoredresearchfrom " HIV, health counselors say. receiving any compensationfrom the corn- " SusanJ. McCollum, who teaches people pany during the study. 50 and older about the risks of contracting Elizabeth Boyd and Lisa Bert, with HIV, said older people must be aware of UCSF’s Institute for Health Policy Stud- the risks. "It’s dangerous for any group of ies, said a campus committee "worked to people to think they’re immune," said accommodateallbutthemostovertlycon- McCollum, a counselor for Planned Parflicting relationships in the interest of en- enthood ofStark County. couraging its faculty, and, presumably, According to the U.S. Centers for Disencouraging future outside investment in ease Control and Prevention, the number the university." of older people becoming infected is in- The authors suggested that financial ties creasing. An estimated 10.9 percent, of may be more prevalent at other universi- men with HIV and 9.4 percent of women ties with less stringent policies. A 1998- with HIV are 50 and older. 2000 study of 89 major universities found "People that age have not grown up with that only 17-19%- had specific limits or condoms, like people who are in their prohibitions on relationships with indus- 20s," McCollum said. "For a woman in try. While most had co~fflict of interest her 60s to talk to a man about condoms.. policies, the3, were not as effective be- ." McCollum also said it’s an awkward cause they don’t spell what is prohibited, adjustmentforpeoplewhoarenewly single the authors said. after having been in along-term marriage Dr. Jordan Cohen, president of the As- or relationship. "Women4Oandolderdon’t sociation of Americau Medica! Colleges, want to grow old alone," McColhma told announced that the group is forming a task The Repository for a story published Sunforce to investigate conflicts of interest dav."They’reputtingthemselvesoutthere, and reach a consensus on what types of but they don’t know enough, or they’re not relationships with drug companies should able to talk about condoms. It puts them at be allowed, a real disadvantage." Around the world, an estimated 85,000 Women’s Corldo[~ women, middle-age and older, have been infected with HIV. McCollum has had May Help HIV Fight young women come for HIV testing who want her to talk to their mothers about NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A condom for risky sexual behavior. women that never quite caught on in the KimJackson, spekeswomanfortheOhio United States is being studied to see if AIDS Coalition, said that while her group reusing it can make it more economical does not offer educational programs speand help fight AIDS in developing coun- eifieally targeting seniors, older people do tries. The United Nations AIDS program participate. "We have a general education has been distributing the Reality Female program for people of all ages," Jackson Condom to women in areas such as sub- said. "We are seeing more people that age Saharan Africa, which has been-devas- attending our programs. We had several tated by AIDS. people in their 70s at our last program." The key to providing female condoms, Bonnie Bolitho, executive director of which retail for $2 to $3 apiece, to poor " Planned Parenthood of Stark County, said women is making them affordable, said ; many older people have the incorrect idea Dr. Susan A. Ballagh, the clinical trial’s thatHIV-AIDS is a "homosexual" disprincipal investigator~ ..-~ :. ~ ; :;~ .ease~~ thatit aff~ts O~[y yo~mgtpeople. ~;- -TheChicago-basedF.emal¢H~althCom~ i :. "rl~ere~.s tl~tse~e~that :~It-cot~’’~t"~pen’ to pan~,theproduct’ssolemannfaclurer, sells ~ me,"’ she said. "You’re talking about of the condoms to international family plan- ¯ group of people who have been monoganing agencies for as little as 70 cents a , mous for most of their lives. Now, they’re piece. ; at a different stage of life. Some haven’t But women’s condoms could be even ¯ put a lot of thought into how it (HIV) more economical if they were reused. Re- ¯ affects them." searchers at Eastern Virginia Medical " According to Bolitho, "It’s the age-old, School arerecntiting 80 couples to test the ; overarchiugproblemoftalkingaboutsexu_ condoms. Half the couples will use the ¯ ality, and it’s plain old-fashioned denial. condom once. The other couples each will ; Denial is one of our great enemies." use a single condom five times over 15 ~ by Jim Christjohn, entertaiment editor ] child out once in a while. I wasn’t expect- Hey folks, welcome to the time of the ¯ ing a great movie, but it surprised me. The year when we celebrate the fact that the " filmis well acted - hard to find in a movie Indians helped the pilgrims onlyto be thanked with slaughter and removal from ancestral lands. Go America! The first thanksgiving was basically afour day celebration/ party wherein the Native Americans provided the food, fun, and games. It really wasn’t about religion at all, as the lore surrounding it wouldhave youbelieve. Anditwasn’t too long after that whentheEuropean invaders started getting a bit greedy for the profits land conld bring from new immigrants, and so, in the name of- God, "took" the land from the Natives. Oh, and there was a religious aspect to it, once the "pilgrims" figured out how to work the land from the Natives and didn’t need them anymore..,,It was either convert or die for the heathen Nafives. Ah, the things the don’t tell you in school - or church. On to more cheerier thoughts - I drug my curmudgeonly editor to afilm recently. (Well, OK, he wanted to go, too, and hasn’t been terribly curmudgeonly lately.) We saw "The Little Vampire." OK, now stop laughing. It’s good to let the inner li...We saw "The Little Vampire." OK, now stop laughing. It’s good to let the inner child out once in a while. I wasn’t expeetlng a great movie, but it surprised me. The film is well acted - hard to find in a movie starring children; well written; and superbly filmed... " starting children; well written; and superbly filmed. And it had something for everyone - it didn’t "talk down" to kids, nor did it avoid being funny in an adult way. The film is ’~’:~-m~bout a young Americanboy who moves to England due to his father’s business. HE’s miserable,being an outsider - and picked on at school, in particularby two twins. It certainly broughtback some memories in that respect. I knew a pair of twins who were the scourge of Hurst Junior high, and it was kind of like watching a flashback - except with better accents. Anyway, our hero has a fixation with men in capes - sound familiar? (Hint: Read last month’s column.) And Io and behold, he meets a boy vampire, and they form a close friendship. This results in many misadventures, including foiling a would be vampire hunter and the aforementioned bullies. I highly recommend seeing this film, because it’s a fun ride, entertaining, while putting forth some good-thoughts. A lot of care andlove went into this film, and it shows. GIFTS OF THE S£ASON! COUNCIL OAK MEN’S CHORALE ALL SOULS UNITARIAN Tmditionalists,ofcourse, abhorthat each " Choralewillperform.AndonDec.9,there year December holidays begin earlier and " will be a gala dinner in the Great Hall, earlier. Christmas in September isincreas- ¯ Chaired by friends to the community, ingly a reality. Catherine Seger But one of the local traditions which we don’t mind seeing early nearly so much is Philbrook Museum’s annual holiday celebration and exhibition, Home for the Holidays. The event kicks off with the Festival of Trees. T,he ~Fe~sfival tures trees, wreaths, and more by local artists, designers and school children. The event is chaired by Lou Hodgson and caterer Mark Lackey is artist liaison. At the museum members’ opening on Dec. 2 at noon, the Council Oak Men’s and Hillary Kitz. And of course, local A-listers, Talmadge Po-well and Steve Wright are helping out by chairing the Patron Party and Treeview. The featured artistforHomefor the Holidays is Lisa Regan of the GardenDevaSculpture Co. Regan, whose work is seen through out Tulsa’ s gardens, has been shown in Better Homes and Gardens, shows her work at Mayfest. Her commemorative ornament, shown " above, .is an aluminum tree with bead ¯ accents. E[ecUon Day, Nov. 7 Who Will Pick the NEW SUPREHES? Decisions we make at the ballot box will resonate for decades, including the make-up of the Supreme Court. Our choice: continue the path of progress or take a sharp U-turn back to the anti-glbt politics of the ’80s. We need your voice for our jobs, for our families, for our lives. HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN COME OUT VOTING ¯ www.hrc.org Tuesday, November 7 Election Day HRC WATCH PARTY Because win or lose, it’s good to be among friends 9 PM 3340 South Peoria, Tulsa, OK Must be 21 Cash Bar HRC envisions an America where lesbian and gay people are ensured of their basic equal rights. You can help us do our work by joining us for either or :both of ~the:se~ ev~t..s~ (or by jgining ~HRC - ’ ii~’~ !j~ :i~3-" ~i ~li !~8~[2913 €;r emaii hrctulsaoHahoma@ aol.com). HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN~ by Tom Neal, editor/publisher Although the National Conference for Community and Justice claims to be an anti-hate group, for at least the last 4-5 years this anti-bias organi~tion has activdy discriminated against Gay & Lesbian Tulsans as well as failing to speak out when Gay & Lesbian Tulsans were targets of physical violence as well as recipients of legislative and other attacks on their civil rights. At their Trialogue on Marriage, hosted by Boston Avenue Methodist Church (a church which has been host to several events at which Lesbian and Gay Tuls’ans were attacked or excluded), Trialogue organizer Mr. Levson, then cantor of Temple Israel, stated that JOI g 0 II B HATE he and other NCCJ organizers deliberately excluded same gender mamage from discussionbecauseitwouldhave been"too controversial." This was done despite thefacts that the issue could not have been more prominent in public discussion because of court cases in Hawaii, and even though the issue is still in debate in many Christian denominations and in several Jewish organizations. NCCJ has repeated been asked to reform their actions: to add openly Gay or Lesbian persons to their board of directors, to speak out on legislative issues, to live what they say they are about. To date, they have refused to do so, preferring to raise substantial sums from Tulsa "society" events such as honoring Bob Lorton, owner ofThe Tulsa World for his "human rights" work despite the fact that The World for at least 15 years had documented anti- Gay business practices which they publicly defended and despite The Wordls acknowledgement of racist hiring practices in their newsroom in response to an EEOC complaint. Some Gay community observers, however, wonderhow it is that the hate groups, like the KKK, don’t manage to forget Lesbians and Gay men including them in their hate rhetoric, but the folks who supposedly are "allies" manage only to hear the KKK’s racist and anti-Sem~itic comments. Groups who endorsed the "Statement in Support of Diversity" include a number who have been supportive of Lesbians and Gay men. These include: Community of Hope, All Souls, Hope and Community Unitarians, Fellowship Congregatxonal ¯ Church- UCC, Jewish Federation ofTulsa and even the Metropolitan Community ¯ Church United (MCC). Calls to All Souls, MCC-United, and Fellowship Congrega- ¯ tional were not returned. Perry Simons, ¯ executive director of Jewish Federation ¯ said that organization does not discrimi- : hate on sexual orientation. ¯ In contrast, Father Rick Hollingsworth, ¯ oftheParishChurchofSaintJeromewrote ¯ a letter in protest of the the "Statement in ¯ Support of Diversity" ¯ In it, he notes that, "The Parish Church ,¯ of St Jerome is certainly in support of celebrating and supporting the wonderful ¯ diversity, which surrounds us in our beau- " tiful city... I am concerned however that ¯ the statement on diversity see TMM,p. 10 Name Games by Michael Craft Reviewed by Barry Hensley Tulsa City-County Library It takes a speci~ talent to pull off a murdermystery novel andone ofthebetter Gay mystery series, Mark Manning mysteries by Michael Craft, has a clever new entry, Name Games. Delving into an unlikely topic, the world of minia- .tures, Craft has created a fun, although not particularly suspenseful mystery. Set in rural Wisconsin, main character Mark Manning is now the publisher of the local newspaper and leading a very open and out life with a longlime partner, while raising a neglected nephew. The big news in town is the upcoming Midwest Miniatures Society Exhibition, which attracts enthusiasts worldwide. Two of the most prominent figures in this little underworld, Carroll Cantrell and Bruno Herisson , who happen to be arch rivals, are being "...Anthropologist Sherry Ortner, drawing on the French feminist Simone Beauvolr, once proposed that ’Man is to CultUre as Woman is to Nature.’ Ortner was seeking a reason for why, almost everywhere, people value what men do more than they value what women do.. ¯ " homophobic District Attorney, Harley Kaiser, and a New Age feminist, Miriam Westerman, who is somehow convinced that Gay pom"hurts women." Add to this, the nephew, Thad, trying outfor the school play and Mark’s lover, Nell, who is trying to decide whether to move his architectural practice to the small town from Chicago. When Cantrell (who has man3, health problems) is discovered murdered, the exhibitionis turned upside down and things really get uncomfortable when the Sheriff becomes the primary suspect. Manning, aided by his sleuths at the newspaper, set out to clear the Sheriff. The characters inName Games are nicely drawn, if a bit stereotypical ]]ae town, Dumont, is remarkably (and a bit unrealistically) progressive and unconcerned about the iGay influence~ ofManning and his cohorts. (Could there really be a town like this in today’s America?) flown in. Grace Lord, a sweet little old lady,is hosting and coordinating the ev~nt. The Sheriff, Doug Pierce, a closeted Gay man, is in the midst of a reelection bid while dealing with a pornography trial involving "dirty book stores" on the edge of town. The trial is being pushed by the is not as broad as it should be. This is evidenced I believe by the omission of Sexual Orientation as part of that diversity in the statement. Gay and Lesbian persons are an integral part of Tulsa’s rich diversity which When joined together with other forms of diversity create community. When Rabbi Marc Fitzerman was speaking this last Sunday at the rededication, He was very dear, ’Those whohate Jews, usually hate Catholics, Those who hate Catholics usually hate Gay and Lesbian people...’ As a Pastor of a Parish which primarily serves the Gay and Lesbian community and as a religious leader who is openly Gay, I am unable to sign the document without the inclusion of Sexual Orienta- The obligatory sex scenes are really just ¯¯ uninspired dream sequences, and leave a little too much to the imagination. The ¯ mystery is a fun and exciting ride, but it is ¯ certainly nothing special. In fact, this ¯ novice mystery reader managed to figure ] our whodunit long before the end of the ¯ for Human Rights (TOHR) said that the lack of inclusiveness raised concerns and ~ would likely be addressed in upcoming : organizational meetings for a formal response. : : and love diversity. We have many reli¯ gions, many nationalities, many cultures here, and we’re taught to respect them. ¯ When the hell ~s someone going to respect ¯ us for our diversity? If you want to do : something to help, there’s a number to ¯ call, and an ever popular website to visit. ¯ It’s the Human Rights Campaign Founda- ¯ uon, 800-498-0382, or www.hrc.org. ¯ When we stand up and show people that ¯ we do exist, especially in great numbers, ¯ then things are going to happen. Or, as ¯ Melissa Etheridge said, "when you free uon as-part Of that .,diu~si.ty..._,: i ¯ " your mind, a rockin’ jam will follow." If Our people have~J~en, the Unfox~:unate .:, we can each one of us find one person, or victims of bigotry, prejudice and hate ¯ child, to reach, then we’ve taken the first crimes for centuries, including the holocaust. To not speak openly about these issues promotes the silence, which has imprisoned Gay and Lesbian children of God for far too long." Father Hollingsworth toldTulsa Family News that he read his letter to his congregation and that the response has been overwhelmingly supportive of his position. Greg Gatewood of Tulsa Oklahomans ¯ steps in stopping fascism. Hitler ended up ¯ in a bunker, having shot his wife and ¯ sticking the guninhis mouthbefore shoot- " ing. I think many Other fascists (read ¯ fundamentalists) forget that fact. Hatred ¯ turns inward, but not before the hater has ¯ devastatingly hurt others. Something that ¯ shouldbetaughtinEVERY SundaySchool -" class. And please remember one thing: : VOTE!!!!!!! Timothy W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appoinlments are available. Are You Gay or Bisexual? Are You Native American? Support Group is here:f0r yotJ!:~’ " ~’~’~.~" ~-’-" ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HlVtesting For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project 918.588.1900, x4275 or x4276 -International Fresh Start Seeking men & women to help with expansion in the area. Must be independent, goal-oriented, have a great attitude and excellent people skills. Call 663:5323. Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236,~ues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm ody TI- ,ll Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing - College Hill Presbyterian Church In response to God’s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a commtmity of God’s people called to tell others the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, servzce, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living, loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voi~ for peace andjustice. Our congregation.welcomes all persons who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Christ’s church. M~a~~s!~.9~ ~-:,Opt: ~-.~i!...~9,Pl..~. regardless of race, .ethnic origin, worldly condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. Sunday Worship. 1 lam 712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) by Karin Gregory "Man Shot in Local Gay Bar", "TeenagerAssaulted Because Suspects Believed HimGay","’We Don’t Have Hate Crimes in Brown County’". Seems everywhere you look now, there are hate crimes against the G/L/B/T com- ~’munity, or-alleged hate "!crimes~ or people denying ;hate crimes exist. There are even those very few Who deny homosexuality exis ts, and I believe our Dishonorable George W. Bush to beamong them (I don’t~ve up a chance to let you all know you MUST vote November 7). Interesting news about the teenager. Not that it doesn’t happen at every .school, but the school where this took place is the same one from which our disti9,guished arts and entertainment editor .graduated. Back in those days, we didn’t have hate crimes. Wall, we did, but we didn’t call them that. Boys who were Gayjust had to be beaten up and take it "like a man", or they had to develop those queen-like attitudes of death that would scare any quarterback into his tiny, homophobic, neanderthal area of his body called a mind. One of my friends, the one who thinks we’re all going to hell, says all Crimes like murder, assault, rape, etc. are hate crimes. I disagree. There are certainly crimes of passion. There are premeditated crimes. There are even assaults with deadly weapons with intent to kill. But they are for a purpose - to either get rid of someone so disturbing to you (like a wife, husband, mother-in-law), or to get money to buy drugs, cigarettes, or "fabulous" outfits. The people committing these crimes may hate the person AT THAT TIME, but not always. In other words, the criminals aren’t their own self-proclaimed Adoif Hitlers, who have decided to take all logic and reason and bury them, sending us back into theDarkAges. But thereAREpeople who are self-proclaimed Hirers, whether they want to believe it or not, spreading NOT the words of Jesus, but the words of hate to a nation. Maybe they weren’t the ones who beat up Matthew Shepard and lefthim to die, or the ones who had a direct hand in James Byrd’s death, or the people who raped BrandonTeena, only to shoothim to death repeatedly, later. But they had a hand in each one of these deaths. For eachone you-reading:this..fight now, there are at least 20 (at least in Texas and Oklahoma) ignorant people who believe that homosexuality isn’t something you’re born with. That you can change if you want to. That you’ve chosen to be laughed at, beaten up, fired from your job, ostracized from your families. These are the people who have raised the suspects in the above headlines. They’ve "carefully taught" their children to, as the "South Pacific" song goes, "hate -"...Bach in those days, we didn’t have hate crimes. Well, we did, but we didn’t call them that. Boys who were Gay just had to be beaten up and take it "llke a man", or they had to develop those queen-llke attitudes of death that would scare any quarterback into his tiny, homophoble, neanderthal area of his body eafled a mind...." all the people their relatives hfite." Many of them, of course, in the name of Jesus. Stealing a line from an old Woody Allen movie,"ifJesus came down and saw what was going on in his name, he’d never stop throwing up." If you’ve read my columns from the beginning (and I thank BOTHofyou,by the way!), you know I’m a fledgling, coming out only after everyone else has not only blazed the trail for me, but made that trail a four lane highway! So no, I’ve NEVER experienced what most of you have in your "out" lives. I still think I can walkhandinhand with a woman in public, or kiss her on a residential street in Dallas (and have!), and not receive any flack from it. But I taught public school for eight years, ten years toomany, and Iknow whatkids say to each other, not caring that their words hurt. More importantly, I’ve heard teachers and other school staff go on the attack against gays, saying that the Bible doesn’t condone it. We’ve had this discussion before, but I just want to let you know that your childrenmay be being taughtbyahomophobic teacher. And believe me, teachers still do have influence on children. So children are taught to hate another child because that child may be different. Obviously, if I can look through a gay newspaper and pick out,just by going through one quarter of it, three separate stories on hate crimes, there’s a problem. One that needs to be addressed. Well, it’s been addressed, but many ar~turning their heads. While crime is rampant on the streets, and hate crimes against the G/L/B/T community has skyrocketed, thelegislature still cools its heels over this issue. It shouldn’t have to take television to fire me up, but watching highlights from the "Equality Rocks" concert onVH-1 did it for me. During the evening, the parents of several hate crime victims, Matthew Shepard’s parents and James Byrd’s parents among them, gave a small speech that had the more than 45,000 audience crying openly. Then Melissa Etheridge, herself not able to contain tears, sang her song about. Matthew Shepard, "Scarecrow." How can people, after watching that, still believe that these boys should have died? How can anyone hate a group of people just because they .are different? How can they facethemselve~inthemom- *. ing,-knowin~ thav they~ce*contril~me~.., in ANY way, to these deaths? How many times can we turn away and do nothing? We have a revolution going on in this country. Most people don’t want to believe it. They’d rather dose their doors. Hell, so would I, but I can see the revolution coming even stronger than before. .The one consistent thing thatI was taught mschool about the United States is that we are a melting pot see Lesbian, p.lO Healing VROJECT AIDS Memorial ~.uilt ~ wareness" World AIDS Day Candlelight Memorial March Friday, December 1st, 6:30pm Tulsa Civic Center Plaza, 5th & Denver The NAMES Project Quilt Opening, 8pm This advertisement is donated by Tulsa Family News. TFN appreciates the opportunity to support this showing of the Quilt, and The NAMES Project. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, November 2000; Volume 7, Issue 11 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjonh Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, October 2000; Volume 7, Issue 10 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource Englsih Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa---Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/606 2000 AIDS AIDS drugs AIDS Quilt AIDS research American Civil Liberties Union aMUSEments arts and entertainment Barry Hensley bias reduction program Bobby L. Busby Boy Scouts businesses Christmas churches civil rights civil unions contraception family HIV HIV testing homophobia Human Rights Campaign Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory NAMES Project National Conferencce for Community and Justice nudism Openarms Youth Project Partner Benefits performing arts Philbrook Raging Lesbian Read All About It Red Cross Red Rock Tulsa restaurants seniors Society of Professional Journalists Tom Neal Tulsa Family News Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Tulsa Police Department Two-Spirited Indian Men's Support Group World AIDS day https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/ef3c0f28c67ca333b982d6427b897bec.jpg 4128e90178c5b091e2410d7419f3f1f1 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/43b5fc66dc24c80707e29a6ce1dd9cbb.pdf 19345a3f74a3dcb4cf99880d7b679aa7 PDF Text Text ¯ Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends :Police Censor Books at ° Gunman Shoots Six; Borders, Barnes & Noble Kills One in Virginia ¯ ¯ rehant$ Told to Wrap U p Art and . ROANOKE, Virginia (AP) - A man accused of fatally shooting another man and wounding six "History Books, Straight Sox How-to’s " others inside the Backstreet Cafe, a Gay bar, °n the : TULSA- Prodded by Tulsa City Councilor, Todd Huston, Tulsa " police vice squadofficers visitedBorders Books & Music at 8015 ¯ So. Yale Avenue, selected a number of books, presented them to ¯ store staff and suggested that they "shrinkwrap" those rifles. This : was in response to a constituent complaint made to Huston : according to Charlie Jackson, Deputy Chief, Tulsa Police. ¯ Jackson noted that after the visit to the South Yale Borders ¯ -~ store about which there was a citizen complaint, vice officers of : their own initiative went to the 2740 E. 21stSt. Borders as well ¯ as Barnes & Noble Bookstores at 5231 E. 41st St. and 8620 E. " evening of Sept. 22 has been arraigned on first" degree murder charges. The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Attorney " Donald Caldwell said additional charges such as ~ aggravated malicious wounding or malicious ¯ wounding were possible. Malicious wounding charges carry up to 20 years in prison, whereas ¯ " attempted murder charges carry up to 10 years. Ronald Edward Gay, 53, the man accused in the " " shootings, acted because of long-standing anger at St. where they went through the store selecting books which "He admits to shootingpeople, police investigator "rrial o! Accused o! 71st bookstore staff say the police indicatesd they must shrinkwrap, ° Lt. WilliamAlthoff toldTheWashingtonPost. "He staff also said the officers stated that they were no, Gay Man’s Death Moved " intendingstoreto arrest told us people made fun of his name... He told us anyone, that he was upset about that.’" FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) The first Marion County ¯ Accordingtobookstoresources,TulsapoliceSergeantCalhoun " teen-ager to be tried inthemurder of aGay black man ¯ and Corporal Best of the "sex crimes" unit said that the ¯ willfacejurorsinRaleighCountyinNovember.Marion" shrinkwrapping was required under Oklahoma state statute, title" County Circuit Court Judge Rodney Merrifield late in ¯ 21, 1040.76. This statute regulates the display of materials " SeptembersignedanordermovingDavidAllenParker’s ¯ "harmful to minors" and requires covering materials which ¯ first-degree murder trial to the southern West Virginia : depict "... nudity, sexual contact, sexual excitement, or : county. A copy of the order does not set a trial date, but " sadomasochistic abuse...when thematerial orperformancelacks ’ JudgeMen-ifield’ssecretarysaiditistentativelysched- : seriousliterary, scientific, medical, artistic, or political value for uled for Nov. 15. Merrifield had verbally approved a ¯ minors..." with minors defined as less than 18 years ofage. ¯ change of venue earlier this week after a preliminary : Typically the "shrinkwrap" requirement has been applied to " hearing that has been continued to Oct. 12. ~ sexually oriented magazines such as Playboy, Penthouse, Men, " Lawyers for Parker and co-defendant Jared Wilson, ¯ etc. but not to most books. Chief Jackson claims that the officers did not threaten the ¯ ¯ both .17, had suggested Raleigh County as a possible ¯ venue, arguing media coverage of the murder in north- " bookstore staff with arrest but merely sought their cooperation. central West Virginia has made it too difficult to find " Bookstore sources who’ ve requested to remain anonymous in. impartial jurors. Attorney Stephen"Fitz said Monday ¯ order to protect themselves from retaliation characterized the that Raleigh has a diverse population and probably has ¯ police visit as intimidation- particularly in light 6f the arrests of " had far less exposure to ~e case Prosecutor Richard " several sales clerks for the sale of Penthouse magazines a year or " Bunner did not object to the move. " so ago. They noted that the officer by mentioning that they didnot " Parker and Wilson are charged with beating and ¯ intend to arrest at this time, raised the issue as a possibility and ¯ " kickingtodeath26-year-oldacquaintanceArthur"J.R." ¯ that they felt coerced into cooperating. see Trial, p.3 " see Bookstores, p. Warren on July 4, thejokespeoplemadeofhisl~,tname, police said. Dznny Lee Overstreet, 43, was killed at the scene. One other victim, IrisPageWebb,41,wasin critical condition after being shot in the neck. According to police, Gay went to a tavern that night and asked directions to the nearest Gay bar, telling people he wanted to shoot Gays. Someone gavehimdirectionsandimmediatelycalledpolice, whowerelookingforGaywhentheshootingreport came in. John W. Collins, 39, was one of those wounded. Collins told the Post that the gunfire erupted just after he and Overstreet, a friend, hugged. Gay "stood up as I was letting go of the hug, and he was turning and he was also reaching into his black trench coat," said Collins, who was shot in the stomach. "I saw the gun come out of his pocket... Everything was like in a millionth of a second.’" Gay left the bar after the shootings but was later found by police about two blocks away. Officers found a 9 mm pistol in a trash can near the bar. see Shooting, p.3 Center To Hold Local HRCEvents HRC: More Benefits Gay Grand Re-opening WASHINGTON (AP) - More employers - including more than a fifth of Fortune 500 companies - are offering health insurance ¯ Law Group to Hold Hate Crimes Panel coverage to the partners of Gay employees, according to a report ¯ TULSA (TFN) - Tulsa Oklahomans for Human by a Gay civil rights group. " Rights (TOHR) will hold a Grand Opening event The study, by the Washington-based Human Rights Cam- ¯ for the recently relocated Tulsa Gay Community paign, found that 3,572 companies, colleges and states and local ¯ Services Center on Friday, October 20 at 7pro. The governments offered or have announced they would offer health ¯ new location is 2114 So. Memorial adjacent to insurance covering their employees’ domestic partners. This was : longtimeLesbianbar,TNT’ s. TOHR’ s also will be like to send voter registration volunteers to any event or ¯ up 25% from a year ago, when 2,856 employers extended such ¯ holding a "garage" sale to benefit the Center on benefits. organization andasks that organizers again call 584.2918. ." Saturday, Oct. 14 from 8am-noon. Donations of The findings were included in the group’ s annual "State of the ¯ For Halloween this year, HRC is sponsoring two" goods are welcome and may be dropped off at the performences of Helga’ sHorribles, in "Scenes from ¯ Wor,k~,lace for Lesbian, Gay, B isexual and Transgendered Ameri - ¯ Center before the sale. Little Shop of Horrors" at Renegades on Sun, October ¯ cans. On Oct 14, TOHR will also sponsor a Feast for ¯ 29 at 3pro and again at 7pro. Tickets are $10 each and ," "Domestic partner benefits are increasingly becoming a stanFriends dinner to benefit The NAMES PROJECT. proceeds benefit HRC-Tulsa. Renegades is also a " dard business practice in corporate America," said Kim I. Mills, ¯ The dinner, called "Tulsa - The Center of the sponsor and there will be a cash bar. You must be 21yo. " education director of the Human Rights Campaign. "Employers Universe" will be al fresco at the downtown sculpSeating is limited to only 100persons at each perfor- ¯ have discovered that these benefits hdp attract and keep the best ¯ ture entitled, ’’The Center of the Universe" located mance. Reservations may be guaranteed by mail to ¯ workers, a critical consideration in the current tight job market." : next to the Old U~ion Station on the pedestrian The report called a "landmark move" the announcement in ¯ bridge. The dinner is $20 and reservations may be 1107 E. 19th, Tulsa, OK 74120 or by credit card over the ." ¯ phone. Organizers promise big drag, big hair, big voices ¯ June by Big Three domestic automakers - DaimlerChrysler, made by calling 743-4297. Those who just want to General Motors and Ford - and the United Auto- Workers that & big fun - ’cuz size matters! ¯ ¯ attend the dessert finale may go the Allan Chapman HRC also is sponsoring an election watch party at ¯ domestic-partner benefits would be offered to their more than Activity Center at the University of Tul s a at 8:30pro. 400,000 employees. ’’This marked the first time that virtually an 9pm on Tuesday, November 7 at the fabulous I.D. Bar A $10 donation is requested. on Brookside at 3340 S. Peoria (formerly Concessions). ¯ entire sector of American commerce, along with its leading : TOHR will also present a National Coming Out There will be multiple video screens to monitor the ¯ union, decided collectively to provide domestic partner benDay (NCOD) panel at its monthly membership ¯ meeting on Oct. 10 at 7:30pm, and at TU on election returns and lots of hot music to enjoy while the " efits," the report said. ¯ Fortune 500 companies offering or planning to offer domestic ¯ Thursday, Oct. 12, the University of Tulsa College future is determined. There will be a $10 cover charge, but that will drop to only $5 if you are wearing the "I ¯¯ partner benefits increased from 70 in August 1999 to 102 last ¯ of Law Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Law Caucus will month. In addition, 41 of the top 50 companies in America ’ sponsor a Hate Crimes Panel discussion from noon voted" sticker. ¯ prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, the report Lastly, HRC is always looking for new members. - 2 p.m. The panel, which will be held in TU’s Moot ¯ said. Membership runs $35. Info: 584.2913. ¯ Court Room of John Rogers Hall located at Fourth -" "All the signs point to private and public employers continuing ¯ Place and Florence Avenue, will address the valid¯ to institute nondiscrimination policies and domestic partner " ity of Hate Crimes legislation, opposition to the P. 2 DIRECTORY : benefits," the study said. However, it noted that there is no federal P. 3 EDITORIAL ¯ law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, nor is ¯ Hate Crimes Prevention Act and other topics of ". relevance. Linda Lacey, a TU college of law proP. 4 US & WORLD NEWS there one in 39 states, although President Bill Clinton issued an , fessor, will moderate. ¯ P. 6 HEALTH NEWS executive order in 1998 prohibiting such discrimination in the The program is free and open to the public. For ¯ ¯ federal civilian work force. P. 8 ENTERTAINMENT ¯ more information, call Courtney Sdby at 836¯. The number of cities and counties that prohibit discrimination : 9107. P. 10 GAY STUDIES based on sexual orientation rose from 16 in 1980 to 116 in 2000. TULSA- Local Human Rights Campaign (HRC) activ ists in cooperation with the national organization are encouraging voter registration drive up fill October 13. Those interested in registering can stop by Democratic party headquarters, Republican party headquarters, the offices of the League of W0men Voters, any tag agency, the Tulsa County Election Board (No; Denver at Edison). Call for more information at 584.2918. HRC would also �Scouting~for All Opposes the 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants "Scout’s Honor Act" POB 4140, Tulsa. OK 74159 712-2324 : *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 Congressman Tom Tancredo of Coloe-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink.net 610-5323 *CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial rado has introduced counter-legislation, 583-2119 : *Club Cherry Bomb,. 1926 E Pine Publisher + Editor: currently being referred to as the Scouts Tom Neal 835-2376 : *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Honor Act (H.B. 5306). The bill was 744-4280...; Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square introduced along with twenty-three coWriters + contributors: *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 ¯ sponsors, on T.Uesday, Sept. 26 James Christjohn, Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. 834-4234 : *The Star, 1565 Sheridan Accorditi~ to AFA (editor’s note: Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum, Mary 585-3405 : *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main Amerfcah "F~mily Association, a right¯ 660-0856 Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial wing lobbying group) Director of Gov584-1308 ¯ *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd ernmental Affairs PatrickTrueman,"AFA Member of The Associated Press 749-1563 *The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th suppo.r.ts Colorado Rep. Tancredo’s, ..... l~U~d bh’o~lsdfbre the lit of ~gcti month; th~~ritite contents Tulsa Businesses, ServiCeb~ & pi’ofessiohals Scouts Honor Act, which prohibits the "Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 i Use of federal funds to discriminate against, of thi~ °publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by ¯ 250,503:4 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 investigate, or deny access to public propT~,~" ~:~ N~v~ and may not be reproduced either in 665-4580 : Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E.-41 " erty or facilities to the Boy Scouts of 712-1122 -" Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 whole or in part without written permission from the pub¯ America. In addition, the bill says that no 712-9955 " *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 entity that accepts federal funds can comlisher. Publicafi0n of a name or photo does not indicate a 494-2665 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale pel the Boy Scouts to accept members ¯ who do not share their beliefs.’" 743-5272 ~ person’ s sexual orientation. Correspondenceis assumed to be Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria 746-0313 " for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria The Scout’s Honor Act would protect 295-5868 *Cheap Thrills,.2640 E. 1 lth the BSA who dearly identifies as an orgabecomes the sole property of T~,~ /z~ N~v,~ Each ¯ Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 nization that discriminates against gay ¯ youth and adults and atheists to not be 622-0700 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker r~ader is. entitled to 4 copies of each editionat distribution Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 ~ denied access to public facilities or fund749-3620 points. Additional Copies are available by ~1"1~’583-1248. *De,co to Disco, 3212 E. 15th ing. 744-5556 ¯ Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria How can-we allow our tax dollars to 583~-6611 838-8503 " HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan ¯ support an organization that professes big834,4194 369-8555 ¯ *Tulsa C.A:R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral Encompass Travel, 13161H N.Memorial otry against a segment of our society.’? 48 1-1111 584-0337, 712-9379 ~ Holland Hall School, 5666-E. 81 st Ross Edward Salon Tiffs is unthinkable and should not be 834-8378 592-0460 : HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Educauon Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main tolerated. Scouting For All asks that you 744-9595 " *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 1517 S. Memorial 224-4754 Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria speak out LOUD to oppose this ACT!!!! 838-1715 ¯ 610-0880 " *MCC 7United, 1623 N. Maplewood Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI. Rep.Tancredofeels thatifhecangetmany 748-3111 628-3709 NAMES Project, 3507 E Admiral PI. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. ¯ more sponsors on thebill, the Houselead365-5658 808-8026 " NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare . ership may bring it to the floor for a vote. 742-1460 " OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 7415~ *Gloria Jean’ s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st ." Encourage your congressperson not to 459-9349 :;--*OSU~Tulsa Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning ¯ support- the bigoted Scout’s Honor Act! 749-4901 744-7440 ..... PFI~G, POB 52800, 74~52 :;~_~. ¯ Mark T. Hamby, Attorney ¯ ACTION NEEDED: Contact your 587-7674 *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. skelly 745-1111 " *.Planned Parenthood, 1007 SYffeoria member of Congress immediately and 341-6866 ; Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 *International Tours ask that he or she not support the Scouts 749-4195 ~¯ 712-2750 ; R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th Honor Act which is an Act supporting 584-2325 582-3018 ¯ *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 . *Jared’s Antiques.. 1602 E. 15th , bigotry in our society. Contact your Rep425-7882 747-0236 : St. Aidan’s Epis(opalChurch, 4045 N. Cincinnati David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering resentative by calling the capitol switch492-7140 582-8460 " St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E:-71.st The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening board at (202) 225-3121. 582-3088 ~ Scouting For All also encourages you 599-8070 ¯ St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 583-7171 74%5466 " *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 ; to send Rep. Tancredo a note telling him 585-1234 " *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha .... thathis actions are disgusting and support 595-4105 ¯¯ 584-3112 "- Tulsa County Health Department, 46 16 E. 15 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd bigotry in America. He should be advo663-5934 ’ Confidential HIV Testing -~by appt. on Thursdays only Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 cating that the BSA discontinue its dis664-2951" Tulsa Olda. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place criminatory policy against our Gay youth 838-7626 : T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo and Gay adults and also atheists. His ac743-4297 " *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule *The Pride Store tions are a disgrace. Write to: 747-5932 *Tulsa Community College Campuses Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 - tom.tancredo @mail .house. gov 743-4297 834-0617 ; " *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307E.38,74105 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning - Scott Cozza,president, Scouting For All 749-8833 834-79,21, 747-4746 " Unity Church of Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown www.scoutingforall.org Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 749-6301, ". BARTLESVILLE Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 260-7829 . Bartlesville PublieLibrary, 6!30 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 Paul Tay, Car Salesman Log ~Cabin Republicans 481-0558 : OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis to Bill Clinton 835-5563 .. Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 743-1733 ¯ Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405~848-2667 Thefollowing is the text ofa letterfrom Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling Rich Tafel, executive director ofLog Cabin 665~2222 "¯ Borders Books.& Music~ 300 Norman Center 405-5734907 *Whereh0use Music, 5150 S. Sheridan Republicans, to President Bill Clinton on 592-0767 " TAHLEQUAH *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis ¯ Stonewall League, call for information: - ’~i8456-7900 the issue offunding the AIDS Drug Assiswebsite for Tulsa Gays & Lesbians www.gaytulsa.org -9t8:456-7900 Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church tance Program. Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities 918-453-9360 September 27, 2000 579-9593- ¯ Green.Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 AIDS Walk Tulsa; POB 4337, 74101 -o .NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand Dear Mr. President: 743-2363All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria~ HIVtesfing every other Tues. 5:30:8:30~ ~tll for dates I am writing to you again on an ~ssue of 587-7314 " Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 great importance to millions of AmeriEUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS 583:7815 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207E. 6 cans -~funding for theAIDS Drug Assis501-253 -7734 583~9780 ¯ Autumn Br~,e~,ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 B/L/G/T Allian0p, univ: of Tulsa United Min: Ctr. .... 50i 1253-"]4_47’ ’ tanc~ Program in theRyatr~White CARt~ Jini & Breht "S Bisttt, I73 S. Main Chamber of -comm~ide- Bld~:," 616 ~s. B6st6fi .... 585-1201 Act. Since 1995, we have consistently 501-253-6807 ¯ Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th Pl. & Florence -" DeVito,’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. ¯ asked your Administration to ensure that 501-253-5445 587-1314 " Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood 501-253-9337 ¯ your annual budget requests reflect the 747:6300 MCC of the Living Spring ¯ Community of Hope Church, 2545 S. Yale 501:253-27761 : real ne~ds in. the ADAP program; and Geek toGo!,PC Specialist, POB 429 ¯ Community UnitarianzUniversalist Congregation 749-0595 unfortunately your .bUdgets have fallen 501.-253-5332 748-3888 " " Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Council O~ ~en’s Cl~6rale drastically short each and every year, and 50i-624-6646 712-1511 ¯ Positive Idea Marketing Hans ¯ Delawar~Playhouse;-15il S. Delaware each year the Republican Congress! has 501-253-6001 742-2457 ¯ Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East ¯ Democratic Headquarteis, 3930 E: 31 put millionS:ofMollars more into the pro501-253-4074 White Light, 1 Center St. Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & ¯ 355-3140 " , gram to ansv¢~¢~ the call. This year, your Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 JOPLIN, MISSOURI 747-7777 ¯ Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 : budget request fell short again. ¯ Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard ¯ In your budget request for Fiscal Year ¯ FrceSpirit’Women’sCenter, callforlocation&info: 587-4669 ¯ ~ 2001, you asked for a $26millionincrease 747-6827 " Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 582-0438 * is where you can find TFN. Not all are Gay-owned but all are Gay-friendly. ~ in ADAP funding, while the projected Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 ¯ need was higher, see Letters, p.3 �¯ Censorship Through Inti midation ¯ by Tom Neal, editor & publisher Unfortunately, theneed has only increased since then. The recent visits by Tulsa police to local booksellers ¯¯ Amendment, by merely showing up in the stores identiThanks to the enactment of an important minority OUtraise very serious concerns about censorship, grand or fying themselves as law officers and requesting limiting reach program, spearheaded by the Congressional Black petit, direct or indirect, by our local government. ." access to these materials, Tulsa police succeeded in Caucus, enrollment in the ADAP program by minority The method used is frankly ingenious in skirting First ¯ obtaining the collaboration of the booksellers. And if they patients has increased throughout the year. This has Amendment protections as it depends on intimidation to ¯¯ self-censor, then the police never have to prove their case, given tremendous hope to so manyAmericans with HIV accomplish that which it is not legal to do otherwise. they never have to be held responsible for their probable that they will have access to life-savittg treatments cnrWhat I mean is that even though most, if not all of the ¯ misapplication of an Oklahoma statute. renfly out of reach. Overall, state and territorial AIDS materials which Tulsa police collected in the stores are _" Note that the police claimed they were not seeking to directors have reported that the projected national need clearly protected under the U.S. Constitution’s First .. make any arrests during these visits, see Censor, p.9 ftr ADAP will be closer to $130 million more than the previous year. Your budget request will not cover this additional need, and many of these new enrollees may face lotteries, rationing or simply a closed door. The Republican Congress has carried the ADAP program every year, despite the failure of leadership from your Administration. I respectfully ask again, Mr. President, that you become an active participant in meeting the ADAP needs for so many Americans with HIV/AIDS, AI Gore and submit a request to Congress for an increase of $130 ! b~All through the years of our nail on’ s hi s tory, the American dream has unfolded with a deeper meaning. Today, i t i s million for this life-saving program in your Statement of : a mystery that Thomas Jefferson could have written the powerful and inspiring words of our Declaration of Principles before budget negotiations end for the year. : Independence ~. and not free his slaves. Today, it is a mystery that our founders in Philadelphia could have written the I appreciate your urgent consideration of this issue. United States Constitution ? yet not allowed women to vote. Yet America has taken the inner meaning and power of - Sincerely, Rich Tafel, executive director our founding documents, and given them new life in each generation. "It sounded like firecrackers at first," said a woman who said she was sitting in a booth when the shooting began. She asked not to be identified for fear she might lose.her job. "I looked up and saw people falling to the ground," she said. "You could feel the wind off the bullets, they were so close." Darlene Overstreet, Danny Overstreet’ s sister, said her brother, who was Gay, visited the Back Street Cafe often. He worked as a telephone operator and lived alone in a house with his poodle. "He was a wonderful person. He helped everybody," Darlene Overstreet said. "He just stopped by to have a beer, that’ s all." Members of the Washington-based National Gay and Lesbian Task Force came to Roanoke for a candlelight vigil after the shooting. Flowers, cards and balloons were placed outside the bar by members of the community. Mayor Ralph Smith saidat a news conference after the event. ’T m shocked and saddened by this terrible, terrible crime .... Any time one member of our community : is hurt, we all suffer by that same hand." ¯ ." ¯ ¯ ¯ NEW SUPREHES? Nationat Coming Out D~, Oct. 11 - E|ecUon Da!