TriangleCommunityCenterNewsAndViews_v8.no8.1997.08.pdf
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- TriangleCommunityCenterNewsAndViews_v8.no8.1997.08.pdf
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Froperty of the Center
Triangle Community Center
TRI
ANG
Ne~&v~~
Vol.8, No.8
August 1997
Free to Members and Subscribers
MANY HEARTS • • •
ONE COMMUNITY
rec T1ME-
our
SUNDAY,
PICNIC
AUGUST 17
Plans for the third annual TCC-sponsored "Time-OUT Picnic" are well underway. The picnic is set for Sunday,
August 17th at Scalzi Park in Stamford
(see directions) and is open to the
public. The picnic gets underway at
11:30 and winds up around4:30. For
the first time, there will be no adtnission charge! All TCC members and
supporters are welcome.
The picnic is a post-Pride response to
the wishes of many people for a large
scale event open to the community at
large. Nearly 100 people attended last
year's lesbigay event. This year's picnic
promises to be even bigger with more
fun and lots of food and sunshine.
A separate area of the park has been reserved expressly for the picnic.
The park offers a great picnic area as well as recreation areas-like
volleyball and tennis courts, basketball, bocce and baseball. Of course
the afternoon will include lots of food. TCC will provide hamburgers
and hot dogs grilled to order, fresh corn on the cob and desserts.
WHAT TO BRING
To help make this truly a com:nunity and family type picnic, guests are
asked to bring lawn chairs and blankets, sports equipment and a food
item according the following list:
Last name beginning A - D: Appetizers/ Munchies
E - I: Soda
J - N: Bottled water, iced tea, juice
0 - S: A vegetarian main dish
T - Z: Salads, fruit
INFORMATION
VOLUNTEERS
To volunteer your help--there are lots of"parttime" duties the day of the picnic-please see
the sign-up sheet posted at the Staffer's Desk at
the Center or contact Michael Pavlicin at 203866-6993.
RAIN DATE
In case of rain ("steady rain at 9 am") the picnic
will be postponed until the following Sunday,
August 24th. (For questions about rain postponement call 858-1827 the day of the event
only.)
DIRECTIONS TO SCALZI PARK
From I-95 Southbound: Take Exit 7 (Atlantic
Street, Rte. 13 7). Go straight offramp through
first three traffic lights. At fourth light turn
rightontoRte.137North (WashingtonBlvd.).
Follow Washington Blvd. through downtown
Stamford for 1.3 miles. At traffic light, turn left
onto Bridge Street. Just over the bridge, Scalzi
Park will be on the left.
From I-95 Northbound: Take Exit 7 (Greenwich Ave., Rte. 137). Go straight through
light at the end of exit ramp. At next traffic
light, turnleftontoRte.137North (Washington Blvd.). Follow Washington Blvd. through
downtown Stamford for 1.3 miles. At traffic
light, turn left onto Bridge Street. Just over the
bridge, Scalzi park will be on the left.
From Merritt Parkway: Take either Exit 34
(Rte. 104) going north or Exit 35 (Rte. 137)
going south and follow signs toward downtown Stamford. At the major intersection where
Rtes 104 and 13 7 join, proceed directly forward onto Summer Street (one-way southbound). Just past Ridgeway Shopping Center,
turn right onto Bridge Street. Scalzi Park will
be on the left.
There is plenty of parking. The picnic will be in
the front of the park near the volleyball court.
You can't miss it!
Please call Maria and Cindy at 203-329-3673 for more information.
August 1997
Pagel
T NEWS & VIEWS
TCCNEWs
MEDIA
1997 JUNE PRIDE APPEAL UPDATE
TV's LIFETIME TO A1R
Thanks to a number of generous donors, TCC's annual June Pride Fund Raising
Appeal has raised $1,750.00 to date. Unfortunately this is only 58% of the
budgeted goal of $3,000.00 for this year's appeal. This year's donors represent
only a small number ofTCC members and supporters. We still hope to see success
in meeting our goal, as we've been able to do m the past. There is still time to give.
The June Appeal is a crucial annual fund raising project. Proceeds from his year's
Fund Raising Appeal are earmarked for a specific need-to bolster the Scholarship Fund financed with proceeds from the WHOOP-DEE-DOO! theater
production in January.
Your support of this al?peal is a way for you to demonstrate pride in your
community. You share m the pride of helping the Triangle Community Center
give back to the community. By contributing to TCC's Scholarship Fund you
share in the pride of helping a gay or bi student pay for books or tuition.
If you have not already given to this year's fund raising appeal, please do so now.
Simply return a check or pledge an amount to be billed to you. (Attn: Fund
Raising Committee, TCC, PO Box 4062, Norwalk, CT 06855)
Working together we can make this a 100% success ... $3,000!
Five years ago, Allen Schindler was murdered by shipmates in
Japan for being gay. Allen was so brutally beaten that every
organ in his body was destroyed. After uncovering the truth
about Allen's terrible murder, his mother, Dorothy Hajdys,
took on the Navy to bring his killers to justice. Her struggles
and triumphs will be depicted in "Any Mother's Son: The
Dorothy Hajdys Story."
Air Times:
Monday, August 11
9:00 p.m. ET/PT
Thursday, August 14
9:00 p.m. ET/PT
Sunday, August 17
8:00 p.m. ET/PT
Saturday, August 23
8:00 p.m. ET/PT
12 noon ET/PT
Sunday, August 31
CONGRATULATIONS!
With great joy the Triangle Community Center celebrates the arrival of Anna
Leigh Victoria Robbins Sennewald on July 1. The 7 lb. 8.25 oz bundle of joy was
born to Lori Sennewald and Kimberly Robbins. Both mothers and baby are
doing fine. "She's such a good baby!" gushed one of her mothers.
LESBIAN LIT GROUP
The reading choice for discussion at the September 2 meeting of the Lesbian
Literature Group is entitled, "Stone Butch Blues" written by Leslie Fienberg.
The Lit Group meets at the Center the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm.
Copies of"Stone ... ," are available at Bloodroot (203) 576-9168. For more info
on the group call Christine (203) 847-8476.
ATTENTION:
Due to a lack of participation, the Political Action Group has been disbanded. Our
efforts will be joined with those of the CT Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender Civil Rights and the Stonewall Congress. We encourage any
interested parties to become involved in these other organizations.
LOST, STRAYED OR ..... MISSING IN ACTION?
We do not like obituaries but at this juncture in time we hope not to include the
VCR tapes that have been carried out as loans but, sadly, have failed to make it
back. They were contributed to TCC for the instruction and, especially, enjoyment of the ENTIRE membership. Search your special hiding and/or storage
places where they may be hidden and forgotten so that they may be restored to
the realm ofthe living and be allowed to continue their assigned mission ..... Please?
Just drop them in the "Returns" box on the left as you enter the Resource Room.
With a heartfelt ''Thank you .... thank you .... thank you .... thank you."
The Resource Room (Walt D. And Paul B-K.)
NEWS
"ANv MoTHER's
SoN"
REQUEST .... GAY RAoio? GAY TV?
One of our readers has requested that a line-up of gay and
lesbian radio and TV shows be listed in the newsletter each
month. I thought it to be a grand and noble suggestion. But
after having found the little printed here, I'm making a public
plea. Does anyone out there have any idea where I might find
a programming source( s)? If you do, PLEASE phone or fax me
at 964-1133.
GAY RADIO
Bridgeport - WPKN/89.5 FM - 7:30 pm Mon
New Britain - WCFS/107.7 FM - 5:30 pm Mon
Storrs - WHUS/91.7 FM - 7:30 pm Tues
West Hartford - WWUH/91.3 FM - 8:00 om Thurs
THE GAY GOURMET
J< )I IN
&
R(
)I 1\NI )'s SLJMMIK ANTll'1\STO
3 - 4 large vineripe tomatoes
3/4 lb. Fresh mozzarella
12 slices thin cut prosciutto
10 - 12 calamata olives
sea salt
coarse ground pepper
I small onion. sliced thin
INVESTMENT CLUB
balsamic vinegar
Anyone i~terested in for~ing an In~es_tment Club? We could structure it along
the same lines as the Nanonal Assoc1anon oflnvestment Clubs (ala the popular
book, ''The Beardstown Ladies Investment Club"). Any monthly financial
contribution would be small. A possible focus might be common stocks of
companies that are socially conscious or who have supportive policies toward
gays, women and other minorities. The goals of the group are to learn to make
money and have fun doing it!
