Networking45North_v11.no4.1997.09-10.pdf
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Property of the Center
THE NEWSLETTER OF FRJENDS
N
E
NORTH,
T
INC.,
an association of lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, transgendered and their friends.
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K
VOLUME
11
•
ISSUE 4
N
• AUGUST • SEPTEMBER • OCTOBER •
G
1997
Mark Your Calendars Now Amending Michigan's
For Important Fall Event
Intimidation Act
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER, MEL WHITE,
TO PROVIDE KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Please make every effort possible to reserve all day
Saturday, November 1, for the Friends North Gay History and
Education Day '97. This year the GHED will be held at Traverse
City's Park Place Hotel and
promises to be highly
educational,
entertaining,
and enlightening.
The day-long event will
be broken into segments and
participants can attend up to
three individual seminars at
the time of their choice.
Friends North members and
organizers Matt McCormick
and Guy Molnar suggested
this format for one major
reason: group participation
increases when groups are
smaller. "We're offering three
individual sessions but will be
repeating them three times," said McCormick. "This way the size
of the group will be about that of an average classroom and the
presenters can work in smaller groups. People tend to participate
more when class size is smaller and we felt this would be a big
advantage for both those presenting and those attending."
The day will begin with registration for those who have not
pre-registered and move immediately into the first half of small 75
minute sessions on a variety of topics. There will be a break for
lunch (which is included in the registration fee) and afterwards the
final session will be held along with an address by the keynote
speaker. The sessions being offered are: "Making Your Point While
Keeping Your Cool: More Effective Communication"; " Gays,
GHED continued on page 13
McManus Opposes Bill
House Bi ll 4674 woul d amend the Ethnic Intimidation Act of
1988 which was designed to al low increased penalties for crimes
against many minority groups. This legis lation wou ld add gays
and lesbia ns to those groups whic h have been singled out for
"additional protection."
The rational for inclusion of "sexua l orientation" is because
'hate crimes' or 'bias crimes' continue to pague our country and
our community. People continue toe victimized because of their
religions, facial characteristics or ethnic origins. The emergence of
a visible white supremacist movement is a chilling manifestation
that racial and religious distinctions continue to place innocent
citizens at risk of being terrorized.
Incidents of violence against gays and lesbians are increasing
both nationally and in the State of Michigan . Gays and lesbians
are reluctant to report incidents of violence because there are no
legal protections against further consequences of bei nging pub I icly
known as gay and lesbian.
Jeffrey Montgomery and Sean Kosofsky of the Triangle
Foundation made the long trek to Traverse City's Pride Celebration
at the Robb farm in late June. They wanted to educate the
community in their fight to protect gays and lesbians from hate
crimes with this new legislation . Traverse City was just one of their
more pleasurable itineraries-they have been busy meeting with
representatives, senators, prosecuting attorneys, chiefs of police,
sheriffs, and mayors all across the State of Michigan.
The Triangle Foundation has been successful in getting
endorsements from many influential groups, including the ACLU,
Detroit mayor Dennis Archer, NOW, Detroit City Council,
Michigan Sheriffs' Assn ., Prosecuting Attorney's Assn. of
Michigan, and the Michigan Psychological Association .
Many representatives and Senators have shown support of
this bill. However, local representative, Michelle McManus, has
said that she will oppose the bill. (see her letter page 6 in this issue,
along with a letter from Brad Deacon, Assistant to the Governor).
Richard Tuxbury
Friends North, Inc., P.O. Box 562, Traverse City, MI 49685-0562 (616)
946-1804 (This is a general information line to receive FIN
information.)
FRIENDS NORTH is an organization of lesbians, gay men, bi-sexuals and
their friends from northwestern lower Michigan. Located in Traverse
City, we provide social activities, a newsletter, phone line, workshops,
and a scholarship fund for financial assistance.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS of FRIENDS NORTH is composed of nine
women and men elected each December. Regular board meetings are
held at Grace Episcopal Church at the Corner of Washington &
Boardman the first Tuesday of every month (except August) at 6:30
p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Brenda Bartz - 616-946-2708/bbartzstar@aoLcom
Victor Dinsmore, Secretary - 616-459-5759/itsyrigloo@aol.com
Jim Groya - 616-946-7313
M'Lynn Hartwell-VP - 616-943-5050/les n more@aol.com
Jim Ingleson - 616-922-0925
Carol Lambertson, Pres. - 616-275-7102
Ben Maddy- 616-271-3926/coolj707@aol.com
Julie Parker - 616-276-9330
Sue Schwartz, Treas. - 616-946-3032/tcfriend@aol.com
FROM THE EDITOR
Thanks go out to Dean and Cindy
Robb as well as son Benjamin Maddy
for again hosting Traverse area's annual
Pride Celebration. About 150 people
gathered together on that very warm
and sunny Saturday afternoon in June.
There was a catered picnic and then in the evening, a showing of
the film, A Beautiful Thing.
There was a noticeable decrease in the number of people from
last year's event. The board had hoped to see the gathering
continue to grow and grow in future years. However, it appears
that this is not going to be the case. I have wondered myself what
might be done to increase the attendance during this important,
across-the -country gay event. Hold it on Sunday? Move it to a
park downtown?
The board, as well as the organizers of the event, would
welcome your involvement in next year's Pride Celebration.
Please feel free to call M'Lynn Hartwell, Jim lngleson or Kirk
Mallow, who were responsible for much of this year's organizing.
It's not too early to plan for next year.
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE: Publication of Networking 45° North.
Editor: Richard Tuxbury: 271-3042
or e-mail: tux00 l@aol.com
Publishing & Layout: Richard Curtis: 616-929-9605
or e-mail: rlc@traverse.com
Advertising: Editor or Publisher
Mailing List: John Evans: 922-0746
Networking 45° North is the newsletter of Friends North, Inc. Viewpoints
expressed do not necessarily represent those of the board or general
membership.
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING and notices are run without charge. Please
submit in writing or by calling the editor (and leave ad on machine 2713042 or by email.)
DISPLAY ADVERTISING in Networking 45° North is available in Business
Card size - $25.00 per space per issue or an annual rate of $120.00 for
6 issues. Inserts and larger sized ads are available. Please call
'advertising' for rates.
SPONSORING POLITICAL POSTCARDS: Cost for printing 2,800 postcards
for Networking 45° North is $100.00. To sponsor all or part of this, and
to give your input, call Richard 271-3042.
CONTRIBUTIONS to Networking are welcome. Letters, essays, features,
reflections, and original artwork should be sent "c/o Editor" to above
address. (Networking will not accept material that is sexist,
discriminatory or sexually explicit. Contributors are responsible for
obtaining permission from tho~e whose names they submit for
publication.)
DEADLINES: Issue #5, October 15.
T
T
There has been some interest regarding the Traverse City
Commission elections coming up next month. As far as is known,
no one from our community has done research on the candidates
and their stand on the sexual orientation issue from last year.
However, candidate Margaret Dodd has submitted a letter to
Friends North, which is being published in this issue.
For those who have not been informed, the current TC
Commission, primarily under the leadership of Kester, Orth and
Weese, were responsible for filling vacant positions on the TC
Human Rights Commission . Up for re-appointment was Pam
Haley, who participated in pressuring the commission last year to
add 'sexual orientation' as a protected class in the City's nondiscrimination policy regarding its employees.
In a surprise move, the Commission chose to bypass the
dedicated and competent Haley, and instead selected Matthew
Schoech. Schoech is well-known locally for his involvement in the
John Birch Society. I remember him as the person who spoke so
irrationally about gays and lesbians over the years at Commission
meetings. At the least, it is without a doubt that Schoech will not
support equality, or even protections, for gays and lesbians. I
commend the Traverse City Record Eagle for its vehement
condemnation of the Commission's decision. Like the editors, I
ask that the Commission dump Schoech and replace him with
someone who has respect for ;ill people.
