The Letter December 2008

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LETTER www.theletteronline.com

VOLUME 19, ISSUE 12 • December 2008

California High Court Takes Proposition 8 Case On November 4, Americans witnessed the historic election of Barack Obama, but passage of anti-gay ballot initiatives in California, Arizona and Florida shows that much work remains to be done on the road to equality. The California Supreme Court has agreed to review the validity of Proposition 8 (Prop 8) in response to a lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal, The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The groups argue that Prop 8 is invalid because it improperly attempts to undo the constitution's core commitment to equality and deprives the courts of their essential role of protecting the rights of minorities. According to the California Constitution, such a radical change in the way the courts and state government work cannot be decided by a simple ballot measure. The legal groups filed the writ petition on behalf of Equality California and six same-sex couples. The California Constitution makes clear that a major change in the roles played by the different branches of government cannot be made by a simple majority vote through the initiative process, but at the very least must first go through the state legislature. Changes to the underlying principles of the constitution must be approved by two-thirds of both houses of the legislature before going to voters. That didn't happen with Prop 8, and that's why it's invalid.

The groups filed a writ petition in the California Supreme Court before the elections, arguing that the initiative should not have appeared on the ballot. The court dismissed that petition without addressing its merits. This would not be the first time the court has struck down an improper voter initiative. In 1990, the court struck down an initiative that would have improperly attempted to strip the state's courts of their role as independent interpreters of the constitution. “If the voters approved an initiative that took the right to free speech away from women, but not from men, everyone would agree that such a measure conflicts with the basic ideals of equality enshrined in our constitution,” says Lambda Legal Senior Counsel Jenny Pizer. “Proposition 8 suffers from the same flaw. That’s too big a change in the principles of our constitution to be made just by a bare majority of voters.” Executive Director Kevin Cathcart has spoken out against racial scapegoating in the wake of Proposition 8, and warns that it is wrong and weakens our movement.

Fairness Moves Forward In Paducah, Legislative Session Next Battleground The Paducah Human Rights Commission (PHRC) has joined the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR) in celebrating Governor Beshear’s Executive Order expanding employment protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity for employees of the Commonwealth. In June, the KCHR passed a historic resolution in support of a statewide fairness bill that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. On November 10, Kentucky Fairness Alliance (KFA) spokesperson Jody Cofer

addressed the Paducah Commission. He spoke in favor of the resolution’s passage and the importance of celebrating the commitment to fairness by Gov. Beshear in order to continue seeing fair-minded victories. The proclamation passed by a unanimous vote of the Commission. The PHRC forwarded their Resolution to Gov. Beshear, the KCHR, and to Paducah Mayor Paxton and City Commissioners. “We salute Governor Beshear and will continue to follow his lead in ensuring all

citizens are protected equally and fairly when it comes to opportunities for state employment,” said PHRC Chairperson Andrew Coiner and Paducah attorney. “Discrimination is discrimination. The Paducah Human Rights Commission is committed to protecting the rights of everyone in our community from discrimination.” Action Needed: 2009 Legislative Session Unfortunately, the Kentucky General Assembly has never supported legislation protecting the state workforce from discrimination. It is now time to codify the

Governor's Executive Order in Kentucky law, and make sure that future generations of employees are protected from workplace discrimination. KFA asks Kentucky citizens to call on state legislators who have previously filed the statewide fairness bill to do so again. KFA specifically ask equality allies to ask Representatives Marzian, Burch, Meeks, Palumbo, and Westrom as well as Senators Harper Angel, Neal, Shaughnessy, and Stein to pre-file this bill as soon as possible.

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December 5 - 7 Christmas Open House 30% discount on all rooms this weekend

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December 24 - 28 Christmas Holiday Gathering

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December 31 - January 4 New Year’s Celebration

December 2008

Around The Region Chicago: Gay High School on Hold While Chicago Public Schools has included sexual orientation in its nondiscrimination policy since 1997, schools have been slow to update their handbooks to include those protections. Students still must fight for permission to establish Gay Straight Alliances. Unlike New York City and Los Angeles, the nation's third-largest district has yet to implement comprehensive programs and policies to support the needs of queer students. Before a proposal to create Chicago's Social Justice High School: Pride Campus was refocused and eventually withdrawn last month, planners intended for it to become one of the country's only schools dedicated to gay students. The school's design team modeled it as a haven for gay youth who disproportionately face bullying and harassment, resulting in absentee rates more than seven times the national average. But days before the Chicago Board of Education was to vote on the proposal, the plan was retooled and renamed to focus on serving any bullied or harassed student. Officials have hinted that those changes including the removal of key references to the gay community - went too far. The design team members agreed to withdraw their proposal "in order to protect its integrity," said Bill Greaves, a team member and the city's liaison to the gay community. He said the team plans to re-approach the board next year. "We don't know what the proposal will look like at this point, but we will make sure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students are not invisible," Greaves said. "I can guarantee you that it's started a dialogue," said Rufus Williams, president of the Chicago Board of Education. "What we should do is try to create tolerance in every single environment that we have so we have a culture of tolerance." The Pride Campus plan, with its college preparatory focus, hoped to duplicate the success of New York City's Harvey Milk school, which primarily serves gay youth.

Do you believe that there is a legitimate need for a “gay high school” to exist anywhere given the growth of Gay-Straight Alliances? Share your thoughts: [email protected].

Our Condolences... THE LETTER wishes to extend our heart-felt sympathy to BETH ANN RUBIN, who recently lost her mother after a courageous 10 year battle with cancer. Beth Ann writes our popular DINING OUT column. We also offer our condolences to TED FLEISCHAKER, publisher of THE WORD newspaper, at the untimely loss of his father. Indeed our thoughts and prayers go to all individuals who have lost a loved one (recently or not-so-recently) during this holiday season when grief can seem even more overwhelming than it is at any other time of the year. December 2008

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The

LETTER www.theletteronline.com Post Office Box 7842 Louisville, KY 40257 Founded in June 1990 by Humphrey Marshall & Jeffrey Goldsmith EXECUTIVE EDITOR/WEBMASTER ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION: Dave VanderPol: (502) 338-4153 [email protected] GRAPHIC DESIGN Deanna Sullivan - Designs by Deanna GRAPHIC DESIGN ASSISTANT Bryn Marlow HIV RESOURCES EDITOR Brad Hampton [email protected] With an estimated readership of over 14,000, THE LETTER is distributed throughout the seven state region of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan & Missouri



REGULAR CONTRIBUTERS Brad Hampton Beth Ann Rubin James Hensley Brian Rzepczynski Bryn Marlow Tina Storm Brandon Monson David Williams Publication of the name, photograph or likeness of any person, organization, or business in articles or advertising in THE LETTER or on its companion website is not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation of such person, organization or business. THE LETTER assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials submitted for publication. THE LETTER reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement. © 2008, The Letter News, LLC. All rights reserved.

JANUARY 2009 DEADLINES Press releases, Regional Calendar items and Community Groups listings must be received no later than Monday, December 15, 2008. Advertising reservations must be received no later than Monday, December 22, 2008. All items should be sent to:

[email protected]. 4

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Fragile Videotapes To Be Preserved At Archives Non-profits, like nearly everyone else these days, are suffering from a decrease in donations and tightening of budgets. The Williams-Nichols Institute, Inc., fundraisers for the GLBT archives and library at the University of Louisville, is no exception. Among projects it hopes to start in the coming year are a transfer of numerous fragile videotapes to DVDs for better preservation. The tapes includes local Louisville news broadcasts on gay and lesbian news from 1986-1999 as well as copies of “All Together Now,” a GLBT cable program pioneered by Gays and Lesbians United for Equality in the mid-1980s. Videotape slowly deteriorates over time, and much of these vital records of local GLBT history could soon be lost. Preservation is essential. The tapes serve as a rich complement to other records preserved in print form. To donate funds, contact the WilliamsNichols Institute at 502/636-0935 or send to the group at 1464 S. Second St., #1, Louisville, KY 40208.