For further call P.J. Schimmel at (203) 847-2561.
extra virgin olive oil
PASSING
The Triangle Community Center is saddened to learn of the passing oflong-time
member Jeffrey Wylde. He died on December 12, 1996 due to complications of
the AIDS virus. He leaves his partner, Daniel Fabrici and one sister, Jane Potter.
We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Fabrici on his loss.
August 1997
several fresh basil leaves. cut up
Slice the tomatoes evenly and place them
individually on a serving dish. Season with a
dash of salt. pepper. olive oil and balsamic
vinegar. Place sliced onion and some basil on
each tomato slice. Slice the mozzarella thin
(must be_ff.§sh mozzarella) and place one
slice on each tomato. Roll the prosciutto and
place amidst the tomatoes along with the
olives. Refrigerate 15 minutes and serve cool.
Pagel
CONNECTICUT NEWS
BROOKFIELD - CDCT HAILS STATE LAW
The vote to eliminate pink triangles in Brookfield High
School came as no surprise to the Committee for the Defense
of Classroom Tolerance (CDCT). On June 25, representatives of the CDCT met with Brookfield Superintendent David
Bristol to explore ways to encourage fair and equal treatment
of sexual minority youth in the Brookfield school system. Dr.
Bristol pledged to recommend a school-wide policy that
prohibits discrimination on the basis ofsexual orientation. He
also acknowledged the right of .Brookfield High School
students to initiate a gay-straight alliance at school, if they
wished.
The Brookfield Board of Education voted to ban anti-gay
discrimination in Brookfield schools at its July 15 meeting.
The vote came only days after the enactment of SB1121,
which adds "sexual orientation" to an existing Connecticut
law which prohibits discrimination in education on the basis
of race, religion, gender and other categories. SB1121 was
signed into law by the governor and became effective July 1.
"This new law gives our efforts a tremendous boost," said Ted
LaBonne. "Whereas before we only had safe rones, we now
have a chance for safe schools for sexual minority youth.
Although we are disappointed by the board of education's
failure to support safe rones, this law gives us an even more
potent weapon against discrimination. We stand ready to
assist the students and the faculty in making our schools safe
places to learn."
NEW HAVEN - MCC 20TH ANNIVERSARY
The Metropolitan Community Church ofNew Haven will celebrate their 20 years
of ministry on Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21. On Satu_rday
morning at 10:00 am, a group discussion on Homosexuality and the Bible will be
held at the church located at 34 Harrison Street. Saturday night will host a
banquet/dance starting at 7:00 pm. It will be held at The Brewery, 458 Grand
Ave., New Haven.
Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased by calling the church office at
(203) 389-6750.
On Sunday two special worship services will be held at 9:30 am and 4:00 pm at
34 Harrison Street. Rev. Frank Beard invites all to attend.
NEW HAVEN - NEW INTERFAITH SERVICE
The One Light Interfaith Circle invites people of all faiths to join in an
omnidemonimational service Saturday, August 2nd, 1997 at 5 o'clock. The theme
of the service will be The Golden Rules. "Honoring all faiths and traditions, we
will celebrate how each of the world's major religions speak to the same idea of
brotherly love. To love another as ourselves is a universal concept that knows no
boundary of language or geography," according to co-founder Casey Roberts,
currently studying at The New Seminary.
This month's service will take place Saturday, August 2nd, from 5 to 6 p.m.
Beginning in September, the new schedule will be the Second Saturday of each
month, at 5 p.m. All services take place at the New Haven Gay and Lesbian
Community Center, located at One Long Wharf Plaza in New Haven. All services
are open to all. For further information, please contact Ms. Casey Roberts at
(203)230-2050.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY - GAY FATHERS
For over fifteen years a gay fathers support group ofsome sort
has existed in our area. The current group, Gay Fathers of
Western Connecticut, is based in Fairfield County. It is alive
_and growing with an active membershif of approximately
fifty fathers. While the members are al fathers, there is a
wonderful variety in terms of age and marital status. Most
members are biological rather than adoptive fathers. Many are
separated or divorced while others are still married and living
with their families . The group provides a supportive environment for members to meet and help each other with issues
going on in their lives as gay men and fathers.
The GFWC meets once a month on either the fourth Wednesday or Friday. Although not officially a part of TCC, some
fathers are members of the Center and occasionally the group
will meet there. Usually, though, fathers take turns hosting
meetings in their homes. Since the meetings involve a meal
and since certain members require more discretion than
others, the home environment seems to work the best. After
the meal the group meets, allowing each member to introduce
himself and explain his situation. Discussion then follows .
Members receive a newsletter announcing meeting dates,
locations, and directions. Our next meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, August 20. For more information call Bob at
(203) 866-7051.
NEW HAVEN - YALE REBUFFS OFFER
Larry Kramer relishes a good fight. He helped found the Gay Men's Health Crisis
in 1981, only to split with itlater. Then he started Act Up to press politicians and
pharmaceutical companies to respond more forcefully to AIDS. But recently,
Kramer, 62, a novelist and playwright, seized on a way he could get the last word
in against his antagonists: He would bequeath Yale University, his alma mater,
several million dollars to endow a permanent, tenured professorship in gay studies
and possibly to build a gay and lesbian student center.
Yale declined Kramer's offer - at least on his terms - and in a letter from the
provost, Alison Richard, explained that Yale has frozen its faculty hiring and
cannot add a professorship for Kramer without cutting one elsewhere. Gay and
lesbian studies is too narrow a specialty to lock in a professor for life or a
professorship in perpetuity, she adds, and decisions about tenure and curriculum
are made by the faculty.
Beyond the question of who calls the shots in academia, Kramer's proposal touches
on the delicate issues of how colleges treat areas like gay and lesbian studies. The
field has grown sharply in the last decade, and despite its maverick status, is pushing
on the frontiers of many disciplines.
Today, almost all courses related to gay and lesbian studies at Yale are taught by
untenured or visiting professors. A center called the Research Fund for Lesbian
and Gay Studies, is run by a faculty group that prepares a course guide in the field
- courses like AIDS and Society, and Language and Gender in Cultural
Perspective. Yale says it wants to expand these efforts, and with the help of
members of its gay and lesbian alumni group, known as Yale GALA, is finishing
a fund-raising brochure.
HARTFORD - "OuT" AT THE CAPITAL
The number of openly gay State Representatives recently
doubled with the announcement by Evelyn Mantilla (DHartford) that she is a lesbian. Mantilla came "out" at a
legislative breakfast during the Connecticut Gay Pride Celebration on June 21st in Hartford. She joins Art Feltman (DHartford), who was openly gay before he was elected a State
Representative last November. The only other openly gay
member of the General Assembly is Joseph Grabarz, formerly
a State Representative from Bridgeport who is currently
Director of the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union. Some
astute political observers have suggested that there are at least
six other gay members of the General Assembly who are not
"out'' because of personal or political considerations.
NEW LONDON - DIANA JONES CONCERT
Contemporary folk singer/songwriter Diana Jones will perform in New London,
CT on Saturday August 9, 1997 at 8 pm at The Crow's Nest, a club located in the
Crozier-Williams Student Center on the campus of Connecticut College. Jones,
who writes and sings gender-free love songs, is currently touring through New
England. Her newly released CD, Imagine Me, is receiving critical acclaim.
In May of 1997, Diana Jones won the Tucson Folk Festival Songwriter's
Competition as well as the Poor David's Songwritng Contest in Dallas.
This performance is being sponsored by WCNI 91.1 FM in New London. A
portion of the proceeds will go to "A Moveable Feast, Inc." An organization that
provides nutritious meals to those affected by HIV/AIDS. Tickets are $8 in
advance and $10 at the door. Call June Nicolay at (860) 442-4501 for more
information.
August 1997
Page3
T NEWS & VIEWS
STAMFORD - LONGO SHAKES UP STAMFORD NITELIFE
Michael Longo, Connecticut's diva club promoter, has reconciled with the
owners of Art Bar (84 W. Park Place) in Stamford and has moved his Sunday
night party back to Art Bar. If you haven't been, Art Bar has a couple rooms
where you can get away from the loud music to talk as well as state of the art
lighting and sound on the dance floor. The cover is $4 and there is an open bar
for well drinks and draft beer from 9 to 11 PM.