I believe that you will find the letter on page 6 from Rep.
Michelle McManus (R-Lake Leelanau) disappointing. In this she
responds to a request to support the inclusion of gays and
lesbians as a class of people who might be protected by current
'hate crime' or 'bias crime' laws. In a statement that shows her ill
will against local gays and lesbians, she has said that she will not
consider it. McManus is finishing her final term in the Michigan
legislature when term limits will cause her to leave office.
ADDRESS CHANGES: Please notify us in advance if a change is coming.
Call John Evans, 922-0746, or send changes to our address.
SUBSCRIPTIONS/MEMBERSHIPS: $15.00/single; $25.00/couple. Please
send checks or money orders to: Friends North, P.O. Box 562, Traverse
City, MI 49685-0562.
DISTRIBUTION: Networking is published 6 times per year. Copies are sent
bulk-mail in a plain envelope to approximately 700 households.
Additional copies are available at select local establishments. Our
mailing list is not sold or traded with other organizations.
D
printed on recycled paper
NE1WORKING 45' NORTH
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VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
It is Bike Tour Weekend in Northern Michigan . If you haven't
joined us (the 130 men and women from around the Midwest)
consider signing on next year, July 24-26. We would love to see
150 or even 200 people biking and camping in beautiful Leelanau
county next summer.
Caro l Lambertson
FROM THE PRESIDENT ...
Summer is finally here and I am sure you are
all enjoying your favorite warm weather
activities. The Friends North Board remains
active with our usual business; however, we do
not meet in August. The next scheduled Board Meeting is
September 2, 1997.
The Gay History and Education Day scheduled for the first
weekend in November is our next major event. The Reverend Mel
White will be our keynote speaker. Please look for the additional
details in this issue, and remember to register early!
The Board will now be focusing toward the end of the year.
There is some work yet to be done regarding the proposed
amendment to our by-laws so that this may be presented to the
membership for a vote at the annual meeting in December. We will
also be busy searching for potential new board members - 5 out
of 9 seats on the board will be vacant in December. If you or
anyone you know is interested in serving on the board , please
contact Brenda Bartz or Ben Maddy.
Finally, just a word to everyone to remain politically alert and
as politically active as you can (I understand this is at different
levels for different folks). Gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered people of this country face an increasingly
organized and insidious opposition . Beginning with our own City
Commissioners locally and their recent anti-tolerance anti cs, to the
national mobilization of organized intolerance perpetrated by the
right wing leaders - the Southern Baptists, the Promise Keepers
and the Christian Coalition - we cannot afford to be complacent.
We cannot stand by while this country is forced to move into the
21st Century as a nation dedicated to perpetuating racial and
gender oppression . Please take the time to do whatever you can
to challenge the bigotry and hatred!
BOARD NOTES:
In an attempt to maintain communication among the Friends
North Board of Directors, the membership and the readers of this
newsletter, we are adding this section to provide you with a
synopsis of what really happens at our board meetings.
We welcome feedback in the form of phone calls, letters to the
editor and attendance at the board meetings. Please let us know if
this information is helpful to you!
NETWORKING 45°NORTH
Highlights of the May, June and July Board
Meeting include the following:
A special closed meeting of the Board only was held on May
15, as required by the Friends North bylaws, in order to adopt a
proposed amendment to the bylaws. The proposed amendment
will allow the opportunity of membership privileges to the entire g/
I/b/t community. The proposed amendment will be brought to the
entire membership at the December annual meeting for a vote . If
the amendment is approved by the membership, the bylaws will
be amended by our attorney.
Time was spent reviewing the High Tea and the Prom. The
board felt the Tea was only moderately successful. Three
members of Friends North have volunteered to coordinate the
annual High Tea for 1998, and the board approved this proposal
and appointed a board member liaison to this group. The Prom
received rave reviews from those who attended . The board will
most likely repeat this event next year.
The board was notified that participation in the highway cleanup project (M-72) has been inadequate. Victor Dinsmoore
volunteered to help coordinate a renewed effort to complete this
project, and several board members also volunteered to help. A
separate clean up date was as the regular dates for clean up and
pick up had elapsed. The board vowed to renew efforts at
participation and coordination of this project.
Proposed changes in the yearly number of issues of
Networking 45 ° North were discussed. The editor's suggestion of
publishing a major issue to cover the summer months, with four
additional issues throughout the year, was approved.
A Nominations Committee was established to seek nominees
for the December Annual Meeting. Five board positions will need
to be filled. (Note : Anyone interested in serving on the Board may
contact Brenda Bartz or Ben Maddy).
A Bylaws Committee was established to look at possible additional
amendments to the bylaws. Any proposed bylaw amendments must
be voted on by the membership at the annual meeting.
Membership renewals were discussed at length, and the need
to stay on top of this process as it is our main source of income
for the organization and the newsletter. M,Lynn Hartwell as chair
of the Member Services Committee is responsible for this process.
Two scholarship applications were approved for $95 each to
allow two Friends North members to attend a gay choir
educational conference.
NOTICE: Next meeting is 9/2/97
FRIENDS NORTH
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Autumn Hike - October 12
Brown Bridge Pathway
Gay History and Education Day - November 1
Park Place Hotel - Keynote Speaker - Rev. Mel White
Thanksgiving Potluck - November 23, 1997
(Grace Episcopal Church, Traverse City)
Anyone wishing to help organize
any of the above events, please call Friends North.
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
Outin
Out 'n About Lesbian Coffeehouse is held on the third Saturday
of each month except August and December. The Coffeehouse
comes alive between 7:00 and 11 :00 pm at the Unity Church,
3600 Five Mile Road, Traverse City. Smoke-free and Chem-free
with a cover donation of $3-5 ($5-$10 if we have entertainment).
Coffee, tea and snacks are free; soft drinks are available.
+About
A Lesbian Coffeehouse
Unity Church - 3600 Five Mile Road - Traverse City
Call 946-2708 for more information
For more information, or to have your name placed on the Out 'n
About Lesbian Coffeehouse mailing list, call Brenda at 946-2708leave message.
OUT 'N ABOUT LESBIAN COFFEEHOUSE NEWS:
We're back!!! Aftertaking two months off for summerfun (like the
Michigan Womyn's Music Festival) the Out 'N About Lesbian
Coffeehouse will be back September 20, 1997 with a wonderful
concert by lansing performer Pam Sisson.
THE PATH TO COMMON VOICES
-Gene Strang
The path to Common Voices (The FN Rap Group) has taken a
long road to where it is today.
Since 1980 plus it has met at IC Church Convent, a house on
Front St. next to Dr. Chase, Jiggers & Ricks, Gene Strang Farm,
Norm & John's, the basement at 5th & Oak, Unitarian Fellowship
of Grand Traverse, The Elmwood Park (Darrow), Forrest &
Richards, Greg & Bruce's, Fr. Jim's, Ernie's, N.M.C., Grace
Episcopal Church ...
We talked, walked, watched videos, book discussions, played
cards, potlucks, listened to lots of wonderful speakers (from all
walks of life), we even went to John Sheperds to connect to outer
space. We helped each other with support; male & female, there
were answers and questions, never the same always changing.
Supporting each creative person's ideas. Now we have Nibbles, a
new dinner group (eating out at different restaurants each month.
Never losing sight that one or many attempt to be necessary
to cover the Diversity of All: all topics to be of those PRESENT.
Some hot and cold, some new and some old topics ...
Do yourself a favor and visit or send those who have
questions and answers to share with others too.
See you at the next Common Voices Rap Group session.