/, Nov. 7 El HUMAN RIGHTS COME OUTVOTING .* www.hrc.org I believe very deeply that the time has come in America to widen the circle of fairness and dignity to include our ~friends, neighbors, ct-workers, and relatives in the gay and lesbian community. I am running for President to fight for all the people. That is why the ideals of fairness, equal opportunity, and non-discrimination are at the very heart of my campaign for President. In the past seven years, we have taken.great strides. We have appointed the first openly gay and lesbian people to high-ranking posts in our nation’ s history. We have made our government the largest employer in the world with a then nmning over him with a car to disguise his injuries : strong non-discriminati0n policy covetingsexual orientation. We have boosted funding for AIDS research, prevention, ¯ and treatment. We have created a new White House- Office of. National AIDS Policy. We fought insurance as a hit-and-rtm. ¯ In his order changing the venue, Merrifield cited a vigil .discrimination against people with pr~--~xi~fing conditions We help~l more people with HIV-AIDS get access to health for Warren that drew more than 500 people to the courthouse steps days after the murder. The rally also attracted ¯ ! am.personallY very ~)roud tO have beenthe first Vice President ever to speak at a public event with a gay rights national Gay- and civil-rights activists and an anti-Gay organization. I believe it is partly because of that record and commitment that I have been endorsed by gay andlesbian group from Kansas. ¯ leaders and civil rights organizations across this cduntry. But ]~don’ t want to rest on that record ? I want to build on it. News organizations .have since saturated the region ¯ When people filled with hate target Gaysadd Lesbi~ang, Jews;Blacks, Latinos, and Asian-Americans, it is clear that with coverage in newspapers, and on radio and television, hate Crimes are notjust like other erimes: As President, with your help, I will.lead the fight for a tough law to stiffen Merrifield said. The Dominion Post of Morgantown and the penalties for crimes~of hate the Times-West Virginian of Fairmont have each file& We need to do morb th battle HIV and AIDS 9 here at home and around the world..At the beginning of this.year, I more than 25 stories, he said. "Nearly. all of these newshad the opportunity tO address the United-Nations Security Council about the threat that AIDS poses to the stability and paper articles have been located on the front page and, in security of AfriCa and the world: As President, withy0ur help; I will lead a worldwide effort to fight HIV and AIDS. fact, most of these articles have been thelead story for that I believe we must takebold stepsto~give all.ourpe0p!ethe best health care in the.world. We need to dedicate ourselves particular day," Merrifiel~d wrot~ T.I~.~voe~ag¢ ,has con~ to provide access ,to.qua!ity heal~ coverage.to every.child and extend coverage to millions of adults by~ ~e:et~d 9f ~e ne~t t~residenfial term. :we need tO-~,tnfinue resear~into-HIV and AIDS and ~r~;clde ad~quat~ fhh~ng fdr i~."’~ riced rained detailed infOiinafion~ about tbe.inv~ti~afion°and clearly illustrates that many Marion County residents to give real prescription drug benefit to senioi:sand people with disabilitie.s who are on Medicare. We need a strong, enforceable Patients’ Bill of Rights because it’ s time that we take the medical decisions away from "have become emotionally involvedin this case and have prejudged:the defendant’s guilt," he said. ~ the HM.O accountants and insurance company bureaucrats, and give them back to the doctors, nurses, and health care Parkerhas already confessed to beating.Warr,en~but the ~ professionals. Americans:deserv.e the best health care, not just the cheapest.. " .... ~ ~’. ’ ’ ~ ...... We must also take strong new action to ban discrimifiation andmake sure every Americhn can re~iz~hi~.:6~ her judge has ~yet to d~eide:~w.hether jurors will hear that ¯ confession.~ In his Statement-to Sheriff" s Detective C.L. ~. potential. As President, I will re-issue the executive order banning discrimination in the federal w0J:kfo~ce. An’d i Will "Chip" Phillips; Parker admitted beating Warren after ¯ fight to pass the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, which will prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual discovering he had-toldrothe~ peo.p!.¢, about a sexual ¯ orientation. relationship he claimed to have with.~Parker. Wilson told In this campaign, there are real differences on these basic issues of fairness. My Republican opponen.t strongly Phillips that he went along with the beating because he ¯ opposes hate crimes legislation. He opposes a simple law to outlaw discrimination in hiring, firing, and promotion based was afraid of Parker, who had threatened to beat him, too. ¯ on sexual orientation, In fact, right now, in Texas and in 38 other states, you can be legally fired just because of your But defense teams argue that both boys’ confessions : sexual orientation. If I am entrusted with the Presidency, we will fight to correct that injustice. were improperly obtained. They say neither was in- ¯ The stakes are enormous in this election. We know what will happen if the Republicans take back the White House. formed of his right to an immediate juvenile detention ¯ And America cannot afford to go back to the neglect and divisiveness of the Bush-Quayle years. hearing. They also contend Phillips delayed moving the ¯ Instead, we must move forward to create the America of ~.highest ideals. That is why I need your help and your boys from Grant Town to the courthouse so he could dicit hard work. Join with me in this campaigii~and together we will win not just vttes, but powerful new victori~s.~oi dignity the confessions. Phillips denies any wrongdoing. �Lesbian Wins Visitations Idaho PFLAG Chapter PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island state Supreme Court last month recognized new rights for Gay and Lesbian couples raising children. In a 3-2 decision, the court ruled that Concetta DiCenzo could not prevent her former partner Maureen Rubano from asking the Family Court for the right to visit the son they raised together. The decision gives de facto-"in fact" - parents the same rights to petition for visitation as biological and adoptive parents. "The fact that DiCenzo not 0nly gave birth to this child but also nurtured him from infancy does not mean that she can arbitrarily terminate Rubano’ s de facto parental relationship with the boy, a relationship that DiCenzo agreed to and fostered for many years," Justice Robert Flanders wrote in the majority opinion. The ruling was based on state law allowing any interested party to "bring an action to determine the existence or nonexistence of a mother and child relationship." The justices also noted the Family Court has jurisdiction over cases involving the paternity of children born out of wedlock. Attorney Cherrie Perkins, who represented Rubano, a 53-year-old professor of clinical psychiatry at the medical school at the Unive,~sity of Massachusetts, said her client cried when she heard of the ruling. "She’ s now not on thin ice any more. She’ s on pretty solid ground," Perkins said. DiCenzo’ s attorney, Rosina Hunt, said the ease has drained her client emotionally and financially. "The big thing for her is she wants to keep her son in a Stable home and she doesn’ t want to go through this," Hunt said. Similar cases began surfacing in courts around the country in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and claims by "co-parents" generally were rejected, said attorney Mary Bonauto of Gay &’Lesbians Advocates & Defenders of Boston, which filed a brief in support of Rubano. Recently, however, courts in a handful of states, including Massachusetts and New Jersey, have decided to recognize the legal status of non-biologi~ cal parents. "This decision puts Rhode Island in line with the majority of recent decisions on the topic, although this is an issue that is still hotly contested among the states," said Bonauto, who lead the fight to legalize same-sex civil umons in Vermont. Rubano and DiCenzo decided tO have a child together while they were living in Millville, Mass. DiCenzo underwent artificial insemination from an anonymous sperm donor and on Dec. 15, 1991, DiCenzo gave birth to aboy. The couple sent out birth announcements identifying them both as the child’ s parents, and had the last name of Rubano-DiCenzo listed on both the birth and baptismal certificates. The couple raised the child together for several years and the boy called Rubano her "heart room." In 1996, the pair split up and DiCenzo, now 43, moved to Cumberland. The next year, the two signed a Family Court consent order that granted Rubano permanent visitation rights on a periodic basis. In exchange Rubano waived "any claim or cause of action she has or may have to recognition as a parent of the minor child." But then DiCenzo, believing Rubano’ s visits were "disruptive and confusing" to the boy, told Rubano that no further visitations would be permitted. Rubano appealed to Family Court, asking a judge to enforce the earlier order. DiCenzo argued the Family Court lacked jurisdiction to eater the order in the first place. The Family Court, unsure how to proceed, requested that the Supreme Court rule on the case. Perkins believes the decision clears the way for the Family Court to allow visitation. Hunt expressed coneeru that the finding may pave the way for third party parent claims from grandpareats, ex-boyfriends and others. The General Assembly may want to consider changing the law, she said. But Perkins said she sees the ruling as a boon to both Gays and heterosexuals. "You could be somebody’ s second wife or husband and essentially raise their children and if you got divorced, you could have no rights," Perkins said. "We think that the court was actually looking for a way to redress alot of holes in the law because’ families are changing over time and this was maybe the ease to do it." Make Case for Inclusion SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) --The area’ s Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays chapter will make its proposal to join the town’ s list of credible commtmity organizations. The organization hosted the ACLUsponsored slide show and talk, "The Gay Life in Idaho: Idaho’ s Little T01d History," created by Alan Virta, head of the Boise State University library’s special collections. "It’ s amazing what you find here and there in the official records," he s aid. "S ometimes trial transcripts give a lot of information." Virta’s 45-minute show includes Idaho’s reaction to the 1895 Oscar Wilde trial in London - the playwright was charged with homosexuality -and the 1955 boys of Boise scandal, a homosexual witchhum. Parents Jim and Barbara Hansen started the Sandpoint Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. They say that, so far, they have not been the targets of harassment in an area of Idaho typically known for its conservatism. "I find this a very open-minded community," Jim Hansen said. "There’s more suppoyt, strokes, affirmations here than I ever thought possible. That keeps me going.’" Michigan College Offers Partner Benefits MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) - Northern Michigan University faculty members have ratified a three-year contract that gives them 3.5% annual pay increases and same-sex domestic partner health benefits. The contract for the Northern Michigan chapter of the American Association of University Professors was ratified by a 159-33 vote, The Mining Journal reported. The union has about 290 members. The university’ s board of control is to consider the agreement Oc~ 6. Other changes include retirement contributions of 15.64% of annual salary, and extension of health insurance benefits to same-sex domesuc partners. Gay Games 2002: Anyone Can Compete SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - For those who’ ve dreamed of competing in the Olympics but failed to meet the athletic requirements, there’ s still hope: they can sign up for the Sydney 2002 Gay Games. The event is open to everyone. "There is no minimum standard required to participate," Game Gibson, chief executive officer of the Sydney Gay Games, noted. "No one is excluded, regardless of gender, sextmlity, race or physical ability." Organizers expect the two-week event, which includes a weeklong cultural.festival and opens Oct. 25, 2002, to attract over 14,000 participants from at least 78 countries. There are more than 10,000 athletes ¯ competing in the Olympics. Gibson also said the Gay Games, whiCh will attract mostly Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual competitors, have found their biggest sponsor. San Francisco-based Gay.com, an online supplier of services to the homosexual community, has entered into a $1.5 million agreement to be the event’ s official. Internet media sponsor,.he said. The competition, which will run from Nov..3 to Nov. 9, 2002, has 31 sports; some with a distinctive Australian flavor, chairwoman Colette Steer said, including netball and touch rugby. But other sports on the agenda include Olympic events such as badminton, baseball, athletics, field hockey, tennis, swimming and volleyball. The sports will be held in two main zones - Olympic Park and around Sydney Harbor. As well as the official sports, the sixth edition of the Gay Games will feature exhibition events such as surfing and surf lifesaving, dragon boat racing and what organizers are calling "mind games" - ehes s, bridge, backgammon and mahjong. Steer played softball in the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam. She recalled with emotion waving he,r "little pink flag, as one does" ~t the Gay Games opening ceremony. The Gay Games are "an opportunity to celebrate what we are.., and to enjoy ourselves a United in God’s Love MCC.United Sunday Worship 11:00 am 1623 N. Maplewood Reverend Cathy Elliot Pastor 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community of Hope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, SundaySchool, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Servic~ 6pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 �The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor .Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 prn, Sunday - Friday 12-9pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583- 1248 Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tues. & Thurs., 5 -8 pm at the Center, 1307 East 38th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KIN WILKS Independent Consultant for 357-1757 in ~ a matter of hours o~P~-N~RMS, OPENMINDS, OPEN HF_At~ Saint Aidan Saint Dunstar~ 4045 N. ~incinnati. 425-7882 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Plabe. 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You in that fiee and open--and tolerant environment," Gibson said. Over 15,000 people competed in the Amsterdam Gay Games. The first Gay Games were held in 1982 in San Francisco. Organizers said the influx of nearly 35,000 visitors to Sydney for the games and festival will inject about $55 million into the region’ s economy. On the Net: www.Gaygamesvi.org.au Gov. Ventura to Offer Partner Benefits ST. PAUL (AP) - If his administration moves forward with a plan to provide benefits for domestic partners of state employees, Gov. Jesse Ventura would demand proof of a committed relationship, he said in September. "There will be documentation signed; there will be contractual things that will go on between these people," Ventura said. "It’s not like a fly-by-night relationship, where, ’Gee I met someone in the bar and now I’m going to make them a domestic partner for a week and a half.’ " Few other details emerged about the possible extension of health and insurance benefits to domestic partners, a still-in-the-works proposal Venture’ s ad.. ministration disclosed recently. Employee Relations Commissioner Julien Carter said if the proposal is confined to same-sex couples only, he expects it to affect about 1% of the state’s 53,000-member workforce, or 530 employees. It’s not clear if heterosexual domestic partners would be covered. "There are a series of decisions to be made and that definition of domestic partner is one of them," said Ventura’ s spokesman, John Wodele. If heterosexuals are included, Carter said his department’s best estimate is that 3% of employees would take advantage of that arrangement. "We just don’ t know for sure what the best planning number is, but it seems to be in (he ballpark," he said. Ventura stressed during his weekly radio show that the state needs to do something to stay competitive with the private sector: Both are fighting to attract new employees in a tight labor market. "What are they going to pick?" Ventura said of prospective hires. "They" re going to pick the company that gives them the best benefits, the best working conditions. That’ s what this issue is greatly about." Even before Venmra’s staff finalized the plan, conservative lawmakers discounted its chances. "I don’t think it’s going to fly," said state Rep. Tony Kielkucki, R-Lester Prairie. "He’ s got more support for unicameral than he has for this one." An effort failed this year to get a constitutional amendment On the ballot for a one,house Legislature. Vermont, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington. and Massachusetts offer benefits to domestic partners, according to OutFront Minnesota, an advocacy group for Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. Fort Worth city council mulls ban on Gay bias FORT WORTH-, Texas (AP) - For the third time in eight years, a measure that would protect sexual orientation under Fort Worth’s anti-discrimination law is being discussed by.members of thecity council. The current drive to add sexual orientation is being led by Councilman Chuck Silcox; a conservative Republican who ended discussions of a similar proposal in January 1999. Under the proposal,. Gays and .-Lesbians would be added to the list of protected cl~S in Fort Worth’ s anti-discrimination ordinance. The list already indudes race, creed, color, religion, gender, disability, national origin and family status. City officials said violation of the anti-discrimination ordinance is a .nfisdemeanor. !n recent editio~as of the For/~’orth Star-Tdegram. Sitcox said his posit~o,? on tee issue changed after was approached by a Fort \Vor{h man who lost Ms job after .his employer discovered he was Gay "I didn" realize we had the kind of problems out there that we do," Silcox said. "I doff t like the idea t~hat people are losing jobs over this. Anytime there is discrimination, we need to draw the line." Nebraska Amendment to Outlaw Gay Marriages KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) - The chief supporter and an opponent of a state ban on same-sex marriages predicted extremely different outcomes if the proposed constitutional amendment is approved by voters in November. The predictions varied from prohibiting homosexual couples from adopting children to outlawing all business partnerships between two people of the same sex. Initiative 416 would define marriage in Nebraska as a relationship between only a man and wo~nan, and prohibit any "civil union, domestic partnership or other similar same-sex relationship." At a sometimes-heated fonun before the state’s daily newspaper editors, an opponent of the measure argued that it is poorly written and threatens the legality of all relationships between two people of the same sex, such as business partnerships,joint ownerships and contractual agreements. "Passage of the amendment will lead to years of litigation that will be costly to the state and its taxpayers," said Linda Richenberg of Nebraska Advocate for Justice and Equality. The amendment would simply prohibit same-sex marriages from being recognized by the state, said Guyla Mills, chairwoman of the Defense of Marriage Amendment Committee, which collected more than the required 105,000 signatures to put the question on the ballot. Mills said many constitutional lawyers have reviewed the ballot language and say it is clear on its intent. "This amendment is not about taking rights away from anybody. It is about protecting the time-honored tradition of marriage," Mills said. Under the measure, homosexual couples - including someone who works for state government or the University of Nebraska system would be prevented from sharing state insurance benefits. It also would prevent Gay and Lesbians from adopting children. She said it will not impact the insurance providers in the state or the insurance policies of private businesses and corporations. Richenberg argued that if voters approve the ban. Nebraska will earn a reputalaon as a hostile place to work and live, prompting an exodus of ho~nosexuals and their families who have been productive members of the state’ s work force. "We don’ t want to see anyone leave the state because of this," Mills said. "We just don’ t think a minority of people should have the right to redefine marriage for everybody." Mills pointed out several times that both of the state’s senate candidates, Republican Don Stenberg and Democrat Ben Nelson, plan to vote in support of the same-sex marriage ban. Richenberg said the amendment is unnecessary in a conservative state like Nebraska, where there is not a push to legalize same-sex unions. "A vote against 416 is not going to legalize same-sex marriages," she said. "Same-sex marriages do not exist in Nebraska, and there will be no change." The forum was sponsored by the Nebraska Associated Press Association. Lesbian Denied Right to . Legally Change Name NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A Lesbian who wanted to hyphenate her na03e to in.cldde ’that of hbr longume partner i’s @pealing the decision of a judge who said a name change would create the impression the two women were married. The American Civil Liberties Umon of New Jersey has appealed Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Iuliani’s decision ~o deny Jill Bacharach’s application ’ to change her name. At a hearing m Augus|o !uliani deniext fi~e Cedar Grove woman’ s petiti-’,~, sayi~g he feared it wo~d create the appem’a~m~ that she and imr female ,~artner were roamed, said ACLU staff{" attorney J.C. :~Nver. Sam.esex uNons ~z,: not !egaily recogxfizcd in ~iew Jersa y arid in every state except. Vermont. "I have ~ever expecied this sort of discrimination from a court of taw’y said Bacharach, 32. Salver said the judge’ s concern about the appearance of a same-sex union is an improper basis to deny a name change. . . see Name, p. 7 �Not EnoUgh Dollars :" m~nt in emergency rooms, wbich is more expensive than standard care. Emergency For Homeless Sick rooms also don’ t offer AIDS patients the Financial Planning With A Clear Commitment= counseling that could hdp decrease the NEW YORK (AP) - They carry their spread of HIV. life’ s possessions on withering backs and Bailey House, one of many nonprofit At American Express Financial Advisors, we want to make our hide death within their broken bodies. Commitment to gay men and lesbians clear. Just as we have extended domestic partner Some spent an entirelifetime on the streets, ¯ groups that assist the city in serving the benefits to our lesbian and gay employees worldwide, we are committed to providing homeless AIDS population, started when searching for a home under a molding ~ound financial advice that specifically addresses the unique financial issues affecting the virus was first identified and it was cardboardboxin atrash-strewn alleyway. ¯ our lesbian and gay clients. Others are teens who ran from something ¯ still considered by many as homosexuals’ punishment from God. The 6 1/2-story but stumbled into a life far worse; they " Whether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or caring for children, your Americar trade sex for a night in a bed. Still more " building, set m the primest of real estate Express financial advisor can help you take control of your financial future. We can help believe their luck has run out after re- ¯ along the Hudson River, nurtured home’OU: centlylosingjobs,apartments and friends,. " less AIDS survivors. Establish savings and investment plans In 1995, Bailey House added a vocaBut every day, a small handful of the ¯ Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation tional studies program because clients thousands of homeless men and women Avoid financial restrictions placed on unmarried couples living with AIDS in New York City make ¯ lived longer thanks to the drug cocktails Avoid costly delays in the receipt of life insurance proceeds and weren’t interested in just wasting a tremendous effort rarely taken by their brethren. They seek help. They fight for ¯ away. Three years later, Bailey House ~, series of Seminars given by opened the program to anyone with AIDS life, no matter the inevitable future. Theresa Barnard, American Express Financial Advisor living in New York. "I wanted to do Scientists haven’ t cured HIV or AIDS, something productive with my life," said When: 7:00 P.M. Where: MCC United but their powerful .drug concoctions that keep people alive longer create a curious " Sean Ransom, 31, who contracted the 1623 N Maplewood Ave virus in the late 1980s and sought help problem. Public and non-profit agencies four years ago. "I didn’ t want to... take already struggle to pay for their existing -’inancial Strategies for Gay Men & Lesbians cases. Now they wonder: How can we " my reeds and wait to die." Those medications a triple combinaTuesday, September 5th and Tuesday, October 10th possibly help the new people infected " tion of drugs - have doubledthe average Please R.S.V.P. with the virus? with Theresa at "Today, people think the ePidemic is ¯ time it takes for the HIV infection to Retirement Explore Your Options 918-748-8191 over," said Gina Quattrochi, the president " develop into AIDS, said ProfesssorAlvaro Munoz of Johns Hopkins University’s ext.121 ¯ Create your Retirement Income of the National AIDS Housing Coalition " andtheexecutivedirectoratBaileyHouse, : School of Public Health. They also inTuesday, September 19th a private center in Greenwich Village ¯ creased the average survival time of AIDS ¯ Estate Planning helping homeless AIDS survivors. "The ¯ sufferers from 18 months to six years. In the late 1980s, residents in Bailey Tuesday, October 24th reality is people are living much ~nger, " House stayed an average of three months, but the vast majority are disabled. Currently, Congress is debating next ¯ and their stay almost always ended at a year’ s budget. Advocates like.Quattrochi " funeral home. These days, they stay abont three years, if not longer. !¢lany walk out requested increasing the $232 million Financial budgetby $60 million- and were worried ¯ on their own, often to Bailey House-asAdvisors sisted apartments. when President Clinton proposed upping " Beyond treatment, stable housing is it to just $260 million. Disappointment " has turned to fear because Senate leaders ". crucial to every patients’ health, Quattrochi don’ t w ant to increas e the appropriation at ¯ says. Two-thirds of AIDS patients cite housing as a top priority,just below mediall. "It’s thin. We have to get it up," said " cal treatment. Living on a friend’ s couch or moving between shelters, patients find U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., a long~t difficult and tiring to get continual care; time supporter of homeless _&IDS services who pushed the House to propose " the effort weakens the body and strengthTULSA ens the disease - a deadly duo. Patients increasing funds to $250 million. "This ¯ also must live with failing organs, and " romng TECHNOLOGY "" in " mortey. " country is Expending millions of dollars .for AID.S - " need refrigerators to keep their medicine exclusive assistance meets resistance m . effective. AN EVENT OFTHETULSA METRO CHAMBER 12.000 Stable housing becomes a primal urge, every case. ’qqaere has always been pres- ¯ Quattrochi says. "Let me put it this way, sure from the far right to portray it for drug what I always ask people is, ’Where do addicts and queers," Quattrochi said, addyou want to be when you have the flu?’" ing that others question the need to fund she said. "You want- to be at home." specific AIDS housing when so much These problems become remote when a housing is already available. homeless person wakes up after a night Quattrochi says only half of Bailey under crumbled, urine-stained newspaHouse’s residents are Gay or Lesbian. pers. Medications? It’ s doubtful they have She noted that at least 450,000 Americans any. It’ s often little better in city-run shelwith AIDS nee~l, housing, and that’s a conservative estimate because some ¯ ters. Derryck, who declined to g~ve his last haven’t learned they have the illness or are mentally ill and may never know. New ¯" name, lived in emergency housing offiYork, the city that served 1,200 homeless ".. cially called Single Room Occupancy A comprehensive exposition dedicated to the needs of Tulsa’s people with AIDS in 1988, now assists : Units, but known by residents as barebusiness community, featuring 250 exhibit booths, Business After more than 27,000. That total is steadily ." boned welfare hotels. He could touch all ¯ four walls from the middle of his cubicle. Hours, Power Networking~ ..Seminars ~conduc~ed by businessincreasing as it has for the past few years, said Ruth Reinecke, a spokeswoman for "- Occupants shared a single bathroom, and building professionals and renowned luncheon speakers, a silent he shudders when remembering the filth. the city’ s Division of AIDS Services. auction, door prizes, a car giveaway, and much, much more! A Brooklyn federal judge’s decision ¯ Prostitutes, drugs, loan sharking, he re: calls, this placewas amodernday Sodom earlier this week shows the city apparently hash’ t adjusted wall to the surging :¯ and Gomorrah.’And Derryck, who is 50, concedes he was lucky to live the,re. numbers. The judge, who slammed the "There s even a lack of bad housing, he Division of AIDS Services for "chroni¯ said glumly. cally and systematically" delaying or terBut Derryck found his way to Bailey minating assistance, ordered the agency ¯ : House. Now hecansitonhisbedinhis 85placed under federal oversight for three ¯ TULSA METRO CHAMBER years. The city plans to appeal the deci- ¯ square-foot home, with its view of the Hudson River, watch TV, grab a snack sion. or his medications - from h~s mini-fridge, Quattrochi says if members of Congress would look at operations like Bailey _" or use his personal bathroom. "It works House, they’ d understand why advocates ¯ for me,"he said with a grin as smooth jazz ~ sauntered out of his stereo’s speakers. Sponsored by Tulsa Auto Collection, Media sponsors include KJRH TV2 plead for more money. The alternative, Clear Channel Communication and the Tulsa World she says, is that health care costs will soar : Behind him hung posters of singer when homeless AIDS patients seek treat- Si IOWCASE Interested in finding business solutions? Looking for business connections? Then plan to attend the Tulsa Business & Technology Showcase 2000 Thursday & Friday, October 19 & 20 Tulsa Convention Center Info: 560-0298 �BobMarley and a pink flamingo. Beyond that, the window looked out onto the water. As he spoke, a sailboat sliced through gusty winds as it cruised south heading out into the open bay. HIV Prevention Ad Power Connect. Banned from TV Public Service Company of Oklahoma Customer Service Is Now Avai|able 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around-the-clock answersto your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or.report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or ¯ off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A set of television ads that depict bare-chested men and a male-to-female transgender delivenng an HIV prevention message have been pulled from daytime TVat a Bay Area station. Rather than run the 30-second ad during afternoon talk shows, KGO Channel 7 offered to run the ads - which encourage HIV-positive men and women to practice safe sex and be honest with partners about their status - after 10 p.m. so that fewer children would see them. A Better World, the San Francisco advertising agency that purchased the spot, chose the original time frame because researchers have discovered 3 and 4 p.m. shows are popular with Gay men. However, KGO leaders say that the ads clash with afternoon viewer expectations. "With a Rosie (O’ Dounell) episod,°, with ’NSYNC, or another pop culture guest on it, it would be a little eyepopping for a commercial like this to show up," said David Metz, director of programming services at KGO. Les Pappas, president of the agency., called KGO’s decision homophobic. "We’ ve done the research to find out what our target audience is watching, and they’ re watching Rosie and Oprah. We don’t want to be relegated or banished until after 10 p.m.," Pappas said. A Better World created the $345,000 ad campaign for the city’ s health department after a study last month that fond the rate of HIV infection among Gay men in San Francisco is climbing at an alarming rate. New HIV infections in the city increased form 498 in 1997 to 790 last year, according to the Health Department study. NYC Loses Case Over AIDS Care ~ Clip And Save I I I, I I I I I I I I ! I I I I I I I I I I CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Servici0 a Cliehtes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 Falta De Suministro: 1-888-218-3924 Public Service Company of Oklahoma I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I NEW YORK (AP) - A federal judge has ruled the city mistreated poor people with AIDS by subjecting them to bureaucratic mismanagement and delays in housing, health and other benefits. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Sterling Johnson said officials violated theAmericans with Disabilities Act by "chronically and system.atically failing to.provide (AIDS patients) with meaningful access to critical subsistence benefits and services." He called the consequences "devastating." The opinion stems from a class-action lawsuit filed in federal court on behalf of 25,000 plaintiffs dtywide who have AIDS or other HIV-related illnesses. Johnson’s ruling detailed testimony heard earlier this year at a bench trial - by plaintiffs who described getting the rtmaround from the Division for AIDS Services for months, if not years. The judge appointed a federal magistrate to monitor the agency over the next three years. Michael Hess, the city’ s counsel, criticized the ruling and promised an appeal. "Very frankly, I think it’ s very flawed," Hess said, adding that the judge’ s opinion was "very poorly done and contains a lot of errors that I hope will be corrected." Hess said Johnson relied on informauon that was more than five years old. Statistics cited by Johnson showed that in one out Of three cases, the city failed to meet its own 30-day deadline for responding to requests for services. He ordered the city to comply. The ruling was the latest in which Housing Works has succeeded in forcing Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’ s administration to overhaul portions of its policies. In 1999, U.S. District Judge Allen Schwartz found that city officials had acted with "retaliatory intent" against the nonprofit group, which has been a relentless critic of Giuliani’ s policies on AIDS. Vatican Officials: Still No to Condoms VATICAN CITY (AP) - A Vatican official said recently that two American Jesuits have distorted church positions b,,y suggesting that the Vatiean has become more tolerant" about the distribution of condoms to fight AIDS. Monsignor Jacques Suaudeau said the Vatican stance hasn’ t changed, although the church must not be seen as indifferent to AIDS sufferers and the battle to stop the disease’ s spread. Some in the church have been seeking a softening in the position of the Vatican, which has been accused by some governments of hindering the AIDS battle. Writing in the Sept. 23 issue of "America," a Jesuit magazine, the authors pointed to an April article written by Suaudeau in the Vatican new spaper. They said it contained important signals: That while some individual bishops have repudiated local HIV prevention programs that include the distribution of condoms, "the Roman curia is more tolerant on the matter." The article was written by the Revs. John Fuller, an associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, and James Keenan, professor of moral theology at Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass. Suaudeau called the article a"pretext to relaunch the argument." "This is a manipulation. It is blown up and exaggerated," he told The Associated Press. In his article, Suaudeau endorsed sexual abstinence and chastity as the methods to prevent AIDS, citing church programs to promote that. Suaudeau’ s article went on to say that the use of condoms in Thailand "had particularly good results for these people with regard to the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. It said the use of condoms in those circumstances "is actually a ’lesser evil’" but then added that "it cannot be proposed as a model of humanization and development." Suaudeau said he wrote the article to show the Vatican was not indifferent to the AIDS problem. Easier Access to Needles in NM SANTA FE (AP) - State health officials want to change New Mexico’ s Controlled Substances Act to state that pharmacists who prbvide syringes to intravenous-di’ug users are not guilty of distributing drug paraphernalia. State officials say the change would help combat the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B and C. The Pharmacy Board decided to back the change, which would need to be passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gary Johnson. In 1997, Johnson signed into law the Harm Reduction Act that made New Mexico the second state in the nation to create a state-funded needleexchange progran~ for drug users. �Tuesday, November 7 Election Day by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor ." homoerotically tinged moments, and it Happy Samhain! (pronounced "sow- ¯ features Amanda Bearse playing Straight. eft’- it’ s Gaelic) We turn in the wheel of " (She was the next door neighbor on"Martheyearto theseasonofthethinning of the ¯ lied With Children", who came out a few veils, when people all over the word felt ¯ years back.) Roddy McDowell is fabuthe shifts that marked th~ time of honor- " lous as an inept bachelor vampire hunter ing th.eir ancestors. " - One wonders why he never married Samhain in pagan Celtic Britain, was a .* "nudge, nudge, wink, wink." The charactime forhonoring the spirits of those that " ter, I mean. And Stephen Geoffreys turns have passed on, as in a touching perwell as the day of f0rmance as the .I love vampire Elms, and the dead in Spain " " lonelyoutcastwho andMexico.Itwas ~]alS is tlae ]~est tlme of year. gets seduced by an important bollChris Sarandon’ s day all over the ever-so-handOf course, ~t’s even l~etter ff pre-Christian some vampire. world, enough so ~t~s a darl~, w~indy, stormy Ue’s another one that when the that could show up Church took over, ni~lat w~tla t:launder craslaln~ outside my winthey renameditAll dow any time. It’ s Hallow’s Eve and and l~htnln~ flash~n~ and.., a fun film, and All Saints Day. It worth the cost. oh~ sorry~ ~ett~n~ a bit caught shrunk from a Available on three day festival, DVD. up ~n the deser~ptlon. to a one day celFor those that ebration. In like Tom Cruise Storms do that to me. Amelica, it was " " with fangs (he retrivialized into fusedtodothekiss w]aere was I? Halloween. So, with Antonio just for old times’ Banderas - was O1~ yes, vampires and film. sake, take a mo" " this due to his in"’" ment that day to security with his remember those loved ones who have own sexuality since it was inthe script?), passed on. "Interview With The Vampire" has been I love vampire films, and thisis thebest rereleased on DVD with new documentime of year. Of course, it’ s even bet{er if tary footage and a few other extras thrown it’sadark, windy, stormy night with thtm- " iu. Brad Pitt plays Lestat, and the now der crashing and lightning flashing and. quite grown up Kirsten Dunst turned in a ¯ oh, sorry, getting a bit caught up in the stellar performance as an adult trapped in description. Storms do that to me.. a child’ s body. Good for the moody vetowhere was I? Oh, yes, vampires and film. pire types. One of the best verslons of the Dracnla For fans of the original Hammer legend, although the critics ripped it to Dracnlas, there are two on DVD: Dracnla, shreds, is the 1979 Frank Langella feaPrince of Darkness, the first sequel with ture. Langella’ s Drac would be welcome ChristopherLee, after"HorrorofDracula" to show up outside my window anytime (unavailable on DVD - dammit!); and and suck anything he wanted. The film, Satanic Rites of Dracula, which was the directed by John Badham, also stars Kate last Hammer Dracula with Chris I~e. It Nelligan and Laurence Olivier in his last was a rather inept handling of putting film performance. While there are times Drac in what was them "modem" times thepacingtrudgesabitslowly, overallthe (1973). Only for those diehr~;d film is one of the lnshest productions of "I)racufans". who can’t stand to have the legend I’ve seen, even though it is completecollections.Still,it’safunromp, based more on the play than the actual and the costumes are well worthlaughing book. That didn’ t really bother me, picky at. Did people really wear that then? LOL purist that I am, and the Dracula in this The only one with any style was Drac, in filmhas quiteadry sense of humor that is timeless black and long cloak. Dracula, easy to miss if you ares’ t prone to catch- ~" PrinceofDarkness, atleastkepthiminthe ing it. It is widely available on DVD, and " 1800’ s, although Lee is left with little to although the print they used to transfer . do but hiss and look menacing. Still, it’ s a from is prone to noise (specks where the ¯ much better picture, and a fun romp. Wemer Herzog’ s remake of Nosferatu film has started to come off the magnetic " strip it’ s on), it is still a great atmospheric " is available, but unless you want to be thrill for the buck. bored to tears with Drac’ s eternal anguish Stay away from Coppola’s version, . over killingthings, pass. It really is thoug]~ ~t~ s b!9ody awful and really sucks " "Dracula Needs Prozac"., and Klaus Kinski - i’n a b~id’Wa~ (Pun intendedl) is So wtfiny in the part, that you just wanna Nosferatu, the first Dracula film ever slap him after 5 minut,e~s. And talk about made, and regarded as a masterpiece of ° pace.., those 2 hours-seem like 2 days. th~Germanexpressionisticcinema,isalso Again, only for the hardcore collector, a~lable,.meticuloi~sly restored, and with although afterhearing so much about it, it a.~gry interesting commentary on DVD. was nice to finally see it. Or not. Always -?irected by F.W: Murnau, ,an openly spoken of as a "classic," it m~es me ga~ director, the homoerotic ~ndertones wonder wlm decides what w~il be deemed ~ake fi~ walt worth having, or at least, aclassic andjt~st how hard they need robe renting. Re-scored wifia the original orhit upside the head with the inteliigencc chestra~:ion, it is a fascinating ,ook at d_m stick. Nstory. Produ~din !92~.,itacmNiyholds If 3 ou re m the moodfor something in tap wel! today, a more literary vein, I czm heartily recom-. For those seekiv.g .lus~ a fun romp mend "Desrnond", by Ulysses Deitz. A through vampire fi.hn!,’md with fang-inweL writtensagaofamodemvampinthe cheek, there s l~ngm Night", about a Anne Rice tradition, this one does not shy vampireandhisghoul, who happens to be away from the fact that, yes indeed, the male. They have a couple of lovely vamps are Gay. see Jim, p. 9 HRC WATCH PARTY Because win or lose, it’s good to be among friends 9 PM 3340 South Peoria, Tulsa, OK Must be 21 - Cash Bar HRC envisions an America where lesbian and gay people are ensured of their basic equal rights. You can help us do our work by joining us for either or both of these events (or by joining HRC - it’s just $35, call 584~2913 or email hrctulsaoklahoma @ aol.com). HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN~ Sunday, October 29th 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM Helga’s Horribles Present scenes from "The Little Shop of Horrors" !7th & Main, Tulsa, OK TULSA Limited Seating Call 584-~913 for reservations Must be 21 - Cash Bar �October 14 8:00 pm Friday O~tober 20 A survey of books which Tulsa police required to be shrinkwrapped in Borders’ 21st St. location turned up at least 20 wrapped tifles over half of which were Gay and Lesbian interest books, the other half being mostly how-to sex guides for heterosexuals. Among the Gay rifles were serious art monographs on the mid-century photographer, George Platt Lynes, controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, and photographer David LaChappelle. Also chosen were history books like "Who’s a Pretty Boy Then? 150 Years of Gay Life in Pictures" and "Nothing But the Girl, The Blatant Lesbian Image" and "Gay Planet, All Things for All Gay Men." Only one title of all those wrapped, an art book by Tom of Finland, appeared possibly to meet the standard for shrinkwrapping. The police move has raised alarm in local ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) activists and Gay community leaders. William Hinkle, attorney, PFLAG and ACLU activist responded to the police actions, saying "[they] can’t d,~ that. ¯. absolutely [not]." Hinkle further characterized the law as "blunt instrument," that if indeed the books were in violation of an Oklahoma statute, then an arrest should have been made. Kerry Lewis, v?’g president of TOHR (Tulsa Oklaho~ mans for Human Rights) and an attorney with a prominent Tulsa finn, called the police actions "really kind of scary" and indicated that TOHR was very interested in the impact of this action. Lewis noted thafthere appeared to be some other actions on the part of Tulsa police, a recent i.d.-check in a Tulsa club, that raised concern about a resurgence of anti-Gay harassment by Tulsa police. Other issues: Police Chief Ron Palmer stated that he did not issue the order for this action. Nor did Mayor Susan Savage know of the incident. City standards do restrict city councilors (legislative branch) from directing city employees to-perform actions. City councilor Gary Watts said that the mayor and chief of police have given permission for city councilors to talk directly to majors and deputy chiefs but that had he had a similar complaint he would have told the constituent to call the police directly. Watts said if a city councilor gave an order to the police, it was wrong, and if the officer took the order, it was doubly wrong. Corporate spokespeople for both Border and Barnes & Noble responded. Sandy Spears, district manager for Barnes & Noble said they follow state and local ordinances but we don’t censor..." Borders representatives in a conference call claimed that they have a"dear dedication to the First Amendment but they are also conscious of the community they’re in." Borders representatives claimed they have always shrinkwrapped some books and that some come that way from the printers. (All of the Gay rifles TFN examined had locally applied bar code tags under the shrinkwrap indicating that these had not originally been wrapped. Borders representatives also claim that any customer can remove shrinkwrap in order to view a book but also acknowledged that they post no signs to let customers know about that option. They also acknowledged that to some customers the presence of the shrinkwrap was intimidating - that it appeared to send a message that the materials were illicit. seeming concern about Gay patrons. Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris stated that he had not been consuited before this action commenting that he’ s often seen as acting in coordination with this,sort of action but had not done so. Borders spokespeople indicated that they will send their regional management to visit Tulsa stores sometime in the next few weeks to review the situation. See editorial: Censorship Throug,;~ Intimidation, p. 3 No dancing around the subject here. And it’ s a compelling story as well, with style and wit. One of my favorites. John Peyton Cooke’ s "Out for Blood" is another excellent book with wall-written characters and a fun romp through vampland. It’ s worth hunting for in used bookstores or garage sales, since it’ s unfortanately out of print. There are two anthologies out that are worth the reading - the stories are hit and miss, but there’ s more hits than misses, so it’s worth the time - "Brothers of the Night", and "Sons of Darkness", edited by Michael Rowe and Thomas Roche. The covers are awful, but it just goes to prove the saying,"You can’ tjudge a book, etc." I’d say about 95% of the stories are excellent, which makes the 5% bearable. And there’s something for everyone. I usually don’ t care much for anthologies, but these are worth picking up. Stay away from"Vampires Anonymous". That’ s the worst piece of dreck I’ ve read in many a year of reading vampire fiction. That’ s it for the "Things that go boink in the night section." I mean, bump, yeah, bump! Still, if you know of anyone with a cape And there’ s something for everyone. ! usually don’ t care much for anthologies, but these are worth picking up. Stay away from"Vampires Anonymous". That’ s the worst piece of dreck I’ ve read in many a year of reading vampire fiction. That’ s it for the "Things that go boink in the night section." I mean, bump, yeah, bump! Still, if you know of anyone with a cape feti sh, hates daylight, and has been around 200 years but only looks 30-something, is allergic to garlic, and has a really good immune system, send him to me... being bitten can be fun, and the neck is one of my favorite e-zones... But by merely talking about the possibility of arrests, they clearly raise that as threat if the bookstore staff doesn’t do what the police suggest/demand. Also, troubling is the role of TulSa City Councilor Todd Huston. While Chief Palmer claims that Huston did not violate city standards by contacting city staff because he did not "order" them to take a particular action (councilors are not permitted to direct city staff but are required to go through the executive branch, i.e. the mayor or chief or deputy chiefs). But any casual observer will see that comment by an elected official to mid-level officers is more likely to be heeded than the complaint of an ordinary citizen. And given the scandal related to former city councilor Anna Falling about orders given to city employees, Huston should have gone through the chain of command of the mayor or at least the chief of police. Surely then more consideration would have been given to the dubious constitutionality of this action, see Censor, p. 10 �by Lamont Lindstrom ¯ may die unless her false pregnancy is Last week my friend Henry heard a ~ diagnosed and treated by local healers. thud. Henry was hanging out at his new ," Ghosts you meet while awake can also boyfriend’s apartment in San Francisco ¯ make trouble._ One day a young woman named Risi just vanished. when something big crashed upstairs. "It’ s that Her family panicked. No"...Anthropologist body annoying yobbo in the disappears in this inSherry Ortner, timate society where evthird floor apartment at it again," or so they thought. eryone always knows evdrawln~ on the eryone else’ s business. We Henry’s boyfriend exrushed to the graveyard plained that no one in the Freneh feminist and blew triton shell trumbuilding .liked the guy. He Simone Beauvoir, was catty and manipulapets loudly to put-the spirit world on nouce: tive - the Richard Hatch of ~,~nee proposed that buuuuuuu! Village theory the apartment building. No boyfriends ever knocked ’Man is to Culture as was that the girl’s grandmother, who had died the on his door. Woman is to previous year, had come Three days later an ambulance arrived. The para- Nature.’ Ortner was back to fetch Risi to keep her company in "the other medics carried down a seekln~ a reason for side" - the world of the body from the third floor. spirits. Unlike TV’ s Survivor, the why, almost everyFour days later a someneighbor was the first to where, people value what bedraggled Risi wango, not the last. He had dered back into the vilbeen lying dead just above what men do more lage. It wasn’t grandHenry’ s head for several days. Luckily, San Fran- than they value what mother, so it turned out, but rather a handsome cisco weather can be cool, women do..." ghost she didn’ trecognize. even in September. He grabbed her by the arm The ambulance drove ¯ and pulled her off deep into the forest off but Henry still felt creepy. The guy ¯ highup on the mountainside where people upstairs was no more butstill a presen,.~ remained. A few days later, Henry was ¯ ordinarily are afraid to walk. Risi admitbending over working in the garden at the " ted that she had "cooked" for the spirit. ¯ Her folks immediately suspected that she back of the building. Suddenly he shivered. It felt like someone was watching ¯¯ and the ghost had had sex. When a girl him. He looked up quickly at the blank ¯ cooks for aguy, she’ slikely offering more than just yams and taro. window of the third floor apartment. Was Somehow Risi managed to escape and somebody still there? Was that aface? His ¯ boyfriend’ s mother, too, got goosebumps ¯ find her way back home. Her family was in the garage when she walked by the dead ¯¯ going to have to be on guard the next few months to make sure that Risi hadn’t guy’ s car. The bitter queen, it seems, was ¯ come home with a spirit child in her now a ghostly voyeur. Henry isn’ t thrilled to spend the night at ¯¯ Womb. That was her story at least, and none ahaunted apartment house, even one with ¯ doubted it - except me, just a little, but Gay ghosts. Death has been no stranger to the Gay community, especially since the ¯¯ only becauseI’veneverrunintoanyhorny early 1980s, andmany of us are hauntedin ¯ ghosts myself. But when Henry told me about his Gay ghost, I wondered if perone way or another. Still, lurking spirits who cling to home can be annoying (even " haps randiness is why the spirit refuses tO if good apartments are hard to .find in San ¯ leave the building. The guy. got no sarisFrancisco). Luckily, Henry’ s boyfriend " faction while aliVe; he now haunts lzs had already made plans to move. The ¯ luckier neighbors ~ staring, for example, ," at Henry’s handsomebehind. Maybe ghost can keep the place. My friends on Tauna - a South Pacific ¯¯ Henry should ask the ghost out on a date. Hall6ween would be perfect. island I once haunted mysdf- were similarly nervous about ghosts. Folks there are prone to stumble across spirits at any moment. Even though people mostly run into the ghosts of dead loved ones (morn, Last but hardly least is the failure of the dad, grandpa), they aren’ t too happy about bookstores to defend First Amendment these encounters. If the dead are making protections. What is most troubling was themselves known, there must be a reathe corporate response which was not to son. Ghosts can help you. But they can reassure Gay & Lesbian customers that also hurt you too, especially if they are our books will not be wrapped but which was to defend their fight to shrinkwrap I didn’ t meet a~y~Gay:gh~osts imTamaa books. Wrapping books, even if you can but there is a rather tricky Bisexual spirit open them (if you knOW to ask)C-sends a living on the island: the dreaded and semessage that some subjects a~ebad. It ductive Nakwa. People have sex with isn’ t grand censorship in the form of makghosts. What we think are "wet dreams," ing the materials unavailable but it is petit Islanders ~+piaiii akOff~~akwa ~ptrit censorship and it is still objectionable~ sneaking ~tb bai With :thdm~. A mail: (a This may seem a small issue - after ,all straight on~ atl~ast)!~s that he is it’ s just a bit of shrinkwrap -but this is having sex With ti ~tiful:w0man ~ but how rights are lost, through a slow proit’ s actually the ~iiOst Onlypretending to cess of erosion. Citizens might want to be a woman. Perfidious Nakwa steals the contact their councilors and demand that dreamer’ s semen and then changes its sex we keep our police officers out of the from female to male. It next creeps into bookstores (and who knows what next, the bed of a sleeping woman, appearing as our libraries?) and out on the streets. ahandsome guy. Ithas sex with the sleeper and impregnates her with sperm stolen from its previous victim. Such ghostly pregnancies can be deadly. The woman Timothy .W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointmenls are available. Are You Gay. or Bisex.ual? Are YOU Native Amer|can?. Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Me¢n’s ~upport Group is here for you, Evening supportgroup meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free H V testing _ / ~j ’~!~ For information callTulsaNative American AIDS Prevention Project �IGTA member Call 341.6866 nternationa Tours formoreinformation. Massage Therapy Services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm College Hill Presbyterian Church In response to God’ s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a community of God’ s people called to tall others the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, service, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living; loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voice for peace and justice. :T]ulsa s on!y ! professional body-piercing Our congregation welcomes all persons Who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, "and d~sire to become part.lof tlie~ membership and ministry of Christ’ s church. Membership is open to all people regardle..~s of race, ethnic origin, worldly dondition,madtal statuS, or , ’i, s~xual orientation. Sunday Worship 11am 712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) by Karin Gregory ; who we are, or when we just want someBy now votes are tallied and the facts ¯ one else to take up the cause: because it’ s speak for themselves: Dr. Laura ." become too difficult beating our heads Schlessinger’ s television talk show, after ¯ against that wall. Having that door being on air only three weeks, is going ; slammed in our face. Being turned down into hiatus for "retooling." for thatjob. Tryingto reach "...Do you have what it Doesn’ t that mean a major a community that should make-over? It does in my takes to stand on a street understand one another, vocabulary. It also means but instead tries to fight corner and protest~ "trouble.’" for Ms/her space and keeps Sure you do. This is probably-due others out. Only when we stand united will anyone more to the fact that Dr. That’s the easy part. take us seriously. Look Laura’s show is BORING The dlffieulty comes in instead of controversial, what that’s done for the our everyday lives when and has also landed dead religious right. They have last in ratings among talk we eontlnuaily hide who a whole damn political shows on television (and party on their side. Join we are, or when we just among many other shows the battle for yourselves as well). However, I figure want someone else to take and your partners. As they up the cause because it’s that the people .over at sing in Les Miserables, stopdrlaura.com are giving "This is the music of a become too dlffieult themselves a pat on the people who will not be back for a job well done beatin, our heads aCalnst slaves again." Join in the that wall.. 7 since their first two procrusade. You won’ t know what you’ re missing until tests, in Chicago and Dallas back in April, made the public more you do. aware of this woman’ s dangerous rantings. ¯ Lesbian couples break up; separate--It These two major city demonstrations was bound to happen, you say. It couldn’ t weren’t the last, and August 26, Austin, " last forever, especially in Hollywood. Texas held a protest outsideits CBS affili- : Well, one couple breaks up ("I could have ate station, KEYE-TV, "The Eye of Aus- ¯ seen that coming from day one") and one ¯ ti..". The protest was organized chiefly by couple separates ("This was out of left stopdrlauraanstin.com. How do I know ." field"). The former quote could be said of this? I was on the front lines. Having ¯ the break up of the three and a half year ¯ broken my foot just a week earlier, I went relationship of Ellen DeGeneres and Anne down to march (as best I could) with other ; Heche. Umm, not too surprising. In fact, Gay/lesbian/straight concerned citizens ¯ since the new s w as armounced 1 as t month, who didn’t want the show to air at its tabloids have announced the reasons for scheduled 4 pm ttme slot. Their reason? ¯ the breakup: Ellen Finds Anne in Bed CbJldren at home, many without parental ¯ With Another Woman; Ellen Finds Anne supervision, would watch Dr. Laura and ¯ in Bed With Another Man; Ellen’s Ex receive her message, thus ensuring that Pregnant. I-Immm, why doesn’t ELLEN homophobia stays alive and dangerous in ¯ get any action? The day the couple anTexas. Every Fundamentalist Baptist is . nounced their breakup, A~tme Heche"supensuring that as we speak. We don’ t need ¯ posedly" went for a drive in very sunny, ¯ more help from a television talk show hot weather with the top down on the ¯ convertible. Not too swift for someone wannabe. Meeting with the assistant of : SO fair skinned. Later, after "supposstopdrlaura.com, Andy Thayer, was an ¯ edly" suffering heat stroke, Anne knocked experience. He’ s been to most of the Dr. ¯ on a stranger’s door and began talking Laura protests in most of the states in the ." about God and spaceships. Ellen, if you country. That’ s lots of traveling. When I ¯¯ were the one who kicked her out, all I have heard there would be about one hundred tosayis: Waytogo, Grrl! protesters, I was exhilarated and stopped ; More surprising was the. separation of thinking about the pain in my foot andmy ; rock star Melissa Etheridge and ten year hideous lack of sleep from the night be- ¯ partner Julie Cypher. Again, another press fore. But as 11 am approached, it was ." announcement.Whatisitaboutthesefour obvious there would only be about 30--35 ¯ women that makes them tell all to the participants in this protest. The demon- ¯ world? In this case, Etheridge and Cypher stmtion outside the television stationlasted ¯ split on extremely amicable terms, even approximately anhour, alongafairlykigh ; buying two separate houses next d~or to traffic area in Austin. Most cars that drove ;- one another, so their children won t feel by included sympathizers, those agaiast the separation. They will still have their ¯ two mommies beside them. Well, that’ s a the Dr. Laura talk show. ¯ We heard from a local Christian miaisway to do divorce all right, especially ter who had recently officiated at the ¯ withchildreninvolved.However, theway funeral of a Gay boy killed in a bashing. ¯¯ Melissaimmortalizes her andJulie’ s fights into her songs, I can’ t wait for Melissa’ s He said that for a week after the funeral he ¯ listened to a local Christian radio station next album, already being recorded. and heard endless Gay bashing from the ¯¯ Can anything be learned from these "Christians." He made the point that not separations?Well,if you’re a Witty comeonly should we blame Dr. Laurafor spread- " dielme, don’ t get involved with a flalse. If ing hatred about Gays, and this radio ¯ you have one of the strongest pers0nalistation, but we should ultimately look to ," ties on the planet, then maybe you ourselves to see what .we could do to ¯ shouldn’tgetinvolvedwiththeotherstron¯ prevent this abysmal crime from happengest personaiiiy on the planeL in other ing again. With only 35 protesters present, ¯ words, You can "come to:my windoff" it looked like the rest of the Gay/Lesbian] ¯ because ’T m the only one",b~t you bett~ Bisexual/Transgendered community of not be"stronger thmi me" or I n~ighthave ¯ Austin just didn’t care. Do you care? Do a "breakdown." you have what it takes to stand on a street ¯ Gregory, a former schoolteacher and corner and protest? Sure you do. That’s ¯ journalist is based in Ft. Worth. Her curthe easy part. The difficulty comes in our rent theme song appears to be Jill Sobule ’s ¯ everyday lives when we continually hide "I Kissed a Girl." �Walk for Life 2000 8th An nual Tul,sa AIDS Walk Saturday, Oct. 7, 9:30am Veteran’s Park, 21st & Boulder For more information, call 585-5551. Donations will be increased by 50% with matching dollars through the generosity of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, The Walk is sponsored by the Community Service Council, and will benefit the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP). The Walk is an all volunteer effort and there are no administrative costs. Tulsa Family News is proud to donate this advertisement in support of the Walk and the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP) � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Police Censor Books at ° Gunman Shoots Six; Borders, Barnes & Noble Kills One in Virginia ¯ . ROANOKE, Virginia (AP) - A man accused of ¯ rehant$ Told to Wrap Up Art and fatally shooting another man and wounding six "History Books, Straight Sox How-to’s " others inside the Backstreet Cafe, a Gay bar, °n the : TULSA- Prodded by Tulsa City Councilor, Todd Huston, Tulsa " evening of Sept. 22 has been arraigned on first- " police vice squadofficers visitedBorders Books &Music at8015 " degree murder charges. ¯ So. Yale Avenue, selected a number of books, presented them to The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Attorney ¯ store staffand suggested that they "shrinkwrap" those rifles. This " Donald Caldwell said additional charges such as : was in response to a constituent complaint made to Huston ~ aggravated malicious wounding or malicious : according to Charlie Jackson, Deputy Chief, Tulsa Police. ¯ wounding were possible. Malicious wounding ¯ Jackson noted that after the visit to the South Yale Borders ¯ charges carry up to 20 years in prison, whereas ¯ -~ store about which there was a citizen complaint, vice officers of " attempted murder charges carry up to 10 years. : their own initiative went to the 2740 E. 21stSt. Borders as well " Ronald Edward Gay, 53, the man accused in the ¯ as Barnes & Noble Bookstores at 5231 E. 41st St. and 8620 E. " shootings, acted because of long-standing anger at "rrial o! Accused o! 71stSt. wheretheywent throughthestoreselectingbooks which thejokespeoplemadeofhisl~,tname, police said. bookstore staff say the police indicatesd they must shrinkwrap, "He admits to shootingpeople, police investigator Gay Man’s Death Moved " store staff also said the officers stated that they were no, ° Lt. WilliamAlthoff toldTheWashingtonPost. "He intending to arrest anyone, told us people made fun of his name... He told us FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) The first Marion County ¯ Accordingtobookstoresources,TulsapoliceSergeantCalhoun " that he was upset about that.’" teen-ager to be tried inthemurder of aGay black man ¯ and Corporal Best of the "sex crimes" unit said that the ¯ Dznny Lee Overstreet, 43, was killed at the willfacejurorsinRaleighCountyinNovember.Marion" shrinkwrapping was required under Oklahoma state statute, title" scene. One other victim, IrisPageWebb,41,wasin County Circuit Court Judge Rodney Merrifield late in ¯ 21, 1040.76. This statute regulates the display of materials " critical condition after being shot in the neck. SeptembersignedanordermovingDavidAllenParker’s ¯ "harmful to minors" and requires covering materials which ¯ According to police, Gay went to a tavern that first-degree murder trial to the southern West Virginia : depict "... nudity, sexual contact, sexual excitement, or : night and asked directions to the nearest Gay bar, county. A copy of the order does not set a trial date, but " sadomasochistic abuse...when thematerial orperformancelacks ’ telling people he wanted to shoot Gays. Someone JudgeMen-ifield’ssecretarysaiditistentativelysched- : seriousliterary, scientific, medical, artistic, or political value for gavehimdirectionsandimmediatelycalledpolice, uled for Nov. 15. Merrifield had verbally approved a ¯ minors..." with minors defined as less than 18 years ofage. ¯ whowerelookingforGaywhentheshootingreport change of venue earlier this week after a preliminary : Typically the "shrinkwrap" requirement has been applied to " came in. hearing that has been continued to Oct. 12. ~ sexually oriented magazines such as Playboy, Penthouse, Men, " John W. Collins, 39, was one of those wounded. Lawyers for Parker and co-defendant Jared Wilson, ¯ etc. but not to most books. Collins told the Post that the gunfire erupted just ¯ both .17, had suggested Raleigh County as a possible ¯ Chief Jackson claims that the officers did not threaten the ¯ after he and Overstreet, a friend, hugged. Gay venue, arguing media coverage of the murder in north- " bookstore staff with arrest but merely sought their cooperation. "stood up as I was letting go of the hug, and he was central West Virginia has made it too difficult to find " Bookstore sources who’ ve requested to remain anonymous in. turning and he was also reaching into his black impartial jurors. Attorney Stephen"Fitz said Monday ¯ order to protect themselves from retaliation characterized the trench coat," said Collins, who was shot in the that Raleigh has a diverse population and probably has ¯ police visit as intimidation- particularly in light 6f the arrests of " stomach. "I saw the gun come out of his pocket... had far less exposure to ~e case Prosecutor Richard " several sales clerks for the sale of Penthouse magazines a year or " Everything was like in a millionth of a second.’" Bunner did not object to the move. " so ago. They noted that the officer by mentioning that they didnot " Gay left the bar after the shootings but was later Parker and Wilson are charged with beating and ¯ intend to arrest at this time, raised the issue as a possibility and ¯ found by police about two blocks away. Officers kickingtodeath26-year-oldacquaintanceArthur"J.R." ¯ that they felt coerced into cooperating. " found a 9 mm pistol in a trash can near the bar. Warren on July 4, see Trial, p.3 " see Bookstores, p. see Shooting, p.3 Local HRCEvents HRC: More Benefits Gay Center To Hold Grand Re-opening TULSA-Local Human Rights Campaign (HRC) activ - ists in cooperation with the national organization are encouraging voter registration drive up fill October 13. Those interested in registering can stop by Democratic party headquarters, Republican party headquarters, the offices of the League ofW0menVoters, any tag agency, theTulsaCounty ElectionBoard (No; DenveratEdison). Call formore information at 584.2918. HRCwouldalso like to send voter registration volunteers to any event or ¯ organization andasks thatorganizers againcall 584.2918. For Halloween this year, HRC is sponsoring two" performences of Helga’ sHorribles, in "Scenes from ¯ Little Shop of Horrors" at Renegades on Sun, October ¯ 29 at 3pro and again at 7pro. Tickets are $10 each and ," "Domestic partner benefits are increasingly becoming a stanproceeds benefit HRC-Tulsa. Renegades is also a " dard business practice in corporate America," said Kim I. Mills, sponsor and there will be a cash bar. Youmust be 21yo. " education director of the Human Rights Campaign. "Employers Seating is limited to only 100persons at each perfor- ¯ have discovered that these benefits hdp attract and keep the best WASHINGTON (AP) - More employers - including more than a fifth of Fortune 500 companies - are offering health insurance coverage to the partners of Gay employees, according to a report by a Gay civil rights group. The study, by the Washington-based Human Rights Campaign, found that 3,572 companies, colleges and states and local governments offered or have announced they would offer health insurance covering their employees’ domestic partners. This was up 25% from a year ago, when 2,856 employers extended such benefits. The findings were included in the group’ s annual "State of the Wor,k~,lacefor Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual andTransgenderedAmericans. ¯ Law Group to Hold Hate Crimes Panel ¯ TULSA (TFN) - Tulsa Oklahomans for Human " Rights (TOHR) will hold a Grand Opening event ¯ for the recently relocated Tulsa Gay Community ¯ Services Center on Friday, October 20 at 7pro. The ¯ new location is 2114 So. Memorial adjacent to : longtimeLesbianbar,TNT’ s. TOHR’ s also will be ¯ holding a "garage" sale to benefit the Center on ." Saturday, Oct. 14 from 8am-noon. Donations of ¯ goods are welcome and may be dropped off at the ¯ Center before the sale. ¯ On Oct 14, TOHR will also sponsor a Feast for Friends dinner to benefit The NAMES PROJECT. ¯ The dinner, called "Tulsa - The Center of the Universe" will be al fresco at the downtown sculp- ¯ ture entitled, ’’The Center of the Universe" located mance. Reservations may be guaranteed by mail to 1107 E. 19th, Tulsa,OK74120 orby credit card over the phone. Organizers promise big drag, big hair, big voices & big fun - ’cuz size matters! HRC also is sponsoring an election watch party at 9pm on Tuesday, November 7 at the fabulous I.D. Bar on Brookside at3340 S. Peoria (formerly Concessions). There will be multiple video screens to monitor the election returns and lots of hot music to enjoy while the future is determined. There will be a $10 cover charge, but that will drop to only $5 if you are wearing the "I voted" sticker. Lastly, HRC is always looking for new members. Membership runs $35. Info: 584.2913. DIRECTORY P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 HEALTH NEWS P. 6 ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 ¯ workers, a critical consideration in the current tightjob market." ." The report called a "landmark move" the announcement in ¯ June by Big Three domestic automakers - DaimlerChrysler, General Motors and Ford - and the United Auto- Workers that ¯ domestic-partner benefits would be offered to their more than ¯ 400,000 employees. ’’This marked the first time that virtually an ¯ entire sector of American commerce, along with its leading ¯ union, decided collectively to provide domestic partner ben- " efits," the report said. ¯ Fortune 500 companies offering or planning to offer domestic ¯ partner benefits increased from 70 in August 1999 to 102 last ¯ month. In addition, 41 of the top 50 companies in America ¯ prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, the report ¯ said. -" "All the signs point to private and public employers continuing ¯ to institute nondiscrimination policies and domestic partner : benefits," the study said. However, it noted that there is nofederal ¯ law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, nor is ¯ there one in 39 states, although President Bill Clinton issued an executive order in 1998 prohibiting such discrimination in the ¯ federal civilian work force. ¯. The number of cities and counties that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation rose from 16 in 1980 to 116 in 2000. : next to the Old U~ion Station on the pedestrian ¯ bridge. The dinner is $20 and reservations may be ¯ made by calling 743-4297. Those who just want to ¯ attend the dessert finale may go the Allan Chapman Activity Center atthe University ofTulsaat8:30pro. A $10 donation is requested. : TOHR will also present a National Coming Out Day (NCOD) panel at its monthly membership ¯ meeting on Oct. 10 at 7:30pm, and at TU on ¯ Thursday, Oct. 12, the University ofTulsa College ¯ of Law Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Law Caucus will ’ sponsor a Hate Crimes Panel discussion from noon - 2 p.m. The panel, which will be held in TU’s Moot ¯ CourtRoom of John Rogers Hall located at Fourth ¯ Place and Florence Avenue, will address the valid- " ity of Hate Crimes legislation, opposition to the ¯ Hate Crimes Prevention Act and other topics of ". relevance. Linda Lacey, a TU college of law pro- , fessor, will moderate. ¯ The program is free and open to the public. For ¯ more information, call Courtney Sdby at 836- : 9107. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’ s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb,. 1926 E Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades/Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool Box, 1338 E. 3rd *The Yellow Brick Road Pub, 2630 E. 15th 712-2324 : 610-5323 583-2119 : 835-2376 : 744-4280...; 745-9998 ¯ 834-4234 : 585-3405 : 660-0856 584-1308 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, ServiCeb~ & pi’ofessiohals "Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E.-41 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. Peoria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria *Cheap Thrills,.2640 E. 1 lth 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615- POB 4140, Tulsa. OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Neal Writers + contributors: Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 *De,co to Disco, 3212 E. 15th Doghouse on Brookside, 3311 S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan Encompass Travel, 13161H N.Memorial Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906 E. 55th PI. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’ s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Leanne M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E. skelly *International Tours Jacox Animal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th *Jared’s Antiques.. 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha .... *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store Rainbowz on the River B+B, POB 696, 74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-79,21, Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling *Whereh0use Music, 5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis James Christjohn, Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum, Mary ¯ Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw ¯ Member of The Associated Press ..... l~U~d bh’o~lsdfbre the lit of ~gcti month; th~~ritite contents 743-1000 i 250,503:4 of thi~ °publication are protected by US copyright 1998 by 665-4580 : T~,~" ~:~ N~v~ and may not be reproduced either in 712-1122 -" whole or in part without written permission from the pub- 712-9955 " 494-2665 lisher. Publicafi0n of a name or photo does not indicate a 743-5272 ~ person’ s sexual orientation. Correspondenceis assumedto be 746-0313 " for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & 295-5868 becomes the sole property of T~,~ /z~ N~v,~ Each r~ader is. entitled to 4 copies of each editionat distribution 749-3620 points. Additional Copies are available by ~1"1~’583-1248. 744-5556 ¯ 838-8503 " HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583~-6611 369-8555 ¯ *Tulsa C.A:R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 834,4194 712-9379 ~ Holland Hall School, 5666-E. 81 st 481-1111 592-0460 : HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Educauon 834-8378 744-9595 " *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 1517 S. Memorial 224-4754 610-0880 " *MCC 7United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 628-3709 NAMES Project, 3507 E Admiral PI. 748-3111 808-8026 " NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, POB 14068, 74159 365-5658 742-1460 " OK Spokes Club (bicycling), POB 9165, 7415~ 459-9349 :;--*OSU~Tulsa 744-7440 ..... PFI~G, POB 52800, 74~52 :;~_~.¯ 749-4901 745-1111 " *.Planned Parenthood, 1007 SYffeoria 587-7674 341-6866 ; Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 712-2750 ; R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 582-3018 ¯ *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 . 584-2325 747-0236 : St. Aidan’s Epis(opalChurch, 4045 N. Cincinnati 425-7882 582-8460 " St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E:-71.st 492-7140 599-8070 ¯ St. Jerome s Parish Church, 205 W. King 582-3088 74%5466 " *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder 583-7171 585-1234 " *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indian Health Care 582-7225 584-3112 "- Tulsa County Health Department, 46 16 E. 15 595-4105 663-5934 ’ Confidential HIV Testing -~by appt. on Thursdays only 664-2951" Tulsa Olda. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 838-7626 : T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform/Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 743-4297 " *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Floor Vestibule 747-5932 *Tulsa Community College Campuses 834-0617 ; " *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307E.38,74105 743-4297 747-4746 " Unity Church of Christianity,3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 749-6301, ". BARTLESVILLE 260-7829 . Bartlesville PublieLibrary, 6!30 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 481-0558 : OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN 835-5563 .. 743-1733 ¯ Borders Books & Music, 3209NW Expressway 405~848-2667 665~2222 "¯ Borders Books.& Music~ 300 Norman Center 405-5734907 592-0767 " TAHLEQUAH - www.gaytulsa.org - website forTulsaGays & Lesbians Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa; POB 4337, 74101 579-9593- ¯ All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria~ 743-2363- Black & White, Inc. POB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 " Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207E. 6 583:7815 B/L/G/T Allian0p, univ: of Tulsa United Min: Ctr. 583~9780 ¯ Chamber of -comm~ide- Bld~:," 616 ~s. B6st6fi .... 585-1201 ¯Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th Pl. & Florence -" Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood 587-1314 " ¯Community of Hope Church, 2545 S. Yale 747:6300 ¯Community UnitarianzUniversalist Congregation 749-0595 Council O~ ~en’s Cl~6rale " 748-3888 " ¯Delawar~Playhouse;-15il S. Delaware 712-1511 ¯ ¯Democratic Headquarteis, 3930 E: 31 742-2457 ¯ Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa - Lesbian & Gay Catholics & ¯ Episcopalians, POB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 " ¯Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 ¯ ¯FrceSpirit’Women’sCenter, callforlocation&info: 587-4669 ¯ Friend For A Friend, POB 52344, 74152 747-6827 " Friends in Unity Social Org., POB 8542, 74101 582-0438 ¯ Stonewall League, call for information: - ’~i8456-7900 Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church -9t8:456-7900 Green.Country AIDS Coalition, POB 1570 918-453-9360 -o .NSU School of Optometry, 1001N. Grand HIVtesfing every other Tues. 5:30:8:30~ ~tll for dates 501-253-7734 .... 50i 1253-"]4_47’ 501-253-6807 501-253-5445 501-253-9337 501:253-27761 501.-253-5332 50i-624-6646 501-253-6001 501-253-4074 417-623-4696 EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autumn Br~,e~,ze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 Jini & Breht "S Bisttt, I73 S. Main DeVito,’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. Emerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. MCC of the Living Spring Geek toGo!,PC Specialist, POB 429 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery Positive Idea Marketing Hans Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 Scouting~for All Opposes the "Scout’s Honor Act" Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado has introduced counter-legislation, currently being referred to as the Scouts Honor Act (H.B. 5306). The bill was introduced along with twenty-three cosponsors, on T.Uesday, Sept. 26 Accorditi~ to AFA (editor’s note: Amerfcah "F~mily Association, a rightwing lobbying group) Director of Governmental Affairs PatrickTrueman,"AFA suppo.r.ts Colorado Rep. Tancredo’s, Scouts Honor Act, which prohibits the ¯ Useoffederal funds todiscriminate against, investigate, or deny access to public prop- " erty or facilities to the Boy Scouts of ¯ America. In addition, the bill says that no entity that accepts federal funds can compel the Boy Scouts to accept members ¯ who do not share their beliefs.’" The Scout’s Honor Act would protect ¯ the BSAwho dearly identifies as an organization that discriminates against gay ¯ youth and adults and atheists to not be ~ denied access to public facilities or funding. How can-we allow our tax dollars to ¯ support an organization thatprofesses bigotry against a segment of our society.’? Tiffs is unthinkable and should not be tolerated. Scouting For All asks that you speak out LOUD to oppose this ACT!!!! ¯ Rep.Tancredofeels thatifhecangetmany ¯ more sponsors on thebill, the Houselead- . ership may bring it to the floor for a vote. ." Encourage your congressperson not to ¯ support- the bigoted Scout’s Honor Act! ¯ ACTION NEEDED: Contact your member of Congress immediately and ~ ask that he or she not support the Scouts ¯ Honor Act which is an Act supporting , bigotry in our society. Contact your Representative by calling the capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121. ~ Scouting For All also encourages you ; to send Rep. Tancredo a note telling him ¯ thathis actions are disgusting and support ¯ bigotry in America. He should be advocating that the BSA discontinue its discriminatory policy against our Gay youth and Gay adults and also atheists. His actions are a disgrace. Write to: - tom.tancredo@mail.house.gov - Scott Cozza,president, Scouting ForAll www.scoutingforall.org * is where you can find TFN. Notall are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. Log ~Cabin Republicans to Bill Clinton Thefollowing is the text ofa letterfrom Rich Tafel, executive director ofLog Cabin Republicans, to President Bill Clinton on the issue offunding theAIDS Drug Assistance Program. September 27, 2000 Dear Mr. President: I am writing to you again on an ~ssue of great importance to millions of Americans -~funding for theAIDS Drug Assis- ’ tanc~ Program in theRyatr~White CARt~ Act. Since 1995, we have consistently ¯ asked your Administration to ensure that ¯ your annual budget requests reflect the : real ne~ds in. the ADAP program; and unfortunately your .bUdgets have fallen drastically short each and every year, and each year the Republican Congress! has put millionS:ofMollars more into the pro- , gram to ansv¢~¢~ the call. This year, your : budget request fell short again. ¯ In your budget request for Fiscal Year ~ 2001, you asked for a $26millionincrease ~ in ADAP funding, while the projected ¯ need was higher, see Letters, p.3 Unfortunately, theneed has only increased since then. Thanks to the enactment of an important minority OUtreach program, spearheaded by the Congressional Black Caucus, enrollment in the ADAP program by minority patients has increased throughout the year. This has given tremendous hope to so manyAmericans with HIV that they will have access to life-savittg treatments cnrrenfly out of reach. Overall, state and territorial AIDS directors have reported that the projected national need ftr ADAP will be closer to $130 million more than the previous year. Your budget request will not cover this additional need, and many of these new enrollees may face lotteries, rationing or simply a closed door. The Republican Congress has carried the ADAP program every year, despite the failure of leadership from your Administration. I respectfully ask again, Mr. President, that you become an active participant inmeeting the ADAP needs for so many Americans with HIV/AIDS, and submit a request to Congress for an increase of $130 million for this life-saving program in your Statement of Principles before budget negotiations end for the year. I appreciate your urgent consideration of this issue. - Sincerely, Rich Tafel, executive director "It sounded like firecrackers at first," said a woman who said she was sitting in a booth when the shooting began. She asked not to be identified for fear she might lose.her job. "I looked up and saw people falling to the ground," she said. "You could feel the wind off the bullets, they were so close." Darlene Overstreet, Danny Overstreet’ s sister, said her brother, who was Gay, visited the Back Street Cafe often. He worked as a telephone operator and lived alone in a house with his poodle. "He was a wonderful person. He helped everybody," Darlene Overstreet said. "He just stopped by to have a beer, that’ s all." Members of the Washington-based National Gay and Lesbian Task Force came to Roanoke for a candlelight vigil after the shooting. Flowers, cards and balloons were placed outside the bar by members of the community. Mayor Ralph Smith saidat anews conference after the event. ’Tm shocked and saddened by this terrible, terrible crime .... Any time one member of our community is hurt, we all suffer by that same hand." ¯ Censorship Through Inti midation ¯ by Tom Neal, editor &publisher The recent visits by Tulsa police to local booksellers raise very serious concerns about censorship, grand or petit, direct or indirect, by our local government. The method used is frankly ingenious in skirting First Amendment protections as it depends on intimidation to accomplish that which it is not legal to do otherwise. What I mean is that even though most, if not all of the materials which Tulsa police collected in the stores are clearly protected under the U.S. Constitution’s First ¯¯ Amendment, by merely showing up in the stores identifying themselves as law officers and requesting limiting ." access to these materials, Tulsa police succeeded in ¯ obtaining the collaboration ofthebooksellers. Andifthey ¯ self-censor, then thepolicenever have to prove their case, ¯ they never have to be held responsible for their probable ¯ misapplication of an Oklahoma statute. _" Note that the police claimed they were not seeking to .. make any arrests during these visits, see Censor, p.9 ! b~AAlIl Gthororeugh the years of our nailon’ s history, the American dreamhas unfolded with a deeper meaning. Today, it is : a mystery that Thomas Jefferson could have written the powerful and inspiring words of our Declaration of : Independence ~. and not free his slaves. Today, it is a mystery that our founders in Philadelphia could have written the United States Constitution ? yet not allowed women to vote. Yet America has taken the inner meaning and power of our founding documents, and given them new life in each generation. then nmning over him with a car to disguise his injuries as a hit-and-rtm. In his order changing the venue, Merrifield cited a vigil for Warren that drew more than 500 people to the courthouse steps days after the murder. The rally also attracted national Gay- and civil-rights activists and an anti-Gay group from Kansas. News organizations .have since saturated the region with coverage innewspapers, andonradio and television, Merrifield said. The Dominion Post of Morgantown and the Times-West Virginian of Fairmont have each file& more than 25 stories, he said. "Nearly. all of these newspaper articles have been located on the front page and, in fact, mostofthese articles have been thelead story for that particular day," Merrifiel~d wrot~ T.I~.~voe~ag¢ ,has con~ rained detailed infOiinafion~ about tbe.inv~ti~afion°and clearly illustrates that many Marion County residents "havebecome emotionally involvedin this case and have prejudged:the defendant’s guilt," he said. Parkerhas already confessed to beating.Warr,en~but the judge has ~yet to d~eide:~w.hether jurors will hear that confession.~ In his Statement-to Sheriff" s Detective C.L. "Chip" Phillips; Parker admitted beating Warren after discovering he had-toldrothe~ peo.p!.¢, about a sexual relationship he claimed to have with.~Parker. Wilson told Phillips that he went along with the beating because he was afraid of Parker, who had threatened to beat him, too. But defense teams argue that both boys’ confessions were improperly obtained. They say neither was informed of his right to an immediate juvenile detention hearing. They also contend Phillips delayed moving the boys from GrantTownto the courthouse sohe could dicit the confessions. Phillips denies any wrongdoing. NEW SUPREHES? Nationat Coming Out D~, Oct. 11 - E|ecUon Da!/, Nov. 7 COME OUTVOTING .* www.hrc.org El HUMAN RIGHTS : I believe very deeply that the time has come in America to widen the circle of fairness and dignity to include our ¯ ~friends, neighbors, ct-workers, and relatives in the gay and lesbian community. I am running for President to fight for ." all the people. That is why the ideals of fairness, equal opportunity, and non-discrimination are at the very heart of my ¯ campaign for President. - ¯ In the past seven years, we have taken.great strides. We have appointed the first openly gay and lesbian people to ¯ high-ranking posts in our nation’ s history. We have made our government the largest employer in the world with a : strong non-discriminati0n policy covetingsexual orientation. Wehave boosted funding for AIDS research, prevention, ¯ and treatment. We have created a new White House- Office of. National AIDS Policy. We fought insurance ¯ .discrimination against people with pr~--~xi~fing conditions Wehelp~lmore people with HIV-AIDS get access to health ¯ ! am.personallY very ~)roud tO have beenthe first Vice President ever to speak at a public event with a gay rights organization. I believe it is partly because of that record and commitment that I have been endorsed by gay andlesbian ¯ leaders and civil rights organizations across this cduntry. But ]~don’ t want to rest on that record ? I want to build on it. ¯ When people filled with hate target Gaysadd Lesbi~ang, Jews;Blacks, Latinos, and Asian-Americans, it is clear that hate Crimes are notjust like other erimes: As President, with your help, I will.lead the fight for a tough law to stiffen the penalties for crimes~of hate We need to do morb th battle HIV and AIDS 9 here at home and around the world..At the beginning of this.year, I had the opportunity tO address the United-Nations Security Council about the threat that AIDS poses to the stability and security of AfriCa and the world: As President, withy0ur help; I will lead a worldwide effort to fight HIV and AIDS. I believe wemust takebold stepsto~give all.ourpe0p!ethe best health care in the.world. Weneed to dedicate ourselves to provide access ,to.qua!ity heal~ coverage.to every.child and extend coverage to millions of adults by~ ~e:et~d 9f ~e ne~t t~residenfial term. :we needtO-~,tnfinue resear~into-HIV andAIDS and ~r~;clde ad~quat~ fhh~ng fdr i~."’~ riced to give real prescription drug benefit to senioi:sand people with disabilitie.s who are on Medicare. Weneed a strong, enforceable Patients’ Bill of Rights because it’ s time that we take the medical decisions away from ~ the HM.O accountants and insurance company bureaucrats, and give them back to the doctors, nurses, and health care ~ professionals. Americans:deserv.e the best health care, not just the cheapest.. " .... ~ ~’. ’ ’ ~ ...... ¯ We must also take strong new action to ban discrimifiation andmake sure every Americhn can re~iz~hi~.:6~ her ~. potential. As President, I will re-issue the executive order banning discrimination in the federal w0J:kfo~ce. An’d i Will ¯ fight to pass the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, which will prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual ¯ orientation. In this campaign, there are real differences on these basic issues of fairness. My Republican opponen.t strongly ¯ opposes hate crimes legislation. He opposes a simple law to outlaw discrimination inhiring, firing, and promotionbased ¯ on sexual orientation, In fact, right now, in Texas and in 38 other states, you can be legally fired just because of your : sexual orientation. If I am entrusted with the Presidency, we will fight to correct that injustice. ¯ The stakes are enormous in this election. We know what will happen if the Republicans take back the White House. ¯ And America cannot afford to go back to the neglect and divisiveness of the Bush-Quayle years. ¯ Instead, we must move forward to create the America of ~.highest ideals. That is why I need your help and your hard work. Join withmein this campaigii~and togetherwewill win notjust vttes, but powerful new victori~s.~oi dignity Lesbian Wins Visitations PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island state Supreme Court last month recognized new rights for Gay and Lesbian couples raising children. In a 3-2 decision, the courtruled that ConcettaDiCenzo could not prevent her former partner Maureen Rubano from asking the Family Court for the right to visit the son they raised together. The decision gives de facto-"in fact" - parents the same rights to petition for visitation as biological and adoptive parents. "The fact that DiCenzo not 0nly gave birth to this child but also nurtured him from infancy does not mean that she can arbitrarily terminate Rubano’ s de facto parental relationship with the boy, a relationship that DiCenzo agreed to and fostered for many years," Justice Robert Flanders wrote in the majority opinion. The ruling was based on state law allowing any interested party to "bring an action to determine the existence or nonexistence of a mother and child relationship." The justices also noted the Family Court has jurisdiction over cases involving the paternity of children born out of wedlock. Attorney Cherrie Perkins,whorepresented Rubano, a 53-year-old professor of clinical psychiatry at the medical school at the Unive,~sity of Massachusetts, said her client cried when she heard of the ruling. "She’ s now not on thin ice any more. She’ s on pretty solid ground," Perkins said. DiCenzo’ s attorney, Rosina Hunt, said the ease has drained her client emotionally and financially. "The big thing for her is she wants to keep her son in a Stable home and she doesn’ t want to go through this," Hunt said. Similar cases began surfacing in courts around the country in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and claims by "co-parents" generally were rejected, said attorney Mary Bonauto of Gay &’Lesbians Advocates & Defenders of Boston, which filed a brief in support of Rubano. Recently, however, courts in a handful of states, including Massachusetts andNew Jersey, have decided to recognize the legal status of non-biologi~ cal parents. "This decision puts Rhode Island in line with the majority of recent decisions on the topic, although this is an issue that is still hotly contested among the states," said Bonauto, who lead the fight to legalize same-sex civil umons in Vermont. Rubano and DiCenzo decided tO have a child together while they were living in Millville, Mass. DiCenzo underwent artificial insemination from an anonymous sperm donor and on Dec. 15, 1991, DiCenzo gave birth to aboy. Thecouple sent outbirth announcements identifying them both as the child’ s parents, and had the last name of Rubano-DiCenzo listed onboth the birthand baptismal certificates. The couple raised the child together for several years and the boy called Rubano her "heart room." In 1996, the pair split up and DiCenzo, now 43, moved to Cumberland. The next year, the two signed a Family Court consent order that granted Rubano permanent visitation rights on a periodic basis. In exchange Rubano waived "any claim or cause of action she has or may have to recognition as a parent of the minor child." But then DiCenzo, believing Rubano’ s visits were "disruptive and confusing" to theboy, told Rubano thatno further visitations would be permitted. Rubano appealed to Family Court, asking a judge to enforce the earlier order. DiCenzo argued the Family Court lackedjurisdiction to eater the order in the first place. The Family Court, unsure how to proceed, requested that the Supreme Court rule on the case. Perkins believes the decision clears the way for the Family Court to allow visitation. Hunt expressed coneeru that the finding may pave the way for third party parent claims from grandpareats, ex-boyfriends and others. The General Assembly may want to consider changing the law, she said. But Perkins said she sees the ruling as a boon to both Gays and heterosexuals. "You could be somebody’ s second wife or husband and essentially raise their children and if you got divorced, you could haveno rights," Perkins said. "We think that the court was actually looking for a way to redress alot ofholes in the law because’ families are changing over time and this was maybe the ease to do it." Idaho PFLAG Chapter Make Case for Inclusion SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) --The area’ s Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays chapter will make its proposal tojoin the town’ s list of credible commtmity organizations. The organization hosted the ACLUsponsored slide show and talk, "The Gay Life in Idaho: Idaho’ s Little T01d History," created by Alan Virta, head of the Boise State University library’s special collections. "It’ s amazing what you find here and there in the official records," he s aid. "S ometimes trial transcripts give a lot of information." Virta’s 45-minute show includes Idaho’s reaction to the 1895 Oscar Wilde trial in London - the playwright was charged with homosexuality -and the 1955 boys ofBoise scandal, a homosexual witchhum. Parents Jim and Barbara Hansen started the Sandpoint Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. They say that, so far, they have not been the targets of harassment in an area of Idaho typically known for its conservatism. "I find this a very open-minded community," Jim Hansen said. "There’s more suppoyt, strokes, affirmations here than I ever thought possible. That keeps me going.’" Michigan College Offers Partner Benefits MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) - Northern Michigan University faculty members have ratified a three-year contract that gives them 3.5% annual pay increases and same-sex domestic partner health benefits. The contract for the Northern Michigan chapter of the American Association of University Professors was ratified by a 159-33 vote, The Mining Journal reported. The union has about 290 members. The university’ s board of control is to consider the agreement Oc~ 6. Other changes include retirement contributions of 15.64% of annual salary, and extension of health insurance benefits to same-sex domesuc partners. Gay Games 2002: Anyone Can Compete SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -For those who’ ve dreamed of competing in the Olympics but failed to meet the athletic requirements, there’ s still hope: they can sign up for the Sydney 2002 Gay Games. The event is open to everyone. "There is no minimum standard required to participate," Game Gibson, chief executive officer of the Sydney Gay Games, noted. "No one is excluded, regardless of gender, sextmlity, race or physical ability." Organizers expect the two-week event, which includes a weeklong cultural.festival and opens Oct. 25, 2002, to attract over 14,000 participants from at least 78 countries. There are more than 10,000 athletes ¯ competing in the Olympics. Gibson also said the Gay Games, whiCh will attract mostly Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual competitors, have found their biggest sponsor. San Francisco- based Gay.com, an online supplier of services to the homosexual community, has entered into a $1.5 million agreement to be the event’ s official. Internet media sponsor,.he said. The competition, which will run from Nov..3 to Nov. 9, 2002, has 31 sports; some with a distinctive Australian flavor, chairwoman Colette Steer said, including netball and touch rugby. Butother sports on the agenda include Olympic events such as badminton, baseball, athletics, field hockey, tennis, swimming and volleyball. The sports will be held in two main zones - Olympic Park and around Sydney Harbor. As well as the official sports, the sixth edition of the Gay Games will feature exhibition events such as surfing and surf lifesaving, dragon boat racing and what organizers are calling "mind games" - ehes s, bridge, backgammon and mahjong. Steer played softball in the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam. She recalled with emotion waving he,r "little pink flag, as one does" ~t the Gay Games opening ceremony. The Gay Games are "an opportunity to celebratewhatweare.., and to enjoy ourselves a United in God’s Love MCC.United Sunday Worship Reverend Cathy Elliot 11:00 am Pastor 1623 N. Maplewood 918/838-1715 Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Sundays at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, SundaySchool, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Servic~ 6pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical Consultation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: 918-584-2325 Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Ghild, Family, Individual & Gouple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 The Pride Store 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor .Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 743-GAYS (743-4297) 6-9 prn, Sunday - Friday 12-9pm, Saturday, all sales benefit the Center Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professional corporation 747-5466 4021 South Harvard Avenue, Suite 210, Tulsa 74135 TOM NEAL BUILDING & GARDEN DESIGN 583- 1248 Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tues. & Thurs., 5 -8 pm at the Center, 1307 East 38th Daytime appointments available. Call for more information: 918-584-2325 KIN WILKS Independent Consultant for 357-1757 in~a matter of hours o~P~-N~RMS,OPENMINDS,OPENHF_At~ Saint Aidan 4045 N. ~incinnati. 425-7882 Saint John 4200 S. Atlanta Plabe. 742-7381 Saint Dunstar~ 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Trinity 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You in that fiee and open--and tolerant environment," Gibson said. Over 15,000 people competed in the Amsterdam Gay Games. The first Gay Games were held in 1982 in San Francisco. Organizers said the influx of nearly 35,000 visitors to Sydney for the games and festival will injectabout $55millioninto the region’ s economy. On the Net: www.Gaygamesvi.org.au Gov. Ventura to Offer Partner Benefits ST. PAUL (AP) - If his administration moves forward with a plan to provide benefits for domestic partners of state employees, Gov. Jesse Venturawould demand proof of a committed relationship, he said in September. "There will be documentation signed; there will be contractual things that will go on between these people," Ventura said. "It’s not like a fly-by-night relationship, where, ’Gee I met someone in the bar and now I’m going to make them a domestic partner for a week and a half.’ " Few other details emerged about the possible extension of health and insurance benefits to domestic partners, a still-in-the-works proposal Venture’ s ad.. ministration disclosed recently. Employee Relations Commissioner Julien Carter said if the proposal is confined to same-sex couples only, he expects it to affect about 1% of the state’s 53,000-member workforce, or 530 employees. It’s not clear if heterosexual domestic partners would be covered. "There are a series of decisions to be made and that definition of domestic partner is one of them," said Ventura’ s spokesman, John Wodele. If heterosexuals are included, Carter said his department’s best estimate is that 3% of employees would take advantage of that arrangement. "We just don’ tknow for sure what the best planning number is, but it seems to be in (he ballpark," he said. Ventura stressed during his weekly radio show that the state needs to do something to stay competitive with the private sector: Both are fighting to attract new employees in a tight labor market. "What are they going to pick?" Ventura said of prospective hires. "They" re going to pick the company that gives them the best benefits, the best working conditions. That’ s what this issue is greatly about." Even before Venmra’s staff finalized the plan, conservative lawmakers discounted its chances. "I don’t think it’s going to fly," said state Rep. Tony Kielkucki, R-Lester Prairie. "He’ s got more support for unicameral than he has for this one." An effort failed this year to get a constitutional amendment On the ballot for a one,house Legislature. Vermont, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington. and Massachusetts offer benefits to domestic partners, according to OutFront Minnesota, an advocacy group for Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. Fort Worth city council mulls ban on Gay bias FORT WORTH-, Texas (AP) - For the third time in eight years, a measure that would protect sexual orientation under Fort Worth’s anti-discrimination law is being discussed by.members of thecity council. The current drive to add sexual orientation is being led by Councilman Chuck Silcox; a conservative Republican who ended discussions of a similar proposal in January 1999. Under the proposal,. Gays and .-Lesbians would be added to the list of protected cl~S in Fort Worth’ s anti-discrimination ordinance. The list already indudes race, creed, color, religion, gender, disability, national origin and family status. City officials said violation of the anti-discrimination ordinance is a .nfisdemeanor. !n recent editio~as of the For/~’orth Star-Tdegram. Sitcox said his posit~o,? on tee issue changed after was approached by a Fort \Vor{h man who lost Ms job after .his employer discovered he was Gay "I didn" realize we had the kind of problems out there that we do," Silcox said. "I doff t like the idea t~hat people are losingjobs over this. Anytime there is discrimination, we need to draw the line." Nebraska Amendmentto Outlaw Gay Marriages KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) - The chief supporter and an opponent of a state ban on same-sex marriages predicted extremely different outcomes if the proposed constitutional amendment is approved by voters in November. The predictions varied from prohibiting homosexual couples from adopting children to outlawing all business partnerships between two people of the same sex. Initiative 416 would define marriage in Nebraska as a relationship between only a man and wo~nan, and prohibit any "civil union, domestic partnership or other similar same-sex relationship." At a sometimes-heated fonun before the state’s daily newspaper editors, an opponent of the measure argued that it is poorly written and threatens the legality of all relationships between two people of the same sex, such as business partnerships,joint ownerships and contractual agreements. "Passage of the amendment will lead to years of litigation that will be costly to the state and its taxpayers," said Linda Richenberg of Nebraska Advocate for Justice and Equality. The amendment would simply prohibit same-sex marriages from being recognized by the state, said Guyla Mills, chairwoman of the Defense of Marriage Amendment Committee, which collected more than the required 105,000 signatures to put the question on the ballot. Mills said many constitutional lawyers have reviewed the ballot language and say it is clear on its intent. "This amendment is not about taking rights away from anybody. It is about protecting the time-honored tradition of marriage," Mills said. Under the measure, homosexual couples - including someone who works for state government or the University of Nebraska system would be prevented from sharing state insurance benefits. It also would prevent Gay and Lesbians from adopting children. She said it will not impact the insurance providers in the state or the insurance policies of private businesses and corporations. Richenberg argued that if voters approve the ban. Nebraska will earn a reputalaon as a hostile place to work and live, prompting an exodus of ho~nosexuals and their families who have been productive members of the state’ s work force. "We don’ t want to see anyone leave the state because of this," Mills said. "Wejust don’ t think a minority ofpeople should have the right to redefine marriage for everybody." Mills pointed out several times that both of the state’s senate candidates, Republican Don Stenberg and Democrat Ben Nelson, plan to vote in support of the same-sex marriage ban. Richenberg said the amendment is unnecessary in a conservative state like Nebraska, where there is not a push to legalize same-sex unions. "A vote against 416 is not going to legalize same-sex marriages," she said. "Same-sex marriages do not exist in Nebraska, and there will be no change." The forum was sponsored by the Nebraska Associated Press Association. Lesbian Denied Right to . Legally Change Name NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A Lesbian who wanted to hyphenate her na03e to in.cldde ’that of hbr longume partner i’s @pealing the decision of a judge who said a name change would create the impression the two women were married. The American Civil Liberties Umon of New Jersey has appealed Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Iuliani’s decision ~o deny Jill Bacharach’s application ’ to change her name. At a hearing m Augus|o !uliani deniext fi~e Cedar Grove woman’ s petiti-’,~, sayi~g he feared it wo~d create the appem’a~m~ that she and imr female ,~artner were roamed, said ACLU staff{" attorney J.C. :~Nver. Sam.esex uNons ~z,: not !egaily recogxfizcd in ~iew Jersa y arid in every state except. Vermont. "I have ~ever expecied this sort of discrimination from a court of taw’y said Bacharach, 32. Salver said the judge’ s concern about the appearance of a same-sex union is an improper basis to deny a name change. . . see Name, p. 7 Not EnoUgh Dollars : m~nt in emergency rooms, wbich is more For Homeless Sick " expensive than standard care. Emergency rooms also don’ t offer AIDS patients the NEW YORK (AP) - They carry their life’ s possessions on withering backs and hide death within their broken bodies. Some spent anentirelifetimeonthe streets, ¯ searching for a home under a molding cardboardboxin atrash-strewn alleyway. ¯ Others are teens who ran from something ¯ but stumbled into a life far worse; they " trade sex for a night in a bed. Still more " believe their luck has run out after re- ¯ centlylosingjobs,apartments and friends,. " But every day, a small handful of the ¯ thousands of homeless men and women living with AIDS in New York City make ¯ a tremendous effort rarely taken by their brethren. They seek help. They fight for ¯ life, no matter the inevitable future. Scientists haven’ t cured HIV or AIDS, but their powerful .drug concoctions that keep people alive longer create a curious " problem. Public and non-profit agencies already struggle to pay for their existing cases. Now they wonder: How can we " possibly help the new people infected " with the virus? "Today, people think the ePidemic is ¯ over," said Gina Quattrochi, the president " of the National AIDS Housing Coalition " andtheexecutivedirectoratBaileyHouse, : a private center in Greenwich Village ¯ helping homeless AIDS survivors. "The ¯ reality is people are living much ~nger, " but the vast majority are disabled. Currently, Congress is debating next ¯ year’ s budget. Advocates like.Quattrochi " requested increasing the $232 million budgetby $60 million- and were worried ¯ when President Clinton proposed upping " it to just $260 million. Disappointment " has turned to fear because Senate leaders ". don’ twantto increase the appropriation at ¯ all. "It’s thin. We have to get it up," said " U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., a longtime supporter of homeless _&IDS services who pushed the House to propose " increasing funds to $250 million. "This country i" s ro"m"ng i"n mortey." ¯ Expending millions of dollars .for AID.S- " exclusive assistance meets resistance m . every case. ’qqaere has always been pres- ¯ surefrom thefarright to portray itfor drug addicts and queers," Quattrochi said, adding that others question the need to fund specific AIDS housing when so much housing is already available. Quattrochi says only half of Bailey House’s residents are Gay or Lesbian. She noted that at least 450,000 Americans with AIDS nee~l, housing, and that’s a conservative estimate because some haven’t learned they have the illness or are mentally ill andmay neverknow. New York, the city that served 1,200 homeless people with AIDS in 1988, now assists more than 27,000. That total is steadily increasing as it has for the past few years, said Ruth Reinecke, a spokeswoman for the city’ s Division of AIDS Services. A Brooklyn federal judge’s decision earlier this week shows the city apparently hash’ t adjusted wall to the surging numbers. The judge, who slammed the Division of AIDS Services for "chronically and systematically" delaying or terminating assistance, ordered the agency placed under federal oversight for three years. The city plans to appeal the decision. Quattrochi says if members of Congress wouldlook at operations like Bailey House, they’ d understand why advocates plead for more money. The alternative, she says, is that health care costs will soar when homeless AIDS patients seek treatcounseling that could hdp decrease the spread of HIV. Bailey House, one of many nonprofit groups that assist the city in serving the homeless AIDS population, started when the virus was first identified and it was still consideredby many as homosexuals’ punishment from God. The 6 1/2-story building, set m the primest of real estate along the Hudson River, nurtured homeless AIDS survivors. In 1995, Bailey House added a vocational studies program because clients lived longer thanks to the drug cocktails and weren’t interested in just wasting away. Three years later, Bailey House opened the program to anyone with AIDS living in New York. "I wanted to do something productive with my life," said Sean Ransom, 31, who contracted the virus in the late 1980s and sought help four years ago. "I didn’ t want to... take my reeds and wait to die." Those medications - a triple combination of drugs - have doubledthe average time it takes for the HIV infection to developinto AIDS, said ProfesssorAlvaro Munoz of Johns Hopkins University’s School of Public Health. They also increased the average survival time ofAIDS sufferers from 18 months to six years. In the late 1980s, residents in Bailey House stayed an average of three months, and their stay almost always ended at a funeral home. These days, they stay abont three years, if not longer. !¢lany walk out on their own, often to Bailey House-assisted apartments. Beyond treatment, stable housing is crucial to every patients’ health, Quattrochi says. Two-thirds of AIDS patients cite housing as a top priority,just below medical treatment. Living on a friend’ s couch or moving between shelters, patients find ~t difficult and tiring to get continual care; the effort weakens the body and strengthens the disease - a deadly duo. Patients also must live with failing organs, and need refrigerators to keep their medicine effective. Stable housing becomes a primal urge, Quattrochi says. "Let me put it this way, what I always ask people is, ’Where do you want to be when you have the flu?’" she said. "You want- to be at home." These problems becomeremote when a homeless person wakes up after a night under crumbled, urine-stained newspapers. Medications? It’ s doubtful they have any. It’ s often little better in city-run shel- ¯ ters. Derryck, who declined to g~ve his last ¯" name, lived in emergency housing offi- ".. cially called Single Room Occupancy : Units, but known by residents as bare- ." boned welfare hotels. He could touch all ¯ four walls from the middle of his cubicle. "- Occupants shared a single bathroom, and he shudders when remembering the filth. ¯ Prostitutes, drugs, loan sharking, he re- : calls, this placewas amodernday Sodom : and Gomorrah.’And Derryck, who is 50, ¯ concedes he was lucky to live the,re. "There s even a lack of bad housing, he ¯ said glumly. ¯ But Derryck found his way to Bailey : House. Now hecansitonhisbedinhis 85- ¯ square-foot home, with its view of the ¯ Hudson River, watch TV, grab a snack - or his medications -from h~s mini-fridge, _" or use his personal bathroom. "It works ¯ for me,"he said with a grin as smoothjazz ~ sauntered out of his stereo’s speakers. : Behind him hung posters of singer Financial Planning With A Clear Commitment= At American Express Financial Advisors, we want to make our Commitment to gay men and lesbians clear. Just as we have extended domestic partner benefits to our lesbian and gay employees worldwide, we are committed to providing ~ound financial advice that specifically addresses the unique financial issues affecting our lesbian and gay clients. Whether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or caring for children, your Americar Express financial advisor can help you take control of your financial future. We can help ’OU: Establish savings and investment plans Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation Avoid financial restrictions placed on unmarried couples Avoid costly delays in the receipt of life insurance proceeds ~, series of Seminars given by Theresa Barnard, American Express Financial Advisor Where: MCC United When: 7:00 P.M. 1623 N Maplewood Ave -’inancial Strategies for Gay Men & Lesbians Tuesday, September 5th and Tuesday, October 10th Retirement Explore Your Options ¯ Create your Retirement Income Tuesday, September 19th ¯ Estate Planning Tuesday, October 24th Please R.S.V.P. with Theresa at 918-748-8191 ext.121 Financial Advisors TULSA TECHNOLOGY Si IOWCASE AN EVENT OFTHETULSA METRO CHAMBER 12.000 Interested in finding business solutions? Looking for business connections? Then plan to attend the Tulsa Business & Technology Showcase 2000 A comprehensive exposition dedicated to the needs of Tulsa’s business community, featuring 250 exhibit booths, Business After Hours, Power Networking~ ..Seminars ~conduc~ed by businessbuilding professionals and renowned luncheon speakers, a silent auction, door prizes, a car giveaway, and much, much more! Thursday & Friday, October 19 & 20 Tulsa Convention Center TULSA METRO CHAMBER Info: 560-0298 Sponsored by Tulsa Auto Collection, Media sponsors include KJRH TV2 Clear Channel Communication and the Tulsa World Power Connect. Public Service Company of Oklahoma Customer Service Is Now Avai|able 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5 business hours aren’t always convenient. So PSO has made it easier than ever for you to contact us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering around-the-clock answersto your questions - and better access to service. Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or.report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or ¯ off. Our professionally trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our toll-free numbers below. I I I, I I I I I I I I ! I I I I I I I I I I CALL 24 HOURS FOR TOLL-FREE SERVICE ~Clip And Save I I I Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 Servici0 a Cliehtes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas Sobre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 Falta De Suministro: 1-888-218-3924 Public Service Company of Oklahoma I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I BobMarley and a pink flamingo. Beyond that, the window looked out onto the water. As he spoke, a sailboat sliced through gusty winds as it cruised south heading out into the open bay. HIV Prevention Ad Banned from TV SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A set of television ads that depict bare-chested men and a male-to-female transgender delivenng an HIV prevention message have been pulled from daytime TVat a Bay Area station. Rather than run the 30-second ad during afternoon talk shows, KGO Channel 7 offered to run the ads - which encourage HIV-positive men and women to practice safe sex and be honest with partners about their status - after 10 p.m. so that fewer children would see them. A Better World, the San Francisco advertising agency that purchased the spot, chose the original time frame because researchers have discovered 3 and 4 p.m. shows are popular with Gay men. However, KGOleaders say that the ads clash with afternoon viewer expectations. "With a Rosie (O’ Dounell) episod,°, with ’NSYNC, or another pop culture guest on it, it would be a little eyepopping for a commercial like this to show up," said David Metz, director of programming services at KGO. Les Pappas, president of the agency., called KGO’s decision homophobic. "We’ ve done the research to find out what our target audience is watching, and they’ re watching Rosie and Oprah. We don’t want to be relegated or banished until after 10 p.m.," Pappas said. ABetterWorldcreated the $345,000 ad campaign for the city’ s health department after a study last month that fond the rate of HIV infection among Gay men in San Francisco is climbing at an alarming rate. New HIV infections in the city increased form 498 in 1997 to 790 last year, according to the Health Department study. NYC Loses Case Over AIDS Care NEW YORK (AP) - A federal judge has ruled the city mistreated poor people with AIDS by subjecting them to bureaucratic mismanagement and delays in housing, health and other benefits. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Sterling Johnson said officials violated theAmericans with Disabilities Act by "chronically and system.- atically failing to.provide (AIDS patients) with meaningful access to critical subsistence benefits and services." Hecalled the consequences "devastating." The opinion stems from a class-action lawsuit filed in federal court on behalf of 25,000 plaintiffs dtywide whohaveAIDS or other HIV-related illnesses. Johnson’s ruling detailed testimony - heard earlier this year at a bench trial - by plaintiffs who described getting the rtmaround from the Division for AIDS Services for months, if not years. The judge appointed a federal magistrate to monitor the agency over the next three years. Michael Hess, the city’ s counsel, criticized the ruling and promised an appeal. "Very frankly, I think it’ s very flawed," Hess said, adding that thejudge’ s opinion was "very poorly done and contains a lot of errors that I hope will be corrected." Hess said Johnson relied on informauon that was more than five years old. Statistics cited by Johnson showed that in one out Of three cases, the city failed to meetits own30-day deadline for responding to requests for services. He ordered the city to comply. The ruling was the latest in which Housing Works has succeeded in forcing Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’ s administration to overhaul portions of its policies. In 1999, U.S. District Judge Allen Schwartz found that city officials had acted with "retaliatory intent" against the nonprofit group, which has been a relentless critic of Giuliani’ s policies on AIDS. Vatican Officials: Still Noto Condoms VATICAN CITY (AP) - A Vatican official said recently that two American Jesuits have distorted church positions b,,y suggesting that the Vatiean has become more tolerant" about the distribution of condoms to fight AIDS. Monsignor Jacques Suaudeau said the Vatican stance hasn’ t changed, although the church must not be seen as indifferent to AIDS sufferers and the battle to stop the disease’ s spread. Some in the church have been seeking a softening in the position of the Vatican, which has been accused by some governments of hindering the AIDS battle. Writing in the Sept. 23 issue of "America," a Jesuit magazine, the authors pointed to an April article written by Suaudeauin the Vaticannewspaper. They said it contained important signals: That while some individual bishops have repudiated local HIV prevention programs that include the distribution of condoms, "the Roman curia is more tolerant on the matter." The article was written by the Revs. John Fuller, an associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, and James Keenan, professor ofmoral theology atWestonJesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass. Suaudeau called the article a"pretext to relaunch the argument." "This is a manipulation. It is blown up and exaggerated," he told The Associated Press. In his article, Suaudeau endorsed sexual abstinence and chastity as the methods to prevent AIDS, citing church programs to promote that. Suaudeau’ s article went on to say that the use of condoms in Thailand "had particularly good results for these people with regard to the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. It said the use of condoms in those circumstances "is actually a ’lesser evil’" but then added that "it cannot be proposed as a model ofhumanization and development." Suaudeau said he wrote the article to show the Vatican was not indifferent to the AIDS problem. Easier Access to Needles in NM SANTA FE (AP) - State health officials want to change New Mexico’ s Controlled Substances Act to state that pharmacists who prbvide syringes to intravenous-di’ug users are not guilty of distributing drug paraphernalia. State officials say the change would help combat the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B and C. The Pharmacy Board decided to back the change, which would need to be passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gary Johnson. In 1997, Johnson signed into law the Harm Reduction Act that made New Mexico the second state in the nation to create a state-funded needleexchange progran~ for drug users. by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor ." homoerotically tinged moments, and it Happy Samhain! (pronounced "sow- ¯ features Amanda Bearse playing Straight. eft’- it’ s Gaelic) We turn in the wheel of " (She was the next door neighbor on"Martheyearto theseasonofthethinning ofthe ¯ lied With Children", who came out a few veils, when people all over the word felt ¯ years back.) Roddy McDowell is fabuthe shifts that marked th~ time of honor- " lous as an inept bachelor vampire hunter ing th.eir ancestors. " - One wonders why he never married - Samhain in pagan Celtic Britain, was a .* "nudge, nudge, wink, wink." The charactime forhonoring the spirits of those that " ter, I mean. And Stephen Geoffreys turns have passed on, as in a touching perwell as the day of - .I love vampire Elms, and f0rmance as the the dead in Spain " " lonelyoutcastwho andMexico.Itwas ~]alS is tlae ]~est tlme of year. gets seduced by an important boll- Chris Sarandon’ s day all over the Of course, ~t’s even l~etter ff ever-so-handpre- Christian some vampire. world, enough so ~t~s a darl~, w~indy, stormy Ue’s another one that when the that could show up Church took over, ni~lat w~tla t:launder craslaln~ outside my winthey renameditAll dow any time. It’ s Hallow’s Eve and and l~htnln~ flash~n~ and.., a fun film, and All Saints Day. It - worth the cost. shrunk from a oh~ sorry~ ~ett~n~ a bit caught Available on three day festival, DVD. to a one day cel- up ~n the deser~ptlon. For those that ebration. In Storms do that to me. like Tom Cruise Amelica, it was " " with fangs (he retrivialized into w]aere was I? fusedtodothekiss Halloween. So, with Antonio just for old times’ O1~ yes, vampires and film. Banderas - was sake, take a mo- " " this due to his inment that day to "’" security with his remember those loved ones who have own sexuality since it was inthe script?), passed on. "Interview With The Vampire" has been I love vampire films, and thisis thebest rereleased on DVD with new documentime of year. Of course, it’ s even bet{er if tary footage and a few other extras thrown it’sadark, windy, stormy night with thtm- " iu. Brad Pitt plays Lestat, and the now der crashing and lightning flashing and. quite grown up Kirsten Dunst turned in a ¯ oh, sorry, getting a bit caught up in the stellar performance as an adult trapped in description. Storms do that to me.. a child’ s body. Good for the moody vetowhere was I? Oh, yes, vampires and film. pire types. One of the best verslons of the Dracnla For fans of the original Hammer legend, although the critics ripped it to Dracnlas, there are two on DVD: Dracnla, shreds, is the 1979 Frank Langella fea- Prince of Darkness, the first sequel with ture. Langella’ s Drac would be welcome ChristopherLee, after"HorrorofDracula" to show up outside my window anytime (unavailable on DVD - dammit!); and and suck anything he wanted. The film, Satanic Rites of Dracula, which was the directed by John Badham, also stars Kate last Hammer Dracula with Chris I~e. It Nelligan and Laurence Olivier in his last was a rather inept handling of putting film performance. While there are times Drac in what was them "modem" times thepacingtrudgesabitslowly, overallthe (1973). Only for those diehr~;d film is one of the lnshest productions of "I)racufans". who can’t stand to have the legend I’ve seen, even though it is completecollections.Still,it’safunromp, based more on the play than the actual and the costumes are well worthlaughing book. That didn’ t really bother me, picky at. Did people really wear that then? LOL purist that I am, and the Dracula in this The only one with any style was Drac, in filmhas quiteadry sense of humor that is timeless black and long cloak. Dracula, easy to miss if you ares’ t prone to catch- ~" PrinceofDarkness, atleastkepthiminthe ing it. It is widely available on DVD, and " 1800’ s, although Lee is left with little to although the print they used to transfer . do but hiss and look menacing. Still, it’ s a from is prone to noise (specks where the ¯ much better picture, and a fun romp. film has started to come off the magnetic " Wemer Herzog’ s remake of Nosferatu strip it’ s on), it is still a great atmospheric " is available, but unless you want to be thrill for the buck. bored to tears with Drac’ s eternal anguish Stay away from Coppola’s version, . over killingthings, pass. It really is thoug]~ ~t~ s b!9ody awful and really sucks " "DraculaNeeds Prozac"., and Klaus Kinski - i’n a b~id’Wa~ (Pun intendedl) is So wtfiny in the part, that youjust wanna Nosferatu, the first Dracula film ever slap him after 5 minut,e~s. And talk about made, and regarded as a masterpiece of ° pace.., those 2 hours-seem like 2 days. th~Germanexpressionisticcinema,isalso Again, only for the hardcore collector, a~lable,.meticuloi~sly restored, and with although afterhearing so much about it, it a.~gry interesting commentary on DVD. was nice to finally see it. Or not. Always -?irected by F.W: Murnau, ,an openly spoken of as a "classic," it m~es me ga~ director, the homoerotic ~ndertones wonder wlm decides what w~il be deemed ~ake fi~ walt worth having, or at least, aclassic andjt~st how hard they need robe renting. Re-scored wifia the original or- hit upside the head with the inteliigencc chestra~:ion, it is a fascinating ,ook at d_m stick. Nstory. Produ~din !92~.,itacmNiyholds If 3 ou re m the moodfor something in tap wel! today, a more literary vein, I czm heartily recom-. For those seekiv.g .lus~ a fun romp mend "Desrnond", by Ulysses Deitz. A through vampire fi.hn!,’md with fang-in- weL writtensagaofamodemvampinthe cheek, there s l~ngm Night", about a Anne Rice tradition, this one does not shy vampireandhisghoul, who happens to be away from the fact that, yes indeed, the male. They have a couple of lovely vamps are Gay. see Jim, p. 9 Tuesday, November 7 Election Day HRC WATCH PARTY Because win or lose, it’s good to be among friends 9 PM 3340 South Peoria, Tulsa, OK Must be 21 - Cash Bar HRC envisions an America where lesbian and gay people are ensured of their basic equal rights. You can help us do our work by joining us for either or both of these events (or by joining HRC - it’s just $35, call 584~2913 or email hrctulsaoklahoma@aol.com). HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN~ TULSA Sunday, October 29th 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM Helga’s Horribles Present scenes from "The Little Shop of Horrors" !7th & Main, Tulsa, OK Limited Seating Call 584-~913 for reservations Must be 21 - Cash Bar A survey of books which Tulsa police required to be shrinkwrapped in Borders’ October 14 8:00 pm Friday O~tober 20 21st St. location turned up at least 20 wrapped tifles over half of which were Gay and Lesbian interest books, the other half being mostly how-to sex guides for heterosexuals. Among the Gay rifles were serious art monographs on the mid-century photographer, George Platt Lynes, controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, and photographer David LaChappelle. Also chosen were history books like "Who’s a Pretty Boy Then? 150 Years of Gay Life in Pictures" and "Nothing But the Girl, The Blatant Lesbian Image" and "Gay Planet, All Things for All Gay Men." Only one title of all those wrapped, an art book by Tom of Finland, appeared possibly to meet the standard for shrinkwrapping. The police move has raised alarm in local ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) activists andGay community leaders. William Hinkle, attorney, PFLAG and ACLU activist responded to the police actions, saying "[they] can’t d,~ that. ¯. absolutely [not]." Hinkle further characterized the law as "blunt instrument," that if indeed the books were in violation of an Oklahoma statute, then an arrest should have been made. Kerry Lewis, v?’g president of TOHR (Tulsa Oklaho~ mans for Human Rights) and an attorney with a prominent Tulsa finn, called the police actions "really kind of scary" and indicated that TOHR was very interested in the impact of this action. Lewis noted thafthere appeared to be some other actions on the part of Tulsa police, a recent i.d.-check in a Tulsa club, that raised concern about a resurgence of anti-Gay harassment by Tulsa police. Other issues: Police Chief Ron Palmer stated that he did not issue the order for this action. Nor did Mayor Susan Savage know of the incident. City standards do restrict city councilors (legislative branch) from directing city employees to-perform actions. City councilor Gary Watts said that the mayor and chief of police have given permission for city councilors to talk directly to majors and deputy chiefs but that had he had a similar complaint he would have told the constituent to call the police directly. Watts said if a city councilor gave an order to the police, it was wrong, and if the officer took the order, it was doubly wrong. Corporate spokespeople for both Borderand Barnes &Noble responded. Sandy Spears, district manager for Barnes & Noble said they follow state and local ordinances but we don’t censor..." Borders representatives in a conference call claimed that they have a"dear dedication to the First Amendment but they are also conscious of the community they’re in." Borders representatives claimed they have always shrinkwrapped some books and that some come that way from the printers. (All of the Gay rifles TFN examined had locally applied bar code tags under the shrinkwrap indicating that these had not originally been wrapped. Borders representatives also claim that any customer can remove shrinkwrap in order to view a book but also acknowledged that they post no signs to let customers know about that option. They also acknowledged that to some customers the presence ofthe shrinkwrap was intimidating - that it appeared to send a message that the materials were illicit. seeming concern about Gay patrons. Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris stated that he had not been consuited before this action commenting that he’ s often seen as acting in coordination with this,sort of action but had not done so. Borders spokespeople indicated that they will send their regional management to visit Tulsa stores sometime in the next few weeks to review the situation. See editorial: Censorship Throug,;~ Intimidation, p. 3 No dancing around the subject here. And it’ s a compelling story as well, with style and wit. One of my favorites. John Peyton Cooke’ s "Out for Blood" is another excellent book with wall-written characters and a fun romp through vampland. It’ s worth hunting for in used bookstores or garage sales, since it’ s unfortanately out of print. There are two anthologies out that are worth the reading - the stories are hit and miss, but there’ s more hits than misses, so it’s worth the time - "Brothers of the Night", and "Sons of Darkness", edited by Michael Rowe and Thomas Roche. The covers are awful, but it just goes to prove the saying,"You can’ tjudge a book, etc." I’d say about 95% of the stories are excellent, which makes the 5% bearable. And there’s something for everyone. I usually don’ t care much for anthologies, but these are worth picking up. Stay away from"Vampires Anonymous". That’ s the worst piece of dreck I’ ve read in many a year of reading vampire fiction. That’ s it for the "Things that go boink in the night section." I mean, bump, yeah, bump! Still, ifyouknow of anyone with a cape And there’ s something for everyone. ! usually don’ t care much for anthologies, but these are worth picking up. Stay away from"Vampires Anonymous". That’ s the worst piece of dreck I’ ve read in many a year of reading vampire fiction. That’ s it for the "Things that go boink in the night section." I mean, bump, yeah, bump! Still, ifyou know of anyone with a cape feti sh, hates daylight, and has been around 200 years but only looks 30-something, is allergic to garlic, and has a really good immune system, send him to me... being bitten can be fun, and the neck is one of my favorite e-zones... But by merely talking about the possibility of arrests, they clearly raise that as threat if the bookstore staff doesn’t do what the police suggest/demand. Also, troubling is the role of TulSa City Councilor Todd Huston. While Chief Palmer claims that Huston did not violate city standards by contacting city staff because he did not "order" them to take a particular action (councilors are not permitted to direct city staff but are required to go through the executive branch, i.e. the mayor or chief or deputy chiefs). But any casual observer will see thatcomment by an elected official to mid-level officers is more likely to be heeded than the complaint of an ordinary citizen. And given the scandal related to former city councilor Anna Falling about orders given to city employees, Huston should have gone through the chain of command of the mayor or at least the chief ofpolice. Surely then more consideration would have been given to the dubious constitutionality of this action, see Censor, p. 10 by Lamont Lindstrom Last week my friend Henry heard a thud. Henry was hanging out at his new boyfriend’s apartment in San Francisco when something big crashed upstairs. "It’ s that annoying yobbo in the third floor apartment at it again," or so they thought. Henry’s boyfriend explained that no one in the building.liked the guy. He was catty and manipulative- the Richard Hatch of the apartmentbuilding. No boyfriends ever knocked on his door. Three days later an ambulance arrived. Theparamedics carried down a body from the third floor. Unlike TV’ s Survivor, the neighbor was the first to go, not the last. He had been lying deadjust above Henry’ s head for several days. Luckily, San Francisco weather can be cool, even in September. The ambulance drove off but Henry still felt creepy. The guy upstairs was no more butstill a presen,.~ remained. A few days later, Henry was bending over working in the garden at the back of the building. Suddenly he shivered. It felt like someone was watching him. He looked up quickly at the blank window of the third floor apartment. Was somebody still there?Was that aface? His boyfriend’ s mother, too, got goosebumps in the garage when she walked by the dead guy’ s car. The bitter queen, it seems, was now a ghostly voyeur. Henry isn’ t thrilled to spend the night at ahaunted apartment house, even one with Gay ghosts. Death has been no stranger to the Gay community, especially since the early 1980s, andmany ofus are hauntedin one way or another. Still, lurking spirits who cling to home can be annoying (even if good apartments are hard to .find in San Francisco). Luckily, Henry’ s boyfriend had already made plans to move. The ghost can keep the place. My friends on Tauna - a South Pacific island I once haunted mysdf- were similarly nervous about ghosts. Folks there are prone to stumble across spirits at any moment. Even though people mostly run into the ghosts of dead loved ones (morn, dad, grandpa), they aren’ t toohappy about these encounters. If the dead are making themselves known, there must be a reason. Ghosts can help you. But they can also hurt you too, especially if they are I didn’ t meet a~y~Gay:gh~osts imTamaa but there is a rather tricky Bisexual spirit living on the island: the dreaded and seductive Nakwa. People have sex with ghosts. What we think are "wet dreams," Islanders ~+piaiii akOff~~akwa ~ptrit sneaking ~tb bai With :thdm~. A mail: (a straight on~ atl~ast)!~s that he is having sex With ti ~tiful:w0man ~ but it’ s actually the ~iiOst Onlypretending to be a woman. Perfidious Nakwa steals the dreamer’ s semen and then changes its sex from female to male. It next creeps into the bed ofa sleeping woman, appearing as ahandsomeguy. Ithas sex with the sleeper and impregnates her with sperm stolen from its previous victim. Such ghostly pregnancies can be deadly. The woman "...Anthropologist Sherry Ortner, drawln~ on the Freneh feminist Simone Beauvoir, ~,~nee proposed that ’Man is to Culture as Woman is to Nature.’ Ortner was seekln~ a reason for why, almost everywhere, people value what men do more than they value what women do..." ¯ may die unless her false pregnancy is ~ diagnosed and treated by local healers. ," Ghosts you meet while awake can also ¯ make trouble._ One day a young woman named Risi just vanished. Her family panicked. Nobody disappears in this intimate society where everyone always knows everyone else’ s business. We rushed to the graveyard and blew triton shell trumpets loudly to put-the spirit world on nouce: buuuuuuu! Village theory was that the girl’s grandmother, who had died the previous year, had come back to fetch Risi to keep her company in "the other side" - the world of the spirits. Four days later a somewhatbedraggled Risi wandered back into the village. It wasn’t grandmother, so it turned out, but rather a handsome ghost she didn’ trecognize. ¯ He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her off deep into the forest - ¯ highup on the mountainside where people ¯ ordinarily are afraid to walk. Risi admit- " ted that she had "cooked" for the spirit. ¯ Her folks immediately suspected that she ¯ and the ghost had had sex. When a girl ¯ ¯ cooks for aguy, she’ slikely offeringmore than just yams and taro. ¯ Somehow Risi managed to escape and ¯ find her way back home. Her family was ¯ going to have to be on guard the next few ¯ months to make sure that Risi hadn’t ¯ come home with a spirit child in her ¯ Womb. ¯ That was her story at least, and none ¯ doubted it - except me, just a little, but ¯ only becauseI’veneverrunintoanyhorny ¯ ¯ ghosts myself. But when Henry told me about his Gay ghost, I wondered if per- " haps randiness is why the spirit refuses tO ¯ leave the building. The guy. got no saris- " faction while aliVe; he now haunts lzs ¯ luckier neighbors ~ staring, for example, ," at Henry’s handsomebehind. Maybe ¯ Henry should ask the ghost out on a date. ¯ Hall6ween would be perfect. Last but hardly least is the failure of the bookstores to defend First Amendment protections. What is most troubling was the corporate response which was not to reassure Gay & Lesbian customers that our books will not be wrapped but which was to defend their fight to shrinkwrap books. Wrapping books, even if you can open them (if you knOW to ask)C-sends a message that some subjects a~ebad. It isn’ t grand censorship in theformofmaking the materials unavailable but it is petit censorship and it is still objectionable~ This may seem a small issue - after ,all it’ s just a bit of shrinkwrap -but this is how rights are lost, through a slow process of erosion. Citizens might want to contact their councilors and demand that we keep our police officers out of the bookstores (and who knows what next, our libraries?) and out on the streets. Timothy .W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointmenls are available. Are You Gay. or Bisex.ual? Are YOU Native Amer|can?. Tulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Me¢n’s _ / ~uEpvpeonrtinGgrosuupppisorhtgerreoufoprmyoeue,tings ~j ’- ¯ Relationship workshops ~!~ ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free H V testing For information callTulsaNative American AIDS Prevention Project IGTA member Call 341.6866 nternationa Toursformoreinformation. Massage Therapy Services Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Club Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm :T]ulsa !s on!y professional body-piercing College Hill Presbyterian Church In response to God’ s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a community of God’ s people called to tall others the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, service, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living; loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voice for peace and justice. Our congregation welcomes all persons Who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, "and d~sire to become part.lof tlie~ membership and ministry of Christ’ s church. Membership is open to all people regardle..