On July 18, Longo started a new gay party at Symposium ( 129 Atlantic St.) on
Friday nights. Symposium was formerly a bank which gives this club a very NYC
feeling. You can view the dance floor from the second floor balcony lounges. The
club recently had a name change to Club 203 but Longo will have them change
the name back to Symposium. So if you see Club 203 banners flying in front of
the club, don't be confused. If you can't make it out to Art Bar on a Sunday
because of work Monday morning, stop by the Symposium on Friday.
WESTBROOK - LETTER: BAPISTS WRONG
The news that the Southern Baptist convention in Dallas was calling for a
boycott of all things Disney because of the company's apparent support for the
gay and lesbian community would be laughable if not for its underlying potential
for an escalation of hate crimes and increased discrimination. The Rev. Richard
Land, president of the Christian Life Commission, said, "Disney is going to find
out just how many regiments and just how many divisions of godly people
Southern Baptists have." Could this more aptly be seen as a call to arms against
the homosexual community instead of an economic boycott?
Is there a chance that the good reverend would be shocked at the numbers ofgay
and lesbian members of his own estimated 15.7 million "messengers"? There
may be 1.5 million within his own ranks. Citing a same-sex "relationship"
between a meerkat and warthog in the "The Lion King" and lamenting the
coming out of a television personality are ludicrous.
Disney has rightly determined that homosexuality is not a right or wrong issue
but a way of life that deserves understanding and should be protected from the
discrimination and hatred that this misguided religious organization is calling
for.
[Hartford Courant, July 6, 1997, John Bruce Carrier, Westbrook}.
CYBER NEWS
AIDS QUILT UNFOLDS ON THE WEB
The Web site is the latest weapon in the fight against AIDS for the Names
Project, a group that marked its 10th anniversary on Pride Weekend. Since Cleve
Jones and Mike Smith launched the project from the back porch of Smith's
Hartford Street house in 1987, the quilt has grown from two to more than
43,000 panels.
Because of its enormity, the quilt will probably never again be displayed in its
entirety. But anyone who wants to learn more and see pieces ofthe quilt can click
onto its Web site. Each month, the site receives about 200,000 hits and about
15,000 new visitors. That puts it in the top 5 percent of Web sites in the country.
Visit the site at http://www.aidsquilt.org.
WEB HELPS YOUNG GAYS, LESBIANS FIND EACH OTHER
Mary L. Gray, who helped to found the first Usenet news group for gay and
lesbian youth (soc.support.youth.gay-lesbian-bi), said the Internet offers a
unique environment for young people coming to terms with sexual identity.
"They want to talk to someone, but they don't fed comfortable walking into a
room where someone will look at them," said Gray.
The Internet is also a powerful forum for political organizing by gay youth on
legislative and school-related issues. A San Francisco-based site called "incite!"
(www.incite.org) for California gay youth features advice on activism, networking and using technology plus links to other gay youth Web sites.
STATIONERY ON THE NET
The leading discount printing and cyberstationery shop on the Internet has
formed a co-label partnership agreement with onQ (keyword on America
Online). OnQ is the largest online gay and lesbian community in the world.
The onQ/iPrint Discount Print Shop enables anyone who visits onQ on AOL
to design popularly printed stationery items such as business cards, stationery,
and labels online at no charge. iprint offers a range of customized printed
materials with additional products being added weekly. iprint, Inc. is a privately
held software company and can be reached at http://www.iPrint.com.
August 1997
NATIONAL NEWS
ANDREW CUNANAN STILL AT LARGE
Friends said he wore ascots and blazers and
smoked 10-inch cigars. He had a penchant
for sadomasochism and wealthy gay men.
Privately schooled and/olitically astute,
Andrew Cunanan coul meet dozens of
people at a party and remember all of their
names. They would remember his piercing, obnoxious laugh, and how he always
had money though he never seemed to
have a job. He's a man who was voted
"Least Likely to be Forgotten" in high
school.
The FBI categorizes him another way: a
cold-blooded serial killer. His latest victim,
authorities suspect, is world renowned
clothing designer Gianni Versace, lord of a
multimillion-dollar fashion empire. For
months, the cunning Cunanan has kept
one step ahead of the law, slipping cross
country from murder scene to murder scene,
according to authorities.
In April, he made plans to move to San
Francisco, but told friends he planned to
make a stop in Minneapolis to visit an old
lover. It was there, authorities say, that he
embarked on a vicious killing rampage.
Authorities say in the months before he
disappeared, Cunanan deposited and withdrew nearly $75,000 from his bank accounts.
If you have any information concerning this case take no action
yourself. Contact the police.
THREE MORE ANTI-CRIME BILLS!
Hate crimes bills that include sexual orientation hit the desks of
three governors in June: Nebraska's governor has already signed,
Delaware's governor plans to sign, and Louisiana's governor
hasn't decided. If all three bills become law, 20 states plus the
District of Columbia will have enhanced penalty hate crimes
laws that include sexual orientation, according to information
provided by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF).
U.S. SODOMY LAWS: jULY 1997
Sodomy laws have been repealed by legislature in 23 states:
Alaska 1980, California 1976, Colorado 1972, Connecticut
1971, Delaware 1973, Hawaii 1973, Illinois 1962, Indiana
1977, Iowa 1978, Maine 197(>, Nebraska 1978, Nevada 1993,
New Hampshire 1975, New Jersey 1979, New Mexico 1975,
Ohio 1974, Oregon 1972, South Dakota 1977, Vermont 1977,
Washington 1976, West Virginia 1976, Wisconsin 1983,
Wyoming 1977.
COUNT OF ANTI-MARRIAGE BILLS
Pending Anti-Marriage Measures: CT, HI, KY, LA, NJ, NY,
OH, OR, WI (9)
Anti-Marriage Bills Adopted: AR, FL, IN, ME, MN, MS, MT,
ND, VA (9)
Anti-Marriage Bills Blocked: AL, CA, CO, IA, MD, NE, NH,
NM, RI, TX, VT, WA, WV, WY (14)
Pro-Marriage Bills Introduced: IL, MD, NE, RI, WA (5)
NEW DEFENSE BILL
On June 17, openly gay Congressman Barney Frank offered a
Defense bill that declares that the Pentagon's prevailing moral
views are wrong. If passed, the legislation would do away with
the military's adultery law, eliminate all legal obstacles to adult
consensual sex and make homosexual behavior legal.
Page4
T NEWS & VIEWS
MORE GAY PARTNER BENEFITS
Thirteen percent of all U.S. employe~s offer health b:nefits to the partners of
gay and lesbian employees at a neghg1ble cost, according to an estimate by the
accounting firm of KPMG Peat Marwick. The survey fou?d that very large
firms, those with 5,000 or more employees, ar~ more hkely to ?ffer the
benefits. Of those, 23 % provide health benefits to what Peat Marwick called
"nontraditional partners." Of large companies, those with 1,000 to 4,999
employees, 13% of employers offer the coverage. Of mid-size firms, those
with from 200 to 999 workers, 12% offer the coverage. Of the total, 13 %
offer coverage.
The firm surveyed 1,502 randomly selected firms with more than 200
employees. They divided the c?mpanies into catego_ries, and f?und that
technology employers have the highest percentage offermg domestic partners
coverage (26%). Government is a close second (17%), and retail is third
(16%) .
Significantly, the survey found that the costs were not major issues for
employers. The accounting firm found that the cost of coverage and rates for
firms offering and not offering the coverage to nontraditional partners was
equivalent.
SPENDING Is SKEWED
[Ed. Note: This piece was written by Rep. Ernest lstook (R-Okla). He is a
member of the Appropriations Committee which helps decide AIDS funding.}
Federal funding for medical research is skewed, failing to focus on those
diseases that cause the most suffering and death in America. The National
Institutes ofHealth seems to adjust its priorities to respond well to the political
and media attention focused upon AIDS and HIV.
Something is wrong when NIH funds research at the rate of $1,129 per heart
disease death, $723 per stroke death, $4,995 per diabetes death, $4,525 per
cancer death-but $31,381 per HIV/AIDS death. AccordingtotheNational
Center for Health Statistics, cardiovascular disease deaths are 22 times higher
than AIDS deaths. Cancer is the number-two killer, with the number of deaths
13 times higher than those from AIDS.