Pam Sisson
Pam is a talented singer, songwriter, arranger and recording
artist who has just completed her second studio recording. She is
a versatile solo performer whose original music encompasses
blues, jazz, folk, rock and Latin. Her lyrics and tunes are her
hallmark. Song topics include women's issues, justice, peace,
humor and personal reflections. She plays guitar, piano,
harmonica, hand percussion and too many other instruments.
Her concerts run the gamut of human emotion and are interwoven
with considerable humor (she is co-author of the song "Politically
Incorrect"). Pam is talented at drawing in audience participation.
She has opened for Holly Near, Robin Tyler, Sue Fink, Charlie King
and other major concert artists. She performs with and promotes
many women artists, some of whom are featured on hew new CD.
Joining Pam for parts of this performance will be Rachel Alexander
on cello and vocals.
As always the Out 'N About Lesbian Coffeehouse is a chem
Free, smoke free space. We meet at Unity Church, 3600 Five Mile
Road in Traverse City from 7:00 pm - 11 :00 pm. The concert
starts at 8:00 pm, but please come early and stay late to meet the
womyn! ! ! $5.00 - $10 donation at the door. For more information
call Deb at 616-275-5924.
NElWORKING 45'NORTH
Common Voices Needs All Voices!
-Ed Richardson.
As Common Voices-The Friends North Rap Group,
continues to grow in attendance and direction, it is extremely
saddening and frustrating to see the vast majority at our monthly
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VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST /SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1997
gatherings to be men. Our topics and open discussions are
always geared to include all glbt in our community. But yet, only
gay men are left to participate. The brave few women who do
attend are invaluable but we are so puzzled and disappointed to
understand why others disregard Common Voices. Common
Voices is and wants to be a safe haven for everyone in our
community - all we are asking is for everyone to, at least, give
Common Voices a chance to be a sounding board, a resource, a
listening ear or a safe haven. We often have topics and sometimes
videos but we always have time to listen!
Don't allow Common Voices to grow without you!
Common Voices meets on the Second Wednesday of each
month at 7:30 pm in the basement lounge at Grace Episcopal
Church, 349 Washington Street, Traverse City.
Common Nibbles-The Common Voices 4th Wednesday
monthly local restaurant gathering (7:00 pm) chooses a different
restaurant each month. Don't hesitate to contact (Ed) 947-4697
or Tom at 275-6127 for the restaurant choice of the month.
Common Nibbles has proven to always be an excellent time to
socialize (between bites)! •
If you need a confidential mail reminder of Common Voices
events, please call the above numbers for your free subscription.
We need your name(s) and mailing addresses. (Telephone
numbers are optional but appreciated.)
Dear Friends North,
The decisions made in the past few years by the Traverse City
City Commission have been unresponsive to the legitimate
concerns of gays and lesbians in this community. The single most
important factor which can change this is your vote in the
upcoming election for the four available City Commission seats.
My position in this matter is well known among my friends and
acquaintances in Friends North: briefly, while I cannot understand
why it would matter what anyone else's sexual orientation may
be, this opinion is obviously not universal. Special care must be
taken therefore, to ensure that the rights and safeguards that are
usually taken for granted by the heterosexual community are
accorded to you.
As one of the fourteen candidates in the primary scheduled
for September 9th, your support is essential to help me work to
make Traverse City responsive to al I its citizens. Please vote in th is
election, encourage others to do so, and please strongly consider
voting for me.
Sincerely,
Margaret B. Dodd
Candidate for Traverse City Commissioner
T
A special thanks goes to the Board of Friends North, and
especially Ben Maddy and others who helped, for all the
worthwhile work put into the May Spring Gay-la. In years of
attending Friends North events, this Prom has to be rated
"excellent." The wide variety of music, beautiful decorations and
people interaction were extremely refreshing. Hopefully, this will
be repeated in the next annual calendar of Friends North events.
-Ed Richardson
T
T
Dear FN,
Either in the newsletter or by word of mouth, FYIThe monthly dances held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario are
scheduled to move from the Days Inn on Bay St. (across from the
Station Mall) to the old Algo Club, now the Rendezvous Room
(restaurant and French-language club), which is at 89 Foster Drive
(next to City Hall. This is one block east of the Station Mall, right
on the water. 1/4 block east of the "big tent," the Roberta Bundar
Pavilion). Canadian customs aren't always the nicest, but if you
tell them you're going to a dance at the old Algo Club all should be
well.
The next dance is June 21. Before making the long journey,
it's best to be certain that there will actually be a dance. They are
almost always held the last Saturday of the month, but are a week
early to account for so many traveling outside the area for Pride
Weekend .
Contact David Alk (?) Box, 2097, Sault St. Marie, Ml 49783 (906)
632-2536.
Letters
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VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
June 24, 1997
Dear FN
As all the Pride events around the country come and go it is
apparent that Northern Michigan and its gay population has its
head in the ground. While I commend all those people who have
come out to talk about their gayness and their life as gay persons,
I really am scared to death for gay people and any other minority.
At a recent Hate Free TC seminar there were no people in
evidence that were on the Board of Friends North. The issue that
evening was the showing of the film "Not In Our Town." Let me
say that the film put terror in my heart and in my soul.
Since the loss of my job with Grand Traverse County nobody
has been willing to talk about this issue of discrimination. Bottom
line I was fired because I was gay and nobody wants to talk about
it. This was three months after I was asked to resign from both
the Friends North Board and give up my Press Spokesperson role
for the organization.
Some of the reasons I got when seeking legal counsel or just
advice from friends were "Tom, it is not a winnable case." or "Tom,
you know what the real reason is, don't you? So why not let it go?"
or "It happen-so go on." It is difficult being a force of one.
As a founding member of Friends North almost ten years ago
it disappoints me that this organization and so many people
associated with it refuse to get political or speak up. Would people
have spoken up if this had been a national TV show with major
coverage about the issue?
This and many other issues like this should not be monitored
because of their win-ability. They should be monitored and
spoken out about because they matter. I am, and you should be,
only interested in the human rights value of all these issues. Where
are you, Northern Michigan?
Several years ago when a local man was fired because of his
, HIV status everyone rallied around him and the cause, became it
was an issue. After the court case (and winning by the way) that
man is still without his settlement. What is the issue? If you do not
like the person that this happened to, do you ignore him and go on
as if it never happened? So who wins? I think regardless of who
wins the gay community loses, actually we all lose. Is everyone
aware that a local merchant did the same thing to two other people
at their other stores and so far got away with it? What is your
definition of pride? Why are we celebrating Gay Pride? Are you a
proud gay person? I am not.
In the Spring of 1996 we fought hard to include the term "sexual
orientation" in the City ofTraverse City's hiring policy. We lost after
a good fight. The response basically was, "this is really something we
do not need." We need it, the country needs it and so do thousands
of other employees in towns and cities in this country.
So now as I go off in search of adventure heading for Santa
Fe, New Mexico, I wish everyone well. I want my pride back.
Speak up, take a stand, put your last name on your name tag,
make a statement, do something. Get political. Not in our Town?
It's already in our town ... I know it and so do you. Remember
what was said in my favorite quote, "The man and women who
try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who
try to do nothing and succeed. (unknown author)
Respectfully, Tom Kincaid
NE1WORKING 45'NORTH
Mr. James Carruthers
Traverse City
Dear Jim:
Thank you for your letter on House Bill 4674. This bill was
introduced by Rep. Lynn Martinez and has been referred to the
House Committee on Constitutional Law and Civil Rights.
As the Republican Vice-Chair of this committee, I will work for
it's defeat. Violence against anyone is deplorable, whether you are
black, white, yellow, gay, lesbian or any hyphenated American.
We are a nation of individuals, not groups. When we start passing
laws that benefit only certain members of society and not ail
individuals, then we only perpetuate and encourage divisiveness
and distrust.
Once again, Jim, thanks for making me aware of your views.
Although we disagree on this issue, I believe the free exchange of
ideas is what has made this country great. It helps us understand
each other a little better.