~s of race, ethnic origin, worldly dondition,madtal statuS, or , ’i, s~xual orientation. Sunday Worship 11am 712 S. Columbia Ave., 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) by Karin Gregory ; By now votes are tallied and the facts ¯ speak for themselves: Dr. Laura ." Schlessinger’ s television talk show, after ¯ being on air only three weeks, is going ; into hiatus for "retooling." Doesn’ t that mean a major make-over? It does in my vocabulary. It also means "trouble.’" This is probably-due more to the fact that Dr. Laura’s show is BORING instead of controversial, and has also landed dead last in ratings among talk shows on television (and among many other shows as well). However, I figure that the people .over at stopdrlaura.com are giving themselves a pat on the back for a job well done since their first two protests, in Chicago and Dallas back in April, made the public more aware of this woman’ s dangerous rantings. These two major city demonstrations weren’t the last, and August 26, Austin, Texas held a protest outsideits CBS affiliate station, KEYE-TV, "The Eye of Austi..". The protest was organized chiefly by stopdrlauraanstin.com. How do I know this? I was on the front lines. Having broken my footjust a week earlier, I went down to march (as best I could) with other Gay/lesbian/straight concerned citizens who didn’t want the show to air at its scheduled 4 pm ttme slot. Their reason? CbJldren at home, many without parental supervision, would watch Dr. Laura and receive her message, thus ensuring that homophobia stays alive and dangerous in Texas. Every Fundamentalist Baptist is ensuring that as we speak. We don’ t need more help from a television talk show wannabe. Meeting with the assistant of stopdrlaura.com, Andy Thayer, was an experience. He’ s been to most of the Dr. Laura protests in most of the states in the country. That’ s lots of traveling. When I heard there would be about one hundred protesters, I was exhilarated and stopped thinking about the pain inmy footandmy hideous lack of sleep from the night before. But as 11 am approached, it was obvious there would only be about30--35 participants in this protest. The demonstmtionoutside the television stationlasted approximately anhour, alongafairlykigh traffic areain Austin. Mostcars that drove by included sympathizers, those agaiast the Dr. Laura talk show. Weheard from a local Christian miaister who had recently officiated at the funeral of a Gay boy killed in a bashing. He said that for a week after the funeral he listened to a local Christian radio station and heard endless Gay bashing from the "Christians." He made the point that not only should weblame Dr. Laurafor spreading hatred about Gays, and this radio station, but we should ultimately look to ourselves to see what .we could do to prevent this abysmal crime from happening again. Withonly35protesters present, it looked like the rest of the Gay/Lesbian] Bisexual/Transgendered community of Austin just didn’t care. Do you care? Do you have what it takes to stand on a street corner and protest? Sure you do. That’s the easy part. The difficulty comes in our everyday lives when we continually hide "...Do you have what it takes to stand on a street corner and protest~ Sure you do. That’s the easy part. The dlffieulty comes in our everyday lives when we eontlnuaily hide who we are, or when we just want someone else to take up the cause because it’s become too dlffieult beatin, our heads aCalnst that wall.. 7 who we are, or when we just want someone else to take up the cause: because it’ s become too difficult beating our heads against that wall. Having that door slammed in our face. Being turned down for thatjob. Tryingto reach a community that should understand one another, but instead tries to fight forMs/her space and keeps others out. Only when we stand united will anyone take us seriously. Look what that’s done for the religious right. They have a whole damn political party on their side. Join the battle for yourselves and your partners. As they sing in Les Miserables, "This is the music of a people who will not be slaves again." Join in the crusade. You won’ t know what you’ re missing until you do. ¯ Lesbian couples break up; separate--It was bound to happen, you say. It couldn’ t " last forever, especially in Hollywood. : Well, one couple breaks up ("I could have ¯ seen that coming from day one") and one ¯ couple separates ("This was out of left ." field"). The former quote could be said of ¯ the break up of the three and a half year ¯ relationship ofEllen DeGeneres andAnne ; Heche. Umm, not too surprising. In fact, ¯ since thenews was armounced1as tmonth, tabloids have announced the reasons for ¯ the breakup: Ellen Finds Anne in Bed ¯ With Another Woman; Ellen Finds Anne ¯ in Bed With Another Man; Ellen’s Ex Pregnant. I-Immm, why doesn’t ELLEN ¯ get any action? The day the couple an- . nouncedtheirbreakup, A~tme Heche"sup- ¯ posedly" went for a drive in very sunny, ¯ hot weather with the top down on the ¯ convertible. Not too swift for someone : SO fair skinned. Later, after "suppos- ¯ edly" suffering heat stroke,Anneknocked ¯ on a stranger’s door and began talking ." about God and spaceships. Ellen, if you ¯ were theonewhokickedherout, all Ihave ¯ tosayis: Waytogo, Grrl! ; More surprising was the. separation of ; rock star Melissa Etheridge and ten year ¯ partnerJulieCypher. Again, anotherpress ." announcement.Whatisitaboutthesefour ¯ women that makes them tell all to the ¯ world? In this case, Etheridge and Cypher ¯ split on extremely amicable terms, even ; buying two separate houses next d~or to ;- one another, so their children won t feel the separation. They will still have their ¯ two mommies beside them. Well, that’ s a ¯ way to do divorce all right, especially ¯ withchildreninvolved.However, theway ¯ Melissaimmortalizes her andJulie’ s fights ¯ into her songs, I can’ t wait for Melissa’ s ¯ next album, already being recorded. ¯ Can anything be learned from these ¯ separations?Well,if you’re a Witty come- " dielme, don’ t get involved with a flalse. If ¯ you have one of the strongest pers0nali- ," ties on the planet, then maybe you ¯ shouldn’tgetinvolvedwiththeotherstron- ¯ gest personaiiiy on the planeL in other ¯ words, You can "come to:my windoff" ¯ because ’Tmthe only one",b~tyoubett~ not be"stronger thmi me" or I n~ighthave ¯ a "breakdown." ¯ Gregory, a former schoolteacher and ¯ journalist is based in Ft. Worth. Her cur¯ rent theme song appears to beJillSobule ’s "I Kissed a Girl." Walk for Life 2000 8th Annual Tul,sa AIDS Walk Saturday, Oct. 7, 9:30am Veteran’s Park, 21st & Boulder For more information, call 585-5551. Donations will be increased by 50% with matching dollars through the generosity of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, The Walk is sponsored by the Community Service Council, and will benefit the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP). The Walk is an all volunteer effort and there are no administrative costs. Tulsa Family News is proud to donate this advertisement in support of the Walk and the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP) Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, October 2000; Volume 7, Issue 10 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. Legrandbouche Lamont Lindstrom Esther Rothblum Mary Schepers Hughston Walkinshaw Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Tom Neal/Tulsa Family News Relation A related resource Tulsa Family News, September 2000; Volume 7, Issue 9 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource newspaper periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa(Oklahoma)---newspaper Tulsa----Oklahoma Oklahoma---Tulsa United States Oklahoma Tulsa United States of America (50 states) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/605 AIDS Al Gore aMUSEments and Friends of Lesbians and Gays arts and entertainment Bars Boy Scouts businesses Catholic Church censorship churches Community Center contraception Families gay bashing Gay Games 2002 Gay marriage Gay Studies healthcare HIV prevention HIV testing homelessness Human Rights Campaign Jim Christjohn Karin Gregory Lamont Lindstorm Log Cabin Republicans marriage equality Murder Openarms Youth Project Parents Partner Benefits partner rights performing arts PFLAG Raging Lesbian Red Cross Red Rock Tulsa restaurants Rich Tafel Tom Neal Tulsa AIDS Walk Tulsa Family News Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Tulsa Police Department https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/6497570df6739814b1f53803976aa5b1.jpg eddbd7f8092dd730d643f946703894db https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/bd25622cc45d3dc2ef36d1c050f025cf.pdf ea4d97532b62ccf57ba0218150bb41fc PDF Text Text Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa + US Protests of Boy Gay Services Center Scouts’ Anti-Gay Policies Moving to Memorial " ¯ " ° o ¯ " ¯ " ¯ Two Teens Indicted In Murder of Gay Black Man FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) - Two 17-year-old Marion County boys were indicted at the end of August for the murder of a Gay Black man. Jared Wilson and David Allen Parker of Grant Town were each charged as adults with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the July 4 death of Arthur "J.R." Warren. They are accused of beating and kicking Warren, 26, then running over him with a Camaro to disguise his injuries as a hit-and-run. If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in prison. A 15-year,old witness, Jason Shoemaker of Grant Town, has been charged as a juvenile with being an accessory after the fact for allegedly helping the older boys dispose of evidence. Conviction on that misdemeanor offense could mean up to.a year in jail. Shoemaker has testified that Warren was beaten and kicked with steel-toed boots in a.hous¢.then put in a car. He was still alive and begging t6 be taken home when the other boys dragged him from the car on a Grant Town road to kick and beat him some more. Parker then drove over Warren four times, the boy said. see Murder, p. 11 .-. ¯ ¯ " : ¯ ¯ ~ : [ ¯ -" ." ¯ ° ¯ ." ~ ¯ ." ~ ¯ ¯ ~ ¯ OKC/TULSA (AP/TFN) - A handful of demonstrators asking the Boy Scouts to stop discriminating against Gay scouts and leaders took their message to the streets Monday, August 21, targeting motorists at a busy intersection not far from the Last Frontier Boy Scout headquarters in OklahomaCity (OKC) andin front of the Indian Nations Council in the Brookside neighborhood in Tulsa. The Tulsa and Oklahoma City rallies were part of an effort plannedin atleast 36 cities and 21 states initiated by Scouting For All, a national nonprofit organization formed by Steven Cozza, 15, of Petaluma, Calif. Cozza started Scouting For All several years ago after his father was removed as a Scout leader for supporting Gay civil rights. Cozza, who said neither he nor his father is Gay, left the Boy Scouts about six months ago after becoming an Eagle Scout. Cozz~ said he no could longer support the program because it discriminates. "Scoutmasters are people to look up to. What’s wrong with being influenced by a Gay man? Someone’s sexuality has nothing to do with his character or personality," he said. The dozen OKC protesters held signs that read "Scouting should be for everyone", "Open scouting to Gays" and "Honk for Gay Boy Scouts". People honked. In Oklahoma City, a couple of people shouted obscenities and one truck driver shouted, "You guys are wrong"but i,n Tulsa, most of those commenting as they drove by were supportive of the demonstrators who averaged about 20 over a couple hour period. Kent Doss, a 21-year-old student a! the University of Oklahoma and an Eagle Scout, attended both the Oklahoma City and the Tulsa protests. Doss, who is Gay, became an Eagle Scout in 1997. He had been in scouting since the third grade. "Even after that many years of hard work it’s just not worth it because of the negative influence," he said. ’’It is so hypocritical Everything I grew up with has been ignored," Doss said. ’q don’t want to abandon the scouts. I want to be apart of the dialogue, but I’m not proud of scouting." In Tulsa, Doss did turn in his uniform, his merit badges and his Eagle Scout award. In June, the US Supreme Cotvt ruled 5-4 that Boy Scouts of America (BSA) can bar Gays from serving as troop leaders. see Scouts, p. 2 Los Angeles Dod.gers For Life 200-0 ApOlogize to Lesbians -" Walk TULSA (TFN) - For the years, AIDS activists, pasl seven WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) - The Dodgers apologized Wednesday to a Lesbian couple ejected from Dodger Stadium earlier this month after the two shared a kiss during a game against the Chicago Cubs. ’‘i was troubled.., because of what it implied about the Dodger organization," said team President Bob Gratiano. "It means a lot to me that you are Dodger fans," he said to Danielle Goldey and Meredith Kott. "We will continue to do the right thing," Graziano said. The two were escorted out of the ballpark on Aug. 8. Goldey and Kott say they were not initially told why they were being ejected, but later they were told that someone complained and said children should not be exposed to "those people." The couple said their companions, a heterosexual couple, also kissedbut were not ejeeted. Because of this, they felt the action of the eight security guards was discrimination. Besides the public apology, the Dodgers donated 5,000 tickets to three Gay and Lesbian organizations and promised sensitivity training for their employees. ’’I think they stepped up to the plate more than they had to,"Goldey said. "All we wanted was an apology ... I’m very proud to be a Dodger fan." ’’I’m extremely happy with the results," Kott said. The couple was going to file a civil rights lawsuit if the Dodgers didn’t apologize, said their lawyer Bernie Bemheim. see Courts, p. 3 U_! ~ ~,~ Z DIRECTORY EDITORIAL US & WORLD NEWS HEALTH NEWS ENTERTAINMENT GAY STUDIES P. 2 P. 3 P. 4 P. 6 P. 8 P. 10 TULSA (TFN) - After several years in Brookside, Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center is rdocating - likely to a building near 21st and Memorial. After the ownership of the current location changed, TOHR (Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, sponsoring organization of,\the center) had to fight a legal battle just to finish the current lease. The new owners have spent considerable funds to update the location in order to lease it at much higher rates. None of the other original tenants still remain. TOHR president Greg Gatewood noted that the new center will have about the same amount of space as the current one but may have slightly lower operating costs. The new space will still have a Pride Store, the Nancy McDonald Library, and an expanded TOHR members only free video lending library. Volunteers to help prepare for the move and to move are quite welcome, Gatewood added and can call the Center at 743-4297 for details. TOHR events for September include: a protest planning meeting to respond to the upcormng visit to Tulsa by radio "therapist" Dr. Laura on Tuesday, Sept. 5th at 7pm at the Center (current location at 37th & Peoria, 2nd floor), new Center volunteer orientation on Wednesday, Sept. 6th at 7pm,TOHR membership meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 7:30pm. This meeting will feature a presentation of an A&E (Arts & Entertainment Network) program on hate crimes. Votes on the nominating committee for next year’s officers and on bylaws revisions will also be held. And planning for next year’s Pride events, Diversity Festival and Parade will begin on Saturday, Sept. 9th at 1 lain at the Center. On Friday, Sept. 29, 8pm, there will be a video release party for Diversity 2000, a commemorative video created by BoyBlue Productions in support of TOHR. It will include highlights of all Pride Week events including: see Video, p.8 ¯ Florida Politicians Push Federal Hate Crime Bill - WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Two Republi¯ can congressmen are touting legislation that would ~ expand the federal government’s rolein investigat~ ing and prosecuting crimes based on sexual often, tation, religion, gender or ethnicity. , U.S. Reps. Bill McCollum of Orlando and Mark ¯ Foley of West Palm Beach said while they may be ¯ members of a conservative political party, that ¯ doesn’t mean they find hate crimes against Gays ¯ and other historically persecuted groups any less -" foul than Democrats do. "The issue is not Gay : rights, the issue is hate crime," McCollum said ¯ Tuesday while meeting with Jewish leaders. "When ¯ someone is brutalized or killed.., it is fundamen: tally wrong." ¯ The bill would provide grants of up to $100,000 ¯ for the investigation, and prosecution of hate crimes in all 50 states. It also would give federal authori¯ ties the ability to prosecute hate crimes under ¯ interstate commerce laws. o According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, ¯ Florida ranks second in the nation in the number of [ active hate groups. FBI statistics show a total of [ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A cross-dressing, Gay Mexican man " 7,755 bias-motivated criminal incidents were re¯ persecuted in his homeland is entitled to asylum in the United . ported in 46 states and the District of Columbia in . 1998, down about 10% over 1997. ¯ States, a federal appeals panel ruled in August. Angela Lampert of the Jewish Federation of -" The decision by three judges of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of " Palm Beach County said the group strongly sup¯ Appeals expanded the social circumstances of persecution that . ports the bill. ’’We think hate crimes are abhorrent ¯ immigration officials must consider during asylum hearings. ¯ Federal. courts have already allowed asylum for a variety of ¯ and do not need to be tolerated," Lampert said after ¯ political and social reasons, including a woman’s fear of genital ¯ meeting with McCollum and Foley at Temple Beth ¯ El in West Palm Beach. : mutilation in her African homeland. Just last month, the 9th In July, the Senate passed similar legislation as ¯ Circuit ruled that an Armenian who says he has was given an ¯ an amendment to a defense department appropria¯ ultimatum to become a Communist or leave Armenia deserved " tions bill. This adds offenses motivated by sexual ¯ another bid for asylum. The case involves Geovanni Hernandez-Montiel, a Gay Mexi- ; orientation, sex or disability to the list of crimes " can citizen who dresses and behaves as a woman. He testified that ¯ covered under federal law. McCollum, chair of the ¯ he was persecuted by his family, school officials and police, who ¯ House Subcommittee on Crime, and Foley hope to " he said sexually assaulted him. see Asylum, p. 9 ¯ pass the House version in the same way. [ caregivers, people living with AIDS/HIV, and others have come : together to walk to raise money for I-IIV/AIDS care-giving and ¯ education agencies. Their services include n~lical assistance, _" prevention efforts, transportation, support groups, and home and ." hospice care. ¯ Walkers are asked to solicit pledges prior to this year’s event [ and to bring their pledge sheets and those donations to the Walk _" which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 9:30am at Veterans’ ¯ Park, located at 21st & Boulder. The Walk will begin and end at : the park going down the River Park to the 31 st Pedestrian Bridge ." and returning. ¯ Donations to Walk for Life 2000, the 8th Annual Tulsa AIDS ¯ Walk will be increased by 50% with matching dollars through the : generosity of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Walk is ~ sponsored by the Community Service Council, and will benefit .- the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP). ¯ The Walk is an all volunteer effort and there are no admiuistra"_ five costs. For more information or for pledge forms, call 585¯ 5551. :US Court Rules Gay Mexican ¯ Citizen Eligible for U,S, Asylum �Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants ;712-2324 *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial 610-5323 *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine 583-2119 *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan 835-2376 Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square 744-4280 *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st 745-9998 *The Star, 1565 Sheridan 834,4234 *Renegades!Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main 585-3405 *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial 660-0856 584- t308 *Tool BOX, 1338 E.’ 3rd *The Yellow Brick Road Pub; 2630 E. 15th 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals .747-1508 Advanced Wird~ss &~PCS,Digital Cdlular Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard 743-1000 250-5034 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 665-4580 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 712-1122 712-9955 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 494-2665 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale 743 -5272 Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. P~oria 746-0313 *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria~ *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth 295-5868 Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis 581-0902, 743-4117 Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker 622-0700 Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 749-3620 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th Doghouse on Brookside, 331 t S. Peoria 744-5556 838-8503 *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial 369-8555 .Ross Edward Salon 584-0337, 712-9379 592-0460 Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria 744-9595 Four Star Import Automotive, 9906,E. 55th PI. 610-0880 Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. 628-3709 808-8026 Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare 742 - 1 460 *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st 459-9349 Leatme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning 744-7440 Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E Skelly 745-1111 341-6866 *International Tours 712-2750 Jacox ANmal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th 582-3018 *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th 747-0236 David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering 582-8460 The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening 599-8070 *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E.. 15 747-5466 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 585-1234 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha 584-3112 *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd 663 -5934 Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 -664-2951 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place 838-7626 Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo 743 -4297 *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor 747-5932 Rainbowz on the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 834-0617 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning 834-7921, 747-4746 Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 749-6301 Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square 26o-7829. Paul Tay, Car Salesman 481-0558 *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis 835-5563 Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard 743-1733 Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling 665-2222 *Wherehouse Music,,5150 S. Sheridan 592-0767 *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis www.gaytulsa.org website for Tulsa Gays & Lesbians Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities 579-9593 AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 743~2363 All Souls,Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria. 587-7314 Black & White, Inc. PUB 14001, Tulsa 74159 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 583-9780 B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 585-1201 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence 587-1314 Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood 747-6300 *Community of Hope Church, 2545 S: Yale *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 748-3888 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 712-1511 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 742-2457 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & 355-3140 Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 747-7777 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard *Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Seal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw " Member of The Associated Piess ........... Issued on orbefore the let of each month~2the endre contents of this pubhcation are protected by US copyright I998 by T~ ~1 Nt,w,t and may not be reproduced either in He said he first thought the Dodgers might have a policy against Gay and Lesbian couples showing affectionin theball park. "I’m frankly shocked," Bernheim said. ’q’heir response is atypical and outstanding." He said the Dodgers have done more to make amends than any other corporation he’s dealt with. Goldey and Kott have been invited to sit behind home plate to make up for the game they missed. ¯ - - "It i-s not trivial-to-be thrown ouf’Of ’ .... ~: ~~ Of, who YOU "are, "s"d p.u,b,!]c placebased Jon Da~cids0n 0f the Lambda L~g~i’ D~-: fense and: Edlacafion Fund, a Gay advocacy group. ’q’his result is a home run for all concerned." whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of Tt,~ /: ,~ Ntsu4~ Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 582-0438 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. 583 -6611 834-4194 *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral 481-1111 Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st 834-8378 HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education *House of the Holy Spirit Minstries, 1517 S. Memorial 224-4754 *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood 838-1715 748-3111 NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. 365-5658 NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, PUB 14068, 74159 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa 749-4901 PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 587-7674 *Planned Parenthood, -1007 S. Peoria Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network 749-4195 584-2325 *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 425-7882 St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati 492-7140 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st 582-3088 *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King 583-7171 *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indiau Health Care 582-7225 595-4105 Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform~Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Hoor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses 743-4297 *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 749-8833 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown BARTLESVILLE Bardesville Public Library,, 6"00 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH 918-456-7900 Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-453-9360 Green Country AIDS Coalition, PUB 1570 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIV’testing every other Tt~es. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS 501-253-7734 Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7457 Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S Main .501-253-6807 DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. 501-253-5445 Fanerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501"-253-9337 MCC of the Living Spring 501-253-2776 Seek to Go!, PC Specialist, PUB 429 501-253-5332 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-624-6646 Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-253-6001 Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-4074 White Light, 1 Center St. JOPLIN, MISSOURI Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 * is where you can trmd TFN. Not all are Gay- owned but all are Gay-friendly. The ruling may also permit the 6.2-mib lion-member organization to reject Gays as members. The Boys Scouts consider homosexuality contrary to their oath .requiring scouts tube "morally straight:" The 90?ye~ff-Oldorganization says its goal is to ’l~iS~’itle educational programs for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and to devdop personal fitness.¯ Edmrdd resident Justin Spears, aformer Boy Scout l~ader, said he doesn’t know if he want~.:..Ms 8-year-old son to become a Boy Scoii~ because of the stance against Gays. "Even though they have a legal mandate, this discrimination needs to be stopped," he said. In Tulsa, longtime PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and GayS) activist Cathy Hinkle marched and spoke of how her Gay son was a scout but would have been barred under the BSA policy. Hinkle was joined for part of the protest by the new pastor of All Souls Unitarian Church. The OKC demonstrators marched to the headquarters, where former scout member Jim Craig, turned in his handbodkin prdtest to Jim Russnogle, director of field services for the Last Frontier Council. "In Boy Scouts I learned a lot about Boy Scout law. I believe scout law is not being followed," Craig said. "A lot of kids:that are Gay might not be tempted to co~Iv;uicide if they had more support." " Russnogle read from a statement that said that the Boy Scouts respects their rights, and ask that the rights of the BSA also be respected. "We believe avowed homosexuals should not be role models;" Russnogle read. He added that he is sorry, that Dose. no longer wants to be consid;,~ ered an Eagle Scout, "But if that is his opinion, I respect that." Rob Abiera, owner and operator of Ga~,0k~:(0m said thedemonstration was called to show support for Gay Boy Scouts and Scout Masters and to educate how Gay Scouts face discrimination. "We know that the Boy Scouts has~been a pioneer in reaching out to minorities and,¯. should continue that effort in reaching out to Gays. It is completely inconsistentwith what they have done in the past," Abierav ~ said. Demonstrators were turned away from the national B oy S couts of America headquarters M onday after presenting a 55,000signature petition protesting the organization’s ban on Gay troop leaders. Fewer than a dozen demonstrators, some wearing Boy Scout uniforms, see p. 3 �Assault at Rose Hill : the Nadonal Conference of Christians and Jews) sends by Tom Neal, editor/publisher were met by a security guard and not allowed past the It was a picture perfect "photo op." The rabbi, draped ¯ letters to the World condemning firemen who put Chrisfront desk. A secretary who refused to give her name said with his prayer shawl, was flanked one one side by "¯ tian holiday decorations up and condemns anti-Semetic she would forward the petition to the organization’s attacks on Joe Lieberman but never to my knowledge has Mouzon Biggs of Boston Avenue Methodist Church, president. The protesters had hoped to talk withleaders of Black pastor Dr. McCutchen, and the Bishop (Catholic) ¯ responded publicly to attacks on Tulsa’s Gay Commuthe organization or at least schedule a meeting. of Tulsa, Edward Slattery, and on the other side by our ¯¯ nity Center, to anti-Gay Oklahoma legislation, to the ’"vVe’re disappointed," said Dave Rice, a former Scout beating of Orr and Beauchamp, or even to the murder of mayor, M. Susan Savage, and Sheryl Siddiqui of Tulsa’s leader who marched in Irving. ’°We don’t like confronta¯ Mathew Sheppard. Islamic Society. tion. We like to sit down, shake hands and discuss a However, the organization has engaged in deliberate .M1 were gathered in the 100 plus degree heat and sun ¯ solution that’s mutually beneficial." and conscious acts of anti-Gay discrimination, most to condenm a horrible act of desecration: the toppling of In Seattle, more than_ 100 people rallied~ in protest recently at an event at Bigg’s BOston Jewish tombstones in Rose Hill CemMonday night. One, former Eagle Scout Doug Barnes, etery. And Rabbi Fitzerman of Con- "So when Rabbi Fitzerman Avenue Methodist Church. And in a said he planned to send hisbadge back. Another, Jon Wartes, said he already had done so. "Does the Boy gregation B’nai Emunah put in consays he’s grateful to llve in particularly cynical fundraising ploy, NCCJ honored Robert Lorton, owner text just precisely how this act hurt, of Scouts of America really understand the hurt that they’re and publisher of the Tulsa WorM, a an "open eommunlty," how it invoked memories of Nazi doing?" said Wartes, who became an Eagle Scout in 1959 business known for at least fifteen years atrocities with a story of a road to one and wrote part of the Boy Scout handbook. one that "embraces for its anti-Gay discriminatory busiNazi labor/death camp being paved At the Washington, D.C. protest, Graham Segroves ness practices, its "humanitarian" of with Jewish tombstones. diversity," "a place of wore his Boy Scout shirt complete with his Eagle Scout the year. But when push comes to shove, this badge and other honors. Now with the National Gay and profound moral health," So when Rabbi Fitzerman says he’s still was a crime against property not Lesbian Task Force, Segroves, 25, said he did not realize grateful to live in an "’open commua taking of life. Was it an assault on the he was Gay until he left the scouts eight years ago. I am grateful that for nity," one that "embraces diversity," psyche of a community? Of course! Segroves said he hopes President Clinton will agree to Tulsa’s Jewish eommunlty, "a place of profound moral health," I Not unlike the year-in and year-out a task force request that he resign his honorary presidency am grateful that for Tulsa’s Jewish psychic assaults on Gay Tulsans from of the Boy Scouts He also is watching for congressional this may finally be true. community, this may finally be true. I our own elected leaders (members of action on a proposed "Scouting f0~ All" act, which seeks hope so. the legislature, our governor, our conto revoke the Boy Scouts’ congre~slbhal charter. I hope so. But for Gay people clearly this is gressman, our sen~ttors, our district The Supreme Court decision has ~IS0 left compames But for Gay people dearly not yet true. For Gay Tulsans, Tulsa attorney),as well as from individual~ that donate to the Boy Scouts of America in a quandary: . remains a place of deep hypocrisy, like Jonathan Brian Duke, the man their employment policies contradict the Boy Scouts’ this is not yet true. For where our tax dollars, and our talents who was caught in the cemetery. Accourt-upheld right to ban Gay troop members. The stance Gay Tulsans, Tulsa are greedily taken but our existence is cording to the Tulsa WorM, Duke had already has cost the Scouts financial support from commostly denied when not specifically been accused of harassing two Gay panies such as Levi Strauss & Co: arid Wells Fargo. remains a place of deep condemned. It is a place where even men who lived near him. Others, concerned about hurting the beneficiaries of such our presence in human rights groups is Indeed, if you knew who and what to funding - the boys themselves - are w~ighing their hypoerlsy, where our begrudging and is predicated on our look for, Tulsa’s Gay community was options. tax dollars, not getting "’uppity." (Note how these wall represented in the crowd. I susChase Manhattan Corp. is considering revoking its groups much prefer to have non-Gay pect that after Jews, we may have been contributions. ’XDn the face of it, some issues appear to be and our talents are Gay advocates like Nancy McDonald the largest single group. There were in conflict with our commitment to diversity," spokesrather than actually have Gay people at greedily taken but our "baby" Gays in rainbow beads and man Jim Finn said. ’%Ve will make a final determination the table. Note also that this is no on this soon. It’s not something we are going to let rest for : shorts, a young lesbian couple quietly exlstenee is mostly cnttcism of Nancy’s good and hard a long time." Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York, which : holding hands leaving the ceremony work. She’s not responsible for their denied when not gives between $100,000 and $150,000 a year, is "actively ] after all was over, establishment Gays prejudice.) reviewing" its relationship with the Scouts, said spokes- ¯ from the Church of Saint Jerome, even speeffleally condemned. " And while Gay people seem to get some hardy human rights activists from man Joe Cohen. the connection between anti-semitism : Oklahoma City who dropped everyMedia company Knight Ridder has asked "that funds it - Tom Neal and anti-Gay values, the ~luestion regives to the United Way not be directed to the Boy Scouts : thing to come to be here in solidarity. mains whether Tulsa’s Jewish comAmazingly, Rabbi Fitzerman did because it conflicts "with the company’s philosophy on munity does. While Tulsa’s Jewish community by an3’ mention Gay people along with Jews, Catholics, Blacks, people and di~cersity, and the company could not support standard is successful in business and in political impact, Asians and Hispanic Americans as those .who are atsuch a discriminatory stance," said Polk Laffoon, vice and is influential due to those talents in wild disproportacked because we do not fit some "mythological profile" president of corporate relations. tion to its numbers, it still seems to bdieve that it cannot of a "true’.’ American. But as a long observer of Tulsa’s The Tulsa Area United Way (l’AUW)does fund the risk expending its "’capital" to help Gay people. And it is so-called "human rights" community, it is hard not to be Indian Nations Council of the BSA. TAUW’s director, also, frankly, a community which has not dealt with its somewhat bitter at the contrast between how seriously Kathleen Coan, at a mid-summer news conference was own prejudices against Gay people, its homophobia and assaults on Tulsa’ s Jewish community are taken as comasked, "since TAUW doesn’t fund racist or anti-semitic Its heterosexism. pared to those on Tulsa’s Gay commumty. organizations, why it funds non-profits (BSA, Big BrothPart of the reason that things are better in Tulsa for Jew s Let us merely start with who was on, and who was not ers and Big Sisters of Green Country, the American Red is that non-Jews made the effort to try to make things on, the dais! While there seems to be evidence that Gays Cross) which discriminate against Lesbian and Gay better. It’s morally right for those still excluded to call on were also targets 6f Jonathan Brian Duke, and there Tulsans?" Coan, responding with obvious anger,, stated those who’ve been helped to turn and to help those still certainly are Gay community leaders who were conthat she was "quite proud" of the funding decisions which left behind. Tulsa’s Jewish community and Tulsa’s Gay cerned and attending the event, like Father Rick TAUW has made, and made no effort to explain or justify community have much in common. Hollingsworth of Saint Jerome, or members of Tulsa those decisions. Unlike racial minorities, neither community is an "onOklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR), we were not Steve Tumbo, of the public relations firm Sctmake, sight" minority. We are known by our actions, by going represented. Brookey Turnbo, and a recent addition to the Tulsa Area to our places of worship’or our community centers, or Duke had not attacked Cathohcs but the Catholic United Way board was present at that press conference businesses. We are subject to similar pressures to just bishop was on the dais. Nor did he attack Methodists but and also reacted angrily to questiond about TAUW bias. "convert." And we share the horror of Nazi persecution, Mouzon Biggs was there. Nor had he attacked Blacks but Mr. Turnbo, a longtime supporter of the National a fact finally acknowledged by organizers of the local one of the most senior Black clergymen was there. Nor Conference for Community and Justice, a Tulsa "human Holocaust interfaith remembrance event this year, albeit did he attack Muslims but Siddiqui was invited to the rights" organization with a history of anti-Gay discrimionly after much cajoling and the intervention of one dais. nation, had promised to respond to inquiries about blessedly open minded Tulsan, herself the daughter of TAUW’s funding of anti-Gay groups if the concerns Can anyone remember when ever our mayor has atHolocaust survivors. tended a Gay event? She’s usually conveniently out of were expressed by letter. To date, TFN has received no The rabbi’s inclusive language is a good start. God town. Sure she sends her best bud, Hilary Kitz, whom we response to a letter sent in April. forbid that there should be a next time for suchan event adore but it’s not the same. We did not see her at the Turnbo also was the organizer a few years ago of a but when next there is a shared stage, an effort at reprememorial hdd in City Hall Plaza for Mathew Sheppard, conference which claimed to be about diversity but which senting the"diversity"of our town, maybe then one of our nor did she release comment about that crime, or more failed to include Lesbians and Gay men in any of its leaders will be on the dais. And maybe just like the Gay relevantly did she comment on the brutal Brookside planning and Turubo also refused to alter the event even people who were in that 100 degree heat, who understand beating of Tony Orr and Tim Beauchamp- indeed a local when the matter was brought to his attention and indithat an attack on Jews is an attack on us too, Tulsa’s crime. Nor has our mayor responded to now years worth viduals were willing to volunteer to help correct the Jewish commumty will throw their influence behind the of calls for diversity training for police and other city exclusion. Gay commumty’s efforts for fair treatment by our law workers which actually includes Gay people in the "diTumbo’s firm enjoys a privileged relationship with enforcement system, by our legislature, and by our comversity." Nor did she add her voice to the effort to amend Tulsa’s establiskment frequently working closely with munity organizations. our state hate crime statute to include "sexual orientaTulsa mayor, M. Susan Savage, the Chamber of ComThe God of Israel commands, "... justice,justice, shalt lion." merce and Tulsa Public Schools, frequently being inLocal ’’human rights" organizations like the National thou seek..." You don’t have to be a Jew or a Christian volved in bond and other elections. Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ, formerly to honor these words. �Universal Florida To Offer Partners Benefits ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Universal Florida will start offering health and other benefits to domestic partners, both Gay and straight. The benefits, which will take effect Oct. 1, also will cover dependents of domestic partners. ’This is a part of our ongoing efforts to recognize the diversity of the team members in our workforce and to provide an array of benefits and services sufficient to be recognized as an employer of choice in this very dynamic Orlando labor market," said an internal Universal document obtained by The Orlando Sentinel. Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando’s largest employer with more than 55,000 workers, has offered health benefits to employees’ Gay partners since 1996. But Disney doesn’t cover heterosexual partners of employees tmless they are married. Disney doesn’t plan to change its policy regarding unmarried heterosexual partners, said spokesman Bill Warren. "It’s our position that there is a legal remedy to be’formally married, and Seeg those benefits with heterosexual couples," Warren said. Universal, the area’s fourth-largest employer with 11,800 employees, will extend the benefits to any domestic, partner 18 or older who has lived with the employee for at least six months. In addition, the theme park resort’s statement said, partners, must have ’~oint responsibility for eachother’s financial wdfare and basic living expenses," although it is not dear how that would be proved. In addition to medical, dental, vision and dependent life insurance, domestic partners will be able to use Universal’s employee assistance program, sctfolarships and other benefits. Employees can enroll their partners in September. Hate crimes increase 11.7% in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES (AP) -Hate crimes increased 11.7% in Los Angeles County last year, with blacks, Jews and Gays the target of most attacks, the. Human Relations Commission said. The increase was due in part to better reporting of hate crimes, officials said recently. Last year’s attack on the North Valley Jewish Community Center by a gunman led to an "unprecedented awareness" of hate crimes, said Robin Toma, acting executive director of the county Human Relations Commission. Buford O. Furrow Jr., a white supremacist, is charged with. shooting to death Filipino-American postal worker 3oseph Ileto and then wounding five people at the Jewish center. Overall in 1999, the report said, 859 crimes motivated by race. religion or sexual orientation-were reported. That was up 11.7% from 1998. It was the second-highest tally in 20 years, behind the peak year of’ 1996, when 995 hate crimes were reported. The upswing matched a 12% statewide increase in hate crimes, announced last month by the state attorney general’s office. The crimes ranges from crossbumings to killings. Overall, blacks werethe most frequent victims of hate crimes, but crimes involving religion or sexual orientation saw the largest increases. Hate crimes on school campuses .also rose sharply for the second year in a row, jumping 58.7%, from 46 to 73. Most of the crimes based on religion were nonviolent, but more than half of those against Gays and Lesbians were violent, the commission said. Univ. of Minnesota Alum Donates for Gay Center MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A University of Minnesota alunmus who made a fortune in the computer software industry has donated $500,000 to the school for an endowed Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgender studies center. The Steven J. Schochet Center for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies opened July 1. Schochet, a 1959 graduate, said he faced many barriers as a Gay man on campus and hopes the donation will improve the climate for GLBT students. The center will be responsible for coordinating graduate studies, establishing archives and starting a lecture series and community forums. ’.The goal of the center is to enhance the creation of knowledge about GLBT lives through academic studies and community interaction," said Liunea Stenson, Schochet Center program director. Texas A&M Waffles COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - A Gay civil rights group urged Texas A&M University to implement an on-again, off-again ban on discrimination again~st Gays. School president Ray Bowen suspended the policy change on Aug. 16, a few hours after it was posted on the university’s Web site. In a vaguely worded statement, Bowen said the issue needed more study. In a letter to Bowen, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said Texas A&M should join other major universities around the state in prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals. "Failure to expressly -forbid discrimination also sends the message to the campus community that (homosexual) people are second-class citizens and that discrimination against them is acceptable," said Elizabeth Toledo, executive director of the task force. Bowen has stated the matter will be reconsidered after a better understanding by all confirmed parties has been achieved, said university spokesman Lane Stephenson. "He has directed the matter to go through the Office of the Dean of Student Life as the start of the process of reconsideration," Stephenson said. "We are already starting to have productive discussions within the university community." On the Net: .Texas A&M University: http:// www.tamu.edu United in God’s Love MCC-United Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community of Hope 2545 South Yale, Su~nda~.ys ~ at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Service, 6pm Drag Queens-Invited to Olympic Celebrations 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - The Olympics’ dosing ceremony is going to be a drag. Drag queens will be part of the Sydney 2000 games’ finale regardless of what "right-wing reactionaries" think, ceremonies director Ric Birch said at the end of August/ The men dressed up in outlandish dresses, wigs and makeup, will be "part of one tiny section" of the dosing ceremony, a tribute to Australian films including the 1994 cult hit ’.The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," he said. Some of the participants would be dressed in original costumes, including a frill-necked lizard outfit from the film, which features twodrag queens and a transsexual driving a pink bus through Australia’s Outback. A report in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper sparked heated debate on radio shows. One, caller said he would trade his dosing ceremony ticket after hearing the news. Birch directed the opemng ceremony at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and was involved in the opener at Atlanta four years ago. He said he was annoyed that constant leaks were wrecking what should be a surprise for the public. "I’m really disappointed at the way the media is gleefully trying to expose the secrets that we call surprises," Birch told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. Photographs of the Olympic cauldron being lit in rehearsals, which are usually kept under wraps, have been printed. Speculation on who will ignite the cauldron has intensified. Birch said the inclusion of drag queens also reflected one of Sydney’s most colorful events, the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, a Gay pride march and street carnival that attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. "That’s part of Sydney life whether (critics) like it or not." Birch said. "For the right-wing reactionaries or whatever part of a community is ..outraged about it - well, they’re always going to be outraged." Olympics Minister Michael Knight said all the plans forthe ceremonies had been approved by the organizing committee’s board. "The dosing ceremony runs for several hours and has a very different feel to Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical ConsuItation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: , 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-44A.-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. Burrows, LSW, ACSW Child, Family, Individual & Couple Psychotherapy (918) 743-9559 2121 South Columbia, Suite 420 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-3518 �opening ceremony - it’s a party," he said. "Fhe athletes are going to be on the field from the word go as part of this giant party celebration: The whole feel will be one of great celebration and fi~n." The Pride S tore V Same-sex Marriage Ban 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor Tulsa Gay Community Services Center Appears Headed to Ballot 743-GAYS (743:4297) 6-9 pm, Sunday - Friday 12-9 pm, Satarday, all sales benefit the Center -L.~ .i ~-.~ ..?. ,~J I" ;.d~?,.t~ ~s~2~i~ .;’: ~: Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountant a professiona~ corporation 747L5466 4021 South Harvard Ni~ilr~, Suite 2t0, Tulsa 74135 TOM -N EAL ...... .BUILDING ~’ GARDEN DES,IG N 583~I248 Red Rock Tulsa Free Confidential HIV Testing Walk-in Clinics Tues. & Thurs:, 5 -8 pm at the Center, 1307 East 38th Daytime appoin’~tments available. Call for mo~e&ffonnation: Officials Say No to Two Morns on Birth Certificate 918:i 2 :2325- KEVIN BURLESO N Keller Williams Realty 712-2252 Burleson@kw.cona ~ 2651 East 21st Street, Ste. 100, Tulsa 74114 An Independent Member Broker ................... _~7" r r- ..... ~EN~; OPEN--S, OPENHEARTS Saint Aidan Saint Dunstan 4045 N. Cincinnati, 425-7882 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - It appears likely voters will get a chance to decide whether to ban same-sex marriages in Nebraska: A petition effort to place the proposed constitutional an~endment on th~ ballot gathered at leas t 19,000 more than the needed 105,214 signatures:, the Secretary Of State’ s,office announbed. The same~sex p~tition was circulated: by the De[fehse: of Marriage Amendment Committee. With signatures t¥om 82 counties counted, the total-verified was 124,495. About 10% of the signatures were determined to be invalid. The petition effort was headed by Guyla Mills, director of the NebraskaFamily Council and a lobbyist for the Nonpartisan Family Coalifon- two groups that support the peftion. Mills said sheis confident that when all the signatures are verified they will have about 45,000 more than what is required, and that will deter anyone from thinking about challenging them. At this time the Nebraska chapter of the American Civil Liberges Union has no intention of challenging any of the signatures, even though it remains opposed to. the amendment; said ACLU director Tim Butz. A group organized to fight]he initiative, called the Vote No on DOMA (Defense of Marriage Amendment) Committee, also has no plans to challenge the signature count. Other groups opposing the effort include Nebraska Advocates for Justice & Equality, a nonprofit Omaha group, and PFLAG (Parents and Families of Lesbians and Gays). Butz said the ACLU id researching what impact the amendment would have on exisfng laws dealing with business partnerships and existing legal agreements between Gay and Lesbian couples. The ACIJd also is looking into what impactit would have on companies that offer same-sex health~benefits,-to workers. ¯ The proposed constitutional amendment will read: ’~Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in Nebraska. The uniting of two persons of the same sex in a civil union, domestic partnership, or other similar same-sex relationship shall not be valid or recognized in Nebraska.’" Nothing in current Nebraska law s.pecifically prohibits same-sex marriage. Supporters of the petition say it will clarify in the consmutlon that only marriages of a man and woman are legal in Nebraska. Thirt.y-tl~r.ee states have passed law s or amended their const~tutxons to ban same-sex marriages. DENVER (AP) -The state health department will ask the Colorado Supreme Court to ban Lesbian couples from placing both their nmnes on a baby’s birth certificate, a health official said. The issue was raised after two Boulder District Court judges allowed seven Lesbian couples to place their names on birth certificates. One of the women in each couple was the birth mother. The judges said Colorado law allows people who have :no biological,connection to "a child tO ~ssume parentalrights ii~ certain situations. The Department of Public Health and Environment appealed, arguing that the judges had overstepped their legal authority by creating a new_ kind of pare_ntchild relationship. "It needs to be the decision of the legislature rather than the courts," said Cynthia Honssinger, a director in the health department. But the Colorado Court of Appeals turned down the health department’s request to overturn the Boulder courts. The appellate court said the health department didn’t appeal on time nor should it have any interest in the matter. Honssinger said the health department now plans to ask theColorado Supreme Court to look at what the Legislature intended when it enacted the Uniform Parentage Act. Lawmakers wanted to help single mothers get child-support payments from deadbeat dads, she said. Jeanine Pow, a lawyer representing one of the Lesbian couples, said the law traditionally wants what is in the "best interest" of the child, which is two adults who are responsible for the child. "The health department is wasting taxpayer money on punishing the children of Lesbian mothers," she said. The women in the seven Boulder cases want to remain anonymous to protect their clfildren and themselves, their lawyers said. Gay Arts Group Sues San Antonio; Claims Bias SAN-ANTONIO (AP) - A chItural arts 2roup fliat]ost Its c~ty fundlng.m 1997 armd 4omplaint~ ,o~er !ts +ponsorship of ~i Gay and Lesbiati fihri fest~fil’ the city to court on accusations of violating the First Amendment. Attorneys for the nonprofit Esperanza Center contend the City Council cut off the organization because of its viewpoints a violation of free speech- mad because of pressure from residents who told council members they opposed "promoting a Gay lifestyle." Also Suing the city are two groups under the 13year-old Esperanza’s fiscal umbrella, the San Antonio Lesbian andGay Media Project mad the s~nall arts gr,o,up VAN ~lie Esperanza_N~d other plaintiffs were singled out by the city because of the viewpoints expressed by ~he Esperanza ~n a variety of ways, Esperanza lawyer Am~; Kastely told U.S. District Judge Orlando L. G,qrci~i iff0utlining their case. The Esperanza Center filed suit after the council voted in September 1997 to stop giving it money. Although the couucil reduced funding to most arts groups by 15% at the stone time, Esperanza was the only one ~hat was cut off altogether. Several residents had voiced their opposition to financing Esperanza, saying they disapproved of the behavior they believed the group was advocating. The city’s Cultural Arts Board had recommended $62 ~500 for Esperanza, which had been receiving city money for ~even years. But after the council vote, the cit)/ i~’ei~aJ:~ment 6f Ar~s .and dultural Affhirs also withheld $14,000 from the Texas Commission on the Arts, for a total loss of about $76,500. Now, the group’s leaders are seeking the money they believe they deserve. They’re also seekang an order from the court to force the city to follow its own criteria for granting arts funding. But lawyers representing the city say council members didn’t stra~: from the criteria. They say some council members just didn’l support the Esperanza Center while others wanted to divert some of the arts funding toward more basic city progrmns. For~ner councilman Jose Menendez testified that while he had received several phone calls and letters objecting to financing Esperanza, he simply felt that artsfluading was not a priority. He said Iris district needed sidewalks, speed bumps and more firefighters. ’qqae arts ~vas an area where we could get lnore money for basic servxces." The city’s law yers questioned whether Esperanza, which used to be called the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, should have been eligible for arts money in the first place. Indeed, some council members had viewed it more as a political organization than an arts group, former councilman Roger Flores testified. Eduardo Diaz, former director of the city’s arts depar.tment: ~onceded~ ~upon, questioning.by assistant city attorney. Amy Eubanks that Esperanza technically is not an arts organization because its massion is not exclusively the presentation or production of art. ¯ But-he-added that it has.been Esperanza’s practice over the years to incorporate arts progran~s. Diaz testified earlier that he had no doubt that Esperanza met the criteria for funding He.said the g up has been an acttve player tn cultural events for many years. He said there are :other Ynon-arts" groups that receive arts funding. At the time of the’ 97 cotmcil vote, the Witte Museum, primarily a natural history and science museum, was among four organizations that were receiving 70 to 75% of the total amount of arts funding, Diaz said. Esperanza execuuve director Graciela S anchez testified the center has used arts programs to "g~ve voice to the voiceless." �Medical Marijuana "_ Muslim men to HIV tests before they are to getmarried, anews report said. To Be Investigated ."