Although media coverage of AIDS stresses reports that it is the leading cause
of death for males ages 25-44, this segment is only 15 percent of the entire
population. We absolutely should provide significant funding for AIDS
research. It is a horrible and deadly disease. But we should never forget that
it is only one of many horrible and deadly diseases that affiict Americans.
Although NIH denies it, spending too often follows today's politics.
OfNIH's nearly $13 billion annual budget, most goes to basic research and
administrative overhead, but controversy centers on the 43 percent spent on
disease-specific research. There is no formal consultation process for deciding
which diseases to research. For example, NIH does not formally coordinate
priorities with the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), which
manages our Medicare and Medicaid spending, or with the Centers for
Disease Control, private health care insurance providers, or hospitals. Instead
of the current system, federal spending on disease research should consider
how many people are affected and the costs of major diseases. This would
alleviate more human suffering and reduce the cost of prevention and
treatment of our nation's worst diseases.
AIDS is a horrible disease and deserves significant research funding, yet we
could alleviate far more human suftering if we also focused on the far larger
number of people suffering from other horrible diseases. As a result, Congress
and NIH must constantly review whether our current priorities are still
justified or have become outdated. This is not "body-count budgeting."
LESBIAN AND GAY TEENS TODAY - (SECOND OF Two
PARTS)
Even teens who aren't shown the street when they come out to their parents
fear other, serious, economic repercussions from their families. "My father
already suspects [I'm gay]," says Nicole Trivoli, who lives with her lowermiddle class family in Florida. "Once he knows, I know he'll stop supporting
me and refuse to pay for college."
Similarly, when 17-year-old Alice Williams was a sophomore, her parents
stopped paying her college tuition to protest their daughter's admission that
she'd had a girlfriend for the past two years. Williams is still in college, but
she works two jobs, worries about money "constantly," and her lack of funds
will force her to extend her education by a semester.
August 1997
Seif-sufficiency is even more difficult for gay teens who never
make it to college or a trade school. Wages for uneducated,
unskilled workers-who labor primarily in the service sector-are
woefully disproportionate to a self-supporting teen's basic needs.
Unforturiately as a result of the homophonic atmosphere tacitly
condoned by ~ost school systems, nearly a third oflesbian and gay
students drop out before they even finish high school, an act which
circumvents their options for both higher education and, perhaps
more importantly, any chance for earning a living wage.
Many gay teens drop out of school because of the flagrant abuse
they receive at the hands of their peers. Any connection to queers
is grounds for attack: Ryan Estes, a 12-year-old who attends
Woodland Junior High in Fayetteville, Arkansas, doesn't consider
herself a lesbian, but was targeted by classmates because her
mothers are lesbians. Since she was 10, classmates have called
Estes names; hit her in the head and back; pulled her hair; written
sexual epithets on her locker; slammed her fingers in doors; and
strangled her.
In spite of this treatment, Estes intends to remain in school, attend
college. This desire to stay in school is a testament to her bravery
and heroic will. Her decision will also have concrete economic
repercussions. If Estes makes it through high school only, statistics predict that she'll earn 40 percent less than if she graduates
from college. If she doesn't, the gap in wages is even more
dramatic.
Whether gay kids drop out of school because they experience
harassment, or because they come out to their parents and are
forced to leave home, the meager job opportunities afforded by an
unfinished education have repercussions besides the most obvious
side effect of unemployment and subsequent poverty. The rates of
gay and lesbian suicide are astounding: gay male youths are more
than 13 times at risk of committing suicide than their peers, and
young lesbians arc twice as likely to commit . suicide as are
heterosexual females. These rates are usually attributed to low self
esteem and paralyzing struggles over sexual identity. But severe
economic impoverishment may also play a role. Specialists cite
financial difficulties as either a "chronic state or participating
factor'' in the backgrounds of up to 62 percent of adult men who
commit suicide.
High suicide rates, significant numbers ofdrop-outs, homelessness,
economic insecurity, and the lack of a social support systemnone of these problems are intrinsic to being lesbian and young.
Rather these experiences are a direct result of two things: a
homophobic society's hatred of queer youth and the gay
community's failure to address the impoverishment of young
lesbians and gays as a specific issue.
"There aren't a lot of ways for people to contribute to the well
being of youth in general," says Rev Carey, Director of the
National Youth Advocacy Coalition. "There are simply very few
mechanisms through which older gays and lesbians can support
younger gays." But that can change. And change begins with a
step. Young gays have a long wish list; shelters; vocational
training; financial counseling; safe, low-income housing; scholarships and financial aid for trade schools and colleges. Why not help
just one wish come true?
[Ed Note: The first part ofthis article appeared in the July
N& V's. It was written by Athena Douris and appeared in
Girlfiends, a national magazine featuring culture, politics &
sexuality from a lesbian perspective.}
Page5
T NEWS & VIEWS
RELIGIOUS ROUND ROBIN
CATHOLICS - A GROWING ACCEPTANCE
They are out, proud, and feel increasingly free to express their faith. That was
the theme among hundreds of gay and lesbian Roman Catholics who convened
in Boston in July amid what they described as growing acceptance ofgays among
the Catholic community.
A majority ofUS Roman Catholics support giving homosexuals full rights in the
church, including the right to marry, according to a poll last year in National
Catholic Reporter, a weekly newspaper.
In New York, Dignity leaders note they are meeting regularly with Cardinal
John. J. O'Connor to discuss issues of concern. These meetings, Dignity
members said, played a role in O'Connor's decision to decrease the police
presence in front ofSt. Patrick's Cathedral during New York's annual Gay Pride
Parade, and to end the church's opposition to a recent New York State bill
dealing with hate crimes against homosexuals.
EPISCOPALIANS - A DIVIDED HOUSE
As the Protestant Episcopal Church heads into its triennial General Convention,
Episcopalians are perilously close to ecclesiastical chaos. They are deeply divided
over homosexuality. One resolution before the convention would leave the
ordination of active homosexuals and lesbians to the discretion of individual
bishops. A contrary resolution would have the convention reaffirm traditional
teaching that all members of the clergy "are to abstain from sexual relations
outside marriage."
An even more explosive issue is whether the church should add a blessing
ceremony for same-sex couples to its Book of Occasional Services. Officials of
Integrity, the church's powerful gay-and-lesbian lobby, are confident that
homosexual marriages will be accepted by the church-if not at this convention,
then at the next. Gay Episcopalians have a staunch ally in the Rt. Rev. Edmond
Browning, the church's presiding bishop. But his pro-gay stance has alienated
the church's conservative wing and fueled murmurs of schism in a dozen of the
church's 113 dioceses.
JUDIASM - GAY AND LESBIAN STYLE
Much of mainstream Judaism is further along than the major Christian
denominations in welcoming gays and lesbians into the fold. Gay and lesbian
synagogues, for instance, have led the way on a topic that many mainstream
congregations are still grappling with: making worship gender-neutral. In
another area, lesbian and gay synagogues are following the lead of their
mainstream counterparts. As more gay men and especially lesbians become
parents, their synagogues are starting religious schools; one gay synagogue,
Sha'ar Zahav in San Francisco, has had a school for five years.
Reform Judaism, one of the religion's four major branches, began admitting gay
and lesbian synagogues in the 1970s and ordains openly gay rabbis. Its rabbis
publicly endorsed civil marriage for same-sex couples last year and are moving
toward encouraging their colleagues to perform religious wedding c.:remonies.
Conservative Judaism, unlike Reform and the smaller Reconstructionist movement, neither ordains openly gay rabbis nor officially sanctions same-sex
marriages. But its governing body, the Rabbinical Assembly, has long welcomed gays and lesbians as synagogue members.
Orthodox Jews at present have no hope of having their relationships blessed in
synagogues so traditional on sexual matters that men and women are not even
allowed to sit together
PRESBYTERIANS - AMEND GAY STANCE
Presbyterian Church (USA) leaders agreed to amend their
constitution to support "fidelity ... in all relationships oflife," in
an attempt to temper a rule that bars homosexuals from the
pulpit. The measure does not lift a 1978 policy that bans
ordaining "self-affirming, practicing homosexuals." But gay and
lesbian rights supporters say easing the "fidelity and chastity"
rule broadens the definition of acceptable relationships under the
church's constitution. They say that it could open the door to the
church's sanctioning of same-sex marriage and homosexual
ministers. It still needs approval by a majority of the
denomination's 172 presbyteries before it would go into effect.