Sincerely,
Michelle A. McManus State Representative 104th District.
June 26, 1997
Mr. James Carruthers
Traverse City
Dear Mr. Carruthers:
Thank you for taking the time to contact Governor Engler's
office regarding House Bill 4674, which would extend protection
to gays and lesbians under the Ethnic Intimidation Act. The
Governor appreciates you taking the time to share your views
with him on this very important issue. This particular piece of
legislation is currently pending before the Michigan legislature.
In regard to this matter, first let me reiterate the Governor's
longstanding opposition to discrimination, _
i ntolerance, prejudice,
and crimes of hate. There is no place in Michigan for behavior of
this kind. As you may know, Michigan has some of the strongest
civil rights statutes in the nation.
There are thousands of bills which are introduced in each
session of the Michigan Legislature. The Governor may or may
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VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST /SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1997
Letters (continued from previous page)
not support the concept or certain provisions of this legislation,
and it may undergo substantial revision in the legislative process.
Therefore, he will not take a position on House Bill 4674 until he
has had a chance to review it thoroughly in its final form.
Should this Bill pass the Michigan Senate and House of
Representatives please be assured he will keep your thoughts in
mind when considering this legislation for his signature.
Sincerely,
Brad Deacon
Assistant to the Governor
Constituent Services Division
TILL DEATH-OR SOMEONE ELSE COMES
ALONG-DO WE PART?
Alan Williams
A few weeks ago, I was at my favorite hangout spot, the
Internet Relay Chat, when a guy came online and started talking
about how much he missed his husband. Upon closer inspection,
it became clear that this guy was 17 years old and involved in a
long-distance relationship that had begun only a week earlier. I
asked him how he justified calling someone else his husband when
they had been together a short time and lived nowhere near each
other. He answered that it was his "prerogative" to refer to said
significant other as a spouse. Is it really?
In the heterosexual world, "marriage" is a term with specific
connotations. It refers to a formal institution into which a man and
a woman enter. Under normal circumstances, a husband and wife
share a place to live, share the expenses (under the law, the
husband often "inherits" the wife's credit rating), and most of all,
make a very public commitment to share their lives together. Even
with a climbing divorce rate, marriage is, in straight society, much
more than a matter of referring to one's latest date as a spouse.
What bothered me about this teen was the casual way in which he
used the word "husband," as if any relationship of longer than
one night, accompanied by some modicum of feeling, equates with
marriage among heterosexuals. I'm sorry, but this stretches my
bounds of credibility. Would anyone take seriously a straight
teenage boy who, after one week of a long-distance relationship,
calls his girlfriend his "wife"? I don't really think so, and I refuse to
be among the people who would smile at this particular teen and
say, "Hey, that's great that you've found such a deep, loving
relationship," without thinking once that the boy might need a
reality check if he' s already entered the halls of matrimony with
his boyfriend-of-one-week. When I questioned whether it was
right to use the word " husband" in this case, I fell under heavy
fire from the under-25 crowd for what they felt was a refusal, on
my part, to believe that two guys that young could find "love to
last a lifetime." I hardly believe that. I have seen teenage couples
more deeply and genuinely in love than couples twice the sum of
the teenagers' ages. I also know at least one couple who spent five
years together (and that includes a lot of time actually living
June 9, 1997
Mr. Richard Tuxbury
10811 E Hilltop
Suttons Bag Ml 49682
Dear Mr. Tuxbury:
Your recent letter to Mr. Oesterreicher expressing your
concern over the ABC TV show Ellen was forwarded to me for
review.
First, I want to thank you for taking the time and initiative to
write.
JC Penney did not pu 11 its advertising of the Apri I 30th episode
of Ellen . )(Penney was never scheduled as an advertiser on this
episode. Although we have advertised on Ellen in the past, we
have not made any decisions for the remainder of 1997 or for
1998.
We do not, as a Company, make judgments on personal
values and lifestyles, but we do adhere to our own programming
guidelines.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns
with us.
Sincerely,
Lynn Greiner
National Media Manager
cc: Mr. Oesterreicher
Till Death (continued next page)
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VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
TILL DEATH
(continued from previous page)
would have banned recognition of marriages performed in
other states as well. Rhode Island activists defeated a samegender marriage ban. Hate crimes bills were introduced in
Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In Massachusetts and
Rhode Island, strong efforts are underway to repeal the
states' sodomy laws. Massachusetts is in a strong position to
enact statewide domestic partner legislation, and Vermont can
already boast of this accomplishment. Vermont has enacted
more pro-gay legislation than any other state in the nation,
leading Vermonters to say that theirs is the safest state in the
country.
Northampton,
Massachusetts
remains
the
Sure,
undisputed lesbian capital of the United States and
Provincetown is our community's summer resort. And yes,
the region is peppered with colleges and universities that are
vibrant centers of youth organizing. But by no means is the
work of New Englanders easy or complete. As of this month's
column, Rhode Island has a hate crimes law that does not
include sexual orientation. Massachusetts and Rhode Island
still ban opposite and same-sex sodomy. Maine and New
Hampshire ban same-gender marriage and these bans are still
pending in legislatures in Connecticut and Vermont. New
Hampshire bans adoption and foster care by gay men and
lesbians. Legislatively, the region has miles to go on issues
related to our families and our relationships.
Our New England sisters and brothers have a long history
of organizing and all of us should pay attention. Look no
further than the feat of activists in New Hampshire getting the
Catholic Diocese of Manchester to support civil rights for
gays.
And they've taught us, we must be prepared to organize on
a number of fronts at once. As we beat back the same-gender
marriage bans or ballot measures (even if we've lost a fight
already), we must keep our eyes on the prize. We can move
forward comprehensive civil rights bills, repeal sodomy bans,
pass hate crimes laws and build our communities at the same
time. Each step provides important momentum in moving our
communities forward to a place where there is freedom,
dignity, and social justice for all. Gains in civil equality are an
integral piece of a larger picture of full cultural acceptance and
appreciation of diversity for all people.
together, not being an hour's drive apart) before having a
commitment ceremony-and only theri did I actually hear one of
them refer to the other as his husband. To acknowledge as
"married" two young men who don't even live in the same town
is, to me, an insult to the couples I know who have spent
considerable time and effort building the kind of bond that is
generally associated with marriage. The problem with "marriage"
and words relating to it are that they carry a significant amount of
weight-rhetorically, traditionally, and emotionally. If we in the gay
community want same-sex marriages to be a reality, we need to
respect the weight of those terms and use them responsibly. I do
not believe a legislative body will take seriously our wish for the
right to marry when we, among ourselves, refer to marriage
loosely, and behave as if matrimony is an institution entered and
exited lightly and, on too many occasions, done so with no regard
to nature of the relationship itself.
Eye On Equality...
LIVING FREE IN NEW ENGLAND
by Kerry Lobel,
Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
The civil rights sweep of New England is now complete.
All
six
New
England
states
(Connecticut,
Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
will soon ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Add Hawaii, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, New Jersey,
and the District of Columbia to the mix, and nearly one out of
four people in the country live where discrimination based on
sexual orientation is outlawed.
While extremists threaten to challenge Maine's civil rights
law, remember it was only two years ago that Mainers outorganized the Right and defeated a vicious initiative that would
have written gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals out of that
state's constitution. New Hampshire not only passed its civil
rights bill this year, but trounced a hostile anti marriage bill that
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VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
sirens went off and she couldn't get to the Ellen party.
Luckily there was no tornado.
At the appointed hour, we gathered together, five lesbian
women and one gay man. We settled in with drinks, brownies
and "grandma's cookies," baked by our hostess using her
grandma's recipe. Delicious. High excitement as we waited.
Finally it was time for Ellen. Our hostess seated herself on
the floor in front of the TV so that she could be "at the
controls," ready to click on the tape machine and pause during
commercials. Of course the little tornado was still on the
screen being a nuisance.