Men Of All Colors Christmas Party The Kentucky chapter of Men of All Colors Together (MACT) will be holding its annual Christmas party at a private residence in Danville on Saturday, December 13 starting at 7:30pm. Cocktails will be served beforehand. A suggested gift of $10.00 is requested. To RSVP, contact the group at [email protected]. For more information about the Kentucky chapter of MACT visit www.mactky.com.

Midwest College Conference Convenes Hundreds of GLBT Students, Allies The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC) will hold its 17th annual conference February 13 - 15 at Indiana University in Bloomington. MBLGTACC promotes leadership, activism, networking, diversity, health, and empowerment at institutions of higher education around the Midwest. This year's theme is "Living Out Loud: Examining the Past to Enhance Our Future." OUTmedia's Queer Riot! with Julie Goldman will perform on the first night of the conference, Friday, February 13. Queer Riot! includes nationally recognized comedians Marga Gomez, Vidur Kapur, and Jason Stuart. The Kinsey Sicks, world-renowned dragapella beautyshop quartet will perform Saturday, February 14, followed by a dance party to round out the night's events. More entertainment acts are scheduled to play during registration and with the main acts. Conference keynote speakers are out ESPN sports columnist LZ Granderson and Indiana State University Professor Kand McQueen. Granderson is a senior writer and columnist for ESPN the Magazine and ESPN.com, as well as a regular contributor for ESPN's Sports Center, Outside the Lines and First Take. Perhaps the most visible openly gay sports journalist in the nation, Granderson broke the Sheryl Swoopes coming out story in 2005 and has been at the forefront of discussion surrounding gays in sports for much of his 13year career, ruffling the feathers of liberals and conservatives alike with his matter-of-fact approach. McQueen holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University and currently teaches at I.S.U. in Terre Haute. McQueen's research interests include assessing attitudes toward the atypically gendered and deconstructing the two gender paradigm. MBLGTACC hosts workshops led by students, faculty, and professionals to educate and motivate students to action. Participants will attend five sessions from a list of over 50 workshops concerning topics such as safe sex, activism basics, creating change on your campus, and ally community building. The registration fee is $60.00. Registration can be completed online via the conference website (www.mblgtacc.org). Scholarships are available for the first 100 IU Bloomington undergrad and graduate students who apply. See website for details on free registration. This conference will be wheelchair accessible and will have ASL interpreters at main events.

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December 2008

Milk Debuts In Louisville Thursday, December 11 A special screening of Milk, the muchanticipated movie bio of gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk, will be taking place at the Baxter Theaters in Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood on Thursday, December 11 at 7:30pm. General release starts the following day. The event is being sponsored by the Fairness Campaign, the Williams-Nichols Archive and Library, and Common Ground, the GLBTQ student group at the University of Louisville. The history of the making of the film could probably be a book itself. Inspired by the late journalist Randy Shilts’ biography, “The Mayor of Castro Street” and “The Times of Harvey Milk,” an Oscar-winning 1984 documentary, Hollywood has been batting around the idea of a fictional movie for two decades. At one time it caught the interest of director Clint Eastwood and actor Robin Williams, who thought about playing the title role. But all attempts languished until a couple of years ago when gay Louisvilleborn director Gus Van Sant finally picked it up. Van Sant has previously filmed other gay and lesbian features, including My Own Private Idaho and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn has the title role, and Josh Brolin plays his assassin, Dan White. Tickets can be purchased up to one week in advance, or on the evening of December 11.

Bloomington Receives #1 Gay-Friendly Ranking From Advocate.com Recently ranked number one on a list of gay and lesbian friendly small town getaways compiled jointly by Advocate.com and OutTraveler.com, Bloomington offers travelers of all kinds a great option for an affordable getaway anytime, but may be especially attractive during the current economic slowdown. Other destinations on the top five list included Ashville, NC, Eureka Springs AR, Portland, ME, and Ann Arbor, MI. The article touting Bloomington, Indiana’s attractiveness specifically mentioned affordability as one of the attributes considered in the top five rankings. Rob DeCleene, Director of Tourism for the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau (BCVD), is excited about the recognition. BCVB began specifically promoting the city to the gay and lesbian market in 2001, a decision that was encouraged by the results of the 2000 Census, which revealed that the small Indiana town is home to the fifth largest per capital population of same sex couples in the nation. One of the interesting things discovered by the CVB is that most of the things that make Bloomington a great GLBT destination are the same things that attract other types of travelers to the area. Find out more about Bloomington, Indiana at www. visitgaybloomington.com or call (800) 404-1620.

December 2008

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THE LETTER Launches Offbeat Singles Personal Ads, More Singles Columns Slated

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With the hope of improving the chances for the “single and looking” readers of THE LETTER to find a partner in 2009, Executive Editor Dave VanderPol has announced the introduction of FREE hardcopy and online personal ads and a commitment to run even more columns in the new year focused on educating readers on gay dating etiquette and other issues unique to the GLBT dating culture. I. M.! R.U.? personal ads, debuting online next month and in the January 2009 issue of THE LETTER, will be a queer-friendly version of the Missed Connections listings offered by the popular Craigslist website. “These ads will give our readers the opportunity to express their attraction to friends, coworkers and even total strangers – with the protection of using an anonymous e-mail address for readers to respond” explained VanderPol. “Don’t have the courage to ask, ‘Are you on my team?’, then pop the question through one of these ads”, he quipped. For more information, including sample ads, visit TheLetterOnline.com. Ads will be accepted only via a form on the website and are subject to editing by management. In addition to continuing to run the popular GAY LOVE COACH column, VanderPol has re-doubled his efforts to find additional writers for dating advice. “I’m committing THE LETTER to begin publishing a lesbianfocused relationship column, along with dating wisdom for our transgendered, bisexual and poly readers in the new year”, promised VanderPol.

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December 2008

RegionalCalendar sponsored by Mark England Items listed must be of interested to the GLBT community. Items are listed for FREE from non-profit community organizations, support and social groups. We also publicize events sponsored by businesses and professionals currently advertising in THE LETTER. Please send us information at least four to six weeks in advance of your event. Contact: [email protected] and be careful to type “Regional Calendar” in the subject line of your message. Every Monday 7:00pm. Movie Mania at Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Cincinnati, 4119 Hamilton Avenue. Free. For movie titles click on the icon for the GLBT Calendar page at www.glbtcentercincinnati.com. Every Tuesday 2:45pm. GLBT Mental Health Issues Support Group at The Recovery Center, 2340 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati. (513) 241-1411. 6:30 -8:00pm. Triangle Martial Arts Association: Tae Kwon Do training for GLBT community. Beginners & experienced welcome. For location write:. Write: m_ [email protected]. 7:30pm. Women's Tuesday Night Coming Out Group at Off The Avenue, 1546 Knowlton Street, Cincinnati. (513) 535-2517. Every Friday 9:15pm - Midnight. Derby City Kickers Country & Western Dancing at Q, 921 West Main Street, Louisville. No cover before 10:00pm. $3.00 cover after 10:00pm. 1st & 3rd Thursdays 7:00pm. Gay Men’s Support Group meets at Metropolitan Community Church of Louisville, 1432 Highland Avenue. 3rd Wednesdays Louisville Gay Professionals. Group meets at a different bar each month. More information: [email protected]. 4th Wednesdays 6:00pm. Kentuckiana Rainbow Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting. For location visit www.KentuckianaRainbowCoC.org or call (502) 815-7195. Tuesday, December 9 7:00pm. Cincinnati Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) meeting. Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, 103 William Howard Taft Road. For more information call (513) 755-6150. Wednesday, December 17 6:30pm. Indy Bi-Versity, confidential discussion group. For more information, including the meeting location, write: [email protected]. Sunday, December 21 3:00pm. Community Holiday Party hosted by Metro Louisville Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays. First Lutheran Church, 417 East Broadway. For more information call (502) 329-0229 or write [email protected]. Confidentiality respected. Sunday, December 21 3:30pm. Heartland Fairness, affiliated with the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, monthly meeting at 326 West Dixie Avenue in Elizabethtown. Write: [email protected]. Sunday, December 21 4:00pm. Cincinnati Women Out Front's Spirituality & Alternative Health Group. Sidewinder Café in Northside. Information: www.myspace.com/womenoutfront. Wednesday, January 7 7:00pm. Crossport Crossdresser Support Group, Cincinnati. (513) 919-4850.