SOUTHERN BAPTISTS - DISNEY BOYCOTT
A June Newsweek poll showed that few Americans agree with
the Southern Baptist church's boycott of the Disney Company
because of their policies toward gays. Results of a poll reveal that
only 29 % of the people surveyed have joined the church's
boycott of Disney movies, theme parks and products because
they feel the company has moved away from wholesome family
entertainment. Two-thirds of the 753 adults surveyed say the
presence of gay couples at Disney theme parks doesn't reduce the
enjoyment of heterosexual visitors.
There is overwhelming support for equal rights for gays when it
comes to job opportunities and housing and the poll indicates the
majority of the public believes gay partnerships should be legally
recognized in matters such as inheritance rights and health or
social security benefits. Only one-third however, believe in
legally sanctioned gay marriages.
TRIVIA QUESTION
Answer to July - Stuart Elliott, who writes the
Advertising column in Business Day.
Question for August - This British gay icon
(meaning: meaning a woman with many gay
male fans), a pop idol in the 60's, had a comeback when the Pet Shop Boys sought her out to
join them on a record of theirs a few years back.
Who is she? There were no entries in the Trivia
Contest in the June News& Views but you may
be curious about the answers anyway. Here
theyare.1.G,2.W, 3.R(duh),4.E, 5.P, 6.C, 7.0, 8.S
& B 9.D, F, K, U, 10.A & M, 11.0, 12. S, 13.the
unmatached clue, 14.A, 15.L, 16.M & H, 17.N,
18.H, 19.X, 20.J (or tried to), 21.H, 22.I (should
read floor of the House), 23.T (outed). 24.V
METHODISTS - ANTI-BIAS STATEMENT
When United Methodist clergy from throughout New England, gathered for
their annual conference, they were asked to join 1,350 United Methodist clergy
nationwide, including 60 from the church's New England Conference, who
have signed "In All Things Charity," a statement of conscience opposing United
Methodist discrimination against gay men and lesbian women. Clergy from
sister conferences in New England as well as laity supporters have pushed the
regional total to more than 100 signers from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
First released in January by 15 prominent United Methodist clergy, the
statement calls for the ordination of qualified gay and lesbian persons and an end
to the prohibition of "holy unions" voted at the denomination's quadrennial
General Conference in Denver last year.
August 1997
Page6
STATE BY STATE NEWS
CA - MARRIAGE INITIATIVE PROPOSED
A proposed ballot initiative to define marriage in California only as the
union of a man and a woman is being prepared for circulation, the
Attorney General's Office said. The measure would amend the Family
Code to read: "Only marriage between one man and one woman is valid
or recognized in California.".
Once certified to start circulating petitions, backers will have 150 days
to collect at least 433,269 signatures of registered voters to place the
measure on the June 1998 ballot.
CA - GAYS AND LESBIANS TAKE Vows
Recently in West Hollywood about 70 gay and lesbian couples marched
forward as members of the City Council took turns reading vows just.
It was the second year that the city hosted the giant commitment
ceremony as part of the Christopher Street West Gay and Lesbian Pride
Festival.
The city, which has a large homosexual population, enacted its domestic
partnership program in 1985, awardin~ unmarried adult partners some
of the rights - such as hospital and jail visitations - granted married
couples. In May, the city p~sed a reciprocity ordinance recognizing the
domestic partnerships of couples registered in other cities as well.
FL - CHALLANGE ADOPTION LAW
Seeking to strike one of two anti- gay adoptions bans in the nation off
the books, the American Civil Liberties Union opened its case against
a 1977 Florida statute that explicitly bars lesbian and gay parents in the
state from adopting any children.
"No other group in Florida is completely shut out of adoption proceedings," said Michael Adams, a staff attorney with the ACLU's National
Lesbian and Gay Rights Project. "Even citizens who present obvious
problems, like career felons, are evaluated on an indiVIdual basis."
The ACLU will present a battery of leading psychologists who will
bring to bear existing research on gay parenting, and argue that there is
not a single credible shred of evidence suggesting that lesbian and gay
adoptions are harmful to children.
Attorneys for Florida, on the other hand, plan to defend the law by
relying almost exclusively on a team of anti-gay extremists. The experts
will claim it is better to leave children in permanent foster care than place
them in loving homes with lesbian or gay parents. Only two states in the
nation - Florida and New Hampshire - explicitly prohibit gay
adoptions by law.
FL - GAY, LESBIAN RETIREMENT HOME
A retired professor has received permits to build a housing complex in
northern Manatee County that will cater to gay and lesbian retirees.
Palms ofManasota will include 24 single-family homes, 44 apartments
and a 20-unit assisted-living facility on 22 acres. Laing, who is gay, said
he has c~stomers lined up as word spreads that he is creating a complex
welcommg homosexuals The first homes should be finished in six
months. Laing intends to request county rewning to allow a 25-bed
nursing home on the site.
HI-
SAME-SEX LAW IN EFFECT
As of July 9, many of the benefits available to married people in Hawaii
will also be offered to gay couples, siblings and roommates, under a firstin-the-nation law that was enacted to head off homosexual marriages.
Gov. Ben Cayetano allowed the bill to take effect at midnight without
his signature. The law would give any two adults who can't legally marry
the right to share medical insurance and state pensions. They would also
get inheritance rights, the right to joint property ownership and the
right to sue for wrongful death.
Under the same-sex benefits law, couples don't even have to know each
other, live together, or be state residents to apply. They only have to be
18 and legally barred from marrying each other. That makes a vast
number of people eligible for the benefits, and that's creating confusion.
August 1997
LA - HATE CRIMES BILL APPROVED
The Louisiana House approved a Senate-passed "hate crimes" bill
Tuesday after turning back an attempt to exclude sexual orientation as a
possible motive for a hate crime. SB914 would impose extra penalties for
crimes against people or property when the crimes are motivated by
hatred based on race, gender, age, disability, ancestry, national origin,
sexual orientation, employment or membership in an organization.
SB914 now goes back to the Senate for consideration of amendments
that were added by a House committee.
MA - KUEHL ELECTED TO HARVARD
Open lesbian Sheila James Kuehl has become the first open gay or lesbian
ever elected to one of the governing boards of 364-year-old Harvard
University. A campaign to place an open gay or lesbian on a Harvard
Board has been underway for about four years. Kuehl was elected in June
to a two-year term on the distinguished Massachusetts institution's most
senior governing board, the Board of Overseers.
Kuehl is a 1978 alumna ofHarvard Law School who went on to become
a dean ofSouthern California's Loyola Law School. She currently serves
as the speaker pro tern of the California state Assembly, where she was
also the first open gay or lesbian to serve.
Despite her impressive list of accomplishments, Kuehl remains most
familiar to the nationwide public for the work she did in her youth as the
character "Zelda" on the TV sitcom "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis."
ME- DRIVE AGAINST GAY-RIGHTS
In Maine, two anti-gay rights groups officially kicked off a campaign to
gather enough signatures to halt a law prohibiting certain forms of
discrimination against homosexuals. The Christian Coalition of Maine is
working with the Christian Civic League of Maine to collect the
signatures of more than 51,000 certified voters within 90 days. If the
groups succeed, the bill passed by the legislature must go to a statewide
vote.
MN- GAY PRIDE 's 25TH YEAR
More than 200,000 people attended the Pride Festival, a national
celebration marking its 25th year in Minneapolis. Some men wore thick
makeup and tight dresses, and some women wore motorcycle gear, but
a lot more had windbreakers, shorts and big umbrellas. The parade, had
more than 150 entries Representatives of several metro-area churches
marched, one after the other, bearing signs of acceptance and welcome.
They were joined by gay-oriented college groups.
MT- BAN ON GAY SEX OVERTURNED
Montana Supreme Court threw out a 24-year-old ban on homosexual
sex, rejecting all of the state's arguments and concluding that government has no business meddling in the sexual activity ofconsenting adults.