Finally the show began. And went on. And on. I wished
she would hurry up and get on with it!
But Ellen played it her way and it was a good way. Lots of
light heartedness, just enough drama, and a crazy coming out
over the P.A. at the airport.
We all whooped and shouted at appropriate times, yelling
out "there's K.D ." and "who is that?" about the woman in the
grocery store.
My friends loved the toaster joke. I didn't care about the
toaster joke but liked the gentle jibe at the "recruiting" threat.
I thought Laura Dern did a wonderful job portraying an
already out lesbian trying not to embarrass one who hasn't
figured it out for herself yet. And having to deal with the
clumsiness of a brand-new lesbian who doesn't even realize
the first lesbian she meets might already have a relationship
was another real-life situation . Dern handled it with care and
compassion. She should have been a lesbian in real life. I'm
sure many dykes out there will agree with me.
After the show we all cheered, refreshed our snacks, and
went on to view tapes of the Diane Sawyer and Oprah
interviews.
We began with Diane Sawyer. We commented on how well
Ellen handled herself and how awful Diane Sawyer had been.
Her face, tone, and body language all said that everything
lesbian was "icky." Luckily, Ellen was there as a constant
1
wholesome looking and intelligent reality check. Sawyer, in
contrast, seemed out of touch.
Oprah was Ii ke a breath of fresh air after the
repressiveness of Diane Sawyer. Of course I have always
thought Oprah is a lesbian. Wasn't that a lavender gown she
THE ELLEN GOOD WILL RIPPLE-EFFECT
by Jane Greiner from Kalamazoo.
Didn't we all think the media over-hyped the Ellen comingout show? Sure it was important to us, and to Ellen, but we
laughed at the interest it generated in the staid, straight
journalism crowd.
Now that its here and gone, I continue to notice the
continuing ripple-effect and think it may, after all, have been a
far bigger event than I at first imagined.
How many gays and lesbians actually went to Ellen
parties?
My partner and I kept reading and hearing through the
media about all the huge parties gays and lesbians were
throwing. But none materialized locally. Of course not having
the media to tell about our local parties, we had to depend on
the grape-vine. Still, not a murmur.
So we planned to stay home and view alone, just the two
us, my partner Lyn and I.
As the actual day drew near, excitement inexorably began
to mount. Suddenly, almost at the last minute, friends called
and invited us to a gathering at their house. We were elated!
Yes! We wanted to be with friends! Clearly we had felt left-out
of a major "community event". We wanted to share it. We
were gleeful. Happy that we were, after all, going to a Coming
Out With Ellen Party.
The great day arrived and the weather turned bad. In
Michigan, that can mean tornadoes. And it did. Around
dinner-time we had tornado "watches." A little later it was
tornado "warnings."
During a tornado watch, the television stations transmit
little yellow tornado logos in the upper left-hand corner of our
television screens. We had the TV on, keeping an eye on the
weather. We feared that no one would be able to go to the
Ellen party!
Lyn was teaching an art class that night. She donned her
"Celebrate Diversity" shirt from Saugatuck and went off to her
class, promising to tell the class that tonight she had to leave
a few minutes early "in order to get to her Ellen party." She
was slightly nervous about coming-out to her class, but more
fearful of being cooped up in the basement if the civil-defense
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VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
was wearing? Whatever she is, she is comfortable in herself
and capable of handling an interview with a newly out lesbian
in a sensitive manner.
Ellen again carried herself very well. She didn't let herself
get baited into useless arguments, just stuck to her basic, "I
have to do what is right for me" theme and threw in some
humor from time to time.
Her new girlfriend, actress Anne Heche, is another story.
We were not impressed. My partner thought that Ellen looked
uncomfortable as Heche went rattling on. I couldn't believe
that Ellen is really as happy "shopping" as her partner said.
The girlfriend seemed so flippant. All in all, our prognosis for
this relationship is not good.
As our evening drew to a close our hostess promised us
copies of the tape so that we would have one and could show
it to our parents. Of course, she wryly noted, the little
tornado would be on the tapes throughout just as it had been
as we watched. Oh well, we still wanted the tapes.
The next time we saw our friends she apologized
profusely. After all her efforts, she had taped-over the Ellen
show accidentally. So now none of us has the tape, even with
the little tornado in the corner!
But our parents didn't do too badly on their own. My Dad
missed the coming out show but caught the coming out to
parents episode. Lyn's parents managed to see someone
else's tape and saw the coming out to parents and coming out
at work episodes.
I was sad when the season ended. Ellen had finally gotten
interesting to me. I wanted to know more about her coming
out and adjusting to her new circumstances.
Almost everything she did rang true to us and people we
, knew. I had had an identical experience with a college friend
who was a first afraid to undress for bed in front of me after
I told her I was gay.
My friend, like Ellen's, got over it. Thank goodness.
My parents really didn't show any shock when I came out
to them. They had had a lot of time to get used to my life with
girlfriends . Like Ellen's parents, they continued to express
their love for me.
Lyn ' s parents had taken it a lot harder, more like Ellen's.
They loved her, but couldn't understand her. But Lyn's
parents , to their credit, have absorbed it over time, never
failing to express their love for her, and finally worked their
way around to giving us their full and loving support.
We all thought Ellen's father was very believable in his
inability to deal with his daughters coming-out while
maintaining his love for her. His sudden and complete turnaround at the end was the one somewhat unbelievable twist.
Her mother, playing it ditzy but caring, was somewhat
plausible. Many of us had mother's who were bewildered by
us but steadfastly caring . Everybody loved her line when Ellen
said you always wanted us to be open and honest and her
mother said, "No Ellen , that was you . We always wanted to
keep our feelings bottled up." How like many families to just
"not talk about" the hard things.
NETWORKING 45' NORTH
A few days after the show while at the local women's
bookstore, we learned that Ellen's girlfriend had really
misrepresented herself when she claimed she had never
thought about being a lesbian until she met Ellen. She had
played a lesbian in the movie "The Wild Side" before she met
Ellen! How could she have played a lesbian and not thought a
little about being one!
After this interesting turn of events, I thought the Ellen
thing was over. We had seen the episodes, we had talked
about them with friends, we had found out our parents had
watched them too . We had found out the nitty-gritty about the
girlfriend.
Out of the blue I got a letter from my old friend, the one
who became nervous about changing clothes in front of me.
It was a "Congratulations you're gay" letter. She too had
watched Ellen, been thinking of me, and just wanted to let me
know. What a sweet and caring letter. Thanks Deana, it does
feel good.
I wonder how many other gays and lesbians got letters
like that? So many of us have old (straight) friends and family
who have stuck with us over the years and the changes in our
lives. When Ellen said, "No-one sends you congratulations,
you're a lesbian" card, maybe she started a trend. She got
people thinking, and acting. And in our experience, it was all
for the good.
I have since given more thought to the ripple effect of the
Ellen coming-out show. I'll bet it will continue to gently create
change for years to come. I remember a woman who still
thanks Phil Donahue for having the first open gays on TV,
after which their mother was finally able to talk to her.
Donahue was a trail-blazer. That show at least brought some
gays out to be seen, albeit almost as an oddity .
Ellen did us a great favor. She brought the common,
every-day variety of lesbian out in the sunshine and let the
world take a look at her. She may think that it wasn't political,
she may wish that it wasn't political, but probably without any
such intent, she gave a giant boost to the gay and lesbian
community.
Three Cheers for Ellen! May the rays of sunshine and
good humor fall always upon her.
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VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
WHERE IS THE TRANS ELLEN?