December 2008

Rev. Dee Dale: On the occasion of your 25th Anniversary of ordination, please know of the tremendous love and admiration that your parishioners and many community members have for you! May God grant you another 50 years of ministry…and in so doing you will no doubt outlive Cher! – Dave @ THE LETTER

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Indianaplois Man Wins National Gay Contest

KENNETH C. PLOTNIK

A Hoosier man who possesses the enviable combination of a great mind and a gorgeous body has been selected as 2008 MrGay.com by visitors to the popular gay.com website. Andrew Roberts, a third-year medical Andrew Roberts student at Indiana University who takes pride in coming from a close-knit Midwestern family, describes himself as “…conservative morally and socially” and yet “very liberal politically” garnered 79,231 votes from visitors of the popular gay website. More than 1.3 million votes were cast in this year’s competition. Roberts stated in his online profile that he sought the Mr.Gay.com title because he wanted “…to demonstrate to others, both in the straight and gay community alike, that there are plenty of successful, intelligent gay professionals out there doing amazing things. As time progresses, we will continue to play an integral role in shaping the attitudes and opinions of the next generation and it is up to us to break down the negative stereotypes that have plagued our community for so long.” Roberts was selected on November 13 at San Francisco's trendy Supper Club. According to contest rules, participants must be 18 years of age or older, self-identify as being gay; and are members of the Gay.com website with an existing profile in good standing at the time they enter the contest.

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Valentine & Resentatine Ad Proceeds Purchase Pro-GLBT Literature

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On this newspaper’s website, TheLetterOnline. com, and in our February 2009 hardcopy issue we’ll again feature Valentine and Resentatine Ads. These ads are a great way to express your love (or resentment) in a very public way and support a good cause as a ll of the funds raised from these ads will be donated to the Metro Louisville chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) to cover the cost of purchasing literature that promotes a pro-gay message tailored to the concerns of parents, siblings and friends of newlyout GLBT persons. Traditional Valentine ads can be focused on anyone you love – lovers, family or even friends. While Resentatine ads are a way to express outrage to ex-lovers and others you resent. The cost to place your ad, which can have up to 50 words, is $15.00, with increments of up to 20 additional words costing an additional $5.00. Mail your payment, along with the LEGIBLE text for you ad to The Letter; Post Office Box 7842; Louisville, KY 40257. Please include a phone number or e-mail address in case our editor needs to contact you. Payment and ad text for your ad must be received by Wednesday, January 21, 2009. December 2008

Spiritual Connection GLBT Lutherans & Allies Dismayed By Disciplining Of Inclusive Church Lutherans Concerned/North America has expressed disappoint over the disciplinary action against a congregation in Canada that ordained an openly gay man who is legally married to his partner. On November 15, Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Newmarket, Ontario, was informed it was suspended by the Bishop and Synod Council of the Eastern Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), based on the May 2008 call and ordination of Rev. Lionel Ketola as Associate Pastor and Ambassador of Reconciliation. The May events violated the ELCIC policy not to ordain or call a GLBT person who is "self-proclaimed," that is, open and public about his or her sexual orientation. Rev. Ketola is open about his orientation and his same-sex marriage. Same-gender marriages are legal in Canada, but are not recognized by the ELCIC. Pastor Dawn Hutchings, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran, said, "While we all knew that such a judgment was possible, it still hurts. To be suspended by our church for doing what we have felt called to do for the sake of the Gospel, is painful…We will do all that we can

to encourage, help, and challenge our Bishop and Synod Council to live up to their expressed desire to responsibly work toward changing policies that preclude the full participation of all God's people in our ecclesial life. As faithful members of the ELCIC we shall continue to work and pray for the day when all God's children enjoy the freedom of equal opportunity in God's holy church." Pastor Ketola said, "It is especially difficult to hear of the suspension of this vibrant Lutheran congregation for their decision to call me, while just one day earlier hundreds of people had gathered with the city's mayor in nearby Oshawa, Ontario, in support of a lesbian couple who were the victims of anti-gay violence. We yearn for the day that our church's calls for justice for all are matched with deeds embodying a commitment to equality for all. Our church must become one of full inclusion of all in the life of the church, following the teachings of Christ. I, along with the people of Holy Cross, remain committed to working in partnership with our ELCIC to see this dream become a reality." Suspension falls short of removing the congregation entirely from the

City of Refuge Worship Center Rev. Lionel Ketola denomination. Under the suspension, the congregation may not send official delegates to regional or national church assemblies, may not vote on any matters coming before such meetings and no member of the congregation may hold any elective office in the ELCIC above the congregational level. Members of the congregation may continue to participate in the programmatic and worship life of the church. The suspension is to remain in effect as long as Rev. Lionel Ketola holds his position in the congregation or until the ELCIC recognizes his call and ordination to ministry.

Come Worship Freely Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 1041 Goss Avenue, Suite 101, Louisville, KY 40217 (502) 762-8986 / (502) 495-2603 Rev. Randy Meadows, Pastor Sunday Bible Study: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am & 7:00pm Wednesday Worship: 7:00pm www.cityofrefugewc.org

Equality Ride Bus Rolls To A Stop, But The Change Keeps on Coming From early October to mid - November, a group of GLBT and straight young adults brought a message of inclusion and safety to 15 faith-based schools throughout the southern US. This year’s Equality Ride concluded at Simmons College in Louisville. Although the bus tour has ended, the work of fostering safe learning environments for GLBT students is just beginning. Students and faculty, empowered by the Equality Ride, will now take on the work of organizing gay/ straight alliances and safe spaces for gay students. Some will advocate for the re-examination of homophobic policies that are inconsistent with Christian principles. The Equality Riders will stay in touch and provide ongoing guidance and support. Since 2006, the Equality Ride has visited 65 schools, hosting public forums, participating in panel discussions, and taking part in worship services and Bible studies. Often, the Equality Riders are the first LGBT-affirming voices to be heard on campuses with official policies that discriminate against gay and transgender students. The impact of the Equality Ride on individual lives is immeasurable, but there are some measurable indicators of the Ride’s success. Since the project’s inception, Riders have contributed to: • 17 new or revived gay/straight alliances • 6 new faculty-led safe spaces • 2 positive policy changes (at Samford University and Brigham Young University). "This year, and every year, the Equality Ride's greatest impact is in the one-on-one connections we make, both on and off the bus,” said Jarrett Lucas, Equality Ride co-director. “Building those relationships pushes us to challenge misinformation about our differences and question prejudices. Then we leave the Ride and manifest those lessons in our everyday lives. That empowerment is the heartbeat of social justice. That empowerment is our success." Soulforce Q is the young adult division of Soulforce, a social justice organization that works to end political and religious oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through relentless nonviolent resistance. For more information, go to www.equalityride.com. December 2008

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Progressive Pathways Fellowship

What Path Calls You? Sunday Worship and Education: 5:30pm. Tuesday Book Chat: 6:15pm. #208 1/2 Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center, 1860 Mellwood Ave., Louisville, KY 40206 http://www.progressivepathways.org

Inclusive Faith Communities listings are an affordable way to let the GLBT community know about your fellowship! Prepaid listings cost $90.00 for six months or $150.00 for one year. For more information write: [email protected]

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Romeo San Vicente can be reached at [email protected]. 14