The Montana law violates the right to privacy guaranteed in the state's
Constitution, the court said.
NB- GAY PRIDE MARCH
The 13th annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender pride celebration began with a parade, complete with candy, balloons, and a drag
queen riding atop a jeep. Mark Allen, an organizer of the march,
estimated that more than 700 people participated.
NC - GAY ADOPTION CASE
Durham District Court Judge Elaine O'Neal postponed a decision on
whether an out-of-state adoption involving two women should be
recognized in North Carolina. The case involves two women who lived
together in Washington state. One of the women, Sheryl Rose Erez, gave
birth in 1993. The other woman, Aviva Shira Starr, became an adoptive
parent of the child the following year. The couple moved to North
Carolina with their child in 1995. But in 1996, the couple separated and
Erez moved to another state for a new job, leaving the child with Starr.
Starr then filed for custody of the child, sparking a court fight with Erez.
Page 7
Starr's attorneys contend that her adoption was properly finalized in the
state ofWashington and thus North Carolina is bound by the constitutional
doctrine of "full faith and credit'' to honor it. But Erez argues that the
adoption is void because it was obtained unconstitutionally and because.it
violates "a decided public policy against protecting homosexual 'families' "
in North Carolina.
On March 27 of this year, Judge O'Neal signed an order that gave
temporary, joint legal custody to both women, but temporary physical
custody to Starr. Erez also agreed to pay $715 a month to Starr for child
support. Still, the validity of the child's adoption remains an open question.
NH- FIRED GAY OFFICER SUING TOWN
An Allenstown police officer who says he was fired because he is gay is suing
the town to get his job back. Bruce Nadeau also is asking for back pay and
benefits. He maintains Police Chief James McGonigle fired him illegally in
January. McGonigle has said Nadeau was fired because he violated policy
and then lied about it.
NJ- "BERGEN RECORD" EDITORIAL
The word "outrage" is often overused, but it is truly an outrage that the state
will not let Michael Gallucio and Jon Holden adopt the little boy the two
men have cared for since infancy. The gay couple from Maywood took him
in as a foster child under the supervision of the state Division of Youth and
Family Services when he was 3 months old and suffering from severe
problems. The tiny, sickly baby was addicted to cocaine, had lung damage,
and carried antibodies for both hepatitis C and the AIDS virus. No one else
wanted him. Mr. Gallucio and Mr. Holden not only loved him, they also
nursed him through many long days and nights. And eventually, the baby's
condition began to improve.
Today he is almost 2 years old, healthy, happy, and thriving, and ready to
start nursery school. The state should be bending over backward to allow
the two men to adopt this child. Obviously, DYFS considers them ideal
foster parents, since it has allowed them to care for three foster children
altogether.
Mr. Gallucio and Mr. Holden say they told D YFS all along that they wanted
to adopt jointly and were told repeatedly it was no problem. In fact, the
agency sent them a letter of congratulations in 1995 for passing all state
requirements and becoming "an approved adoptive family."
IfDYFS was happy to have them as parents when the child was sickly and
frail, it should be equally happy to have them as permanent parents now that
they have done such a good job. Instead, the agency says its regulations do
not allow unmarried couples - gay or straight - to adopt; only married
couples or unmarried singles can do that
These men, who have done such an admirable thing, should not have to
jump through all those hoops. They should be able to adopt jointly now.
The little boy is already truly their son. All that remains to be done is to make
it official.
[Ed. Note: The Record received many responses to this editorial. They all
agreed that they two men should be allowed to adopt this child.}
NY- GAY PRIDE DAY IN NEW YORK
Gay men and lesbians marched and danced and sang their way up Fifth
Avenue in a serious and saucy celebration of Gay Pride Day. The city's top
politicians marched alongside drag queens on floats, nearly naked dancers
and men wearing sequined gowns, feathered boas and tight miniskirts.
Thousands of spectators cheered the spectacle through the heart of
Manhattan on a hot, sunny afternoon. The 28th annual march was used to
launch an effort to help healthy people "stay free of HIV as we enter the
21st century. Got 2 B There" - for the millennium - said T-shirts.
The New York marchers reserved some of their whistles and boos for
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani (R), who has said he opposes legally sanctioned gay marriages. He responded with a broad smile but picked up his
pace.
But most of those celebrating weren't there to watch politicians. "I adore
my lesbian daughters, keep them safe," said a sign field by 73-year-old
Frances Goldin who said that people had approached her with their phone
numbers, asking: "Can I adopt you as my mother?" She said she'll call them.
"Difference enriches us all," she said.
August 1997
NY - Al DS ADVISER CRITICIZED
An appointee of Gov. George Pataki who serves on the panel that
advises the state on AIDS policy has suggested that people infected
with HIV have sex only with other people who have the virus as a
way to end the epidemic. The appointee, Dr. David S. Hodes, the
chief of the iufectious diseases division in the pediatrics department
at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, made his remarks at the
monthly meeting of the State AIDS Advisory Council, angering
advocates of AIDS patients and stunning into silence other council
members who hastily sought to distance themselves from his
position.
In interviews .after the meeting Hodes said he also advocated
mandatory HIV testing as a last resort, if the voluntary approach
does not work, "in the same way that we test for tuberculosis when
you go for employment."
The governor's press secretary and a spokesman for the state Health
Department expressed disapproval of Hodes' position.
The opposing opinions, however, did not deter the council member.
He further elaborated in an interview that there were strategies to
prevent the disease from attacking a new generation. For example,
he said that an HIV-infected person born before 1977 could decide
not to have sex with anyone born after that year. "It's a fairly simple
thing that can be done without too much inconvenience to anybody."
Hodes said he was less certain of a strategy for intravenous drug
users, who are fueling the epidemic with dirty needles. "It's a far
more difficult problem because you're not dealing with rational
people," he said.
NY- COURT PROTECTS GAY CONDUCT
In the 48-page ruling, Judge Eugene Nickerson of the Eastern
District of New York has ruled that the military's "don't ask, don't
tell" policy on gays is unconstitutional and serves solely to cater to
the biases of many heterosexuals. He derided the government's
argument that discriminating against homosexuals was necessary to
maintain military morale.
"It is hard to imagine why the mere holding of hands off base and in
private is dangerous to the mission of the Armed Forces if done by
a homosexual but not if done by a heterosexual," he wrote.
The case, filed by six gay and lesbian service members, is one of a
number around the country challenging the Clinton policy, including two currently before the U.S. Court of Appeal in San Francisco.
To date, the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review the issue.
The Justice Department will appeal the judge's ruling.
OH- MARCHERS SAY THEY'RE PROUD
Individuals, churches, businesses and politicians join for the 16th
annual Pride March in Columbus. Seven friends wore Mickey Mouse
ears yesterday to the annual Pride March to thank the Walt Disney
Co.
Freedom, tolerance and pride were common themes in the annual
parade. The day ended with a mass ceremony in which same-sex
couples exchanged vows and recognized their relationships publicly.
The 16th annual gathering drew participants from churches, businesses and organizations as well as politicians and people marching
for their own sake or in support of friends.
OR- DOMA DEFEATED
The 69th session of the Oregon Legislature adjourned without
approving the Defense Of Marriage Act. R TP's Executive Director
hails the session a remarkable success.
While conservative Republicans sought an all-out ban on gay
marriages, moderate Republicans and Democrats banded together
in opposition. When the Right attempted to place the divisive and
conservative rallying cause on the primary election ballot as a !actic
to elect more conservative lawmakers, RTP and its allies acted
quickly - killing the bill many thought was inevitable.
Page8
Property of the Center
T NEWS & VIEWS
PA - WORKERS
WANT BENEFITS
A little more than a year ago, when the City was ha~ng an enrollm.e nt
period for its employees to add spouses to their ?1e~cal benefits pohcy,
one Pittsburgh police officer filled out the apphcat1on. It _was returned
along with a letter of rejection. The reason: ~he officer 1s gay. La~ra
Dunhoff, the officer's, attorney, said that her chent has filed a complamt
with the city's Human Relations Commission.
But the issue could hit the public eye even before the commission makes
a ruling in Dunhoff's case. Councilm.an Dan Cohen, p)ans to sponsor
legislation before the year is out that, 1f passed by council and approved
by the mayor, will guarantee that city employees who are gay are offered
the same benefits as heterosexual city workers.