TRANNY BLUES
by Kaley Davis
Forty-Five Years Ago, Christine Jorgensen quietly returned
from Stockholm after undergoing one of the first successful sex
reassignment surgeries. The Swedish doctors who performed the
operation on her body were professional and discreet. The
American passport officers who performed the operation on her
identity papers were not. A nameless bureaucrat sold her story to
the press, and soon, headlines like "GI Becomes Blonde
Bombshell" were screaming across the tabloids.
Though she was not the first trans woman to undergo these
procedures, she was the first who was outed to the world. Much
to her dismay, she led us into a swamp of media titillation and
popular confusion about transsexuality, transvestism, and cross
dressing that we are still slogging through today. In cultural terms,
1952 is as long ago as the Mesozoic Age, but dinosaurs still roam
the minds of most when it comes to trans issues. Even among
card-carrying queers, I am often disappointed at the general lack
of understanding. In my bluer moments, I feel like non-trans
people will never get it. I have visions of spending the rest of my
days giving people vocabulary lessons and correcting pronoun
usage. I'll be the life of every party. Whee.
I am impatient, this I know, for my gay friends tell me so. When
I whine, they nod sympathetically and assure me that things will
be so much different in ten years. They are probably right, but
whether there will be less confusion, more confusion, or just
different kinds of confusion is an open question. Trans people,
like lesbians and gay men, have been around as long as people
have been around. But, for some reason, gay people have been
able to bust through cultural barriers more successfully.
I' m not going to use this space to try to educate you, Gentle
Reader, about Trans 101 . Library cards and Internet accounts are
readily available. Please use them at your leisure. Instead, I'd like
to elevate my private whining onto a higher, public plane. I
propose to rant about some battles ski 11 being fought which shou Id
have been over long ago. I call them "Things We Shouldn't Have
to Deal With Because It's 1997, Fer Chrissakes."
First up : semantics. So many words we have : transvestite,
transsexual, transgendered, cross-dresser, he/she, she-male, drag
queen, drag king, transwoman, transman . FTM, MTF, boychick,
chick-with-dick, oy gevalt. Sometimes, it seems like there are more
words for trans people than there are trans people. Yet, despite al I
these words we have for describing ourselves, the difference
between such fundamental terms as transsexual and transvestite
is still fuzzy in many people's minds.
During the recent flap over Eddie Murphy, the has-been actor,
and Atisone Seouille, the trans hooker, I heard news announcers
using both terms interchangeably-sometimes in the same story.
It's also not uncommon to hear either word used as a synonym
for prostitute. Why does this continue? When will it end? How
many of you thought "oy gevalt" was another word for a
transgendered person? We have to get non-trans people to clearly
understand the language of trans issues before we can ever hope
to be accepted. There is so much work still to be done.
But, whatever we do, let's not re-hire the person who
invented the word "transgendered," OK? Kee-rist, what an awful
word. It rolls off the tongue with all the grace of words like
"conglomeration," "juxtaposition" or "Yugoslavia," and confuses
more people than it enlightens. But, since the transgendered
"community" is really just a confederation of people tied together
by the loose threads of gender/sex dissonance, maybe a word
that evokes a Balkan image is completely appropriate. We even
have our own version of Comrade Tito: Leslie Feinberg, the
unifying, mesmerizing, charismatic, radical leftist "strongman ." (If
you don't know who Leslie Feinberg is, put down this fishwrapper
immediately and go read Stone Butch Blues)
But, I digress. Let's move on to social "justice." Despite
enlightened civil rights legislation in Minnesota, Philadelphia, and
King County, Washington, trans people are still being treated like
dirt by courts and juries around the country. Case in point: on
November 19, 1995, William Palmer, a computer programmer in
Watertown, Massachsuetts viciously beat and apparently strangled
to death Chanel Pickett, a transsexual woman, in his bedroom. He
admitted that when he discovered she was trans, he "freaked out,"
put his hands around her throat and "squeezed very hard" to
"defend himself." He claimed that she was still breathing when he
fell asleep, but awoke to find her dead. Yeah. Right.
Even after he admitted to assault and battery on the stand, his
lawyer had the gall to request that he be released on probation
claiming Palmer was "not responsible and should not be treated
TRANNY BLUES
continued 14
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VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1997
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ROOMMATE WANTED: Close to downtown. $300. /mo. Includes:
utilities, cable, private room, but not phone. Must like pets. A nonsmoker, non-drinker preferred. Call 929-3174. Leave message.(issue 4)
ROOMMATE WANTED: $300 + deposit & references. Includes utilities.
10 minutes from GT Mall. Call 943-4006
FOR RENT: Beautiful 2 bedroom home with sauna, fireplace, 2 car
garage and lake acces. Just 3 miles from lnterlochen Center for the
Arts. Can be rented furnished or unfurnished, short or long term lease.
No pets or smokers please. Call 616-275-5924 for details & rates.
(Note: All classified announcements as well as personals are run
without charge. Please submit them in writing to the Friends North
address, or call the editor at 616-271-3042 and leave the advertisement
on the answering machine along with a contact phone number)
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COMMON VOICES, The Friends North Rap Group, publishes a
monthly newsletter, thanks to Tom Barkley. It will remind people who
choose to be on the mailing list of monthly Common Voices meetings,
dinners and other group activities. Mailing list names, numbers and
addresses are kept in confidence. This information will not be given out
to any inquirers by anyone in Common Voices. (issue 4)
PERSONALS:
BIBLE STUDY: You are welcome to come to my home and study" A
Complete Workbook for De-Mystifying the Bible's Position on
Homosexuality" and/or other subjects of interest. This is a Gay and
Lesbian Bible Study that affirms and honors us as Gay and Lesbian
Christians and removes the stigma that has been placed on
homosexuality by many. We will be studying the specific verses in the
Bible that are used against us, and also studying the verses that most
encourage growth in our spiritual lives. DATE: First Sunday of each
month, from 4:00-5:30 p.m., beginning June 1st. Please call for
directions: Linda Wilson, 616-271-4331 (issue 4)
ON-GOING ANNOUNCEMENTS
VOLLEYBALL!: Anyone interested in playing volleyball at the 1998 Gay
Games in Amsterdam, please call Bill at 616-845-5220. (issue 4)
GAY-LESBIAN BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP is meeting on the last
Monday of each month, 7:30 pm, at Border's Bookstore on South
Airport Rd., T.C. For info, call Border's at 933-0412 and ask for Aimee.
(issue 5)
GAY GAMES IN 1998: Team Great Lakes is organizing for the
upcoming games in Amsterdam, scheduled for August 1-5, 1998.
Those interested, please call Ann Heier at 810-547-4692. Team Great
Lakes sent 180 individual athletes and teams to New York City in '94.
(Issue 6)
BI-MONTHLY, Bl-SEXUAL, WOMEN'S LUNCHEON: Meet the first and third
Tuesday of each month, from 11 :30 am until 1 :00 at a local, Traverse City
restaurant. Call Pamela at 922-0734 or contact Friends North. (issue 4)
PLEASE SPONSOR OUR POSTCARD PROJECT: They do make a
difference! The cost for printing the 2800 postcards is $100.00. To
contribute specifically to the Postcard Project, please call Richard at
271-3042 or send a check (in an amount of $100.00 or less) directly to
Friends North. (issue 4)
QUESTIONS ABOUT HIV AND AIDS? Call locally 24 hours a day to
947-1110. This program is sponsored by the HIV/AIDS Wellness
Networks Grand Traverse Area and is staffed by Third Level Crisis
Center volunteers. (Issue 6)
THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF PETOSKEY is
meeting at the Concord Academy, 2230 East Mitchell St. Services are
held on the first and third Sundays of the month at 11 a.m . Please call
347-8916 for details or write POB 873, Petoskey, Ml 49770-0873
(Issue 6)
REPORT HATE CRIMES!! The Triangle Foundation of Michigan has
begun a VICTIMS' PROGRAM COMMUNITY WATCH COALITION.