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December 2008

Health & Wellness

Guidelines Ignored: Widespread Failure To Test For HIV While the U.S. AIDS epidemic simmers largely unnoticed by most Americans, a failure to widely implement routine HIV testing continues to fuel its spread, HIV researchers and experts claimed last month. Almost 60,000 Americans were infected with HIV last year, and, nationwide, 50-to70 percent of new sexually transmitted infections are spread by people who do not know they are infected. Guidelines issued two years ago by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all Americans ages 13 64 be routinely tested in all healthcare settings. Now, data show that although such testing could save years of healthy life and limit the spread of HIV, they are largely not being implemented. “With HIV, ignorance is not bliss. Those who are unaware of their infection cannot seek treatment, and are at least three times more likely to transmit the virus,” said Dr. Veronica Miller, director of the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research. “Two years after the CDC recommended routine testing, initial successes show its potentially powerful impact, but major barriers keep it from being the national norm.” The Forum for Collaborative HIV Research convened December 2008

a national summit from November 19 - 21, at which some 300 leading HIV researchers, health care providers, and policymakers shared new data on the advances and barriers to early, routine HIV testing, considered a key to slowing the US epidemic which now encompasses more than 1.1 million Americans living with HIV. New data show that prior to 2006, Emergency Rooms tested patients for HIV at a rate of just 3.2 per 1,000 visits (or .32 percent). Of 2.8 million ER tests performed over 12 years, six percent were HIV positive – much higher than the national average of 0.17 percent of AIDS cases in the general U.S. population. Since then, the situation has improved only minimally, with some 50 to 100 out of 5,000 ERs nationwide routinely testing for HIV, according to Dr. Richard Rothman at the Johns Hopkins University Department of Emergency Medicine. It is not only ER patients, which include large numbers of uninsured, but also those with full medical coverage from private insurance companies who are not getting tested, according to several studies. One study found that only 4.9 percent of plan members with a serious illness suggestive of

AIDS were tested for HIV. The results came from a review of insurance claims for eight health plans in 2006, with a total of 7.8 million insured individuals. A related study found that just 36 percent of members seeking treatment for sexually transmitted diseases—a highrisk group—were tested. A third study found that although drug treatment can prevent motherto-child transmission of HIV, up to 41 percent of pregnant women were not tested for HIV, with rates varying by insurance plan. “The whole point of routine testing is to stop transmission and late entry to care,” Miller said. “But new data show that late entry to care is a more serious problem than previously known and is costing years of healthy life.” Data show rates of late testing that are over 50 percent in many populations, rather than the prior national estimate of 40 percent. “Late testers” are those who develop HIV within a year of diagnosis—or are already sick with AIDS when diagnosed. This means their infection had progressed undetected for up to a decade. “When it comes to HIV testing, the health care system is stuck in the past,” said Summit co-chair Dr. John G. Bartlett, of The Johns Hopkins

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Don’t Know Where To Get Tested? For testing sites and other helpful information from around the region visit TheLetterOnline.com, and click on our HIV/AIDS RESOURCES DIRECTORY

University. “HIV testing started in 1985 when there was no treatment, a morbid death, an unrealistic fear of contagion and terrible stigma. Substantial barriers were developed to assure patients knew the consequences of testing. Now HIV is treatable, we have a test that takes minutes and costs ten dollars. Individuals benefit enormously from treatment, as does society.” Ongoing barriers to testing include obstructive policies by federal agencies and some states; a lack of funding, information, and trained staff; and the lack of a national reimbursement system for federal agencies. In addition, the people responsible for administering the test are not necessarily aware of the new guidelines and do not always support them.

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In The Life Brings HIV Engineered Killer T-Cell May Prevention To PBS & Internet Hold New Hope for Treating AIDS With the annual observance of World Aids Day just past, consider this disquieting thought: HIV infection is still not only a threat, but the rate of new infections is on the rise in communities where men have sex with men. Only, nowadays, it's increasingly more likely for propositions to come via the Internet instead of in-person. But, the Internet is also a place where HIV/AIDS intervention, prevention and research can occur. Researchers at New York City-based Public Health Solutions and New York University have collaborated to produce an innovative web-based campaign that tells the story of Josh, a young gay man in New York City. He meets sex partners online, and must deal with issues like online hookups, unprotected sex, disclosing HIV status and getting tested for HIV. According to research, his story is startlingly effective in reducing high-risk sexual behavior among other gay men. In spite of past decades of traditional HIV-prevention campaigns and messages aimed at heightening awareness of the undiminished danger of HIV infection, a new generation of young, gay men still believe that getting infected with HIV is no longer a serious threat. In this digital-age approach to HIV/AIDS awareness, this campaign tests whether a web-based serial can affect the attitudes and behavior of the men who watch it. The series combines the popularity, reach and interactivity of online video with the power of research-based learning strategies. When a sample of 500 men was surveyed three months after viewing the serial's first episode, it found that men were three times more likely to disclose their status and about 1.5 times more likely to get tested for HIV. In The Life Media, producer of In The Life, the longest running television show documenting the gay experience, hopes to widen awareness of this campaign to over 74 million households, and through the program’s website. The broadcast program began airing nationally on PBS stations on December 1. It is also available to view or download for free by visiting www.inthelifetv.org. There, viewers can also access the "HIV Is Still a Big Deal" website (www. hivbigdeal.org), and can share the videos with friends and link to additional resources on HIV prevention, talking about HIV with partners, testing and care.

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Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and colleagues in the United Kingdom have engineered T cells able to recognize HIV-1 strains that have evaded the immune system. The findings of the study, published online in the journal Nature Medicine, have important implications for developing new treatments for HIV, especially for patients with chronic infection who fail to respond to antiretroviral regimens. When viruses enter the body, they hijack the machinery of host cells to replicate and spread infection. When the body’s cells are infected with a virus they expose small parts of the virus on their surface, offering a molecular fingerprint called an epitope for killer T-cells from the immune system to see. This triggers an immune response, eliminating the virus and any cells involved in its production. However, HIV has the ability to mutate quickly, swiftly disguising its fingerprints to allow it to hide from killer T-cells. Natural T cells recognize their targets through weak molecular interactions mediated by the T cell receptor. Through a clever molecular process, the investigators were able to isolate a group of T cell receptor encoding genes that bind to HIV-1 about 450-fold more strongly. “Not only could T cells engineered to express the strongly binding T cell receptor see HIV strains that had escaped detection by natural T cells, but the engineered T cells responded in a much more vigorous fashion so that far fewer T cells were required to control infection,” says co-senior author James Riley, PhD, Research Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Penn. What’s more, adds first author Angel Varela-Rohena, PhD, who recently completed these studies as part of his PhD dissertation, “With the present availability of potent systems to replicate and deliver high-affinity HIV1 specific T-cell receptors, billions of these anti-HIV-1 warriors can be generated in two weeks.” “As soon as we saw over a decade ago how quickly the virus can evade the immune system we knew there would never be a conventional vaccine for HIV,” explains Professor Andy Sewell from Cardiff University, United Kingdom, co-senior author of the study. “In the face of our engineered assassin cells, the virus will either die or be forced to change its disguises again, weakening itself along the way. We’d prefer the first option but I suspect we’ll see the latter.” “We hope to begin clinical trials using the engineered T cells in patients with advanced HIV infection next year, a group for whom many drug regimens have stopped working” says co-author Carl June, MD, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Director of Translational Research at the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute at Penn. “If the therapy in that group proves successful, we will treat patients with early-stage, wellcontrolled HIV infection. The goal of these studies is to establish whether the engineered killer T cells are safe, and to identify a range of doses of the cells that can be safely administered.”