¯¯ allowed The criticism of the move by Islamic religious authorities in Johor state came SAN DIEGO (AP) - The University of California, San Diego will soon begin ¯ fromPrimeMinisterMahathirMohamad’s trials on medical marijuana at the nation’ s o° daughter, MarinaMahathir, an outspoken first research center designed to explore : AIDS activist who heads the Malaysian AIDS Council. "The assumption is blood the drug’s therapeutic potential. Doctors announced the Center for Medicinal Can- ~ testing is somehow preventive, unfortu¯ nately it is not," Marina was quoted as nabis Research as part of the state’s effort to set medical guidelines following the ¯ saying by the Beriiama news agency. Mandatory HIV testing was also a viovoter-approved medical marijuana law. "-¯ lation of human rights, she said. AIDS The center, headquartered in San Diego, will begin distributing grants to con- ¯ activists would soon meet with state offiduct clinical trials at lmiversities and re- ¯ cials to ’discuss the proposal, she was search centers throughout California as ~ quoted as saying. ° She told reporters that educating the early as January. The studies will look at whether mari- ¯ public on preventive measures will be juana is a safe alternative for treating ¯ more effective in curbing the deadly discertmn kinds of medical conditions and " ease in the predominantly Muslim Souththe best ways to administer it, such as ¯ east Asian country where discussing sexual issues in public is taboo and where through pills, patches or sprays. ’~Ourjobis to show if these products are ¯ introducing sex education in schools is helpful and we can answer t~.at defini- -" being resisted by conservattves. Over the weekend, top government oftively," said Igor Grant, the center’s dificials in Johor proposed compulsory rector and professor of psychiatry at UCSD. ¯ blood tests on Muslim men, a move that Gov. Gray Davis has already approved ¯ would affect men in the dominant Malay community. Johor chief minister Abdul $3 malhon to fund theprogram first year Ghani Othman was quoted as saying by while legislation calls for a three-year newspapers that it was part of efforts to program. The center was set up in large check the alarming rise of HIV cases in response to Proposition 215, the 1996 state initiative allowing seriously ill pa- ° the state. "In 1999 alone, there was a 73% tients to grow and use marij uana f~ pain o increasein ttIV cases among Malays comrelief, if they have a doctor’srecommen- o pared to the previous year,"he was quoted dation. Measures similar_to the California ¯ as saying by New Sunday Times. initiative have passed in Alaska, Arizona,. Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state. ¯ State Sen. John Vasconcellos, who ¯ pushed for medical marijuana, pelmed the ¯ ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - Africans must program in 1996 but initially faced oppo"break the siIence" about AIDS or risk sition fromlaw enforcement groups. Only ¯ losing hard-fought democratic and ecoafter working with Attorney General Bill nomic gains, President Clinton said SunLockyer did Vasconcellos convincemany ¯ day as the White House highlighted more that research was a good idea. than $20 million in U.S. aid to fight AIDS, "It’s been a very long road since the ° malaria and other diseases devastating passage of 215 to even get as far as we had Africa. with research," said Rand Martin, a ¯ "In every country, in any culture, it is spokesman for Vasconcellos. "We have ° difficult, painful, at the very least embarhad to deal with alot of political problems ° rassing, to talk about the issues involved and the most exciting thing is that we’re ¯ with AIDS," Clinton said after touring a putting the politics behind us." o health center in the Nigerian capital and Proponents have long argued that marl- " hearing the stories of several people livjuana helps patients with chronic pain and " ing with the disease. with AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis ¯ Clinton’s two-day stay in Nigeria was by relieving pain and nausea. Opponents . intended to underscore U.S. approval of of marijuana say scientific research is " the 15-month-old democratic government necessary. ’Wee consider research a good thing,’" -" in Africa’s most populous nation, with 123 million people. said Bob Weiner of the White House Along with dealing with the heavy National Drug Control Policy Office. "Fo " themes of AIDS and debt relief, Clinton have medicine determined by science and ¯ used the trip to get to know a country he not by popular will is exactly what we deliberated bypassed on his last trip to support." ¯ Africa, in 1998, when it was under a Doctors at UCSD’s center hope the " military dictatorship. research will eventually determine" Led by a throng of singing children, he whether marijuana has medical benefits - trudged through the Nigerian village of because current federal law says the drug " Ushafa on Sunday, past mud brick huts has no medical purpose. and flimsy metal sheds, with scrawny Trial patients will get marijuana from : chickens scattering in his path. the National InStitute on Drug Abuse and "We want to help you build your researchers have pledged to follow all economy, educate your children and build medical guidelines. ’‘There’s been a long " a better life," he told villagers, wearing a history of contention around cannabis and cream-colored royal African robe given it has been difficult to do research," said , to him by the village chief. Grant. "This it the ~first study that’s " AIDS killed 2.8 million people worldmulfidisciplinary. The state of California " wide last year, and is now the leading has taken the lead here." ¯ cause of death in Africa. The Clinton administration will spend $9.4 million this year for AIDS and HIV infection prevention and care in Nigeria, $8.7 million more for polio eradication and $2 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -" million toward prevention of malaria. In sub-Saharan Africa, 13 million chilMalaysia’s biggest AIDS .aw.areness and, " prevention body has protestea a proposat ¯ dren have lost a parent to AIDS, and the disease is reducing life expectancies and in a southern state to subject Clinton: "Break the Silence’ about AIDS Malay AIDS-Group - Protests Testing Colle.ge Hill Presbyterian Church In response to God’s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a community of God’s people called to tell others the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, service, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living, loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voice for peace and justice. Our congregation welcomes all persons who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Christ’s church. Membership is open- to all people regardless of race, ethnic origin, worldly condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. Sunday Worship 1 lam College Hill Presbyterian Church, 712 S. Columbia Avenue, 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) Financial Planning With A Clear Commitment. At American Express Financial Advisors, we want to make our Commitment to gay men and lesbians clear. Just as we have extended domestic partner benefits to our lesbian and gay employees worldwide, we are committed to providing ~ound financial advice that specifically addresses the unique financial issues affecting 3ur lesbian and gay clients. Nhether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or i:~ng for children, your American Express financial advisor can help you take control ot’~#~rfinancial future. We can help tOM: Establish savings and investment plans Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation /X,void financial restrictions placed on unmarried cou pies Avoid costly delays in the receipt of life insurance proceeds series of Seminars given by Theresa Barnard, American Express Financial Advisor Where: MCC United When: 7:00 P.M, 1623 N Maplewood Ave Financial Strategies for Gay Men & Lesbians Tuesday, September 5t" and Tuesday, October 10t" Retirement Explore Your Options ¯ Create your Retirement Income Tuesday, September 19th ¯ Estate Planning Tuesday, October 24th Please R.S.V.P. with Theresa at 9~18-748-8191 ext.121 �dimming development hopes across the ; continent. "Is it harder to talk about these ¯ thingsthantowatchachilddieofAIDS?" ," Clinton asked. "We have to break the ¯ silence about how this disease spreads ; ° and how to prevent it." Power ~onnc~~-~e1 ., ¯ I~lbl|¢ S~l’~ice Cenlpan¥ of Oklahoma euslomer Santice Is Now Available 9.4 Doctors Accused of Improper HIV Testing Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. These days, traditional 8-5.business hours aren’t always convenient. So PS0 has made it easier than ever for you to c0ntaet us. Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 - offering ar0und-the-cl0ck answers to your uestions - and better access to service, ¯ Now it’s easier for you to inquire about your monthly electric bill. Or report a power outage. Or arrange to have your power turned on or . off. Our professionally " trained, friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are standing by to serve you. All day, every day. To provide faster response to your needs, we have listed our t011-free numbers below. ~ oi~ A~d Save 24 HOURS FoR TOt.k’FREE SERVICE I i I | I Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 | I Servici0 a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 Preguntas S0bre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 Palta De Suministr0:1-888-218-3924 I | | Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 Outage Reporting: 1-888- 218-3919 ~"1~’~’.~ ~~1~~,~ Public Service Company of Oklahoma ............. Fe Maria, who asked that only her first name beused, has gained weight and feels better, although the medicines give her headaches. Dr. Ellen Koenig, an An~erican physician who has lived and worked in the DominicanRepublicfor31 years, was the the population, are afflicted with AIDS. ° impetus behind bringing the trial here. That puts2.6 themillion countryNigerians, on better5.4% footing About of:i And she insisted the company agree to than many of its neighbors with higher ¯ continue paying for treatment after the infection rates, but in danger of letting the:test. "In some places, the drug companies disease gain ground, Clinton said. "AIDS ". can rob a country of its future," Clinton ; come in, do the trial and then they leave, said. "I know you are not going to let that ¯ and the people don’t have the money to : buy the medicine," said Ceneyda Brito at happen to Nigeria.’" He promised continued U.S. support " the Dominican advocacy group AIDS for Nigeria’s transition to democracy, but ," Action. did not, as Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo had hoped, agree to cancel or i cut the nearly $1 billion U.S. portion of . Nigeria’ s $32 billion foreign debt, amove _" thatwouldrequirecongressional approval.. JOHANNESBURG, SouthAfrica(AP)Speaking to business executives later : than 50 physicians here are accused Sunday, however, Clinton said he sup- ." More of HIV-testing patients without their ports reducing the debt, but only ff Nigeria spends the extra money on improving ° knowledge or consent - and then passing | I | I I ! I I I I I | I ¯t on the result to the patients’ employers, lives anddiversifying the economy. ’q-here : media reported at the end of August. must be a dividend to democracy for the ° The University of Witwatersrand’s ¯ people of Nigeria," Clinton said. Clinton, accompanied by danghter i AIDS Law Project has filed complaints against the doctors with the Health PracChelsea, began his day with services at a ° titioners AssociationofSouthAfrica. The Baptist church in Abuja, and then ventests were performed at the request of the tured outside the capital to get a firsthand -" patients’ employers, the Johannesburg look Sunday at both the pageantry and ~ newspaper the Saturday Star reported. F.-verty of life in Ushafa, a pottery-mak- ° Most patients were not given counseling center. ’‘icame to Nigeria to express ¯" ing before or after the test, the group said, the support of the people of the United "States,"Clintontoldvillagersfromamake- ; adding that in some cases, test results were sent directly to the employer without shift platform. ~"VVe snpport your democ- "¯ informing the patient. racy. "" A positive result meant almost certain I~LhairatAbdulrazaq Gwadabe, whorepdismissal, the group said. In a fifth of the resents the village in the Nigerian Senate, " cases, the employee was a domestic said she explained Clinton’s visit to vii- "¯ worker. "It’s nothing less than total dislagers ahead of time¯ "I had to translate it crimination. The doctor is not concerned as the king of the world himself is coming. : ¯ with the well-being of the patient, just the The president of the world is coming to.. continued loyalty of the employer who their chief," Gwadabe said. "o wants to know if their employee is HIV the project.SaidJennifer Joni, an attomey Dominican Republic : positive,"with According to the Health Practitioners Hosts Drug Tests :¯ Association’s rules, HIV tests can only be SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Repub- : lic (AP) - American researchers testing a o new AIDS drug needed patients who had : never received any treatment. The Do- ¯ mimcan Republic has them-by the thou- : ¯ sands. "It seems like a win-win," said Joy : Schmitt, spokeswoman for Agouron Phar- : maceuficalsofLaJolla, California. People o "are getfingtreatment., and we’re get- : ting the patients we need for the trial." : Agouron is using Dominicans to test its ¯ capravinne because it canbe hardin the : United Statesand Europe to find patients who haven’t received any other treat-; ments, between health insurance and pub- lic health systems. : Finding such people here was easy: ¯ More than 2% of the country’s 8 million ° people are infected with the AIDS virus - . and few can afford medicines that cost : many times the average income. "No one ¯ helps you here if you have this disease," ¯ said Fe Maria, who lived 13 years carry- " ing the AIDS virus without hope of get- i - ting treatment before going on the trial. " C apravirine, which researchers hope" will help fight off mutations of the-virus., has already been through the safety phase " of testing. In the current and critical phase, 90 Dominicans and about 200 people inthe United States and Canada are helping ¯ test its effectiveness. Some participants " get a four-drug cocktail including " capravirine; others receiveadrug cocktail ¯ without capravirme. performed without a patient’s consent if a health professional has been exposed to infection by a needle. Possible punishments for physioans found to break the association’s rules include a warning, a reprimand, a fine of less than 10,000 rand ($1,450), and suspensaon or removal from the medical reg- ister. About a.2 million South Africans roug.hly 10% of the populafion~ - are HIV pos~uve. Police Arrest Man For Spreading HIV NATCHITOCHES, LA (AP) - For the second time recently, policehave charged a man with intentionally spreading the AIDS virus. Eric Vashawn Alexander, 26, was arrested and charged with intentional exposing of the AIDS virus. Alexander reportedly bit a man in the back as he intervened in a fight between a boyfriend and girlfriend, said police Lt. Chris Stanfield. During their investigation, officers learned that Alexander had tested positive for HIV. He was booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison, Stanfield said. Police also arrestedEamestWest,,onthesamecharge after receiving complaints that he allegedly exposed four women to the AIDS virus through unprotected sexual contact. �" Issue right now; as a friend of mine is ¯ taking a journey down that hard road that ¯ I have taken so many times before, and am " in the middle of right now. Lots of things masquerade as love ¯ control, fear, even hatred. The real firing doesn’t land in your lap too often. Lot of lookalikes do, the trick is distinguishing ¯ the real from the fake. And too often, the -real is waF.to0 scary, and so is re. : .M~eh has fused. If you’ve got the real thing, show, inc|udln criticism o{ hang on to it. Well, join me on my will Not so. It poignantly points out ramble, you?Dunno where all that came from. the effects -0f such a llfe. What ¯ . Well, I do, but the show is about, in my estithat’s a whole book unto itself. mation, is the pursuit of RENT succeeds dreams: and the most common admirably inillus- by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor As an author who prides himself on getting the facts correct (Never straight, always correct); I have to own up .to an error that appeared in print in the August issue. I mistakenly attributed the appearanc~ to RENT hiTulsato the auspices of ~d~brity. AttraCtions. Thins¯ Was false, it was actually SF~:Thea~cal Group with ¯ . Norvell, who tm~e been promoting RENT. My apologies to all parties; the error was actually caught and corrected before press time (Thanks Kristin!), but the publisher used the unrevised version of the column at press time. To err is human, and it can happen to the best of us, no mat- been maded the- lamo izlng a drug-rldden life. dream of all finding.love;{or that is common to allof us. Gay, Straight. trating ¯the aforementioned ideas, albeit in a much less lOngwinded way (editorr s note: indeed)¯ ,, ter how careful we The ~tandout Blael~. White. and so on... try to be. songs were "I will . So,.n6~v that the . cover you , ’X)ne "oopls,~.¢g60fed ..... ’ " .,,song", m~d "’Without You", wlrich is by p0rfi6n 6f~h¢ ~61Umnis out of the ~vas, on far the most beantiful and-evocative song withthe ~uia Stuff!-Hope you get a ~h’ance in the whole show It captures exactly to see RENT, it’ s a powerful show, and as how one feels when you know the one real one friend of mine remarked, is "bite) and thing has gotten away from you, either by zippy." I’ll leave it to the reader to intercircumstance, or worse, by your own pret those comments-. I liked the choice of clioice. "Without you, the w .d,rld turns, but words, personally. The show does reach I die too.., without you.. ¯ .... out and bite, and it does move zippily Speaking of Dreams, Arturo Brachetti along. The only problems I had were that was fabulous. Let me rephrase that... the mix of the sound left the vocals muddy Arturo Brachetti’s show was fabulous! I & almost inaudible under the guitars; and hope most of you caught it, as it was an that some of the performers need to work excellent evening of theatre. The man is on their diction. This observation was literally a cast of thousands unto himself. echoed by TFN writer Karin Gregory in And his quick change of Scarlett pre and Dallas, who saw the same touting show post curtains was worth the price of addown there. mission! His show was a fast paced conThis show is basically rock opera, sung glomeration of incredibly quick changes through almost entirely. That requires the that left yon wondering ’~aow did he ’o lyrics to be audible and clear, otherwise that?", mixed with comedy, magic, and it’s impossibleto understand the plot. I excellent s torytelling. And he can do amazknew the show, and still l~ad to strain at ing things with his hands. Making many points to catch dialogue or lyrics. shadowplays, I mean. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed His theme? Dreams... Finding them, for die future shows in the rnn. In all other’ aspects, ~t was a powerful evening of ¯ follo::-ing them, accomplishing them; and : having, fun with your inner ~hild while theatre and storytelling. doin2 it Alternatively hilarious and p0iMuch-has been made of the show, ingnant~; his range ofcharacters and’ theatre cluding criticism of glamorizing a drugis amazing to see. He is a prime example ridden life. Not so. It poigriantly points of what one can do with dreams, belief in out the effects of such a life. What the those dreams, and hard work - the two show is about, in my estimation, is the main ingredients of magic. The other aspursuit of dreams; and the most common pect of that was the fact that, regrettably, dream of all - finding love; for that is so many of Us h~ve that child within that common to all of us, gay, straight, black, still has those dreams of ~hildhood, and white, and so on. "Love is love", to quote we lock them away. Arturo was all about fantasy writer Lynn Flewelling. And as letting that child out to play, and having such, should be respected and honored no fun, which showed in his production. matter What form it takes. RENT illusThe show was excellent in all regards, trates this in an upffont, grab you by the from the autobiographical structure that shirt kind0f way?Sound of Music, it alia’ t, set up the changes and made it an intimate so be prepared.evening even for the PAC’s Chapman RENT explores the issues, of love and Hall. The music ran the gamutfrom dance/ its pursuff~ finding iL recognizing it; and techno to classical, the lighting was fannot letting fear, pri~le,and n~i Sunderstandtastic, and Arturo’s box was huge! Well, ing, and the defenses we all build to proat least the one onstage that served as sets, tect ourselves deny the love we really movie screen, prop house, and costume want to have. Fear can be an amazing storage. At one pointed, he enacted an old thing when it comes to that. In that sense, western playing every character, and it REN~ is also about overcoming those was truly indescribably hilarious. obstacles and recognizing that love is He also performed a series of vignettes hard to find, and shouldn’t be tossed away in tribute te film director see Arturo, p. 9 when the genuine articleis found. A timely septem;ber FRIDAY 8 pm september 22 SATURDAY’~NgH SUNDAY 3 pro° s~ptember 2~3 ~’;~ :?’ september 24 Altan "The hottest group in the Celtic realm these days." The Boston Globe September 12 at 8 p.m. Chapman Music Hall ................. Tulsa PAC, 3rd & Cincinnati Tickets $14, $16, $18 Call 596-7111 Outside ~ulsa call 1-800-364-7111 Online: www.tulsapac.com TULSA PERFORI~ING ARTS CENTER TRUST Presented by the Tulsa Performing spo,,,o,~ ~ .~" .. ......... ?~’ "~: �And you thought the ice cream man brought joy to your street¯ Sure, popsides are great. But how about a truckload of new channels, including WGN? How about.a high-speed Internet that’s always on and better priced? How.:about service so thorough and sweet you, can almost ~taste it? Now these, these are the things you can sink your teeth into. We’.re in.gear. COMMUNII~ATIONI~ 665-0200 Tulsa’s PRIDE 2000! VIDEO RELEASE PARTY Now that summer’s end is in sight and cool weather a hopeful prospect, the time is ripe to celebrate the Pride Week events that began Oklahoma’s heat wave. The Diversity Celebration 2000was a huge success that attracted fabulous people, was spectacularly beautiful, socially concious, wi.ttyand revealing. And its all on tape. This year Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights has joined with BoyBlue Productions in making a.professional commemorative video. It will include highlights of all Pride Week events including: appearances by Greg Louganis, Rev. Mel White and Grethe Cammemeyer~ the enormous parade, the art show, follies, community heroes, festival and the Soulforce. workshop. Friday night’s release party will include.a preview of the video, live performances and dancing. Details are pending but mark your calendar for 8pro Sept. 29th. And you wilI of course be able to purchase your copy at the party. Proceeds from the sales of the Diversity Celebration 2000 Commerative Video will benefit the services and programs of TOHR Orders may be placed in advance with visa or mastercard by calling TOHR at 743-4287. Orders plaCed by Sept 22 will be .available for pick up at the Release Party. # For your copies of Diversity Fest 2000 Contact the Tulsa Gay Community Service Center, 743-4297, POB 2687, 74101 x $20.00 = $ MO, Check, Visa, MC, no cash please. exp. date Signature Federico Fellini, who passed away afew years ago. It was touching, but I don’t think the audience "got it."I doubt mos t of the audience had a clue who Fellini was. At one point, the box split, and the curtains were raised to reveal the work be-. hind the magic. A nice touch, giving honor and recognition to the work that goes on ." behind the magic to make it happen. . ¯ It was truly a magical evening, and it was funny to see the audience go from the ¯ thought process of"What the hell is this?" ¯¯ to ’qhis is so cool!" Armro was different from anything Tulsa has seen, and it’s a " good thing. He soon held us all in the palm ¯ of his hand. Not as tasty as this writer ¯¯ would have liked, but it was the markof a true artist. Tulsa’s a tough crowd to win " over, especially for anything avant garde, ¯ but Arturo did it magnificently. He’ll be ¯¯ in a sitcom this fall, so that’ll be some¯ thing to watch for. For our Lesbian readers, as wall as Gay ¯ men, Janis Ian will be appearing in con- ¯ cert at The Oklahoma Center for Poets ." and Writers’ Celebration of Books, along with. poet Maya Angelou, This occurs : September 29-30, and for more informa" tion, call 594-8215. In September, we have a few events ¯ wc.-th catching: On the 12th, the Irish music group Altan will make an appearance at the PAC. They have had rave reviews, and itlooks like a lovely evening ,,f traditional Irish music ahead. For tickets, call 596-7122 September 14-23, Heller Theatre presents "Art", a show about a painting that engenders discussions of the quality and meaning of.life itself. 746-5065. Theater Tulsa offers up some pop culture with the musical version of "Everything l Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" September 15-23. Tchaikovsky’s "Sleeping Beauty" wakes in Tulsa as Tulsa Ballet presents the venerable dance epic September 2224. (I would love to see Matthew Bourne’s take on this one! He’s the man behind the homoerotic version of Swan Lake. I doubt that will happen in Tulsa, though TBT is moving beyond a stdctly traditional approach under Maestro Angelini.) Go see it for the music and the grace. For info, call 749-6006 Warren’s murder has drawnnational attention from Gay and non-Gay civil rights acti.vists, who fear he was killed because of his race or sexual orientation, or both. "At this point there is no evidence of abate crime," Marion County Prosecutor Richard Bunner said after the indictments were issued. "If any evidence is uncovered, appropriate action will be taken." Court records indicate Warren, Parker and Wilson argued twice the night of the beating - once about an unspecified rumor that had circulated about Warren and Parker, and the second time about $20 that Wilson took from Warren’s wallet: The beating began after the second argument. The grand jury met for about 90 rain: utes and then immediately issued the indictments. Wilson had sought to block the grandjury from hearing allegations against him, saying he should not have been transferred to adult court. The Supreme Court mined down his petition 3-0. Wilson and Parker will continue to be held in a juvenile detention facility until their trial. If convicted they likely will remain in a juvenile facility until they are 21, at which point they would be moved to an adult facility. A trial date has not been set. TULSA - Furniture queens can now rejoicet Tulsa is now home to an Odds & Ends Outlet Store, the fourth in the US which the distinguished Baker Furniture has opened. The store is located at 4329 So. Peoria, near the old John Zink property and is open 7 days a week. The store features Baker, MillingRoad, andMcguire furniture in a gallery like setting. Baker president, Chris Plasman, responded to questions about the choice of Tulsa, saying, "residents in larger cities, such as Chicago and Atlanta, have been clamoring to get but we chose Tulsa. Certainly Tulsa’s demographics are very favorable, but the decisionwas alsoheavily imquencedbytheresidents’ reputationfor uncompromising taste and style and a genuine app,r,eciation of history and crafts manship... For more information, or store hours, call 746-0329. He was also hospitalized for a week after being attacked with a knife by a group of men who called him derogatory names, he said. In 1995, he fled to the United States and requested asylum, but was deAt his hearing before immi gration officials, a Latin American history expert testified that Gay men with female sexual identities in Mexico are heavily persecuted by the police and other groups and are likely to become scapegoats for Mexico’s economic and political problems. The expert said Hernandez-Montiel faced persecution if deported to Mexico. Federico Gomez, press director of Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, acknowledged that homosexuals and cross-dressers still suffer from discrimination, but added that he believes Mexicans, in general, have become more tolerant of people’s sexual orientation. Gomez said he did not think the Hernandez-Montiel case "reflected society as the whole." Judge A. Wallace Tashima wrote that the appeals panel had determined that ’~3ay men with female sexual identities in Mexico constitutea protected ’particular social group’ under the asylum statute... and that Geovanm is a member of that group." The Board of |mmigration Appeals had contended that Hemandez-Montiel should return to Mexico, saying he did not estalJlish that he suffered abuse because of his membership in a particular social group. The appellate panel ordered the board to reverse its decision and grant HernandezMontiel asylum. Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743=GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor �dogs or cats). This is another instance- as by Lamont Lindstrom with penis size - where Gays are When I was in highschool, my soon-tohypermasculine. Gays who do not reprobe-Gay friend Carl spent all hi s spare time duce naturally specialize instead in masdrawing fantastically elaborated plans for culine cultural creativity. pipe organs. In his Some have criticized sketches, he piled key"...Anthropologist Ortner for oversimplifying board behind keyboard and Sherry Ortner, cross-cultural nuances of rank onto rank. (All those male!female power relapipes and organs, of drawing on the tions. Another sort of comcourse, should have gaven plication comes from the French feminist me a clue.) fact that many people disSince that year, I have Simone Beauvolr, believe an individual cremet many Gay guys with ativity. Everyone, of considerable creative talonce proposed that course, has a theory about ents, sometimes eccentrically applied. One friend ’Man is to Culture as where new things come from. But not everyone in constructs fantasy ChristWoman is to the world credits indimas trees. Another designs websites. Another does Nature.’ Ortner was vidual creativity, or genius, or talent for the birth of flower arrangements. Anseeking a reason for new things and new ideas. other collects rococo picEven in ,our own cultures of the Holy Mother. why, almost everyture, notions of creativity Gays are deeply inwhere, people value aren’t that old. The Envolved in the fine and less glish noun "creativity" fine arts, from opera and what men do more only dates back to 1875 or ballet down to cheesy TV programs like Survivor. than they value what so. Before the modem era - and the triumph of indiWhen the AIDS epidemic women do..." w[dualism - our ancestors was at its worst, activists talked instead of "inspirainvented the "Day without tion," as others still do today. Once upon Art" which foreshadowed how dull art a time, the word "’genius" referred to an and culture would be in America should external spirit who inspired you with new all homosexuals ever pass away. ideas. It did not mean some internal, menWhy all this Gay creativity - creativity tal brilliance. which often is frenzied and even odd? Onthe South Pacific island where I Anthropologist Sherry Ortner, drawing once lived, nobody believes in creativity on the Frenchfeminist Simone Beauvoir, in the sense of some mysterious once proposed that ’Man is to Culture as brainpower. Rather, clever people are Woman is to Nature.’ Ortner was seeking those with good ties to the world of ancesa-reason for why, almost everywhere, tral spirits. Nobody believes that men are people value what men do more than they naturally more or less intelligent, either. value what women do. She concluded that New ideas and new firings - if they are we associate women with nature, mostly worth anything - have to Come via inspibecause women have kids. Women are .ration from the ancestors. naturally creauve. Men, whose contribuClever people are those with good comtions to making babies are momentary at municauve links with spirits, not those best, and much less embodied, have to who claim inborn talent. Men, for inexpress our creativity by other means. stance, who come up with new songs Ortner observed that humans value culinsist that they overhear these in their ture over nature. Culture is what predreams. Nobody would take credit for serves us in nature. It tells us how to make composing a song by himself. If he d. 1, a living off the land. Whereas culture how can it be any good? If you simply protects, nature kills. Disease, aging, make up something on your own, it obvidrought, famine, earthquakes and tornaously can’t compete with music inspired dos may well be theendofus. Culture also with spiritual wisdom. needs continuous reconstruction and culBut even on this Pacific island, men tivation. We have to keep it all going and manase cultural production although they we have to make sure to pass it down to do so by monopolizing the means of inkids. spiration rather than the means of creativGiven this preference for culture over ity, as is the case here in America. Have a nature, Ortner concluded that men’s cullook around at your culture, good and bad. tural contributions are valued more than Most of it is a male production, and a women’s natural creativity. Others have notable ratio of that is Gay male producalso pointed tomasculinejealousy of femition. nine fertility. Women unmistakably bring Lamont Lindstrom, Ph.D., teaches annew life out of their bodies. Less natural thropology at the University of Tulsa men are driven to invent culture instead. where he can be reached at: lamontAnd we are jealous enough to insist that lindstrom@utulsa.edu our male creations - rituals, clubs, political parties, novels, symphonies, paintings, whatever- are somehow better, more noble, and more enduring that just another slobbery child. There is some truth Hospice of Green Country seeks volunhere, too. An ordinary human being lasts teers to help provide care for patients and little more than three quarters of a century their families who are dealing with issues at best. Cultural creations-such as politiof terminal illness. Volunteers help run cal parties or rituals -may endure for errands and provide companionship. generations. For more information, call 747-CARE Gay men are particularly engaged in (747-2273). cultural production insofar-as many of us Volunteers are also needed at the Tulsa don’t contribute even the minor male doGay Community Services Center, 743nation to human reproduction. Instead of GAYS (743-4297), to staff the Pride Store, children, we have to live in our art, our answer phones, pack boxes, catalogue books, our sense of style (or maybe our books and videos. Call for more info. Timothy.W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. Are You Gay or Bisexual? .. Are You Native American? -Iulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here for ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ Evening support group meetings Relationship workshops Short trips, outings and retreats Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project �Call 341; 6866 Int rn.ational Tours Sormorein/ormat’on. Massage Therapy S~ Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Cl ab Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH lbody Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing THUR’SAT 11-11 SUNDAY 11-3 by Karin Gregory, TFN correspondent " appointing Supreme Court Justices, and With election year just around the cor- ¯ Bush has at least one to appoint, if he’s ner, I want to ask you a question: Aren’t " elected. How many of you think he’ll you afraid? Many people want to bury ¯ appoint someone who’s sensitive.to Gay civil rights? If anyone if raising ’his/her their heads, but you just can’t this year. hand - PUT IT DOWN It’s too important. NOW! "...What 1;es Are you registered? Do Under Bush, many laws you know the candidates were working brought about by the Suand what they support, tol preme Court, laws which erate, condone, condenm, the floor helped to make us a deand deny? Looking at highmoeracy, could be overthe week of the i lights of the Rep.ublican turned~ What would hap: National Convention last Republican pen if the Roe vs. Wade month (What- you thought decision was overturned? I’d watch the whole "Convention? ¯ ¯ ¯ It could happen very easthing?), I was interested in ily. And what do you think Our eonservatlve many things they pointed would happen to the out, one of which was the friends made a b;g progress of Gay and Les"leave no child behind" couplelaws that have theme Bush espoused. deal about inclusion bian come about in the last few Funny, when he was our govemor’for afew months - Hispanies, African years? Gays? Lesbians? Able to have rights? Bush before embarking on his Amerieans, the already denies that Gays Presidential campaign, his and Lesbians should have "leave no state behind GaylLesbian "special rights". Read that without a governor" theme as "equal rights" and you Community, didn’t work so well for him. have the makings of a fasMake no mistake grrls cist country. The makings this is one Bush you of a man who would make DON’T want to push an)’the Pro-Choieers. Charlton Heston look libwhere, especially into the Yep, they really want eral. ~Zqlite House! But there’s another Let’s look at the issues the votes, don’t they? story to this "coupling" of facing all of us this year. Bush and Dick. Yep, you ’ These people were Many have spoken of a know what I’m talking "different kind of Repubwooed and charmed about. Or rather, who I’m lican"in George W. Bush. talking about. It’s the old- i Hrnmmm, I wonder. The in front of cameras, est story around. Weak Republicans made a great Texas governor runs for but what show of including as many President; weak Texas minorities as they could happened the governor wins primary; find on the streets of Philaweak Texas governor. delphia to join their little ,’morning after"? " picks running mate; rtmconvention. Again, great ¯ ning mate has Lesbian daughter. WHAT? show. The Republicans are like that, you Dick Cheney, so hell-bent to do everyknow. Every few years they assume a different identity, much like a chameleon, " thing Conservative in the book, has a Les¯ so they can get votes by convincing peg.ple ¯ bian daughter? What I want to know is they’re something "different" this ttme. ¯ why would this man be a party to a party Each time (I’m talking Reagan and ¯ that denies his daughter equal rights? Why would she want her father to run in this George, Sr. here) the public has been ¯ party? fooled by the rhetoric, the nicely groomed : On yet another television news procandidates, and the lies. " gram, host Cokie Roberts asked Mrs. What lies were working the floor theweek of the Republican Convention? Well, : Cheney about the possible hypocritical let’ s go back to those people picked from ¯ effects this has on their family. Mrs. the streets of Philadelphia. Our conserva- : Cheney said her daughter’s lifestyle was a five friends made a big deal about inclu- .¯" "private matter." Well, Mary Cheney has sion- Hispanics, African Americans, the ¯ been very out for many years and has Gay/Lesbian Community, and even the ¯ worked for Gay civil rights for many Pro-Choicers. Yep, they really want the ¯ years. And I resent Mrs. Cheney saying votes, don’t they? These people were ¯ that her daughter’s Lesbianism is a "priwooed and charmed in front of cameras, ¯ vate matter" as if the girl has a disease. but what happened the "morning after"? ¯ Sounds to me like mom is the sicko here. So why, if homosexuality is such a Well, the Republicans got together and ¯ private matter, has George W. Bush supvoted on NOT including same-sex recognition among couples, NOT including - ported every anti-gay legislation? If hoGays in hate crimes legislation, NOT in- ¯¯ mo~exuality is a private matter, why does cluding Gay civil rights of any kind, and ¯ he thiM: he has the right to tell me with whom I sleep? Why do the Republicans NOT including abortion for any reason. ¯ want to make such a federal issue out of Yeah, lies, damn lies¯ ¯ such a"private matter"? Is homosexuality Despite all this bravado show of inclusion, the Republican ticket of George Bush "¯ only private to the privileged few, like Mary Cheney? Or is it a matter that will and Dick Cheney already shows a HUGE ¯ bias - Bush and Dick. See? They just had ¯ decide, muchlike the sexual revolution of to get those "family values" in after all! ¯ the sixties, the very way people look at one another in the future? As human beMany may be wondering why I’m so worried about this election year. George " ings, not as Gay, Straight, Lesbian, BiW. Bush is certainly not a strong politi- ¯ sexual, Transgendered, etc., etc., etc. You have a decision to make. If you cian, given the fact he was a Texas gover- ]¯ nor, the weakest form of governor. And ¯ want ANY possibility of equality, make you may be saying, ’He doesn’t make the ¯ sure you are registered. Then make a date with yourself to go to a little booth in rules; Congress does." ¯ November. You know what to do. OK, but the President is responsible for �Walk for Life 2000 8th Annual Tulsa AIDS Walk Saturday, Oct. 7, 9:30am Vete ran’s Park, 21 st & Boulder Fo.r more information, call 585-5551. Donations-will be increased by 50% with matching dollars through the generosity of -the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Walk is sponsored by the Community Service Council, and will benefit the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP), The Walk is an all volunteer effort and there are no administrative costs. Tulsa Family News is proud to donate this advertisement in support of the Walk and the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP) � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Two Teens Indicted In Murder of Gay Black Man FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) - Two 17-year-old Marion County boys were indicted at the end of August for the murder of a Gay Black man. Jared Wilson and David Allen Parker ofGrantTown were each charged as adults with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the July 4 death of Arthur "J.R." Warren. They are accused of beating and kicking Warren, 26, then running over him with a Camaro to disguise his injuries as a hit-and-run. If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in prison. A 15-year,old witness, Jason Shoemaker of Grant Town, has been charged as a juvenile with being an accessory after the fact for allegedly helping the older boys dispose of evidence. Conviction on that misdemeanor offense could mean up to.a year in jail. Shoemaker has testified that Warren was beaten and kicked with steel-toed boots in a.hous¢.then put in a car. He was still alive and begging t6 be taken home when the other boys dragged him from the car on a Grant Town road to kick and beat him some more. Parker then drove over Warren four times, the boy said. see Murder, p. 11 Los Angeles Dod.gers ApOlogize to Lesbians WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) - The Dodgers apologized Wednesday to a Lesbian couple ejected from Dodger Stadium earlier this month after the two shared a kiss during a game against the Chicago Cubs. ’‘i was troubled.., because ofwhatit implied about the Dodger organization," said team President Bob Gratiano. "It means a lot to me that you are Dodger fans," he said to Danielle Goldey and Meredith Kott. "We will continue to do the right thing," Graziano said. The two were escorted out of the ballpark on Aug. 8. Goldey and Kott say they were not initially told why they were being ejected, but later they were told that someone complained and said children should not be exposed to "those people." The couple said their companions, a heterosexual couple, also kissedbut werenot ejeeted. Because ofthis, they felt the action of the eight security guards was discrimination. Besides the public apology, the Dodgers donated 5,000 tickets to three Gay and Lesbian organizations and promised sensitivity training for their employees. ’’I think they stepped up to the plate more than they had to,"Goldey said. "All we wanted was an apology ... I’m very proud to be a Dodger fan." ’’I’m extremely happy with the results," Kott said. The couple was going to file a civil rights lawsuit if the Dodgers didn’t apologize, said their lawyer Bernie Bemheim. see Courts, p. 3 U_! DIRECTORY P. 2 ~ EDITORIAL P. 3 US & WORLD NEWS P. 4 ~,~ HEALTH NEWS P. 6 Z ENTERTAINMENT P. 8 GAY STUDIES P. 10 Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual + Transgendered Tulsans, Our Families + Friends Tulsa + US Protests of Boy Scouts’ Anti-Gay Policies " OKC/TULSA (AP/TFN) - A handful of demonstrators asking ¯ the Boy Scouts to stop discriminating against Gay scouts and " leaders took their message to the streets Monday, August 21, ° targeting motorists at a busy intersection not far from the Last o FrontierBoy Scout headquarters inOklahomaCity (OKC) andin ¯ front of the Indian Nations Council in the Brookside neighbor- " hood in Tulsa. The Tulsa and Oklahoma City rallies were part of an effort ¯ plannedin atleast 36 cities and 21 states initiated by Scouting For All, a national nonprofit organization formed by Steven Cozza, " 15, of Petaluma, Calif. Cozza started Scouting For All several ¯ years ago after his father was removed as a Scout leader for .