The group will collect hate-crime information from Lesbian and Gay
victims of such crimes. For details, call 313-533-1166 or 51 7-753-9823.
Report Hate Crimes! Stop the Violence! (issue 6)
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Their
Reproductive Health Clinic is open to women and men of all ages.
Confidential services provided are physical exams, HIV counseling and
testing, pregnancy testing, sexual transmitted disease testing and
treatment, all methods of birth control available, FREE Norplants, DepoProvera, IUDs, and Condoms. For more info about these and other
methods which are charged on a sliding fee scale, call 922-4630.
Services are by appointment only. (issue 6)
HOUSING/RESORTS
LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR wants to rent small house, quiet apartment
or mobile home. Please call Suzette at 616-275-2502 (issue 4)
NElWORKING 45' NORTH
GROUPS:
FRIENDS NORTH BOARD AND MEMBER MEETINGS: The Friends North
Board meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Grace
Episcopal Church, corner of Washington and Boardman Streets, across
from the Old Courthouse. ALL ARE WELCOME (issue 5)
COMMON VOICES-THE FRIENDS NORTH RAP GROUP is a group of
men and women who get together monthly for informal discussion,
often on a particular topic. Please join us on the 2nd Wednesday of every
month at Grace Episcopal Church, 349 Washington, T.C., at 7:30pm. For
information, call Tom at 275-6127 or Ed at 947-4697. (issue 5)
GLSTN, the Gay-Lesbian-Straight Teachers Network, is meeting monthly
in Traverse City. They welcome all interested educators. For more
information, call M'Lynn at 943-5050. (issue 5)
P-FLAG: (Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays.) This is a
network of parents, friends, and families of lesbians and gays who meet
monthly to offer information, support, and a place to talk with others
about the issues concerning them. Gays · and Lesbians are also
welcome and encouraged to attend P-FLAG meetings. Meet at Grace
Episcopal Church every third Wednesday of the month, at 7:30 pm. For
more information call Cindy Robb at 271-5045 (Issue 5)
WINDFIRE: This is a local youth support group for teens and others
under the age of 25, which meets on a weekly basis in an atmosphere
that is comfortable and friendly. Please contact Third Level at 922-4800
or 1-800-442-731 5 for location, date and time. (issue 5)
OUT 'N ABOUT is a lesbian coffeehouse featuring entertainment as
well as a chance to meet others from the area. It all happens at the Unity
Church, 3600 Five Mile Rd. in T.C . Please see the Out 'n About
calendar elsewhere in this newsletter for times and specific activities.
(issue 5)
TRAVERSE CITY FRONTRUNNERS If you are interested in running, call
Paul at 933-0572 and leave your name, number, and that you are
interested in Frontrunners. He will return your call with information on
where to meet. All ages and abilities are welcome. (issue 5)
WELLNESS NETWORKS SUPPORT GROUP is for people with HIV or
AIDS and they welcome you to attend. Please drop in Monday
evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Grace Episcopal Church library at
341 Washington in Traverse City. Every fourth Monday of the month
the Significant-Other Support Group will be meeting at 3301 Veterans
-12-
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
Gay History and Education Day '97
with special guest Dr. Mel White
Saturday, November 1 • Park Place Hotel, Traverse City, MI
8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m.
Itinerary ___________________
I.
8:15-8:55a.m.
Arrival, registration
Coffee/tea available
II.
9:00-10:15a.m.
Session 1
Chosen from group A 8, or C
Ill. 10:15-10:30a.m.
break
Coffee/tea available
IV. 10:30-11 :45a.m.
Session 2
(Chosen from group A 8, or
V.
11 :45-1 p.m.
VI. 1 :00-2:15p.m.
CJ
Lunch break
Top of the Park
Session 3
(Chosen from group A 8, or
CJ
VII. 2:15-2:30p.m.
break
Coffee/tea available
VIII. 2:30-3:00p.m.
Raffle Drawing for Early Registration Attendees
Announcements
iX. 3:00-4:30p.m.
DR. MEL WHITE
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mel White
Question/answer session follwing address
Fevv issues divide our counoy more dangerously today than does the question of homosexualiO,, and the conflict belVveen the
concept of family values and the indiv,dual rights of gays and lesbians. Families are divided, careers are ruined. lives are lost-all in
the struggle belVveen beliefs founded in tradition and those based on personal freedom. Spea1heading the fight against the
increasingly vocal homosexual communiO,, are leaders of the so-called "religious right • men and women who denounce gays and
lesbians from their pulpits and encourage their followers to enact lavvs against them.
Perhaps no one 1s better qualified to speak about these issues than Mel White, noted author, filmmaker, and former dean of the
largest gay church in the world He provides a firsthand look at the teachings and workings of the religious right today showing
how they use their power first to politicize their followers. then, using these pohtics. to speamead fund-raising efforts. His personal
story offers a prophetic look at where the anti-homosexual r.actics of the religious right might lead our nation.
IV! sessions w,/1 take place in the lower level conference rooms of The Park Place Hotel
Special hotel room rates are available for those attending the conference Contact the Park Place Hotel at 800-748-0133 for more
information (Reduced room rates are available based on attendance parttc1pation.)
See other side for registration form .-
Gay History and Education Day '97
Registration Form
Please fill out this form completely and return with registration fee (check or money order only) made
payable to Friends North. Mail to: GHED '97, c/o Matt & Guy,, 333 Sixth St. #3, Traverse City, Ml 49684
Registration Deadline: Sept. 17, 199 7 • Special raffle held for early registration*
Tell us about yourself (please print/
Name(s) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ St _ _ Zip _ _ __
Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Age _ _ __
Phone( _ _ )
M
F
Registration fee: $30.00 per person, includes lunch at the hotel.
0 Yes! I plan to attend. Enclosed is my payment of $_ _ _ _ for _ _ (# of participant(s.J
How did you hear about this event?
0 Friends North newsletter O Third Coast Magazine
Sessions
O Between The Lines
O Poster
O Friend
O other
{please indicate the time slot for each session you plan to attend using I, 2, and 3 for your respective choices.}
provide
will giveyou ao edge in your next
public forum or letter to the editor!
Presenter- CarOI Mu«ay~ruzen.
you may have and will prompt.ycxJ to
think about a few thingsyou've been
putting off. Presenter: TBA,
Find QUt what you can do to make
things smoother for thEf next generao9n
also learn wha.t ouc~ay youth
hope to see in us as role models.
(DorYtyou wish you had a clciss like this
in high school?!)
Presenters.- Debby Ludwig and Uz Bert
I wish to attend: (indicate dme preference/
I wish to attend: (indicate dme preference/
I wish to attend: (indicate dmepreferenceJ
era! key issues. Tt)is)nformative ?El~ion
cag h¢lp you •answenafevv questions
4q9
9:00-10: I Sa.m.
9:00-l0:l 5a.m.
9:00-10: I 5a.m.
I 0:30-11 :45a.m.
I 0:30-1 I :45a.m.
I 0:30- 11:45a.m.
I 00-2 1Sp.m.
I :00-2
I 00-2 I 5p.m.
1Sp.m.
* Individuals who register prior to September I 0, 1997 wt/I be automatically entered into a raffle which
includes a number of exceptional prizes including: a gift certificate from Tapawingo, $25 gift certificate from
ABCD's, gift certificate from The Bookie Joint, one-hour massage with Suzzette Corbit, gift certificate from
Ouneswood B&B(women only,/ gift certificate from Hair Force One, gift certificate from Barker Creek Nursery,
theatre tickets from the Old Town Playhouse, $50 gift certificate from Flowers by Josie, one-month membership and fitness consultation from The Fitness Center, one-year subscription to Traverse Magazine, gift certificate from The Boathouse/Exquisite Edibles, $20 gift certificate from Cathie's Tote and Dine.