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December 2008

Community Dialogue LIBERAL ON THE SAUCE

Democrats Don't Forget About Us by David Williams

Thank whoever controls the universe—God, Buddha, Mohammad, Apollo, the planet Saturn—for what just happened last month. I think we can now more fully appreciate what Michelle Obama had to say after her husband won the Iowa primary. For once in our lives, we can all be proud of America again. Ah, but now comes the dawn, and it’s not the rosey-fingered morn of classic literature. I fear we’ve piled so many hopes and dreams onto Barack Obama’s back, there’s no way he’s going to be able to fulfill them all. We all are audaciously hopeful about the coming presidency. At last, a president with some brains! But it would be a mistake to think he’s going to solve all our country’s problems. If he can solve half, he’ll be well on his way to that rare pantheon of great presidents. I think we all have enough common sense to know he’s no miracle worker. Times are tough. Obama’s facing the greatest economic challenges since voters rolled the dice for Franklin Roosevelt in

1932. Can he deliver? Yes, he can if he can pull us all together behind him. If he can’t, he’ll have a tougher go. That’s where his message of hope comes in. Obama understands, as did Roosevelt, that without hope, America isn’t America. Without any hope of getting ahead, without hope of changing our circumstances, without hope of greater stability in our fortunes, America wouldn’t exist. Obama knows that, probably because it’s what’s driven him throughout his own life. He has a daunting task ahead of him, but with his level of intelligence and sagacity, which he’s already shown with some of his Cabinet picks, he’ll do fine as long as we give him time. So where does this leave the GLBT community? The media has rightfully focused on our current economic stress, and that’s Obama’s first task. But there are so many other needs largely forgotten by CNN and ABC. When will we see any movement there? My advice: be patient.

I think we got a hint when it was leaked that Obama will be rescinding a ban on stem cell research. He also plans on removing the ban on abortion information for countries receiving aid from us. That bodes well for GLBT issues as well. As other progressive policies start getting implemented, GLBT issues can’t be far behind. For one, Congress doesn’t dare stall any longer on the Employment NonDiscrimination Act, or ENDA. Gays and lesbians worked tirelessly for Obama and the Democrats in one way or another for 20 months. If the Democrats don’t get ENDA passed and sent to the President for his signature before the end of next year, they may start losing a vital part of their base. Although I have every faith we’ll have federal civil rights protection in employment and possibly housing, given the history of ENDA since the 1970s, I remain cautious. Hate crimes protections? A nobrainer. We may even see an extension of some protections for same-sex couples

under Social Security or in other areas controlled by Washington. I also fully expect a review of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, although I’m not willing to say whether gays and lesbians will be able to serve openly in the US military any time soon. At the very least, Obama has restored hope to our community after eight long years in the wilderness. Washington has finally heard our voices, and now we have a president who’s listening. The country’s about to experience a major social shift that may prove even greater than the ones of 1932 and 1960. I don’t know about you, but I am more than ready.

David Williams is the founder of the Williams-Nichols Institute and the Kentucky Gay & Lesbian Library and Archives, which are housed at the University of Louisville’s Ekstrom Library. A gifted artist and prolific writer, Williams also served as editor of THE LETTER for nine years.

GUEST LETTERTORIAL I

Racial Scapegoating Is Destructive And Unacceptable by Kevin Cathcart The following thoughts are offering in the wake of last month’s passage of Proposition 8 in California. As an organization that has fought for so many years for marriage equality --- and continues to do so --- Lambda Legal will join with many others in expressing our disappointment and outrage at the recent passage of Proposition 8 in California. We are also deeply disturbed at the racial scapegoating and blaming in which some members of the GLBT community, allies and media have engaged. The focus on data from exit polls that are misleading or simply wrong misses the important point: A bare majority of voters approved Prop. 8 including voters from every racial and socioeconomic group and in every region of the state. Blaming African American or any people of color voters is foolish. If we had 400,000 more “no” votes from any racial, ethnic, age and religious group --- or rather, from all groups together --- we would have won.

We all need to continue to direct our energy to educate and motivate our community and allies to achieve equality. And we must also fight discrimination wherever it exists. Our opponents spent millions of dollars to produce a barrage of deceitful ads intended to frighten and mislead voters. Our challenge is to continue to expose the scare tactics and misinformation. When we defeat the lies, we win. ‘Divide and conquer’ is the oldest political strategy in the world and we must not fall victim to it. People of all races, ethnicities and faiths are part of our GLBT communities, and we have fought together for equality and must continue to do so. The passage of Prop. 8 threatens not only marriage equality but the very meaning of the equal protection guarantees of the California Constitution. That is why the GLBT legal groups are working together with other civil rights advocacy organizations to challenge Prop. 8 as an invalid vote to change the fundamental principles of the California Constitution. The lesson of this struggle is clear: we must fight and win together.” Kevin Cathcart is the Executive Director of Lambda Legal (www.lambdalegal.org).

December 2008

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GUEST LETTERTORIAL II

HOOSIER VALUES

Hoosiers Have Much To Celebrate

Marriage Equality: Acceptance Will Come!

by Brandon Monson

by Gavin Creel For those California residents who voted “Yes” on Proposition 8 and for the rest of those who oppose marriage equality, I have a simple message. If you would have cited your "religious beliefs" as the reason why you justify condemning gays from having equal rights, your argument is hypocritical, hateful, and just plain wrong. I don't hate you. I don't want to hit you. I don't even want to shake you a little. I just want you to realize that this is one issue where there is only one correct position: Acceptance. Not just mere “tolerance”. But full and total ACCEPTANCE. Even if it takes you your lifetime to realize this, so be it. But realize it you will. And I will be here to witness your change of opinion and rejoice with you when you realize how good it feels not to judge ANYONE, but to LOVE all people and let them live in their own joy, regardless of whether or not it is what you would have wanted for yourself.. For as we have been taught to say, we are after all, “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL.” It is an amazing time to be alive! If you haven't gotten involved yet because you think, "I'm not gay, this doesn't have anything to do with me", or "Silly homos, stop talking about being gay all the time and just live" or "What's gay?", well this is not a “gay vs. straight” issue. This is basic human rights.



Ohio native Gavin Creel is an out Broadway actor and singer. His website address is www.gavincreel.com.

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Come celebrate the Holidays with Indiana Equality at the Governor’s Residence! On Thursday, December 11th at 6:00 pm, friends and supporters of Indiana Equality will be gathering at the Indiana Governor's Residence (4750 N. Meridian Street), to celebrate the accomplishments of the organization and to hear our goals for the 2009 calendar year. The event will feature the delectable soups, breads and desserts of renowned restaurants and chefs from across Central Indiana. A unique setting, the Governor's residence has undergone major renovations and is a wonderful setting to ring in the holiday season with world-class food and beverages! We are asking for your help to make this event a success. To continue progress on such important initiatives such as the enactment of statewide civil rights, passing of bias crimes protections and keeping the Marriage Discrimination Amendment at bay, your participation is vital. Defending and enhancing the protections and rights of GLBT Hoosiers comes with a heavy financial burden and we can’t win without you! Your help is needed to help make the passage of bias crimes legislation and inclusive statewide civil rights a possibility here in our great state. For more information about Holiday IN the Governor’s Residence, visit the Indiana Equality website (www.indianaequality.org). We are winning! Last month’s elections, when taken in context with recent Indiana legislative successes, demonstrate that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender persons, their friends, families, and allies are making progress in achieving equality for all Hoosiers. • Every Indiana State Representative that voted in 2007 in opposition to the Marriage Discrimination Amendment was handily re-elected, and newly elected pro-equality State Representatives include John Barnes, Ed DeLaney, and Mary Ann Sullivan. The Indiana Equality Political Action Committee committed time, money, and volunteers to help make the Indiana legislature more equality-minded. • There are now openly GLBT elected officials in Allen, Hamilton, Marion, and Monroe Counties. • Indiana Equality and other GLBT leaders have continual and regular communications and discussions with Governor Mitch Daniels, Speaker of the House B. Patrick Bauer, other key elected officials, and state political parties. • While keeping the Marriage Discrimination Amendment at bay, Indiana Equality is reaching out to a wide range of allies to ensure that inclusive state-wide civil right protections and inclusive state-wide bias crimes legislation are put in place. • Indiana Equality, in partnership with Lambda Legal, the Indiana AFL-CIO, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is mounting a three-year campaign to expand the number of Hoosier communities with GLBT protections in their community’s human rights ordinance. While losing the battles in Arizona, Arkansas, California, and Florida, hope is on the horizon, not just for Indiana, but also for nation. For example: • A record number of out GLBT officials were elected last Tuesday. Our country has come many a mile from the days of Harvey Milk—2008 showed us a country where a third openly gay member of the United State House of Representatives was elected. • Three major bills await action by the new Congress. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) are likely to expire in the current congressional session, but are expected to be dealt with in the newly elected Congress. Now is the time that we can stop constantly being on the defensive here in Indiana. Now, with the 2009 Indiana Legislative Session just around the corner, we need to regroup and be prepared to push the passage of bias crimes legislation and inclusive statewide civil rights. We can’t do that without YOU! For more information about Indiana Equality, visit our website at www.indianaequality.org.