-. supporting Gay civil rights. Cozza, who said neither he nor his father is Gay, left the Boy ¯ Scouts about six months ago after becoming an Eagle Scout. ¯ Cozz~ said he no could longer support the program because it discriminates. "Scoutmasters are people to look up to. What’s " wrong with being influenced by a Gay man? Someone’s sexual- : ity has nothing to do with his character or personality," he said. ¯ The dozen OKC protesters held signs that read "Scouting ¯ should be for everyone", "Open scouting to Gays" and "Honk for ~ Gay Boy Scouts". People honked. In Oklahoma City, a couple of : people shouted obscenities and one truck driver shouted, "You [ guys are wrong"but i,n Tulsa, most of those commenting as they ¯ drove by were supportive of the demonstrators who averaged -" about 20 over a couple hour period. ." Kent Doss, a 21-year-old student a! the University of Okla- ¯ homa and an Eagle Scout, attended both the Oklahoma City and ° the Tulsa protests. Doss, who is Gay, became an Eagle Scout in ¯ 1997. He had been in scouting since the third grade. "Even after ." that many years of hard work it’s just not worth it because of the ~ negative influence," he said. ’’It is so hypocritical Everything I ¯ grew up with has been ignored," Doss said. ’q don’t want to ." abandon the scouts. I want to be apart of the dialogue, but I’m not ~ proud of scouting." In Tulsa, Doss did turn in his uniform, his ¯ merit badges and his Eagle Scout award. ¯ In June, the US Supreme Cotvt ruled 5-4 that Boy Scouts of ~ America (BSA) can bar Gays from serving as troop leaders. ¯ see Scouts, p. 2 Walk For Life 200-0 -" TULSA (TFN) - For the pasl seven years, AIDS activists, [ caregivers, people living with AIDS/HIV, and others have come : together to walk to raise money for I-IIV/AIDS care-giving and ¯ education agencies. Their services include n~lical assistance, _" prevention efforts, transportation, support groups, and home and ." hospice care. ¯ Walkers are asked to solicit pledges prior to this year’s event [ and to bring their pledge sheets and those donations to the Walk _" which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 9:30am at Veterans’ ¯ Park, located at 21st & Boulder. The Walk will begin and end at : the park going down the River Park to the 31 st Pedestrian Bridge ." and returning. ¯ Donations to Walk for Life 2000, the 8th Annual Tulsa AIDS ¯ Walk will be increased by 50% with matching dollars through the : generosity of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Walk is ~ sponsored by the Community Service Council, and will benefit .- the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP). ¯ The Walk is an all volunteer effort and there are no admiuistra- "_ five costs. For more information or for pledge forms, call 585- ¯ 5551. :US Court Rules Gay Mexican ¯ Citizen Eligible for U,S, Asylum [ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A cross-dressing, Gay Mexican man ¯ persecuted in his homeland is entitled to asylum in the United ¯ States, a federal appeals panel ruled in August. -" The decision by three judges of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of ¯ Appeals expanded the social circumstances of persecution that ¯ immigration officials must consider during asylum hearings. ¯ Federal. courts have already allowed asylum for a variety of ¯ political and social reasons, including a woman’s fear of genital : mutilation in her African homeland. Just last month, the 9th ¯ Circuit ruled that an Armenian who says he has was given an ¯ ultimatum to become a Communist or leave Armenia deserved ¯ another bid for asylum. The case involves Geovanni Hernandez-Montiel, a Gay Mexi- " can citizen who dresses and behaves as a woman. Hetestified that ¯ he was persecuted by his family, school officials and police, who " he said sexually assaulted him. see Asylum, p. 9 Gay Services Center Moving to Memorial TULSA (TFN) - After several years in Brookside, Tulsa’s Gay Community Services Center is rdocating - likely to a building near 21st and Memorial. After the ownership of the current location changed, TOHR (Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, sponsoring organization of,\the center) had to fight a legal battlejust to finish the current lease. The new owners have spent considerable funds to update the location in order to lease it at much higher rates. None of the other original tenants still remain. TOHR president Greg Gatewood noted that the new center will have about the same amount of space as the current one but may have slightly lower operating costs. The new space will still have a Pride Store, the Nancy McDonald Library, and an expanded TOHRmembers only free video lending library. Volunteers to help prepare for the move and to move are quite welcome, Gatewood added and can call the Center at 743-4297 for details. TOHR events for September include: a protest planning meeting to respond to the upcormng visit to Tulsa by radio "therapist" Dr. Laura on Tuesday, Sept. 5th at 7pm at the Center (current location at 37th & Peoria, 2nd floor), new Center volunteer orientation on Wednesday, Sept. 6th at7pm,TOHR membership meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 7:30pm. This meeting will feature a presentation of an A&E (Arts & Entertainment Network) program onhate crimes. Votes on the nominating committee for next year’s officers and on bylaws revisions will also be held. And planning for next year’s Pride events, Diversity Festival and Parade will begin on Saturday, Sept. 9th at 1 lain at the Center. On Friday, Sept. 29, 8pm, there will be a video release party for Diversity 2000, a commemorative video created by BoyBlue Productions in support of TOHR. It will include highlights of all Pride Week events including: see Video, p.8 ¯ Florida Politicians Push Federal Hate Crime Bill - WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Two Republi- ¯ can congressmen are touting legislation that would ~ expand the federal government’s rolein investigat- ~ ing and prosecuting crimes based on sexual often- , tation, religion, gender or ethnicity. , U.S. Reps. Bill McCollum of Orlando and Mark ¯ Foley of West Palm Beach said while they may be ¯ members of a conservative political party, that ¯ doesn’t mean they find hate crimes against Gays ¯ and other historically persecuted groups any less -" foul than Democrats do. "The issue is not Gay : rights, the issue is hate crime," McCollum said ¯ Tuesday while meeting with Jewish leaders. "When ¯ someone is brutalized or killed.., it is fundamen- : tally wrong." ¯ The bill would provide grants of up to $100,000 ¯ for the investigation,and prosecution ofhate crimes in all 50 states. It also would give federal authori- ¯ ties the ability to prosecute hate crimes under ¯ interstate commerce laws. o According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, ¯ Florida ranks second in the nation in the number of [ active hate groups. FBI statistics show a total of " 7,755 bias-motivated criminal incidents were re- . ported in 46 states and the District of Columbia in . 1998, down about 10% over 1997. Angela Lampert of the Jewish Federation of " Palm Beach County said the group strongly sup- . ports the bill. ’’We think hate crimes are abhorrent ¯ and do not need to be tolerated," Lampert said after ¯ meeting with McCollum and Foley at Temple Beth ¯ El in West Palm Beach. In July, the Senate passed similar legislation as ¯ an amendment to a defense department appropria- " tions bill. This adds offenses motivated by sexual ; orientation, sex or disability to the list of crimes ¯ covered under federal law. McCollum, chair of the ¯ House Subcommittee on Crime, and Foley hope to ¯ pass the House version in the same way. Tulsa Clubs & Restaurants *Chasers, 4812 E. 33 *CW’s, 1737 S. Memorial *Club Cherry Bomb, 1926 E. Pine *Club Vortex, 2182 S. Sheridan Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square *St. Michael’s Alley Restaurant, 3324-L E. 31st *The Star, 1565 Sheridan *Renegades!Rainbow Room, 1649 S. Main *TNT’s, 2114 S. Memorial *Tool BOX, 1338 E.’ 3rd *The Yellow Brick Road Pub; 2630 E. 15th ;712-2324 610-5323 583-2119 835-2376 744-4280 745-9998 834,4234 585-3405 660-0856 584- t308 749-1563 Tulsa Businesses, Services, & Professionals Advanced Wird~ss &~PCS,Digital Cdlular Assoc. in Med. & Mental Health, 2325 S. Harvard Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 8620 E. 71 Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 5231 E. 41 Body Piercing by Nicole, 2722 E. 15 *Borders Books & Music, 2740 E. 21 *Borders Books & Music, 8015 S. Yale Brookside Jewelry, 4649 S. P~oria *CD Warehouse, 3807c S. Peoria~ *Cheap Thrills, 2640 E. 1 lth Cherry St. Psychotherapy, 1515 S. Lewis Community Cleaning, Kerby Baker Tim Daniel, Attorney 352-9504, 800-742-9468 .747-1508 743-1000 250-5034 665-4580 712-1122 712-9955 494-2665 743-5272 746-0313 295-5868 581-0902, 743-4117 622-0700 749-3620 744-5556 838-8503 369-8555 584-0337, 712-9379 592-0460 744-9595 610-0880 628-3709 808-8026 742- 1460 459-9349 744-7440 745-1111 341-6866 712-2750 582-3018 747-0236 582-8460 599-8070 747-5466 585-1234 584-3112 663-5934 -664-2951 838-7626 743 -4297 747-5932 834-0617 747-4746 749-6301 26o-7829. 481-0558 835-5563 743-1733 665-2222 592-0767 *Deco to Disco, 3212 E. 15th Doghouse on Brookside, 331 t S. Peoria *Elite Books & Videos, 821 S. Sheridan Encompass Travel, 13161H N. Memorial .Ross Edward Salon Events Unlimited, 507 S. Main Floral Design Studio, 3404 S. Peoria Four Star Import Automotive, 9906,E. 55th PI. Cathy Furlong, Ph.D., 1980 Utica Sq. Med. Ctr. Gay & Lesbian Affordable Daycare *Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee, 1758 E. 21st Leatme M. Gross, Insurance & financial planning Mark T. Hamby, Attorney *Sandra J. Hill, MS, Psychotherapy, 2865 E Skelly *International Tours Jacox ANmal Clinic, 2732 E. 15th *Jared’s Antiques, 1602 E. 15th David Kauskey, Country Club Barbering The Keepers, Housekeeping & Gardening *Ken’s Flowers, 1635 E.. 15 Kelly Kirby, CPA, 4021 S. Harvard, #210 *Living ArtSpace, 308 South Kenosha *Midtown Theater, 319 E. 3rd Mingo Valley Flowers, 9720c E. 31 *Mohawk Music, 6157 E 51 Place Puppy Pause II, 1060 S. Mingo *The Pride Store, 1307 E. 38, 2nd floor Rainbowz on the River B+B, PUB 696, 74101 Richard’s Carpet Cleaning Teri Schutt, Rex Realtors 834-7921, Scribner’s Bookstore, 1942 Utica Square Paul Tay, Car Salesman *Tulsa Comedy Club, 6906 S. Lewis Venus Salon, 1247 S. Harvard Fred Welch, LCSW, Counseling *Wherehouse Music,,5150 S. Sheridan *Whittier News Stand, 1 N. Lewis www.gaytulsa.org - website for Tulsa Gays & Lesbians Tulsa Agencies, Churches, Schools & Universities AIDS Walk Tulsa, PUB 4337, 74101 579-9593 All Souls,Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria. 743~2363 Black & White, Inc. PUB 14001, Tulsa 74159 587-7314 Bless The Lord at All Times Christian Center, 2207 E. 6 583-7815 B/L/G/T Alliance, Univ. of Tulsa United Min. Ctr. 583-9780 *Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 616 S. Boston 585-1201 *Chapman Student Ctr., University of Tulsa, 5th P1. & Florence Church of the Restoration UU, 1314 N.Greenwood 587-1314 *Community of Hope Church, 2545 S: Yale 747-6300 *Community Unitarian-Universalist Congregation 749-0595 Council Oak Men’s Chorale 748-3888 *Delaware Playhouse, 1511 S. Delaware 712-1511 *Democratic Headquarters, 3930 E. 31 742-2457 Dignity/Integrity of Tulsa- Lesbian & Gay Catholics & Episcopalians, PUB 701475, 74170-1475 355-3140 *Fellowship Congreg. Church, 2900 S. Harvard 747-7777 *Free Spirit Women’s Center, call for location &info: 587-4669 Friend For A Friend, PUB 52344, 74152 747-6827 918.583.1248, fax: 583.4615 PUB 4140, Tulsa, OK 74159 e-mail: TulsaNews@ earthlink.net Publisher + Editor: Tom Seal Writers + contributors: James Christjohn. Karin Gregory, Barry Hensley, J.-P. Legrandbouche, Lamont Lindstrom, Esther Rothblum, Mary Schepers, Hughston Walkinshaw " Member of The Associated Piess ........... Issued on orbefore the let of each month~2the endre contents of this pubhcation are protected by US copyright I998 by T~ ~1 Nt,w,t and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Publication of a name or photo does not indicate a person’ s sexual orientation. Correspondence is assumedto be for publication unless otherwise noted, must be signed & becomes the sole property of Tt,~ /:€,~ Ntsu4~ Each reader is entitled to 4 copies of each edition at distribution points. Additional copies are available by calling 583-1248. Friends in Unity Social Org., PUB 8542, 74101 HIV ER Center, 4138 Chas. Page Blvd. *Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., 3507 E. Admiral Holland Hall School, 5666 E. 81st HOPE, HIV Outreach, Prevention, Education *Houseofthe Holy SpiritMinstries, 1517 S. Memorial *MCC United, 1623 N. Maplewood NAMES Project, 3507 E. Admiral P1. NOW, Nat’l Org. for Women, PUB 14068, 74159 OK Spokes Club (bicycling), PUB 9165, 74157 *OSU-Tulsa PFLAG, PUB 52800, 74152 *Planned Parenthood, -1007 S. Peoria Prime-Timers, P.O. Box 52118, 74152 R.A.I.N., Regional AIDS Interfaith Network *Red Rock Mental Center, 1724 E. 8 St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 4045 N. Cincinnati St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, 5635 E. 71st *St. Jerome’s Parish Church, 205 W. King *Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder *TNAAPP (Native American men), Indiau Health Care Tulsa County Health Department, 4616 E. 15 582-0438 583-6611 834-4194 481-1111 834-8378 224-4754 838-1715 748-3111 365-5658 749-4901 587-7674 749-4195 584-2325 425-7882 492-7140 582-3088 583-7171 582-7225 595-4105 Confidential HIV Testing - by appt. on Thursdays only Tulsa Okla. for Human Rights, c/o The Pride Center 743-4297 T.U.L.S.A. Tulsa Uniform~Leather Seekers Assoc. 298-0827 *Tulsa City Hall, Ground Hoor Vestibule *Tulsa Community College Campuses *Tulsa Gay Community Center, 1307 E. 38, 74105 743-4297 Unity Church of Christianity, 3355 S. Jamestown 749-8833 BARTLESVILLE Bardesville Public Library,, 6"00 S. Johnstone 918-337-5353 OKLAHOMA CITY/NORMAN Borders Books & Music, 3209 NW Expressway 405-848-2667 Borders Books & Music, 300 Norman Center 405-573-4907 TAHLEQUAH Stonewall League, call for information: 918-456-7900 Tahlequah Unitarian-Universalist Church 918-456-7900 Green Country AIDS Coalition, PUB 1570 918-453-9360 NSU School of Optometry, 1001 N. Grand HIV’testing every other Tt~es. 5:30-8:30, call for dates EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Autumn Breeze Restaurant, Hwy. 23 501-253-7734 Jim & Brent’s Bistro, 173 S Main 501-253-7457 DeVito’s Restaurant, 5 Center St. .501-253-6807 Fanerald Rainbow, 45 &l/2 Spring St. 501-253-5445 MCC of the Living Spring 501"-253-9337 Seek to Go!, PC Specialist, PUB 429 501-253-2776 Old Jailhouse Lodging, 15 Montgomery 501-253-5332 Positive Idea Marketing Plans 501-624-6646 Sparky’s, Hwy. 62 East 501-253-6001 White Light, 1 Center St. 501-253-4074 JOPLIN, MISSOURI Spirit of Christ MCC, 2639 E. 32, Ste. U134 417-623-4696 * is where you can trmd TFN. Not all are Gay-owned butall are Gay-friendly. Hesaid he first thought the Dodgers might have a policy against Gay and Lesbian couples showing affectionin theball park. "I’m frankly shocked," Bernheim said. ’q’heir response is atypical and outstanding." He said the Dodgers have donemore to make amends than any other corporation he’s dealt with. Goldey and Kott have been invited to sit behind home plate to make up for the game they missed. ¯ - - "It i-s not trivial-to-be thrown ouf’Of p.u,b’,!.]c..p.l~ac:eb~as~ed Of, who YOU "are,"s"d Jon Da~cids0n 0f the Lambda L~g~i’ D~-: fense and: Edlacafion Fund, a Gay advocacy group. ’q’his result is a home run for all concerned." The ruling may also permit the 6.2-mib lion-member organization to reject Gays as members. The Boys Scouts consider homosexuality contrary to their oath .requiring scouts tube "morally straight:" The90?ye~ff-Oldorganization says its goal is to ’l~iS~’itle educational programs for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and to devdop personal fitness.¯ EdmrddresidentJustin Spears, aformer Boy Scout l~ader, said he doesn’t know if he want~.:..Ms 8-year-old son to become a Boy Scoii~ because of the stance against Gays. "Even though they have a legal mandate, this discrimination needs to be stopped," he said. In Tulsa, longtime PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and GayS) activist Cathy Hinkle marched and spoke ofhow her Gay son was a scout but would have been barred under the BSA policy. Hinkle was joined for part of the protest by the new pastor of All Souls Unitarian Church. The OKC demonstrators marched to the headquarters, where former scout member Jim Craig, turned in his handbodkin prdtest to Jim Russnogle, director of field services for the Last Frontier Council. "In Boy Scouts I learned a lot about Boy Scout law. I believe scout law is not being followed," Craig said. "A lot of kids:that are Gay might not be tempted to co~Iv;uicide if they had more support." " Russnogle read from a statement that said that the Boy Scouts respects their rights, and ask that the rights of the BSA also be respected. "We believe avowed homosexuals should not be role models;" Russnogle read. He added that he is sorry, that Dose. no longer wants to be consid;,~ ered an Eagle Scout, "But if that is his opinion, I respect that." Rob Abiera, owner and operator of Ga~,0k~:(0m said thedemonstration was - called to show supportfor Gay Boy Scouts and Scout Masters and to educate how Gay Scouts face discrimination. "We know that the Boy Scouts has~been a pioneer in reaching out to minorities and,¯. should continue that effort in reaching out to Gays. It is completely inconsistentwith what they have done in the past," Abierav ~ said. Demonstrators were turned away from the national Boy Scouts ofAmericaheadquartersMonday afterpresenting a 55,000- signature petition protesting the organization’s ban on Gay troop leaders. Fewer than a dozen demonstrators, some wearing Boy Scout uniforms, see p. 3 were met by a security guard and not allowed past the front desk. A secretary who refused to give her name said she would forward the petition to the organization’s president. The protesters hadhoped to talk withleaders of the organization or at least schedule a meeting. ’"vVe’re disappointed," said Dave Rice, a former Scout leader who marched in Irving. ’°We don’t like confrontation. We like to sit down, shake hands and discuss a solution that’s mutually beneficial." In Seattle, more than_ 100 people rallied~ in protest Monday night. One, former Eagle Scout Doug Barnes, said he planned to send hisbadge back. Another, Jon Wartes, said he already had done so. "Does the Boy Scouts of Americareally understand the hurt that they’re doing?" said Wartes, who became an Eagle Scout in 1959 and wrote part of the Boy Scout handbook. At the Washington, D.C. protest, Graham Segroves wore his Boy Scout shirt complete with his Eagle Scout badge and other honors. Now with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Segroves, 25, said he did not realize he was Gay until he left the scouts eight years ago. Segroves said he hopes President Clinton will agree to a task force request thathe resignhis honorary presidency of the Boy Scouts He also is watching for congressional action on a proposed "Scouting f0~ All" act, which seeks to revoke the Boy Scouts’ congre~slbhal charter. The Supreme Court decision has ~IS0 left compames that donate to the Boy Scouts of America in a quandary: their employment policies contradict the Boy Scouts’ court-upheld right toban Gay troop members. The stance already has cost the Scouts financial support from companies such as Levi Strauss & Co: arid Wells Fargo. Others, concerned about hurting the beneficiaries of such funding - the boys themselves - are w~ighing their options. Chase Manhattan Corp. is considering revoking its contributions. ’XDn the face of it, some issues appear to be in conflict with our commitment to diversity," spokesman Jim Finn said. ’%Ve will make a final determination on this soon. It’s notsomething we are going to let rest for a long time." Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York, which gives between $100,000 and $150,000 a year, is "actively reviewing" its relationship with the Scouts, said spokesman Joe Cohen. Media company Knight Ridder has asked "that funds it gives to the UnitedWay notbe directed to the Boy Scouts because it conflicts "with the company’s philosophy on people and di~cersity, and the company could not support such a discriminatory stance," said Polk Laffoon, vice president of corporate relations. The Tulsa Area United Way (l’AUW)does fund the Indian Nations Council of the BSA. TAUW’s director, Kathleen Coan, at a mid-summer news conference was asked, "since TAUW doesn’t fund racist or anti-semitic organizations, why it funds non-profits (BSA, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Green Country, the American Red Cross) which discriminate against Lesbian and Gay Tulsans?" Coan, responding with obvious anger,, stated that she was "quite proud" of thefunding decisions which TAUWhas made, and made no effort to explain orjustify those decisions. Steve Tumbo, of the public relations firm Sctmake, Brookey Turnbo, and a recent addition to the Tulsa Area United Way board was present at that press conference and also reacted angrily to questiond aboutTAUW bias. Mr. Turnbo, a longtime supporter of the National Conference for Community and Justice, a Tulsa "human rights" organization with a history of anti-Gay discrimination, had promised to respond to inquiries about TAUW’s funding of anti-Gay groups if the concerns were expressed by letter. To date, TFN has received no response to a letter sent in April. Turnbo also was the organizer a few years ago of a conference which claimed to be about diversity butwhich failed to include Lesbians and Gay men in any of its planning and Turubo also refused to alter the event even when the matter was brought to his attention and individuals were willing to volunteer to help correct the exclusion. Tumbo’s firm enjoys a privileged relationship with Tulsa’s establiskment frequently working closely with Tulsa mayor, M. Susan Savage, the Chamber of Commerce and Tulsa Public Schools, frequently being involved in bond and other elections. Assault at Rose Hill by Tom Neal, editor/publisher It was a picture perfect "photo op." The rabbi, draped with his prayer shawl, was flanked one one side by Mouzon Biggs of Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Black pastor Dr. McCutchen, and the Bishop (Catholic) of Tulsa, Edward Slattery, and on the other side by our mayor, M. Susan Savage, and Sheryl Siddiqui of Tulsa’s Islamic Society. .M1 were gathered in the 100 plus degree heat and sun to condenm a horrible act of desecration: the toppling of Jewish tombstones in Rose Hill Cem- : the Nadonal Conference of Christians and Jews) sends ¯ letters to the World condemning firemen who put Chris- " tian holiday decorations up and condemns anti-Semetic ¯ attacks on Joe Lieberman but never to my knowledge has ¯ responded publicly to attacks on Tulsa’s Gay Commu- ¯ nity Center, to anti-Gay Oklahoma legislation, to the ¯ beating of Orr and Beauchamp, or even to the murder of ¯ Mathew Sheppard. However, the organization has engaged in deliberate ¯ and conscious acts of anti-Gay discrimination, most recently at an event at Bigg’s BOston etery. And Rabbi Fitzerman of Congregation B’nai Emunah put in context just precisely how this act hurt, of how it invoked memories of Nazi atrocities with a story of a road to one Nazi labor/death camp being paved with Jewish tombstones. But when push comes to shove, this still was a crime against property - not a taking oflife. Was it an assault on the psyche of a community? Of course! Not unlike the year-in and year-out psychic assaults on Gay Tulsans from our own elected leaders (members of the legislature, our governor, our congressman, our sen~ttors, our district attorney),as well as from individual~ like Jonathan Brian Duke, the man who was caught in the cemetery. According to the Tulsa WorM, Duke had been accused of harassing two Gay men who lived near him. Indeed, ifyouknew who and what to look for, Tulsa’s Gay community was wall represented in the crowd. I suspect that after Jews, we may have been the largest single group. There were "baby" Gays in rainbow beads and : shorts, a young lesbian couple quietly : holding hands leaving the ceremony ] after all was over, establishment Gays ¯ from the Church of Saint Jerome, even somehardyhumanrights activists from : Oklahoma City who dropped every- : thing to come to be here in solidarity. "So when Rabbi Fitzerman says he’s grateful to llve in an "open eommunlty," one that "embraces diversity," "a place of profound moral health," I am grateful that for Tulsa’s Jewish eommunlty, this may finally be true. I hope so. But for Gay people dearly this is not yet true. For Gay Tulsans, Tulsa remains a place of deep hypoerlsy, where our tax dollars, and our talents are greedily taken but our exlstenee is mostly denied when not speeffleally condemned. " - Tom Neal Amazingly, Rabbi Fitzerman did Avenue Methodist Church. And in a particularly cynical fundraising ploy, NCCJ honored Robert Lorton, owner and publisher of the Tulsa WorM, a business knownfor at least fifteen years for its anti-Gay discriminatory business practices, its "humanitarian" of the year. So when Rabbi Fitzerman says he’s grateful to live in an "’open community," one that "embraces diversity," "a place of profound moral health," I am grateful that for Tulsa’s Jewish community, this may finally be true. I hope so. But for Gay people clearly this is not yet true. For Gay Tulsans, Tulsa . remains a place of deep hypocrisy, where our tax dollars, and our talents are greedily taken but our existence is mostly denied when not specifically condemned. It is a place where even our presence in human rights groups is begrudging and is predicated on our not getting "’uppity." (Note how these groups much prefer to have non-Gay Gay advocates like Nancy McDonald rather than actually have Gay people at the table. Note also that this is no cnttcism of Nancy’s good and hard work. She’s not responsible for their prejudice.) And while Gay people seem to get the connection between anti-semitism and anti-Gay values, the ~luestion remains whether Tulsa’s Jewish commention Gay people along with Jews, Catholics, Blacks, Asians and Hispanic Americans as those .who are attacked because we do not fit some "mythological profile" of a "true’.’ American. But as a long observer of Tulsa’s so-called "human rights" community, it is hard not to be somewhat bitter at the contrast between how seriously assaults on Tulsa’ s Jewish community are taken as compared to those on Tulsa’s Gay commumty. Let us merely start with who was on, and who was not on, the dais! While there seems to be evidence that Gays were also targets 6f Jonathan Brian Duke, and there certainly are Gay community leaders who were concerned and attending the event, like Father Rick Hollingsworth of Saint Jerome, or members of Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR), we were not represented. Duke had not attacked Cathohcs but the Catholic bishop was on the dais. Nor did he attack Methodists but Mouzon Biggs was there. Nor had he attacked Blacks but one of the most senior Black clergymen was there. Nor did he attack Muslims but Siddiqui was invited to the dais. Can anyone remember when ever our mayor has attended a Gay event? She’s usually conveniently out of town. Sure she sends her best bud, Hilary Kitz, whom we adore but it’s not the same. We did not see her at the memorial hdd in City Hall Plaza for Mathew Sheppard, nor did she release comment about that crime, or more relevantly did she comment on the brutal Brookside beating ofTony Orr andTim Beauchamp- indeed a local crime. Nor has our mayor responded to now years worth of calls for diversity training for police and other city workers which actually includes Gay people in the "diversity." Nor did she add her voice to the effort to amend our state hate crime statute to include "sexual orientalion." Local ’’human rights" organizations like the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ, formerly munity does. While Tulsa’s Jewish community by an3’ standard is successful in business and in political impact, and is influential due to those talents in wild disproportion to its numbers, it still seems to bdieve that it cannot risk expending its "’capital" to help Gay people. And it is also, frankly, a community which has not dealt with its own prejudices against Gay people, its homophobia and Its heterosexism. Part of the reason that things are better in Tulsa forJews is that non-Jews made the effort to try to make things better. It’s morally right for those still excluded to call on those who’ve been helped to turn and to help those still left behind. Tulsa’s Jewish community and Tulsa’s Gay community have much in common. Unlike racial minorities, neither community is an "onsight" minority. We are known by our actions, by going to our places of worship’or our community centers, or businesses. We are subject to similar pressures to just "convert." And we share the horror of Nazi persecution, a fact finally acknowledged by organizers of the local Holocaust interfaith remembrance event this year, albeit only after much cajoling and the intervention of one blessedly open minded Tulsan, herself the daughter of Holocaust survivors. The rabbi’s inclusive language is a good start. God forbid that there should be a next time for suchan event but when next there is a shared stage, an effort at representing the"diversity"ofour town, maybe thenone of our leaders will be on the dais. And maybe just like the Gay people who were in that 100 degree heat, who understand that an attack on Jews is an attack on us too, Tulsa’s Jewish commumty will throw their influence behind the Gay commumty’s efforts for fair treatment by our law enforcement system, by our legislature, and by our community organizations. The God of Israel commands, "... justice,justice, shalt thou seek..." You don’t have to be a Jew or a Christian to honor these words. Universal Florida To Offer Partners Benefits ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Universal Florida will start offering health and other benefits to domestic partners, both Gayand straight. The benefits, which will take effect Oct. 1, also will cover dependents of domestic partners. ’This is a part of our ongoing efforts to recognize the diversity of the team members in our workforce and to provide an array of benefits and services sufficient to be recognized as an employer of choice in this very dynamic Orlando labor market," said an internal Universal document obtained by The Orlando Sentinel. Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando’s largest employer with more than 55,000 workers, has offered health benefits to employees’ Gay partners since 1996. But Disney doesn’t cover heterosexual partners of employees tmless they are married. Disney doesn’t plan to change its policy regarding unmarriedheterosexual partners, said spokesman Bill Warren. "It’s our position that there is a legal remedy to be’formally married, and Seeg those benefits with heterosexual couples," Warren said. Universal, the area’s fourth-largest employer with 11,800 employees, will extend the benefits to any domestic, partner 18 or older who has lived with the employee for at least six months. In addition, the theme park resort’s statement said, partners, must have ’~oint responsibility for eachother’s financial wdfare and basic living expenses," although it is not dear how that would be proved. In addition to medical, dental, vision and dependent life insurance, domestic partners will be able to use Universal’s employee assistance program, sctfolarships and other benefits. Employees can enroll their partners in September. Hate crimes increase 11.7% in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES (AP) -Hatecrimes increased 11.7% in Los Angeles County last year, with blacks, Jews and Gays the target of most attacks, the. Human Relations Commission said. The increase was due in part to better reporting of hate crimes, officials said recently. Last year’s attack on the North Valley Jewish Community Center by a gunman led to an "unprecedented awareness" ofhate crimes, said RobinToma, acting executive director of the county Human Relations Commission. Buford O. Furrow Jr., a white supremacist, is charged with. shooting to death Filipino- American postal worker 3oseph Ileto and then wounding five people at the Jewish center. Overall in 1999, the report said, 859 crimes motivated by race. religion or sexual orientation-were reported. That was up 11.7% from 1998. It was the second-highest tally in 20 years, behind the peak year of’ 1996, when 995 hate crimes were reported. The upswing matched a 12% statewide increase in hate crimes, announced last month by the state attorney general’s office. The crimes ranges from crossbumings to killings. Overall, blacks werethe most frequent victims of hate crimes, but crimes involving religion or sexual orientation saw the largest increases. Hate crimes on school campuses .also rose sharply for the second year in a row,jumping 58.7%, from 46 to 73. Most of the crimes based on religion were nonviolent, but more than half of those against Gays and Lesbians were violent, the commission said. Univ. of Minnesota Alum Donates for Gay Center MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A University of Minnesota alunmus who made a fortune in the computer software industry has donated $500,000 to the school for an endowed Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgender studies center. The Steven J. Schochet Center for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies opened July 1. Schochet, a 1959 graduate, said he faced many barriers as a Gay man on campus and hopes the donation will improve the climate for GLBT students. The center will be responsible for coordinating graduate studies, establishing archives and starting a lecture series and community forums. ’.The goal of the center is to enhance the creation of knowledge about GLBT lives through academic studies and community interaction," said Liunea Stenson, Schochet Center program director. Texas A&M Waffles COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - A Gay civil rights group urged Texas A&M University to implement an on-again, off-again ban on discrimination again~st Gays. School presidentRay Bowen suspended the policy change on Aug. 16, a few hours after it was posted on the university’s Web site. In a vaguely worded statement, Bowen said the issue needed more study. In a letter to Bowen, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said Texas A&M shouldjoin other major universities around the state in prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals. "Failure to expressly -forbid discrimination also sends the message to the campus community that (homosexual) people are second-class citizens and that discrimination against them is acceptable," said ElizabethToledo, executive director of the task force. Bowen has stated the matter will be reconsidered after a better understanding by all confirmed parties has been achieved, said university spokesman Lane Stephenson. "He has directed the matter to go through the Office of the Dean of Student Life as the start of the process of reconsideration," Stephenson said. "We are already starting to have productive discussions within the university community." On the Net: .Texas A&M University: http:// www.tamu.edu Drag Queens-Invited to Olympic Celebrations SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - The Olympics’ dosing ceremony is going to be a drag. Drag queens will be part of the Sydney 2000 games’ finale regardless of what "right-wing reactionaries" think, ceremonies director Ric Birch said at the end of August/ Themen dressedup in outlandish dresses, wigs and makeup, will be "part of one tiny section" of the dosing ceremony, a tribute to Australian films including the 1994 cult hit ’.The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," he said. Some of the participants would be dressed in original costumes, including a frill-necked lizard outfit from the film, which features twodrag queens and a transsexual driving a pink bus through Australia’s Outback. A report in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper sparked heated debate onradio shows. One, caller said he would trade his dosing ceremony ticket after hearing the news. Birch directed the opemng ceremony at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and was involved in the opener at Atlantafour years ago. He said he was annoyed that constant leaks were wrecking what should be a surprise for the public. "I’m really disappointed at the way the mediais gleefully trying to expose the secrets that we call surprises," Birch told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. Photographs of the Olympic cauldron being lit in rehearsals, which are usually kept under wraps, have been printed. Speculation on who will ignite the cauldron has intensified. Birch said the inclusion of drag queens also reflected one of Sydney’s mostcolorful events, the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, a Gay pridemarch and street carnival that attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. "That’s part of Sydney life whether (critics) like it or not." Birch said. "For the right-wing reactionaries or whatever part of a community is ..outraged about it - well, they’re always going to be outraged." Olympics Minister Michael Knight said all the plans forthe ceremonies had been approved by the organizing committee’s board. "The dosing ceremony runs for several hours and has a very different feel to United in God’s Love MCC-United Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Community ofHope 2545 South Yale, Su~n~ da~.ys at llam, 749-0595 A Welcoming Congregation HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Sun. Worship, 10:45 am, Sunday School, 9:30 am Wed. Bible Study, 7 pm, Sunday Eve. Service, 6pm 1517 S. Memorial, 628-0802, Info: 224-4754 Sandra Hill M.s. Licensed Professional & National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist Psychotherapy & Clinical ConsuItation After Hours Appointments Available 2865 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 215,745-1111 The Open Arms Project Young Adult Support Group Outreach Program Thurs. Nights Meet Others in a Safe Enviroment Call for meeting times and place: , 918-584-2325 Mingo Valley Flowers 9413 E. 31st St., Tulsa 74145 918-663-5934, fax: 663-5834, 800-44A.-5934 Family Owned & Operated Trinna L. W. 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Cincinnati, 425-7882 5635 East 71st, 492-7140 Saint John Trinity 4200 S. Atlanta Place, 742-7381 501 S. Cincinnati, 582-4128 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You opening ceremony - it’s a party," he said. "Fhe athletes are going to be on the field from the word go as part of this giant party celebration: The whole feel will be one of great celebration and fi~n." Same-sex Marriage Ban Appears Headed to Ballot LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - It appears likely voters will get a chance to decide whether to ban same-sex marriages in Nebraska: A petition effort to place the proposed constitutional an~endment on th~ ballot gathered at leas t 19,000 more than the needed 105,214 signatures:, the Secretary Of State’ s,office announbed. The same~sex p~tition was circulated: by the De- [fehse: of Marriage Amendment Committee. With signatures t¥om 82 counties counted, the total-verified was 124,495. About 10% of the signatures were determined to be invalid. The petition effort was headed by Guyla Mills, director of the NebraskaFamily Council and a lobbyist for the Nonpartisan Family Coalifon- two groups that support the peftion. Mills said sheis confident that when all the signatures are verified they will have about 45,000 more thanwhat is required, and that will deter anyone from thinking about challenging them. At this time the Nebraska chapter of the American Civil Liberges Union has no intention of challenging anyof the signatures, even though it remains opposed to. the amendment; said ACLU director Tim Butz. A group organized to fight]he initiative, called the Vote No on DOMA (Defense of Marriage Amendment) Committee, also has no plans to challenge the signature count. Other groups opposing the effort include Nebraska Advocates for Justice & Equality, a nonprofit Omaha group, and PFLAG (Parents and Families of Lesbians and Gays). Butz said theACLU id researching what impact the amendment would have on exisfng laws dealing with business partnerships and existing legal agreements between Gay and Lesbian couples. The ACIJd also is looking into what impactit would have on companies that offer same-sex health~benefits,-to workers. ¯ The proposed constitutional amendment will read: ’~Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in Nebraska. The uniting of two persons of the same sex in a civil union, domestic partnership, or other similar same-sex relationship shall not be valid or recognized in Nebraska.’" Nothing in current Nebraska law s.pecifically prohibits same-sex marriage. Supporters of the petition say it will clarify in the consmutlon that only marriages of a man and woman are legal in Nebraska. Thirt.y-tl~r.ee states have passed law s or amended their const~tutxons to ban same-sex marriages. Officials Say No to Two Morns on Birth Certificate DENVER (AP) -The state health department will ask the Colorado Supreme Court to ban Lesbian couples from placing both their nmnes on a baby’s birth certificate, a health official said. The issue was raised after two Boulder District Court judges allowed seven Lesbian couples to place their names on birth certificates. One of the women in each couple was the birth mother. The judges said Colorado law allows people who have :no biological,connection to "a child tO ~ssume parentalrights ii~ certain situations. The Department ofPublic Health and Environment appealed, arguing that the judges had overstepped their legal authority by creating a new_ kind of pare_ntchild relationship. "It needs to be the decision of the legislature rather than the courts," said Cynthia Honssinger, a director in the health department. But the Colorado Court of Appeals turned down the health department’s request to overturn the Boulder courts. The appellate court said the health department didn’t appeal on time nor should it have any interest in the matter. Honssinger said the health department now plans to ask theColorado Supreme Court to look at what the Legislature intended when it enacted the Uniform Parentage Act. Lawmakers wanted to help single mothers get child-support payments from deadbeat dads, she said. Jeanine Pow, a lawyer representing one of the Lesbian couples, said the law traditionally wants what is in the "best interest" of the child, which is two adults who are responsible for the child. "The health department is wasting taxpayer money on punishing the children of Lesbian mothers," she said. The women in the seven Boulder cases want to remain anonymous to protect their clfildren and themselves, their lawyers said. GayArts Group Sues San Antonio; Claims Bias SAN-ANTONIO (AP) - A chItural arts 2roup fliat]ost Its c~ty fundlng.m 1997 armd 4omplaint~ ,o~er !ts +ponsorship of ~i Gay and Lesbiati fihri fest~fil’ the city to court on accusations of violating the First Amendment. Attorneys for the nonprofit Esperanza Center contend the City Council cut off the organization because of its viewpoints a violation of free speech- mad because of pressure from residents who told council members they opposed "promoting a Gay lifestyle." Also Suing the city are two groups under the 13- year-old Esperanza’s fiscal umbrella, the San Antonio Lesbian andGay Media Project mad the s~nall arts gr,o,up VAN ~lie Esperanza_N~d other plaintiffs were singled out by the city because of the viewpoints expressed by ~he Esperanza ~n a variety of ways, Esperanza lawyer Am~; Kastely told U.S. District Judge Orlando L. G,qrci~i iff0utlining their case. The Esperanza Center filed suit after the council voted in September 1997 to stop giving it money. Although the couucil reduced funding to most arts groups by 15% at the stone time, Esperanza was the only one ~hat was cut off altogether. Several residents had voiced their opposition to financing Esperanza, saying they disapproved of the behavior they believed the group was advocating. The city’s Cultural Arts Board had recommended $62~500 for Esperanza, which had been receiving city money for ~even years. But after the council vote, the cit)/ i~’ei~aJ:~ment 6f Ar~s .and dultural Affhirs also withheld $14,000 from the Texas Commission on the Arts, for a total loss of about $76,500. Now, the group’s leaders are seeking the money they believe they deserve. They’re also seekang an order from the court to force the city to follow its own criteria for granting arts funding. But lawyers representing the city say council members didn’t stra~: from the criteria. They say some council members just didn’l support the Esperanza Center while others wanted to divert some of the arts funding toward more basic city progrmns. For~ner councilman Jose Menendez testified that while he had received several phone calls and letters objecting to financing Esperanza, he simply felt that artsfluading was not a priority. He said Iris district needed sidewalks, speed bumps and more firefighters. ’qqae arts ~vas an area where we could get lnore money for basic servxces." The city’s law yers questioned whether Esperanza, which used to be called the Esperanza Peace &Justice Center, should have been eligible for arts money in the first place. Indeed, some council members had viewed it more as a political organization than an arts group, former councilman Roger Flores testified. Eduardo Diaz, former director of the city’s arts depar.tment: ~onceded~ ~upon, questioning.by assistant city attorney. Amy Eubanks that Esperanza technically is not an arts organization because its massion is not exclusively the presentation or production of art. ¯ But-he-added that it has.been Esperanza’s practice over the years to incorporate arts progran~s. Diaz testified earlier that he had no doubt that Esperanza met the criteria for funding He.said the g up has been an acttve player tn cultural events for many years. He said there are :other Ynon-arts" groups that receive arts funding. At the time of the’ 97 cotmcil vote, the Witte Museum, primarily a natural history and science museum, was among four organizations that were receiving 70 to 75% of the total amount of arts funding, Diaz said. Esperanza execuuve director Graciela S anchez testified the center has used arts programs to "g~ve voice to the voiceless." Medical Marijuana To Be Investigated SAN DIEGO (AP) - The University of California, San Diego will soon begin trials on medical marijuana at the nation’ s first research center designed to explore the drug’s therapeutic potential. Doctors announced the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research as part of the state’s effort to set medical guidelines following the voter-approved medical marijuana law. The center, headquartered in San Diego, will begin distributing grants to conduct clinical trials at lmiversities and research centers throughout California as early as January. The studies will look at whether marijuana is a safe alternative for treating certmn kinds of medical conditions and the best ways to administer it, such as ¯ through pills, patches or sprays. ’~Ourjobis to show if these products are ¯ helpful and we can answer t~.at defini- -" tively," said Igor Grant, the center’s director and professor of psychiatry at UCSD. ¯ Gov. Gray Davis has already approved ¯ $3 malhon to fund theprogram first year while legislation calls for a three-year program. The center was set up in large response to Proposition 215, the 1996 state initiative allowing seriously ill pa- ° tients to grow and use marijuana f~ pain o relief, if they have a doctor’srecommen- o dation. Measures similar_to the California ¯ initiative have passed in Alaska, Arizona,. Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state. ¯ State Sen. John Vasconcellos, who ¯ pushed for medical marijuana, pelmed the ¯ program in 1996 but initially faced oppositionfromlaw enforcement groups. Only ¯ after working with Attorney General Bill Lockyer did Vasconcellos convincemany ¯ that research was a good idea. "It’s been a very long road since the ° passage of 215 to even get as far as we had with research," said Rand Martin, a ¯ spokesman for Vasconcellos. "We have ° had to deal with alot of political problems ° and the most exciting thing is that we’re ¯ putting the politics behind us." o Proponents have long argued that marl- " juanahelps patients with chronic pain and " with AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis ¯ by relieving pain and nausea. Opponents . of marijuana say scientific research is " necessary. ’Wee consider research a good thing,’" -" said Bob Weiner of the White House National Drug Control Policy Office. "Fo " have medicine determined by science and ¯ not by popular will is exactly what we support." ¯ Doctors at UCSD’s center hope the " research will eventually determine" whether marijuana has medical benefits - because current federal law says the drug " has no medical purpose. Trial patients will get marijuana from : the National InStitute on Drug Abuse and - researchers have pledged to follow all medical guidelines. ’‘There’s been a long " history of contention around cannabis and it has been difficult to do research," said , Grant. "This it the ~first study that’s " mulfidisciplinary. The state of California " has taken the lead here." ¯ Malay AIDS-Group - Protests Testing KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -" Malaysia’s biggest AIDS .aw.areness and, " prevention body has protestea a proposat ¯ in a southern state to subject "_ Muslim men to HIV tests before they are ¯ allowed to getmarried, anews report said. ." The criticism of the move by Islamic ¯ religious authorities in Johor state came ¯ fromPrimeMinisterMahathirMohamad’s o° daughter, MarinaMahathir, an outspoken : AIDS activist who heads the Malaysian AIDS Council. "The assumption is blood ~ testing is somehow preventive, unfortu- ¯ nately it is not," Marina was quoted as ¯ saying by the Beriiama news agency. "- Mandatory HIV testing was also a vio- ¯ lation of human rights, she said. AIDS ¯ activists would soon meet with state offi- ¯ cials to ’discuss the proposal, she was ~ quoted as saying. ° She told reporters that educating the ¯ public on preventive measures will be ¯ more effective in curbing the deadly dis- " ease in the predominantly Muslim Southeast Asian country where discussing sexual issues in public is taboo and where introducing sex education in schools is being resisted by conservattves. Over the weekend, top government officials in Johor proposed compulsory blood tests on Muslim men, a move that would affect men in the dominant Malay community. Johor chief minister Abdul Ghani Othman was quoted as saying by newspapers that it was part of efforts to check the alarming rise of HIV cases in the state. "In 1999 alone, there was a 73% increasein ttIV cases among Malays compared to the previous year,"he was quoted as saying by New Sunday Times. Clinton: "Break the Silence’ about AIDS ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - Africans must "break the siIence" about AIDS or risk losing hard-fought democratic and economic gains, President Clinton said Sunday as the White House highlighted more than $20 million in U.S. aid to fight AIDS, malaria and other diseases devastating Africa. "In every country, in any culture, it is difficult, painful, at the very least embarrassing, to talk about the issues involved with AIDS," Clinton said after touring a health center in the Nigerian capital and hearing the stories of several people living with the disease. Clinton’s two-day stay in Nigeria was intended to underscore U.S. approval of the 15-month-old democratic government in Africa’s most populous nation, with 123 million people. Along with dealing with the heavy themes of AIDS and debt relief, Clinton used the trip to get to know a country he deliberated bypassed on his last trip to Africa, in 1998, when it was under a military dictatorship. Led by a throng of singing children, he trudged through the Nigerian village of Ushafa on Sunday, past mud brick huts and flimsy metal sheds, with scrawny chickens scattering in his path. "We want to help you build your economy, educate your children andbuild a better life," he told villagers, wearing a cream-colored royal African robe given to him by the village chief. AIDS killed 2.8 million people worldwide last year, and is now the leading cause of death in Africa. The Clinton administration will spend $9.4 million this year for AIDS and HIV infection prevention and care in Nigeria, $8.7 million more for polio eradication and $2 million toward prevention of malaria. In sub-Saharan Africa, 13 million children have lost a parent to AIDS, and the disease is reducing life expectancies and Colle.ge Hill Presbyterian Church In response to God’s Love, College Hill Presbyterian Church is a community of God’s people called to tell others the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, service, and evangelism. To nurture our faith, we gather for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Trusting in a living, loving God, we seek to become a compassionate voice for peace and justice. Our congregation welcomes all persons who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ, and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Christ’s church. Membership is open- to all people regardless of race, ethnic origin, worldly condition, marital status, or sexual orientation. Sunday Worship 1 lam College Hill Presbyterian Church, 712 S. Columbia Avenue, 592-5800 (One block west of Delaware and the University of Tulsa Campus) Financial Planning With A Clear Commitment. At American Express Financial Advisors, we want to make our Commitment to gay men and lesbians clear. Just as we have extended domestic partner benefits to our lesbian and gay employees worldwide, we are committed to providing ~ound financial advice that specifically addresses the unique financial issues affecting 3ur lesbian and gay clients. Nhether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or i:~ng for children, your American Express financial advisor can help you take control ot’~#~rfinancial future. We can help tOM: Establish savings and investment plans Protect your assets from unnecessary taxation /X,void financial restrictions placed on unmarried cou pies Avoid costly delays in the receipt of life insurance proceeds series of Seminars given by Theresa Barnard, American Express Financial Advisor Where: MCC United When: 7:00 P.M, 1623 N Maplewood Ave Financial Strategies for Gay Men & Lesbians Tuesday, September 5t" and Tuesday, October 10t" Retirement Explore Your Options ¯ Create your Retirement Income Tuesday, September 19th ¯ Estate Planning Tuesday, October 24th Please R.S.V.P. with Theresa at 9~18-748-8191 ext.121 dimming development hopes across the ; Fe Maria, who asked that only her first continent. "Is it harder to talk about these ¯ name beused, has gained weight and feels thingsthantowatchachilddieofAIDS?" ," better, although the medicines give her Clinton asked. "We have to break the ¯ headaches. silence about how this disease spreads ; Dr. Ellen Koenig, an An~erican physiand how to prevent it." ° cian who has lived and worked in the Power About 2.6 million Nigerians, 5.4% of: DominicanRepublicfor31 years, was the the population, are afflicted with AIDS. ° impetus behind bringing the trial here. That puts the country on better footing i And she insisted the company agree to than many of its neighbors with higher ¯ continue paying for treatment after the ~onnc~~-~e1 ., infection rates, but in danger ofletting the:test. disease gain ground, Clinton said. "AIDS ". "In some places, the drug companies can rob a country of its future," Clinton ; come in, do the trial and then they leave, ¯ said. "I know you are not going to let that ¯ and the people don’t have the money to happen to Nigeria.’" : buy the medicine," said Ceneyda Brito at I~lbl|¢ S~l’~ice Cenlpan¥ of Oklahoma He promised continued U.S. support " the Dominican advocacy group AIDS for Nigeria’s transition to democracy, but ," Action. euslomer Santice Is Now Available 9.4 did not, as Nigerian President Olusegun Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. Obasanjo had hoped, agree to cancel or i Doctors Accused of cut the nearly $1 billion U.S. portion of . These days, traditional 8-5.business hours Nigeria’ s $32 billion foreign debt, amove _" Improper HIVTesting aren’t always convenient. So PS0 has made it thatwouldrequirecongressional approval.. Speaking to business executives later : JOHANNESBURG, SouthAfrica(AP)- easier than ever for you to c0ntaet us. Sunday, however, Clinton said he sup- ." More than 50 physicians here are accused of HIV-testing patients without their Our Customer Service Center operates 24/7 rpioartssperenddusctihnegetxhteradmebot,nbeyutoonnilmy pffroNvigineg- -° knowledge or consent - and then passing - offering ar0und-the-cl0ck answers to your lives anddiversifying the economy. ’q-here : on the result to the patients’ employers, uestions - and better access to service, must be a dividend to democracy for the ° media reported at the end of August. ¯ ° The University of Witwatersrand’s people of Nigeria," Clinton said. ¯ Now it’s easier for you to inquire Clinton, accompanied by danghter i AIDS Law Project has filed complaints against the doctors with the Health Prac- about your monthly electric bill. Chelsea, began his day with services at a ° titioners AssociationofSouthAfrica. The Or report a power outage. Or Baptist church in Abuja, and then ventured outside the capital to get a firsthand -" tests were performed at the request of the arrange to have your look Sunday at both the pageantry and ~ patients’ employers, the Johannesburg F.-verty of life in Ushafa, a pottery-mak- ° newspaper the Saturday Star reported. power turned on or ing center. ’‘icame to Nigeria to express ¯" Most patients were not given counsel- . off. Our professionally the support of the people of the United "- ing before or after the test, the group said, " States,"Clintontoldvillagersfromamake- ; adding that in some cases, test results trained, friendly and shift platform. ~"VVe snpport your democ- " were sent directly to the employer without ¯ informing the patient. knowledgeable customer racy. "" I~LhairatAbdulrazaq Gwadabe, whorep- A positive result meant almost certain service representatives are resents the village in the Nigerian Senate, " dismissal, the group said. In a fifth of the standing by to serve you. said she explained Clinton’s visit to vii- " cases, the employee was a domestic ¯ worker. "It’s nothing less than total dis- All day, every day. lagers ahead of time¯ "I had to translate it - as the king of the world himself is coming. : crimination. The doctor is not concerned ¯ with the well-being of the patient, just the To provide faster response The president of the world is coming to.. continued loyalty of the employer who to your needs, we have listed their chief," Gwadabe said. "o wants to know if their employee is HIV our t011-free numbers below. Dominican Republic : positivet,h"weitphroject.SaiJdennifer Joni, an attomey Hosts Drug Tests : According to the Health Practitioners ¯ Association’s rules, HIV tests can only be SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Repub- : performed without a patient’s consent if a lic (AP) - American researchers testing a o health professional has been exposed to new AIDS drug needed patients who had : infection by a needle. ~ never received any treatment. The Do- ¯ Possible punishments for physioans oi~ A~d Save mimcan Republic has them-by the thou- : found to break the association’s rules in- | sands. ¯ clude a warning, a reprimand, a fine of "It seems like a win-win," said Joy : less than 10,000 rand ($1,450), and sus- FoR 24 HOURS |I Schmitt, spokeswomanforAgouron Phar- : pensaon or removal fromthemedical reg- maceuficalsofLaJolla, California. People o ister. Abouta.2 million South Africans - TOt.k’FREE SERVICE i "are getfingtreatment., and we’re get- : roug.hly 10% of the populafion~ - are HIV I ting the patients we need for the trial." : pos~uve. Agouron is using Dominicans to test its ¯ Customer Services: 1-888-216-3523 | capravinne because it canbe hardin the : Police Arrest Man I United Statesand Europe to find patients Billing Inquiries: 1-888-216-3490 | who haven’t received any other treat-; For Spreading HIV Outage Reporting: 1-888-218-3919 I ments, between health insurance and pub- - | lic health systems. NATCHITOCHES, LA (AP) - For the Finding such people here was easy: ¯: second time recently, policehave charged I More than 2% of the country’s 8 million ° a man with intentionally spreading the Servici0 a Clientes: 1-888-216-3505 | people are infected with the AIDS virus - . AIDS virus. Eric Vashawn Alexander, Preguntas S0bre su Cuenta: 1-888-216-3491 I and few can afford medicines that cost : 26, was arrested and charged with inten- I many times the average income. "No one ¯ tional exposing of the AIDS virus. Palta De Suministr0:1-888-218-3924 ! helps you here if you have this disease," ¯ Alexander reportedly bit a man in the said Fe Maria, who lived 13 years carry- " back as he intervened in a fight between a I ing the AIDS virus without hope of get- i boyfriend and girlfriend, said police Lt. I - ting treatment before going on the trial. " Chris Stanfield. During their investiga- I ~"1~’~’.~ I Capravirine, which researchers hope" tion, officers learned that Alexander had ~~1~~,~ I will help fight off mutations of the-virus., tested positive for HIV. He was booked I has already been through the safety phase " into the Natchitoches Parish Detention of testing. In the current andcritical phase, Center. If convicted, he faces up to 10 Public Service Company of Oklahoma | 90 Dominicans and about 200 people in- years in prison, Stanfield said. Police also I the United States and Canada are helping ¯ arrestedEamestWest,,onthesamecharge ............. ¯t test its effectiveness. Some participants " after receiving complaints that he allegget a four-drug cocktail including " edly exposed four women to the AIDS capravirine; others receiveadrug cocktail ¯ virus through unprotected sexual contact. without capravirme. by Jim Christjohn, entertainment editor As an author who prides himself on getting the facts correct (Never straight, always correct); I have to own up .to an error that appeared in print in the August issue. I mistakenly attributed the appearanc~ to RENT hiTulsato the auspices of ~d~brity. AttraCtions. Thins¯ Was false, it was actually SF~:Thea~cal Group with ¯ . . : .M~eh has been maded the- Norvell, who tm~e show, inc|udln criticism o{ lamo izlng a drug-rldden life. Not so. It poignantly points out the effects -0f such a llfe. What been promoting RENT. My apologies to all parties; the error was actually caught and corrected before press time (Thanks Kristin!), but the publisher used the unrevised version of the column at press time. To err is human, and it can happen to the best of us, no matthe show is about, in my estimation, is the pursuit of dreams: and the most common dream of all - finding.love;{or that is common to allof us. Gay, Straight. ter how careful we ,, try to be. Blael~. White. and so on... So,.n6~v that the . . "oopls,~.¢g60fed..... ’ " .,,- p0rfi6n 6f~h¢ ~61Umnis out of the ~vas, on withthe ~uia Stuff!-Hope you get a ~h’ance to see RENT, it’ s a powerful show, and as one friend ofmine remarked, is "bite) and zippy." I’ll leave it to the reader to interpret those comments-. I liked the choice of words, personally. The show does reach out and bite, and it does move zippily along. The only problems I had were that themix of the sound left the vocals muddy & almost inaudible under the guitars; and that some of the performers need to work on their diction. This observation was echoed by TFN writer Karin Gregory in Dallas, who saw the same touting show down there. This show is basically rock opera, sung through almost entirely. That requires the lyrics to be audible and clear, otherwise it’s impossibleto understand the plot. I knew the show, and still l~ad to strain at many points to catch dialogue or lyrics. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed for die future shows in the rnn. In all other’ aspects, ~t was a powerful evening of theatre and storytelling. Much-has been made of the show, including criticism of glamorizing a drugridden life. Not so. It poigriantly points out the effects of such a life. What the show is about, in my estimation, is the pursuit of dreams; and the most common dream of all - finding love; for that is common to all of us, gay, straight, black, white, and so on. "Love is love", to quote fantasy writer Lynn Flewelling. And as such, should be respected and honored no matter What form it takes. RENT illustrates this in an upffont, grab you by the shirt kind0f way?Sound of Music, it alia’ t, sobe prepared.- RENT explores the issues, of love and its pursuff~ finding iL recognizing it; and notletting fear, pri~le,and n~iSunderstanding, and the defenses we all build to protect ourselves deny the love we really want to have. Fear can be an amazing thing when it comes to that. In that sense, REN~ is also about overcoming those obstacles and recognizing that love is hard to find, and shouldn’t be tossed away when the genuine articleis found.Atimely " Issue right now; as a friend of mine is ¯¯ taking a journey down that hard road that I have taken so many times before, and am " in the middle of right now. Lots of things masquerade as love - ¯ control, fear, even hatred. The real firing doesn’t land in your lap too often. Lot of lookalikes do, the trick is distinguishing ¯ the real from the fake. And too often, the -real is waF.to0 scary, and so is refused. If you’ve got the real thing, hang onto it. Well, join me on my ramble, will you?Dunno where all that came from. ¯ . Well, I do, but that’s a whole book unto itself. RENT succeeds admirably inillustrating ¯the aforementioned ideas, albeit in a much less lOngwinded way (editorr s note: indeed)¯ The ~tandout songs were "I will cover you , ’X)ne song", m~d "’Without You", wlrich is by far the most beantiful and-evocative song in the whole show It captures exactly how one feels when you know the one real thing has gotten away from you, either by circumstance, or worse, by your own clioice. "Without you, the w.d,rld turns, but I die too.., without you.. ¯ .... Speaking of Dreams, Arturo Brachetti was fabulous. Let me rephrase that... Arturo Brachetti’s show was fabulous! I hope most of you caught it, as it was an excellent evening of theatre. The man is literally a cast of thousands unto himself. And his quick change of Scarlett pre and post curtains was worth the price of admission! His show was a fast paced conglomeration of incredibly quick changes that left yon wondering ’~aow did he ’o that?", mixed with comedy, magic, and excellent s torytelling. Andhe can do amazing things with his hands. Making shadowplays, I mean. His theme? Dreams... Finding them, ¯ follo::-ing them, accomplishing them; and : having, fun with your inner ~hild while doin2 it Alternatively hilarious and p0ignant~; his range ofcharacters and’ theatre is amazing to see. He is a prime example of what one can do with dreams, belief in those dreams, and hard work - the two main ingredients of magic. The other aspect of that was the fact that, regrettably, so many of Us h~ve that child within that still has those dreams of ~hildhood, and we lock them away. Arturo was all about letting that child out to play, and having fun, which showed in his production. The show was excellent in all regards, from the autobiographical structure that set up the changes and made it an intimate evening even for the PAC’s Chapman Hall. Themusic ran the gamutfrom dance/ techno to classical, the lighting was fantastic, and Arturo’s box was huge! Well, at least the one onstage that served as sets, movie screen, prop house, and costume storage. At one pointed, he enacted an old western playing every character, and it was truly indescribably hilarious. He also performed a series of vignettes in tribute te film director see Arturo, p. 9 septem;ber FRIDAY 8 pm SATURDAY’~NgH SUNDAY 3 pro° september 22 s~ptember 2~3 ~’;~ :?’ september 24 Altan "The hottest group in the Celtic realm these days." The Boston Globe September 12 at 8 p.m. Chapman Music Hall ................. Tulsa PAC, 3rd & Cincinnati TULSA PERFORI~ING ARTS CENTER TRUST Tickets $14, $16, $18 Call 596-7111 spo,,,o,~ Outside ~ulsa call 1-800-364-7111 ~ ......... ?~’ "~: Online: www.tulsapac.com .~" Presented by the .. Tulsa Performing And you thought the ice cream man brought joy to your street¯ Sure, popsides are great. But how about a truckload of new channels, including WGN? How about.a high-speed Internet that’s always on and better priced? How.:about service so thorough and sweet you, can almost ~taste it? Now these, these are the things you can sink your teeth into. We’.re in.gear. COMMUNII~ATIONI~ 665-0200 Tulsa’s PRIDE 2000! VIDEO RELEASE PARTY Now that summer’s end is in sight and cool weather a hopeful prospect, the time is ripe to celebrate the Pride Week events that began Oklahoma’s heat wave. The Diversity Celebration 2000was a huge success that attracted fabulous people, was spectacularly beautiful, socially concious, wi.ttyand revealing. And its all on tape. This year Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights has joined with BoyBlue Productions in making a.professional commemorative video. It will include highlights of all Pride Week events including: appearances by Greg Louganis, Rev. Mel White and Grethe Cammemeyer~ the enormous parade, the art show, follies, community heroes, festival and the Soulforce. workshop. Friday night’s release party will include.a preview of the video, live performances and dancing. Details are pending but mark your calendar for 8pro Sept. 29th. And you wilI of course be able to purchase your copy at the party. Proceeds from the sales of the Diversity Celebration 2000 Commerative Video will benefit the services and programs of TOHR Orders may be placed in advance with visa or mastercard by calling TOHR at 743-4287. Orders plaCed by Sept 22 will be .available for pick up at the Release Party. # For your copies of Diversity Fest 2000 Contact the Tulsa Gay Community Service Center, 743-4297, POB 2687, 74101 x $20.00 = $ MO, Check, Visa, MC, no cash please. exp. date Signature Federico Fellini, who passed away afew years ago. It was touching, but I don’t think the audience "gotit."I doubtmost of the audience had a clue who Fellini was. At one point, the box split, and the curtains were raised to reveal the work be-. hind themagic.Anice touch, giving honor and recognition to the work that goes on behind the magic to make it happen. It was truly a magical evening, and it was funny to see the audience go from the thought process of"What the hell is this?" to ’qhis is so cool!" Armro was different from anything Tulsa has seen, and it’s a good thing. He soon held us all in thepalm of his hand. Not as tasty as this writer would have liked, but it was the markof a true artist. Tulsa’s a tough crowd to win over, especially for anything avant garde, but Arturo did it magnificently. He’ll be in a sitcom this fall, so that’ll be something to watch for. For our Lesbian readers, as wall as Gay men, Janis Ian will be appearing in concert at The Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers’ Celebration of Books, along with. poet Maya Angelou, This occurs September 29-30, and for more information, call 594-8215. In September, we have a few events wc.-th catching: On the 12th, the Irish music group Altan will make an appearance at the PAC. They have had rave reviews, and itlooks like a lovely evening ,,f traditional Irish music ahead. For tickets, call 596-7122 September 14-23, Heller Theatre presents "Art", a show about a painting that engenders discussions of the quality and meaning of.life itself. 746-5065. Theater Tulsa offers up some pop culture with the musical version of "Everything l Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" September 15-23. Tchaikovsky’s "Sleeping Beauty" wakes in Tulsa as Tulsa Ballet presents the venerable dance epic September 22- 24. (I wouldlove to see Matthew Bourne’s take on this one! He’s the man behind the homoerotic version ofSwan Lake. I doubt that will happen in Tulsa, though TBT is moving beyond a stdctly traditional approachunder Maestro Angelini.)Go see it for the music and the grace. For info, call 749-6006 Warren’s murder has drawnnational attention from Gay and non-Gay civil rights acti.vists, who fear he was killed because of his race or sexual orientation, or both. "At this point there is no evidence of abate crime," Marion County Prosecutor Richard Bunner said after the indictments were issued. "If any evidence is uncovered, appropriate action will be taken." Court records indicate Warren, Parker and Wilson argued twice the night of the beating - once about an unspecified rumor that had circulated about Warren and Parker, and the second timeabout $20 that Wilson took from Warren’s wallet: The beating began after the second argument. The grand jury met for about 90 rain: utes and then immediately issued the indictments. Wilson had soughtto block the grandjury fromhearing allegations against him, saying he should nothavebeen transferred to adult court. The Supreme Court mined down his petition 3-0. Wilson and Parker will continue to be held in a juvenile detention facility until their trial. If convicted they likely will remain in ajuvenile facility until they are 21, at which point they wouldbe moved to an adult facility. A trial date has not been set. ." TULSA - Furniture queens can now re- ¯. joicet Tulsa is now home to an Odds & Ends Outlet Store, the fourth in the US ¯ which the distinguished Baker Furniture ¯ has opened. The store is located at 4329 ¯ So. Peoria, near the old John Zink prop- " erty and is open 7 days a week. The store ¯ features Baker, MillingRoad, andMcguire ¯ furniture in a gallery like setting. ¯ Baker president, Chris Plasman, re- " sponded to questions about the choice of ¯ Tulsa, saying, "residents in larger cities, ¯ such as Chicago and Atlanta, have been ¯ clamoring to get but we chose Tulsa. ¯ Certainly Tulsa’s demographics are very ¯ favorable, butthe decisionwas alsoheavily ¯ imquencedbytheresidents’ reputationfor ." uncompromising taste and style and a genuineapp,r,eciation ofhistoryandcrafts - : manship... For more information, or store hours, " call 746-0329. ¯ He was also hospitalized for a week after being attacked with a knife by a group of men who called him derogatory names, he said. In 1995, he fled to the United States and requested asylum, but was de- At his hearing before immigration officials, a Latin American history expert testified that Gay men with female sexual identities in Mexico are heavily persecuted by the police and other groups and are likely to become scapegoats for Mexico’s economic and political problems. The expert said Hernandez-Montiel faced persecution if deported to Mexico. Federico Gomez, press director of Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, acknowledged that homosexuals and cross-dressers still suffer from discrimination, but added that he believes Mexicans, in general, have become more tolerant of people’s sexual orientation. Gomez said he did not think the Hernandez-Montiel case "reflected society as the whole." Judge A. Wallace Tashima wrote that the appeals panel had determined that ’~3ay men with female sexual identities in Mexico constitutea protected ’particular social group’ under the asylum statute... and that Geovanm is a member of that group." The Board of |mmigration Appeals had contended that Hemandez-Montiel should return to Mexico, saying he did not estalJlish that he suffered abuse because of his membership in a particular social group. The appellate panel ordered the board to reverse its decision and grant Hernandez- Montiel asylum. Want to get involved? Need to get tested for HIV or a Coming Out Support Group? Call 743=GAYS (4297) Tulsa Gay Community Services Center 1307 E. 38th, 2nd floor by Lamont Lindstrom When I was in highschool, my soon-tobe- Gay friend Carl spent all hi s spare time drawing fantastically elaborated plans for pipe organs. In his sketches, he piled keyboardbehindkeyboardand rank onto rank. (All those pipes and organs, of course, should have gaven me a clue.) Since that year, I have met many Gay guys with considerable creative talents, sometimes eccentrically applied. One friend constructs fantasy Christmas trees. Another designs websites. Another does flower arrangements. Another collects rococo pictures of the Holy Mother. Gays are deeply involved in the fine and less fine arts, from opera and ballet down to cheesy TV programs like Survivor. When the AIDS epidemic was at its worst, activists invented the "Day without Art" which foreshadowed how dull art and culture would be in America should all homosexuals ever pass away. Why all this Gay creativity - creativity which often is frenzied and even odd? Anthropologist Sherry Ortner, drawing on the Frenchfeminist Simone Beauvoir, once proposed that ’Man is to Culture as Woman is to Nature.’ Ortner was seeking a-reason for why, almost everywhere, people value what men do more than they value whatwomen do. She concluded that we associate women with nature, mostly because women have kids. Women are naturally creauve. Men, whose contributions to making babies are momentary at best, and much less embodied, have to express our creativity by other means. Ortner observed thathumans value culture over nature. Culture is what preserves us in nature. It tells us how to make a living off the land. Whereas culture protects, nature kills. Disease, aging, drought, famine, earthquakes and tornados may well be theendofus. Culture also needs continuous reconstruction and cultivation. We have to keep it all going and we have to make sure to pass it down to kids. Given this preference for culture over nature, Ortner concluded that men’s cultural contributions are valued more than women’s natural creativity. Others have also pointed tomasculinejealousy offeminine fertility. Womenunmistakably bring new life out of their bodies. Less natural men are driven to invent culture instead. And we are jealous enough to insist that our male creations - rituals, clubs, political parties, novels, symphonies, paintings, whatever- are somehow better, more noble, and more enduring that just another slobbery child. There is some truth here, too. An ordinary human being lasts little more than three quarters of a century at best. Cultural creations-such as political parties or rituals -may endure for generations. Gay men are particularly engaged in cultural production insofar-as many of us don’t contribute even the minor male donation to human reproduction. Instead of children, we have to live in our art, our books, our sense of style (or maybe our "...Anthropologist Sherry Ortner, drawing on the French feminist Simone Beauvolr, once proposed that ’Man is to Culture as Woman is to Nature.’ Ortner was seeking a reason for why, almost everywhere, people value what men do more than they value what women do..." dogs or cats). This is another instance- as with penis size - where Gays are hypermasculine. Gays who do not reproduce naturally specialize instead in masculine cultural creativity. Some have criticized Ortnerforoversimplifying cross-cultural nuances of male!female power relations. Another sort of complication comes from the fact that many people disbelieve an individual creativity. Everyone, of course, has a theory about where new things come from. But not everyone in the world credits individual creativity, orgenius, or talent for the birth of new things and new ideas. Even in ,our own culture, notions of creativity aren’t that old. The English noun "creativity" only dates back to 1875 or so. Before the modem era - and the triumph of indiw[ dualism - our ancestors talked instead of "inspiration," as others still do today. Once upon a time, the word "’genius" referred to an external spirit who inspired you with new ideas. It did not mean some internal, mental brilliance. Onthe South Pacific island where I once lived, nobody believes in creativity in the sense of some mysterious brainpower. Rather, clever people are those with good ties to the world of ancestral spirits. Nobody believes that men are naturally more or less intelligent, either. New ideas and new firings - if they are worth anything - have to Come via inspi- .ration from the ancestors. Clever people are those with good communicauve links with spirits, not those who claim inborn talent. Men, for instance, who come up with new songs insist that they overhear these in their dreams. Nobody would take credit for composing a song by himself. If he d. 1, how can it be any good? If you simply make up something on your own, it obviously can’t compete with music inspired with spiritual wisdom. But even on this Pacific island, men manasecultural production although they do so by monopolizing the means of inspiration rather than the means of creativity, as is the case here in America. Have a look around at your culture, goodand bad. Most of it is a male production, and a notable ratio of that is Gay male productioLna. mont Lindstrom, Ph.D., teaches anthropology at the University of Tulsa where he can be reached at: lamontlindstrom@ utulsa.edu Hospice ofGreen Country seeks volunteers to help provide care for patients and their families who are dealing with issues of terminal illness. Volunteers help run errands and provide companionship. For more information, call 747-CARE (747-2273). Volunteers are also needed at the Tulsa Gay Community Services Center, 743- GAYS (743-4297), to staff the Pride Store, answer phones, pack boxes, catalogue books and videos. Call for more info. Timothy.W. Daniel Attorney at Law An Attorney who will fight for justice & equality for Gays & Lesbians Domestic Partnership Planning, Personal Injury, Criminal Law & Bankruptcy 1-800-742-9468 or 918-352-9504 128 East Broadway, Drumright, Oklahoma Weekend and evening appointments are available. Are You Gay or Bisex.u. al? Are You Native American? -Iulsa’s Two-Spirited Indian Men’s Support Group is here for ¯ Evening support group meetings ¯ Relationship workshops ¯ Short trips, outings and retreats ¯ Free HIV testing For information call Tulsa Native American AIDS Prevention Project Call 341; 6866 Int rn.ational ToursSormorein/ormat’on. Massage TherapyS~ Edgar O. Cruz, L.M.T. Pager: 918-889-5255 Voice Mail: 918-697-9282 Lic. #C4133 Country Cl ab Barbering Custom Styling for Men & Women David Kauskey 3310 E. 51st, 747-0236, Tues.-Fri., 8-5:30, Sat. 8-5pm lbody Tulsa’s only professional body-piercing HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH THUR’SAT 11-11 SUNDAY 11-3 by Karin Gregory, TFN correspondent " With election year just around the cor- ¯ ner, I want to ask you a question: Aren’t " you afraid? Many people want to bury ¯ their heads, but you just can’t this year. It’s too important. Are you registered? Do you know the candidates and what they support, tol - erate, condone, condenm, and deny? Looking athighlights of the Rep.ublican National Convention last month (What-youthought I’d watch the whole thing?), I was interested in many things they pointed out, one of which was the "leave no child behind" theme Bush espoused. Funny, when he was our govemor’for afew months before embarking on his Presidential campaign, his "leave no state behind without a governor" theme didn’twork so well forhim. Make no mistake grrls - this is one Bush you DON’T want to push an)’- where, especially into the ~Zqlite House! Let’s look at the issues facing all of us this year. Many have spoken of a "different kind of Republican" in George W. Bush. Hrnmmm, I wonder. The Republicans made a great showof including as many minorities as they could find on the streets of Philadelphia to join their little convention. Again, great appointing Supreme Court Justices, and Bush has at least one to appoint, if he’s elected. How many of you think he’ll appoint someone who’s sensitive.to Gay civil rights? If anyone if raising ’his/her hand - PUT IT DOWN "...What 1;es were working the floor the week of the i Republican "Convention? ¯ ¯ ¯ Our eonservatlve friends made a b;g deal about inclusion - Hispanies, African Amerieans, the GaylLesbian Community, the Pro-Choieers. Yep, they really want the votes, don’t they? These people were wooed and charmed in front of cameras, but what happened the ,’morning after"? " NOW! UnderBush,manylaws brought about by the Supreme Court, laws which helped to make us a demoeracy, could be overturned~ What would hap: pen if the Roe vs. Wade decision was overturned? It could happen very easily. Andwhat do youthink would happen to the progress of Gay and Lesbian couplelaws that have come about in the last few years? Gays? Lesbians? Able to have rights? Bush already denies that Gays and Lesbians should have "special rights". Read that as "equal rights" and you have the makings of a fascist country. The makings of amanwho would make Charlton Heston look liberal. But there’s another story to this "coupling" of Bush and Dick. Yep, you ’ know what I’m talking about. Or rather, who I’m talking about. It’s the old- i est story around. Weak Texas governor runs for President; weak Texas governor wins primary; weak Texas governor. picks running mate; rtmshow. The Republicans are like that, you know. Every few years they assume a different identity, muchlike a chameleon, so they can get votes by convincing peg.ple they’re something "different" this ttme. Each time (I’m talking Reagan and George, Sr. here) the public has been fooledby the rhetoric, the nicely groomed candidates, and the lies. What lies were working the floor theweekofthe RepublicanConvention?Well, let’ s go back to those people picked from the streets of Philadelphia. Our conservafive friends made a big deal about inclusion- Hispanics, African Americans, the Gay/Lesbian Community, and even the Pro-Choicers. Yep, they really want the votes, don’t they? These people were wooed and charmed in front of cameras, but what happened the "morning after"? Well, the Republicans got together and voted onNOT including same-sex recognition among couples, NOT including Gays in hate crimes legislation, NOT including Gay civil rights of any kind, and NOT including abortion for any reason. Yeah, lies, damn lies¯ Despite all this bravado show of inclusion, the Republican ticket ofGeorgeBush and Dick Cheney already shows aHUGE bias - Bush and Dick. See? They just had to get those "family values" in after all! Many may be wondering why I’m so worried about this election year. George W. Bush is certainly not a strong politician, given the fact he was a Texas governor, the weakest form of governor. And you may be saying, ’He doesn’t make the rules; Congress does." OK, but the President is responsible for ¯ ning mate has Lesbian daughter. WHAT? Dick Cheney, so hell-bent to do every- " thing Conservative in the book, has a Les- ¯¯ bian daughter? What I want to know is ¯ why would this man be a party to a party that denies his daughter equal rights?Why ¯ would she want her father to run in this ¯ party? : On yet another television news pro- " gram, host Cokie Roberts asked Mrs. : Cheney about the possible hypocritical ¯ effects this has on their family. Mrs. : Cheney said her daughter’s lifestyle was a ." "private matter." Well, Mary Cheney has ¯ been very out for many years and has ¯ ¯ worked for Gay civil rights for many years. And I resent Mrs. Cheney saying ¯ that her daughter’s Lesbianism is a "pri- ¯ vate matter" as if the girl has a disease. ¯ ¯ Sounds to me likemomis the sicko here. So why, if homosexuality is such a ¯ private matter, has George W. Bush sup- - ported every anti-gay legislation? If ho- ¯ mo~exuality is a private matter, why does ¯ he thiM: he has the right to tell me with ¯ whom I sleep? Why do the Republicans ¯ want to make such a federal issue out of ¯ such a"private matter"? Is homosexuality " only private to the privileged few, like ¯ Mary Cheney? Or is it a matter that will ¯ decide,muchlike the sexual revolution of ¯ the sixties, the very way people look at ¯ one another in the future? As human be- " ings, not as Gay, Straight, Lesbian, Bi- ¯ sexual, Transgendered, etc., etc., etc. ] You have a decision to make. If you ¯ want ANY possibility of equality, make ¯ sure you are registered. Then make a date ¯ ¯ with yourself to go to a little booth in November. You know what to do. Walk for Life 2000 8th Annual Tulsa AIDS Walk Saturday, Oct. 7, 9:30am Vete ran’s Park, 21 st & Boulder Fo.r more information, call 585-5551. Donations-will be increased by 50% with matching dollars through the generosity of -the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Walk is sponsored by the Community Service Council, and will benefit the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP), The Walk is an all volunteer effort and there are no administrative costs. Tulsa Family News is proud to donate this advertisement in support of the Walk and the Tulsa Community AIDS Partnership (TCAP) Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data newspaper periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] Tulsa Family News, September 2000; Volume 7, Issue 9 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation toward Tulsa’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual communities. Description An account of the resource Tulsa Family News was a monthly newspaper; No. 1 issued December 1993-January 1994. The final issue available was published in September 0f 2001 (Volume 8, Issue 9). The newspaper brings up important, evolving topics of marriage, Pride, TOHR, HIV/AIDs, events, advice, and politics all at the local and national level. This document is available in searchable PDF attached. It is also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Family News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/24 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tom Neal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Christjohn Karin Gregory Barry Hensley J.P. 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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Silent Sweep Against Hate Subject The topic of the resource Activism Description An account of the resource Flier advertising the Silent Sweep Against Hate, an event organized by Tulsa Metropolitan Ministries in partnership with the Say No to Hate Coalition. Participants were to sweep the street after a Ku Klux Klan. 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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2000] United Art Exhibit Flier Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration 2000 Description An account of the resource Flier advertising the United Art Exhibit, part of 2000's Pride festivities. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2-10, 2000 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Pride 2000 Diversity Celebration 2000 United Art Exhibit https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/14a52193863ccf5e1f8d75f098fb449d.pdf d318e4b433e8e3357f4ad31efc94b563 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 Outline Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration 2001 Description An account of the resource Document from the planning stages of 2001's Pride celebrations. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 1-15, 2001 June 2-9, 2001 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Planning document Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Diversity Celebration 2001 Pride 2001 Planning PDF Text Text ����������� https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/933d4825fc9018862c146d1f84d0f050.pdf 88b4f1cba7dcfaae7914f0e26fd48e6a 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 Itemized Budget Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration 2001 Description An account of the resource Itemized budget for 2001's Diversity Celebration events. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 23,29, 2001 April 2,5,12, 2001 June 2-9, 2001 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Financial document Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Pride 2001 Diversity Celebration 2001 Financial PDF Text Text ���������� https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/cef549d79926f5157967ebc01df11426.pdf 1993b7720a731d8b247cf231cfe958bd 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 Registration Packet Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration 2001 Description An account of the resource Registration packet for sponsors and participants in 2001's Diversity Celebration. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2-9, 2001 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Organizational document Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Pride 2001 Pride Parade Diversity Celebration 2001 Organizational PDF Text Text ���������������� https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/78f4b97e22b599c87d21737515adbf38.pdf 0eb930f043d8858d622e17c27e5bc7c8 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 Itemized Budget Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration 2001 Description An account of the resource Itemized budget for 2001's Pride celebrations. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 23, 2001 June 2-9, 2001 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Financial document Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Financial Pride 2001 Diversity Celebration 2001 Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights TOHR Follies GLBT Film Festival Diversity Gala Pride Parade Diversity Festival Embracing art PDF Text Text ��������� https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/7596e04c0769e98cefa5815da0b074b3.pdf d4b29fff182346941a27e44c23d5565b 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 Library Flier Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration 2001 Description An account of the resource Flier for Pride 2001 celebrations held in partnership with the Tulsa City County Library. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa City County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2-21, 2001 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Advertisement Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Pride 2001 Diversity Celebration 2001 Tulsa City County Library PDF Text Text �� https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/ea511da5c47f85d6df1c271424ed056a.pdf 890a4f1336536f2cc488abe5fe540ea6 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 Hatred changes advocacy to action Subject The topic of the resource Activism Description An account of the resource Newspaper article covering LGBT activism in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Activists Carolyn Wagner, Reverend Don Sinclair, and Gabi Clayton interviewed. Wagner, Sinclair, and Clayton became activists after their children were victims of homophobic attacks. They were present at 2001's "Celebration of Life," which raised money for Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights during Pride week. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jason Corns Tulsa World Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Tulsa World Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tulsa World Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 9, 2001 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jason Corns Tulsa World Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper article Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Tulsa World June 9, 2001 pg. A15 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant LGBT activism Bullying Homophobia Assault Gay-bashing Tulsa Pride 2001 Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community Center of Tulsa Hate crimes PDF Text Text ��� https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/c4158c5102570cc411193450e1fef8a5.pdf d71795ee9727b95fc01ef6db63caa567 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 Planning Documents Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration 2001 Description An account of the resource Internal documents relating to the planning of 2001's Pride celebrations. Includes meeting itineraries and handwritten notes. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2001 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Organizational documents Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Pride 2001 Diversity Celebration 2001 Organizational PDF Text Text ����������������������������������� https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/796ef8b6c81f384040c2592b40e9b247.pdf 629a56e5d56229f0baa75bdb10ffb829 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2001 Outline and Budget Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration Description An account of the resource Outline of planned events for 2001's Diversity Celebration. Includes budget. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2001 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Planning document Financial document Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Pride Diversity Celebration PDF Text Text �������������������� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2001] Diversity Celebration Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration 2001 Description An account of the resource Documents and items relating to 2001's Diversity Celebration Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2001 Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Diversity Celebration 2001 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/589499c4719ee92b529e7be691aaf90f.mp4 1e6f4d172a49b3b885182a94da187fb6 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2001] Follies Time Wrap Video https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/5cf101e3b808733d8982f8d1adc0f528.png cc9a437e130ad3e87c0e8ef03d7a1aa4 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/8c792f712649776475d0a4b009ab956b.pdf d73b307b359e1b6860337445af100272 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 Newspaper article Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2001] Gay pride week events kick off today Subject The topic of the resource Pride 2001 Description An account of the resource List of events planned for Tulsa Pride 2001: TOHR Follies 2001,Tulsa Interfaith Service, Council Oak Men's Chorale concert, Family law panel, Embracing Art exhibit and artists' reception, GLBT Film Festival, TOHR Diversity Gala, Pride parade, GLBT Festival. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource World's own Service Tulsa World Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Tulsa World Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Tulsa World Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2, 2001 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource World's own Service Tulsa World Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Printout of digital edition of newspaper article Roughly 8.5x11' 1 page Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper article Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Tulsa World, February 10, 2004 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tulsa Pride 2001, Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights, TOHR Follies, interfaith services, Council Oak Men’s Chorale, Diversity Gala, GLBT Festival, Pride parade, family law, Embracing Art, GLBT Film Festival https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/6de5e759a7fae3824461df40324758e9.pdf 1160a3cf0825337cb758fc4c57f422c2 PDF Text Text ��� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2001] Hope Haven Email Subject The topic of the resource Services for LGBTQ Youth Description An account of the resource Email from Doe Lockwood regarding service gaps for LGBTQ Youth and groups and individuals interested in working on those gaps. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Doe Lockwood Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 21, 2001 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Doe Lockwood Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Email Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant LGBTQ Youth Services Philanthropy Activism 2001 American Red Cross Barney Frank Boston Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth Bridges Project Constitutional Rights Dannette McIntosh Delta Youth Alliance Doe Lockwood Equal Access Laws Gary Blaine Gay Rights Gay Rights Laws hate crime laws Hate crime legislation Hetrick Martin Institute Hetrick-Martin Institute HIV testing Hope Haven Kay Stauss Kerry Lewis Lisa Potoroff Nancy McDonald Rainbow Library National Youth Advocacy Coalition Open Arms Open Arms Project Open Arms Youth Project Open Arms Youth Project (OYP) OpenArms OpenArms Project Openarms Youth Project Openarms Youth Project (OYP) OYP Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Patty Jones PFLAG Phil Gill Foundation Pride Center Rainbow Library Red Cross Red Rock Red Rock Behavioral Health Services Sarah Allison Title IX TOHR tort laws Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights (TOHR) United Way Youth Services of Tulsa Youth Services of Tulsa (YST) YST https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/eb2b37c315c94b4275de55a6665439cb.jpg 69e6bf34151fad5b47c55f4c36388913 Photo Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2001] Phil Cyr with Pride Marshals Subject The topic of the resource Photo of Phil Cyr with 2001 Pride Parade Marshals Description An account of the resource A photo of Phil Cyr with 2001 Tulsa Pride Parade Marshals Gabi Clayton and Dorothy Ballard. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2001 2001 2001 Pride Des Ballard Dorothy (Des) Ballard Dorothy Ballard Gabi Clayton Phil Cyr Pride 2001 pride Parade Tulsa Pride Tulsa Pride 2001 Tulsa Pride Events https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/3e7ee6532cc12ec1b943e47420111827.png 129be54cb7271c4b98360645aa51b950 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/70efd225c31c1f6d50556ea38ded3ce7.pdf d4b29fff182346941a27e44c23d5565b PDF Text Text �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2001] Pride Library Flier Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration 2001 Description An account of the resource Flier for Pride 2001 celebrations held in partnership with the Tulsa City County Library. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2-21, 2001 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Pride 2001 Diversity Celebration 2001 Tulsa City County Library Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa City County Library https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/81763ff188fc97ba157d9a56c651db88.png 890a09e677ab24a2a2d7073c1aaabea1 https://www.history.okeq.org/files/original/037d927f01ad1af5a16e61c3db95162f.pdf d318e4b433e8e3357f4ad31efc94b563 PDF Text Text ����������� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2001] Pride Outline Subject The topic of the resource Diversity Celebration 2001 Description An account of the resource Document from the planning stages of 2001's Pride celebrations. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 1-15, 2001 June 2-9, 2001 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Diversity Celebration 2001 Pride 2001