TX- LESBIAN CAN SuE FoR V1?ITAT10N
A lesbian is entitled to sue for visitation rights to her ex-lover's child,
Texas' 3rd Court of Appeals ruled. The decision did not turn on the
question of Lisa Ann Fowler's sexual orientation .. Rather, it was based
on a provision in state law that says such a lawsmt may be brought by
a person "who has had actual care, ~ontrol a°:d possession ?~ the,,child
for not less than six months precedmg the filmg of the pennon. T~e
woman who gave birth to the child while the two lived together, Toma
Jones, will appeal, said her lawyer.
WA - GAY PRIDE PARADE IN SEATTLE
From the political banners to the pro-family marchers to the strains of
the national anthem it was an All-American parade that rolled down
Broadway on June 29 with 30,000 marchers or onlookers. Bu~ this slice
of apple-pie Americana was none other .than the ~ual Lesbian (Gay/
Bisexual/Transgender Pnde Parade, whICh once claimed a reputation as
the most audacious and ostentatious in the ~ity.
The gay -and- lesbian community's celebration seems to have reached
middle age, preoccupied more with traditional themes involving work,
family, church and service than in sexual expression. There were.still the
requisite men in pumps and fishnets, but drawing more attention was
a proliferation of children among the marchers drawing shouts of
support.
OTHER AREA GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Bare & Gay (B&G) gay nudists
(860) 644-4305
Bisexually Curious Support Group Bpt
(203) 264-5605
Chiltern Mountain Club
(203) 899-0270
(203) 256-8414
Connecticut Kids and Families
(203) 791-9553
Connecticut Freedom to Marry Coalition
40-Up Club. (Social Grp.-call Dale before 10pm) (203) 261-4019
Gay Fathers Group
(203) 866-7051
Gay Mens Association of Danbury
(203) 778- 7016
GEMS (Mature GLBT)
(860) 688-1881
(203) 366-3734
Guideline (gay/lesbian phone info)
(203) 724 5542
Hartford Community Center
Married Men's Bisexual Suppt Grp Htfd
(203) 262-1555
(203) 389-6750
Metropolitan Community Church
(914) 948-4922
The Loft, White Plains NY,
(203) 931-8789
Triangle Bowling League
(203) 255-6229
Triangle Kids
(203) 323-6278
(203) 773-9947
Western Connecticut Gay Men's Group
We're glad to list your non-profit gay/lesbian;bi/tg group free of charge.
Call (203) 964-1133. Please keep us informed of changes.
Deadline for lhe S'eplembe, new,lelle, will be
S'alurday 16 Au9u,1. We oannol 9uaranlee lhal
malerial received afler lhal dale will be included
in S'eplember new,&Yiew,.
August 1997
TRIANGLE COMMUNITY CENTER, INC.
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e-mail TCCenter@aol.com
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
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DAVE CARROLL ............... ...... ...... Acting Recording Sec'y
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JOHN DEL VECCHIO
DON BUXTON
LEN HOREY
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Insurance
TIie above-itamed indivldlllJls an ngistered npresenlllJi,es of EQ Financial
Cansullams, htc. (212 641-7.l(){)), a brourlthaler and in•eslmelll ad•iler, and agents
of1'/te Equilable life Assurance Society oft/le United Stater (NY, NY 10104). The
abo,e-named individual also offers tradilu)nal and variable it1Suranct and annuitier
of Equilable, and of ovtr fifty otlter companies through EquiSoura.
AGE-97-587 f:.rp.(6/98)
Massage Connection
Specializing in Sexual Orientation,
Loss, Relationship, & HIV-related Issues.
New Haven Office
200 Orchard St.
789-0560, Ext. 4
Wilton Office
387 Danbury Road
761-8825
PAUL D. SCHNEIDER
Attorney at Law
POBox4Sl
Southport, CT 06490-0451
203/2SS-SS20
Adoption
Child Custody Divorce
Partnership Agreements
Our Families Matter
THRESHOLD
MORTGAGE COMPANY
• Specializing in professional Swedish
massage
• By appointment only - Day or evening
PATRICK WINTERS
LOAN OFFICER
THRESHOLD MORTGAGE
COMPANY
THRESHOLD COMMON
• Student discounts available
59
W1LTON ROAD
WESTPORT, CT
06880
(203) 454-0525
TOLL FREE (800) 562-5577
FAX (203) 454-0069
HOME (203) 256-5951
EMAIL pkw@thresholdmtg.com
OFFICE
• Home visits available
1-800-611-0641
Office located in the New Haven area
~ MEMBER OF THE
~ INTERNALTIONAL
l
r. . JI MASSAGE ASS O. . . . . CIATION
August 1997
• Specializing in r·esidential home mortgages in Fairfield County
• Capable of handling all loan scenario's from a$60,000 condo in
Stamford to a$1,000,000 home in Greenwich
• Consistent top producing loan officer for over ten years with a
wealth of knowledge and experience
In 1.995, fbresboltlJforlffafft! was citetlas the top producinfmorlflaffe
companJ barinfclosed orer $115, OfJO, fJfJO in loans in /?airfield Coun/j'
Page JO
Horticultural Botanist
Gardener & House I Pet Sitter
~
(203) 256-4565
(800) 628-7209
FAX: (203) 256-1759
jnemis@aol.com
Donald J. Comes
JOANN ATTWOOD NEMIS
(203) 866-2823
VICE PRESIDENT/ INVESTMENTS
30 Tierney Street
Norwal,k, CT06851
JANNEY MONTGOMERY SCOTT. INC.
MEMBERS NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE ANO OTHER PRINCIPAL EXCHANGES
2150 POST ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CT 06430
SAUGATUCK COUNSELING CENTER
Individual, Couple, Family &: Group Therapy
Specializing in:
Weddings • Comittment Celebtations
and "Coming-Out" Patties
KURT SPERLING,L.C.S.W.
76 Lake Avenue • Danbury, CT 06810
Tel : 730-1400 • Fax: 798-9611
225 MAIN
STREET,
LLl • WESTPORT, CT 06880 • 203.454.1549
LEADING
HOMES.iil
[B
THE BUYERS REAL ESTATE COMPANY
MICHAEL T. PAVLICIN
llEALTOR"
772 KINGS HIGHWAY WEST
EltCLUSIVE BUYER AGENT
BROKER
SOUTHPORT, CONNECTICUT 06490
F AX/2!5!5•3705 HOM E/866-6993
203/255-2278
leadhome3@aol .com
VICTORIA
Laura L Gates, MSW, LCSW
Individuals, Couples, and Families
7-11 South Broadway, Suite 400
White Plains, NY 10601
(203) 372-9799
(203) 3'flMi1711l
A~gust 1997
1169 Sylvan Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06606
(203) 372-9799
(203)ZJB41f114
T.
FERRARA
ATTORNEY AT LAW
(203) 227-9585
WESTPORT, CT
ADMITTED IN CT AND NY
T NEWS & VIEWS
Maria C. Castillo, MSW, LCSW
Individual, Couples, and Family Therapy
Recovery from Abuse
Bilingual
(203) 261-3492
(203) 336-2708
Bridgeport, CT
Monroe, CT
ALDIS
MlD-FA1RF1£lD
AlDS PROJ£CT
SERVlNG TH£ N££'DS Of
TH£ HJV/ A10S COMMVN1TV 1N:
NORWALK
WESTPORT
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WJLTQN
W£STON
&£ASTON
l"ROVlOING Cll£NT S£RVJC£S ANO ADVOCACY
_111E_4_6_~-ill-!!1'-in-R-!-~---Do-nb_ury_,_CT_06_8_11-*
(203)778•9399
FAX (203)744• 1139
Three detades of GAY travel expertise
fEiV\
~RSVP
MIO~AIRF1£l0 AIDS l"ROJ£CT
JvRIVER ST.