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Brandon Monson is the Communications Director for Indiana Equality, the Hoosier State's premier fairness organization. December 2008

Rainbow of Thought GAY LOVE COACH

Gay Dating & 'The Average Joe'

Gay culture highlights youth, muscle, and good looks as valuable assets and commodities when it comes to sexuality and relationships. All one has to do is turn the pages of your favorite gay newspaper or magazine (that doesn’t necessarily have to be sexual in nature) and you’ll be distracted by photographs and advertisements of attractive men with chiseled bodies oozing sex appeal to titillate the senses. Or log on to any dating or personals site on the Web and you’ll find hosts of men demanding youth and rugged masculine good-looks as personal requirements in their profiles to consider even corresponding or chatting with them. The harsh reality of the worldwide gay community and society at large is that physical attractiveness is deemed a significant value and those who fit the mold of how this description is defined are admired and rewarded with social privileges and positive reinforcement. This isn’t to say that being a “hottie” is all it’s cracked up to be…they can struggle in the dating realm as well as they are often times pigeonholed with superficialities or viewed solely as sexual objects. Dating hardships for the “very goodlooking” (VGL) could be a whole separate article! But it can often times be a different experience for those who do not espouse the redeeming qualities or status awarded to those labeled as “beautiful” by cultural standards. So what if you are a single gay man who might be lower on the “hotness scale” because of your physical appearance and looks, your age, your weight, or because you may have a disability? It can feel like your worth in the gay community means nothing and it can undermine your confidence in your dating efforts…but only if you let it! This article will offer some insights and tips for helping the Gay Average or Not-So-Average Joe navigate through the sometimes cruel dating waters of the gay community to maximize their success as single men on the hunt for Mr. Right. This isn’t intended to be a Pollyanna approach to the situation because the cold reality is that it is unfortunately more challenging and competitive for those that don’t necessarily fit the prototype of “VGL”. But it’s also not a lost cause! As you will see, developing and accessing a positive self-esteem and sense of sexiness that we al l embody, no matter who we are or what we look like, goes a long way toward attracting the attentions and affection of a significant other.

Top 10 Dating Guidelines & Tips for the Gay Average Joe & Compatriots 1. Give Off Those Good Vibrations I get handfuls of letters from men voicing their disdain at not being given a chance by other guys because they feel they don’t “measure up” in the looks department. While it is true in many cases that an attractive face can get one noticed and “in the front door” more quickly, don’t underestimate the power of your personality and presentation. Many men who feel jaded and frustrated by their unfruitful dating efforts tend to unwittingly emit a negative vibe in their interactions with others. They wear their hopelessness on their faces and in their body language and end up sabotaging themselves because people can smell this kind of negativity a mile away and will retreat from making contact, reinforcing the sense of alienation they then feel and creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Even if you’re not feeling particularly spunky, work hard at making sure you project a positive self-image and energy. It&rs quo;s all in how you carry yourself. While a cute man can turn December 2008

by Brian Rzepczynski, M.S.W.

heads, there’s nothing more magnetic than a man with a jovial spirit and great sense of humor. It makes you want to get to know him. 2. Confidence is a Turn-On Along the same lines, there is nothing sexier than a man who exudes inner strength, confidence, and selfassuredness. It shows that he has his life together and enjoys being alive. Even if you have self-consciousness about your looks, have confidence in something—anything! And then don’t be shy about it. By feeling proud of yourself and/ or your accomplishments and then by finding ways to express that security intrinsically and through your actions and demeanor, men won’t be able to help but take notice. 3. Repeat After Me---“I Am A Good Catch!” Attractive men, inside and out, possess a healthy dose of positive self-esteem. They like who they are and recognize that their worth is not dependent on their appearance. They have many other parts to themselves that make them who they are. The cliché statement, “You must love yourself before anyone else can” is very true. Negativity and pessimism are men-repellants, so start work immediately on countering any negative self-talk and recognize the unique talents and gifts that you possess that make you a good person and a good date. Internalize the affirmation, “I am a good catch!” and start acting like it rather than focusing on your unfulfilled dating card. You become more attractive to men when you believe in yourself and consider yourself to be quality boyfriend material. 4. Unattractive Re-defined So you don’t think you’re attractive enough? Wrong! Everyone has something about them that is attractive. Capitalize on what is attractive about you and recognize that which is truly ugly--ignorance, superficiality, mistreatment of your fellow gay brothers in any form or fashion, low confidence, self-degradation, cocky attitudes, excessive and superficial focuses on physical appearance, depression, etc. These are the things that are the epitome of unattractiveness and will send men running in the opposite direction. Rather than focusing on looks, try to work on identifying any personal “undesirables” you may possess and aggressively work to eliminate them from your personality and behavior to catapult you into interpersonal sophistication and savvy. 5. If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em Being an “Average Joe” in guy/guy relationships tends to be more challenging than our lesbian and heterosexual counterparts because men are more visual creatures. Whereas women traditionally may be more prone to “overlook” physical attributes for more qualities of substance, men in general are more attuned and turned-on by what they see. Invest in your health and body by exercising and eating right, getting enough rest and relaxation, and integrating more wellness into your lifestyle. Not only will you be taking better care of yourself, but you just might secondarily be adding more appeal to the male tendency toward the visual with your healthier appearance. Nice clothing, a trendy haircut, and sharp accessories can also help to turn heads. Accentuate your looks with things that speak to your unique style and personality. We men are competitive by nature, so making yourself stand out in a way that is authentic and genuin e to who you really are can go a long way toward getting yourself the right kind of attention from the right kind of men who will appreciate those particular attributes. www.theletteronline.com

6. Embrace a Sense of Gay Pride Many men, average or not, struggle with dating because of issues with their sexual identity and masculinity. Internalized homophobia and common male deficits in dealing with feelings and sensitivity can be huge barriers to attracting and maintaining healthy intimate relationships. These things can get in the way of becoming more emotionally intimate. A gay man who is proud of his homosexuality and not afraid to express this part of his identity adds a whole new element to the definition of attractiveness. Having good social skills, emotional intelligence, and effective communication skills are additional assets to drawing in the right kind of men you may be looking for. 7. Stop the Comparison Game Another symptom of the “Average Joe” syndrome is that these men commonly compare themselves to other men and judge themselves critically in how they “measure up” to Adonis-like guys. This is extremely self-defeating because it’s unfair to compare one aspect of oneself (looks) to someone else’s physical appearance. We have to look at the whole person, the entire package. There are some very physically-pleasing-to-look-at guys out there who are very unattractive in spirit and personality. Stop objectifying yourself and others and becoming prejudiced by looking at things as being “good enough” in only one capacity or human trait. 8. Different Strokes for Different Folks Never forget the fact that not everyone is attracted to the model-boy or porn-star type. Everybody has different attractions, tastes, and preferences in men. While you may feel like you’re in the minority a lot of the time, it’s important to have faith that there really is somebody out there for everybody and it’s just been a little more challenging finding the right timing, situational contexts, and geographical placements to put the two of you together. 9. Bring Out the Sexiness Factor! Every human on this planet is and has the capacity to be sexy, no matter what one’s appearance. If you can tap into this feeling, it will radiate and charm the pants off of people (figuratively, and sometimes literally too!). A good heart and a healthy mind are totally sexy. If you can integrate all of these tips into your repertoire and express them, people will be drawn to your energy. Just like “The Law of Attraction” states…you will attract what you put out there. When you feel good about yourself and what you have to offer and can translate that in your mood, spirit, and behavior, your appeal to others will increase. While looks can certainly be a component, sexiness is really about attitude. If you give yourself permission to access and unleash it, it can really be a guy magnet. 10. Live Life to the Max!!! Finally, and most important of all, live your life! Stop dwelling on your appearance and don’t make your happiness contingent solely on your dating life. Make the most of what you have, develop your inner resources and social capabilities, and enjoy your life. Recognize the things that you do and don’t have control over and practice the art of self-acceptance. By taking the emphasis off of your looks and channeling those energies into living a full life, you’ll definitely be living with more meaning and passion that will likely bring about more good tidings for you. Your inner beauty and magnetism will shine through when you’re having a blast living your life. You are beautiful!

©2008 Brian L. Rzepczynski, All rights reserved. To sign up for the FREE Gay Love Coach Newsletter filled with dating and relationship tips and skills for gay singles and couples, as well as to check out current coaching groups, programs, and teleclasses, visit www.TheGayLoveCoach.com.

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OUTLOOK WITHIN

Baa, Humbug & Other Gifts Of The Season Night falls early this time of year. It’s usually dark by the time I go out to the barn, gather the eggs, lock the chickens in for the night. It’s a long way out to the barn, longer yet on overcast nights when no moon or stars light the way. It doesn’t help that I prefer not to use the flashlight, save the batteries for when I’m desperate. It doesn’t help that on the darkest nights I start thinking of the Michigan Dog-Man. I steer clear of horror movies. When I was a kid, many of my classmates stayed up to watch “Creature Features,” a late night television offering of horror movies. I begged my parents for permission to watch it so I could join the discussions at school. At last they relented. I sat alone in the living room one night after everyone else had gone to bed. I didn’t stay there long. When the story line turned frightful, I turned the television off. Terrifying images stay with me. I have always had a low threshold for horror. I might have remembered this when I ran across a state-wide collection of facts and fancies in Weird Michigan. The book includes stories of the Dog-Man and an artist’s conception of a shaggy, fanged humanoid creature. For some reason the story intrigued

me. I researched it further on the internet, read eye witness accounts of people terrorized by a fearsome creature, large paw prints in the snow and deep claw marks on the door that begin way up high. These images lodged themselves in my body’s fear receptors, now come back to haunt me when my system figures I need an adrenaline rush. For me, the perfect fear-inducing cocktail blends limited visual cues with an active imagination and unexpected sound. Start with a pitch-black night, add thoughts of the Dog-Man and cap with the cry of a screech owl. Or several coyotes surrounding the barn, unleashing their quavering yowl. Or last night’s iteration, a deer snorting in the darkness nearby. Whatever bejeebers I had in me, they left in a rush--left me shaking, laughing, feeling scared and relieved at the same time. I was very present to the moment, suddenly able to discern the shadow of leaf on leaf. Maybe this is the peril and promise of December. “The winter solstice is the ancient season of joining spirit and animal,” writes Carol Bly in Letters from the Country. “In the old dances, people dressed as animals, the Morris men holding deer’s heads before their faces

and carrying a hobbyhorse for the Abbots Bromley horn dance; and a wren was hunted and killed, to make way for the new king.” According to Christian tradition, barn animals are granted human speech at the stroke of midnight on Christmas, in honor of their ancestors bearing witness to the royal birth in Bethlehem. Used to, I held a midnight reading of the Christmas story in our sheep barn. Eavesdrop as I would, I never heard anything interesting. Baa, humbug. This was before I came out to myself and others as a gay man. When I was yet married to a woman, was every-day father to my children. This was before I felt the animal power of my body, when I wondered why I was dying, drying from the inside out. I was afraid of my sexuality, frightened by desires I called unclean. In coming out, I was almost surprised to realize I had a body, and that it had a mind of its own, one not located between my ears. In coming out I moved toward embracing and blessing my whole self. I was learning what many GLBT people discover and celebrate: we humans are wondrously spirit and body. There’s no separating the two without grievous harm.

by Bryn Marlow

GLBT people haven’t cornered this market. But on the whole, it seems to me we grant ourselves permission to enjoy our bodies, play with the conjunction of body and spirit in ways unavailable to persons bound by rigid heterosexual mores and stereotypical thinking. Living out this union of animal body and spirit is a gift we gender-variant people offer the wider culture. That’s something to think about during this gift-giving season. And here’s something else to think about: psychologist Carl Jung believed unused creative gifts rot. Dr. Marie-Louise von Franz went even further, said they turn to pure poison. The story of the Dog-Man may be heard as a cautionary tale about what happens when we do not integrate animal and spirit, suppress the Howl that Alan Ginsburg identified in his poem, refuse the advice Mary Oliver offers in hers, "Let the soft animal of your body love what it loves." Woof.

Bryn Marlow lives on 18 wooded acres in rural Indiana where he and his husband raise chickens and flowers.

THE SIENNA FEATHER

Stars Twilight If you didn’t stay awake election night, you woke to find a new president elect from the Democratic Party who promises to get all Americans working and balance the budget by 2011. The citizens spoke, and history has taken a massive step forward in electing our first black American President. The world took note, and now watch us as we received global congratulations. Many express concern for the safety of President-elect Barack Obama, since the two assassination attempts prior to the election. I pray we can keep our own radicals under constraint and send a message to the rest of the world that the US leads by example. I think we should all pray for the leaders elected, so they make wise decisions to prevent an otherwise cataclysmic economic depression or recession. According to John Yarmuth, there is still time to revise the ENDA bill in which rights for transgender people would be protected. Congressman Yarmuth assures me as he did Barney Frank, that it would have his vote. Intelligent leaders know that building a prosperous society requires work and patronage from every member of that society. In building a successful society, we now have a great community leader to stand-up for our rights in the appointment of George Stenson to the Human Rights Commission. As the co-owner of the Connection, Louisville’s Finest gay nightclub, I’m certain George has the insight on every aspect of the needs of the community from lesbian to transgender. Beth Harrison-Prado is truly a brightly shining community leader. She won the Butterfly Award for her hard work over the past few years in her efforts in organizing the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Beth is one of those transgender community leaders, who can be seen wherever GLBTQ rights are in question. A special thank you to the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 20

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by Tina Storm

Heather Thiessen of the Women’s Center, and the More Light committee, as well as all transgender community members who made this year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) events so special. In remembering our dead, we memorialized 30 transgender victims, and two others who had not yet made the list because they were killed just days before the TDOR event. Those named in remembrance were: Kellie Telesford, Brian McGlothin, Gabriel Alejandra Abornoz, Patric Murphy, Stacy Brown, Adolphus Simmons, Fedra, Ashley Sweeney, Sanesha (Talib)Stewart, Lawrence King, Simmie Williams Jr., Luna, Lloyd Nixon, Felicia Melton-Smyth, Silvana Berisha, Ebony (Rodney) Whitaker, Rosa Pazos, Juan Carlos Aucalle Coronel, Angie Zapata, Jaylynn L. Namauu, Samantha Rangel Brandau, Ruby Molina, Nakhia Williams, Aimee Wilcoxson, Duanna Johnson, Dilek Ince, Teish (Moses) Cannon, Ali (from Iraq and two other transwomen who were executed and whose names were unknown). Now may their light shine brightly among the stars in the heavens in the world beyond as they have transcended this life, and move on the next. May we all never forget their loss, and be guided by the night light and the light of our leaders with the stars twilight. Upcoming Sienna events include our Christmas Party on December 17 and our regular monthly meeting on December 20. For more information, including locations for these events, please leave a message at (502-894-1048) or visit www. tg-sienna.org Tina Storm, Outreach Coordinator for Sienna is a nurse and serves on the Transgender Day of Remembrance Committee and the advisory board of U of L’s Office for GLBT Services