NORWALK. CT 4)(,110
PHON£: (loJ) 111-9111
FAX: (loJ) 111-1rn
INTI::RN£T: k1tP://www.mfap.com
£-MAil: h1fo@mfap.com
Diane Hyatt, MSW, CISW
T Solution~ricnted short or longer tenn
JOANNE M. MARINO, C.C.M.H.C., N.C.C.
psychotherapy for Adults and Adolescents,
specializing in, but not limited to:
PSYCHOTHERAPIST
49 Coolidge Avenue
21 STRICKLAND RD . . COS COB, CONN. 06807 (203) 869-0216
Stamford. CT 06906
(203) 964-184 7
1653 Capitol Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06606
JOSEPH H. SWEENEY, CPA
(203) 332-0136
T
T
T
T
Depression
Anxiety
Post-Traumatic Stress
Counseling for Partners & Family
T Specialized Psychotherapy Groups
T Case Consultation
T Clinical Supervision
ATTORNEY-AT LAW
1305 POST ROAD, FAIRFIELD
SAUGATUCK COUNSELING CENTER
203/256-3839
Tax Planning, Preparation & Appeals;
Estates & Trusts, Probate Matters,
Real Estate Law; Elder Law; and
Individual, Couple, Family & Group Therapy
-
JOHANNA RAYMAN
M.S. W., LC.S. W.
Small Business Formations and Assistance
225 MAIN STREET, LL! • WESTPORT,
CT 06880 • 203.454.1549
Support our advertisers! Say
you saw it in News & Views!
August 1997
Page 12
1
1
Univllfj[111i11l1ilfiiij /~~ ~llf1[1i11lill~rlll~i~lllld,OK
Property of t.he Center
M 001 111 369
Support our advertisers!
~ - - - - - - - - - - - S _ a__1Y__.Y......o_u_s_a_w_i--,tin N;...:.e-=-w:..:..s=---=&:......:V:...;.ie-=-w:..:...s-=-!~==========---;;-i
1
DR. JEANNE E. CASTELLUCCI
CHIROPRACTOR
(914) 939-7752
(203) 622-8266
558 Westchester Ave.
Rye Brook, NY 10573
209 Bruce Park Ave.
Greenwich, CT 06830
New Patients & Emergencies: 1-800-651 -4879
~
..,.6~
~,o••
.v
~,. . ,
c,.,f;':I
Serving Greenwich
Darien,New Ganaan
and Stamford
MICHAEL D. ROME, Esq.
Marlin and R.ome, LLC
Attorneys-at-Law
888 Washington Blvd.
8th Floor
Stamford CT 06901
(203) 977 -5096
Fax (203) 977 -5460
FREE INITIAL HALF
HOUR CONSULTATION
Real Estate Transactions
Tazation: Business & Individual
Estate Planning & Probate
Personal I,vury/Accident Law
131 Bowayton.Avenue (on the Five Mile River)
ROWAYTON, CONNECTICUT06853
Fax (208) 853-6818
(203) 853-6677
100 Acres• Pool
Hot Tub• Trails
Michelle C. Loris, Ph.D., Psy.D.
Individual, Couple and Group Therapy
l¥e
Wi bland§ GJnn
P.O. Box 118
Bethlehem, NH 03574
(603) 869-3978
(203) 255-2767
By Appointment
Ct. Lie. MFT
A LESBIAN PARADISE
'iStephanie's Living Room, Inc.
Presenting quality dances for women who do not like
the bar scene ... Come a11J meet 11,ew friendY.
September Dance
Sat. Sept 13, 8 pm $10
20 Charming Rooms
Peace & Privacy
Jane
wAttorney-at-Law
Griffith, JD, MBA
Tax Strategy & Preparation
Estate Planning & Wills
.
• Real Estate
• Business Consulting
Ramada Inn, Stratford, CT
1-95 North, Exit 30
For more information call: (203) 377-2119
270Alden Avenue, New Haven, CT06515-2114
Fax 203 I 387-9899
Voice 203 / 389-8614
WHERE ARE WE? The Triangle Community Center Inc. is located at 25 Van Zant Street in Norwalk.
From 1-95, take Exit 16 and go south (from Stamford, turn right; from New Haven, turn left). Continue
south under the railroad bridge and turn right on Van Zant St. (Route 136). 25 Van Zant is a large
condominium office building on the right. TCC is in Suite 7-C on the ground floor, Tel. (203) 853-0600.
August 1997
Page 13
T ~EWS & VIEWS
August, 1997
Calendar
Sun
JUIYU
AA9-10am
OutSpoken 4-6
Mon
l.lll
Women's Rap 7:30
LY
5
HIV couns 3:30-6:30
Lesbian Lit Group 7:30
4
Women's Rap 7:30
IO
II
12
Women's Rap 7:30
HIV couns 3:30-6:30
TV-"Any Mother's Son,"
9:00
AA 9-10 am
Outspoken 4-6
I.S I
Men's Rap 7:30
Oral History 7:30
I
Bowling 9:30
Circle Lanes
12
6
P-FLAG 7:45
7
Men's Rap 7:30
Oral History 7:30
8
Out & About 6:30-8
Bowling 9:30
Circle Lanes
9
N&V Deadline
Diana Jones Concert,
New London 8 pm
13
Bi Rap Grp 7:30
TCC Board 7 :30
14
15
Bowling 9:30
Mens' Rap 7:30
TV-"Any Mother's Son," Circle Lanes
9:00
16
~v
HIV couns 3:30-6:30
3
AA 9-10 am
OutSpoken 4-6
Sat
Fri
Thu
Wed
Tues
Interfaith Service 5:00 ,
New Haven
17
18
AA 9-10 am
Women's Rap 7:30
OutSpoken 4-6
TCC Annual Picnic,
S1amford 11 :30-4:30
TV-"Any Mother's Son, "
19
HIV couns 3:30-6:30
Fundraising/Spec Event
Comm 7:30
20
Gay Fathers Meeting
21
Mens' Rap 7:30
P-FLAG Spouses & Exspouses 7:30
22
Bowling 9:30
Circle Lanes
23
TV-"Any Mother's Son,"
8:00
24
AA 9-10 am
OutSpoken 4-6
26
HIV couns 3:30-6:30
27
Bi Rap Grp 7:30
TCC Board 7:30
28
Men's Rap 7:30
29
Bowling 9:30
Circle Lanes
30
2
HIV couns 3:30-6:30
Lesbian Lit Group 7:30
3
P-FLAG7:45
4
Men's Rap 7:30
Oral History 7:30
s
6
25
Women's Rap 7:30
31
Sept I
AA 9-10 am
Women's Rap 7:30
OutSpoken 4-6
TV-"Any Mother's Son,"
noon
TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
GROUPS MEETING AT OR SPONSORED BYTCC
A.A. • Don 762-9964
Bi Rap Group - Peter 838-2806;Robin 358-8391
35+ Womens Group - Judy 227-5566
Free Association of Fairfield County - John 268-8858 x304
Gay Men's Rap Group- Dave 838-1881; John 926-8971
Gmosaic {People of Color) - not currently active call TCC 853-0600
Lesbian Literature Reading Group - Christine, 847-8476
Out & About (Gen.X Group) - Jen 736-6417 or Dan 838-2367
Outspoken {Youth)- Barb 259-8171; Dan 227-1755;
Doug 838-2367
P-FLAG {Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians & Gays) Joan 544-8724; Lester 322-5380; Belinda 855-1203
P-FLAG Spouses & Ex Spouses Group - Joan 544-8724
Triangle Bowling League (Circle Lanes, Fairfield) - Lisa 3333113; Roseann931-8789
Women's Rap Group - Chandra 228-8652; Michele 438-4465
All meetings are held at the Center and in the evening unless
otherwise noted. A $3 donation per person is appreciated with
your participation in activities to help support the Center.
Out & About 6:30-8
Bowling9:30
Circle Lanes
-
T
MEMBERSHIP FORM
MEMBERSHIP LISTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL
NAME _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
ADDRESS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
CITY - - - - - - - - STATE - - - - Z I P - - - PHONE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
CONTRIBUTING MEMBER
CONTRIBUTING HOUSEHOLD
SUPPORTING MEMBER
SPONSORING MEMBER
SuSTAINING/BuslNESS MEMBER
SPECIAL MEMBER (YOUTH/SENIOR)
$35
$60
$125
$250
$500
$20
PLEASE MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO:
TRIANGLE COMMUNITY CENTER, INC. P.O.
EAST NORWALK, CT 06855
Box 4062
ATTN: MEMBERSHIP
(203) 853-0600
August 1997
Page 14
Part of Triangle Community Center News & Views : v.8:no.8(1997:Aug.)