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December 2008

BODY BASHING, PART 1: GUEST OPINION

BODY BASHING, PART 2: GLAMOUR UNDERBRIDGE

No Fats or Fems: A Gay Culture That Is At War With Itself by Jeremy Gloff It has always bothered me how mean we are to each other, but I didn't realize quite how much until recently. In Florida, where I live, 62% of the voters passed Amendment Two. It was disheartening to me that 62% of the state that I live in does not think I should have equal rights. Even more disturbing is on election night, after hearing the amendment passed, I logged into the gay chat rooms and browsed over the internet personal ads full of negative messages. As much as the majority of the general public may think unfavorably of us, it seems even more so we think unfavorably of each other. IT HAS GOT TO STOP. Of the fifty ads I browsed, over 80% contained a negative message. Some examples: • No fat guys. • No feminine guys. • I am fit UB2 or don't bother talking to me. • I already have a father, if over 22 don't bother. • 34 y/o seeks Twink...Willing to pay. • Not racist, but no chocolate or rice. It broke my heart to see the majority of my peers were filling their limited profile space not with what they were looking for in a partner, but instead what they were NOT looking for. Being a 33 year old gay male, I can feel the negativity at clubs as well as online. It may be my own insecurities, but whenever I am around a lot of attractive men I feel like the nerdy kid in gym class. The weirdo. The one that people pass over when picking their team. And I'm not even a fat or a femme! Now, more than ever, the gay culture needs to get together and start loving and respecting each other. The language we use to dismiss and degrade one another needs to be banished and discouraged. We need to stop using terms like fats, femmes, twinks, and trolls. We need to get together. We need to accept, love, and develop friendships with each other. If December 2008

the gay community could get its act together and stop being so segregated, imagine the statement that could be made nationally! It is important for us to stop using the language we are using. We must stop dehumanizing people because they don't go to the gym five days a week. Stop thinking so negatively of feminine behavior. Let's embrace and celebrate both the feminine and masculine sides of ourselves. I see so many of my gay male peers trying ever so hard to prove their masculinity to both themselves and their perspective partners. Why is machismo so celebratory? I feel it goes back to our culture's subtle sexist view of females. It seems that to be gay and feminine is frowned upon. The basis of most gay-themed jokes has its character engaging in feminine behavior. Why is it funny for a man to have stereotypically feminine characteristics? So what? In the year 2008 why are we still creating such a narrow set of behavioral expectations? Not only does the heterosexual public seem to look negatively on a lot of stereotypically gay behavior, we do so amongst ourselves. Why all this effort to appear "not gay"? Why the obsession with being a "jock" or "stud" or "straight acting"? Let's celebrate our own nuances and love the variety within ourselves. Can we do it or are we going to hate and degrade anyone who is not 6’1” and one 145 pounds with blonde hair? This is my call for all fellow gay people to stop being at odds with each other. WE NEED TO ACCEPT AND LOVE EACH OTHER FOR WHO WE ALL ARE. Let's quit excluding and degrading each other. I want the country to accept us, but before that, I want us to accept ourselves. Fat, thin, black, white, masculine, feminine. We must all be one, now more than ever. Jeremy Gloff is a musician and writer who lives in Tampa, Florida. His work can be found on www.TheNewGay.net. You may contact him through his website: www.jeremygloff.com.

No Defense For Body Bashing by Rev. James W. Hensley Truth be told, there are a lot of people that I don't want to have sex with. It could be the way they look, the way they treat me or the way they present themselves. I doubt my choice bothers anyone. Why, then, do I care when I'm browsing Craigslist or Manhunt or Gay. com or leafing through the personal ads in a publication and see the ads that end with "no fats, no fems," etc., etc.? At least these guys are being honest. They're saving me a little time. Why should it matter? It's clear that there's a something more than "truth in advertising" and "cut to the chase" going on here. This is telling us something about gay male culture and we need to figure it out. I don't think this about sex. I think this is about respect. Everyone is free to pick and choose who they'd prefer as a playmate in the bedroom, a partner at squash or their study buddy. So what if I'm not your idea of a dream date? That's fine with me. A line is crossed, however, when it is conveyed in no uncertain terms that I'm not a worthwhile person and an embarrassment to gaydom because Mr. No Fats-No Fems doesn't want to have sex with me and he can't imagine that anyone, anywhere, ever would. If Mr. NFNF just went on about his merry way all would be well. Unfortunately, bois will be bois and for some reason there must be posturing and validation that requires explaining to all the BFFs that "some chub" answered Mr. NFNF's ad and "Girl, my eyes will never recover. It burns, it burns!" You know, I think I've seen this before. This is something we're bringing home from out there in straight world. Have you ever heard of "gay panic" and the "gay panic defense"? It's something that happens to straight men and a rationalization they use. Google it for yourself but here is the Wiki version: According to the gay panic defense, the defendant claims that he or she was the object of romantic or sexual advances by the victim. The defendant found the propositions so offensive and frightening that it brought on a psychotic state characterized by unusual violence. Notice the words, "defendant" and "victim." Gay panic defense is a legal strategy. Gay panic, in general, is the over-reaction persons have to perceived sexual or romantic advances. Usually "fat, fem and troll panic" is confined to verbal violence with a little pushing and shoving but you never know. Do you see the connection with "gay panic" and the line of reasoning that keeps Don't Ask, Don't Tell on the books? Macho heterosexual soldiers (sailors, marines and airmen) are afraid that a queer will "look" at them in the shower. At least that's the brass' story and they're sticking to it. Queers in the midst of a "fat panic" episode freak out because they're afraid I'll come on to them. They're grossed out that someone they don't think is adequate or appropriate as a sex partner finds them attractive and decide to lash out. Exactly whose insecurities are marching proudly across the landscape here? Won't a simple "No Thanks" work? The "slash and burn" protocol in gay dating doesn't work, boys, it's time to give it up. If you think the troll While he is co-pastor over there is looking at you I suggest of Progressive Pathways you get over yourself and move on. Fellowship in Louisville Convince me you'd don't love the (www.progressivepathways. attention. Your "fat, troll or fem org), opinions expressed panic" reaction is inappropriate by James Hensley do not represent the official policy and disingenuous.

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of the church.

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Tasteful Culture

Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! Summer is here, the heat is on and it’s time for…sequels! And raucously mischievous writer/director Todd Stephens delivers with the anticipated follow-up to Another Gay Movie. Andy, Nico, Jarod and Griff are back and ready for action in a big way with a sunand fun-drenched excursion to Ft. Lauderdale for Spring Break. After a wildly bumpy plane ride featuring Amanda Lepore in all her voluptuous glory, the boys find themselves knee-deep in a sea of hunky man-flesh. Enthusiastically, they enter the annual “Gays Gone Wild” contest, hosted by statuesque Tyrelle Tyrelle (RuPaul) and dazzling Sandi Cove (Lady Bunny). The guys soon realize that the goal of getting the most "action" over the course of their vacation is fraught with obstacles including wet "package" contests, slip n' slide gay shuffleboard, an evil gay clique and even genital crabs! Add a good dose of celebrity cameos, mix in an over-the-top musical number and shake up pop cultural references from Beach Blanket Bingo to What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, and Another Gay Sequel will have you bubbling with joy -- and occasional shock -- with its raunchy jokes that smack of charm and sweetness. NEXT MONTH: Book Reviews from David Williams will return, along with even more content of interest to our single readers and our new IMRU Personal Ads! 22

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10 YEARS GRAPHIC DESIGN EXPERIENCE WEDDING INVITATIONS BUSINESS CARDS PAGE LAYOUT MARKETING DESIGNS PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS NEWSLETTERS AND MORE EMAIL: [email protected] December 2008

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