See bacl< side for breal<down of the days events or
______________________P_r_o.,
p_l"_
r t""'y_of t_h_e_C
_ m_ ·;;.._-r_____________________
Drive, Suite 221, just north of S. Airport Road. For further information,
please call 933-0279. (issue 5)
THE PETOSKEY GROUP: A social group for lesbian, gay and bi-sexual
persons is meeting weekly in Petoskey. The group meets at 7 p.m.
Thursdays at the Park Garden Cafe on Lake Street. For information
please contact Tim at 348-8151 (issue 5)
NORTHERN MICHIGAN WOMYN'S CHOIR is always looking for new
voices. To obtain more information or for a performance schedule,
please contact Deb at 275-5924. (issue 5)
H.A.N.D.S is an HIV/AIDS Network located in Petoskey. They are
currently seeking volunteers in the northern lower peninsula and
eastern upper peninsula of Michigan. HANDS is a non-profit
organization that has committed itself to helping and supporting the
needs of HIV infected persons. They offer a number of services,
including support groups, education, public awareness, and one-onone friendship support. Volunteers are urgently needed in the Alpena,
Gaylord, and Rogers City areas. If you would be interested in the
program, please call 616-526-9213. (issue 5)
GAY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meetings for gays and lesbians are
held each Saturday at 11 :00 am and have been moved to a new
location at Grace Episcopal Church, corner Washington and Boardman
Streets in TC. For further info, call John at 922-0746 or Tom at 9474647. (issue 6)
FRIENDS LIKE US: A social group in north east lower Michigan for gay,
lesbian, and bisexual people. Meets monthly. For info, please contact Jeff
@ 517-354-7702, or write to him at POB 391, Alpena, Ml 49707. (issue 5)
tt
OCTOBER
12
,~
~-~ FRIENDS NORTH ~-
AUTUMN HIKE
& POTLUCK
2 :00 pm at the trai I head of the
Brown Bridge Pathways
(near Ranch Rudolf)
For a fun, color fi lied afternoon
Hike;Walk around the beautiful
Brown Bridge Pond
We will gather after for a potluck dinner
(you should plan to bring a dish to pass)
So, Mark your calendars NOW!
This is the only notice of this get-together
For questions or to R.S.V .P.
Call Kirk 943-4006 or Jim 922-0925
Please R.S. V.P.
NETWORKING 4S' NORTH
GAY HISTORY AND EDUCATION DAY
(continued from page 1)
Lesbians and the Law: Key Legal Issues and How They Affect Us";
Hope for the Future: What Can Adults Do for the Next
Generation?" (Please see the enclosed handout for further
descriptions on these seminars.)
We are also very excited to bring Dr. Mel White to
northwestern Michigan to share his incredible story. A noted
author, filmmaker, and former dean of the largest gay church in
the world, White also worked for some of the most influential
members of the religious right including Pat Robertson, Jerry
Falwell, and Billy Graham. Like so many gays and lesbians, White
was raised in a conservative Christian home and attended a
conservative Christian school. Like so many others he too lived
the anguish of dual lives, fueled by repression and denial. Now
that he is out (and free!) White has become a relentless gay activist
and motivator who travels all over the country to share his story
and promote peaceful activism. His story is certain to enlighten
and motivate all of \JS.
In addition to the seminars there will be a number of tables
displaying gay-proud items (books, CD's, clothing, etc.) as well as
historica/informational displays to give us all a better sense of our
accomplishments over the years.
The cost for this one-day event is $35 dollars per person ~nd
includes all three seminars, lunch at The Park Place, and the
keynote address. As an added incentive, those participants who
register prior to September 17, 1997 will automatically be entered
into a drawing for some wonderful prizes donated by several
(very generous) gay-friendly business owners and supporters of
Friends North in the northwest Michigan area. Gift certificates will
be awarded from businesses such as Tapawingo, Hair Force One,
ABCD's, Flowers By Josie, The Boathouse/Exquisite Edibles,
Traverse Magazine, Cathie's Tote & Dine, The Fitness Center, Old
Town Playhouse, Barker Creek Nursery, Duneswood B&B (for
women only-sorry, guys!,) The Bookie Joint, and Suzzette Corbit.
Remember to get your registration form in early to be eligible!
Please join us in November for this very important day-and
encourage friends and/or family members to come along. Also, if
you know of anyone who lives outside our region and who may
be interested let Matt, Guy, or any member of the Friends North
Board know so that registration information can get out to him/her.
Matt and Guy are still looking for any interested volunteers
who may wish to work in some capacity on the Gay History and
Education Day. Several individuals will be needed the day of the
event to help with registration and some set up but they also need
a few folks to help with other items along the way (poster
distribution, mailings, etc.) If you have a few hours to spare this
summer and would like to help out with this event, please contact
Matt or Guy at 616-935-4819. (Please, no calls after 10 p.m.)
-13-
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
TRANNY BLUES
continued from page 11
as if he was." The implication was that Ms. Pickett tricked him and
deserved everything she got. The jury apparently felt that it's still
OK to kill a tranny, as long as you "freak out" first, and on May 9,
1997, acquitted Mr. Palner of murder, only reluctantly returning
a guilty verdict on the assault and battery Mr. Palmer admitted to.
Amazing, isn't it? At least the judge had the decency to give Palmer
the maxi um punishment that he could: two measley years.
I could write a nice long book about injustice inflicted on trans
people in recent years. But, let's move the whining on to another
nice long book: the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fourth Edition (lovingly known as the DSM-IV). This
tome, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the
Shrink's Bible. It "precisely defines the differences between similar
disorders and gives guidelines for making diagnoses." Both
"Transvestic Fetishism (302.3)" and "Gender Identity Disorder
(302.85)" are listed in the DSM-IV. Homosexuals were deleted
from the DSM in 1973, but I'm still in there! Let's ignore the fact
that there are scores of trans people who function perfectly well
in life. Probably better than the average psychiatrist. No, medical
science says we're officially loony tunes, so lock your doors and
hide your children!
Of course, my health insurance does not cover any actual
remedy for this so-called illness. In fact, it specifically excludes
"surgery or treatment for transsexualism" in its glossy brochure.
So, the shrinks say we're sick and need help, but the suits at the
insurance companies say we're just freaks and won't pay for our
frivolities. Can both be right? Meanwhile, we are left to ourselves
to scrape together the money to pay for a lifetime of medication or
$10,000 to $50,000 for various surgeries. No wonder all my
transsexual friends are broke.
Next, let's head for Hollywood, where trans people are
basically invisible, except in caricature. Call Central Casting, and
order a trio of trans characters: a drag queen, a straight
crossdresser, and a transsexual. The drag queen will wear a blond
wig, speak breathily, teeter around on stillettos, and spew bitchy
venom between puffs on her ever-present cigarette. The straight
crossdresser will look like an ordinary shrub until he suddenly finds
himself trapped in a situation where he has to dress a woman.
Wacky hijinks will ensue until he is finally able to break free from his
predicament, get the girl, and reassure the audience that he's still a
normal guy and wouldn't ever want to wear a dress again,
nosireebob . The transexual will be exactly like the drag queen,
because Central Casting doesn't know the difference. Oh, maybe
she'll do heroin instead of Marlboros. Don't bother trying to ask
for a transsexual woman. They've never heard of them.
Finally, I have a personal beef with personal ads. Unless you
are trans yourself you probably have never noticed how
uniformly insipid and demeaning ads aimed at trans people can
be. First of all, we are always lumped into the" Alternatives section
with people who want to clean your house in the nude or be
stomped on the chest it with golf shoes. And the alternatives
section always comes last. Back of the bus for us freaks . But
check out the ads themselves. In the straight sections, men are
looking for interesting, complex women who are into outdoor
sports, ethnic dining and live theatre. In the trans ads, men say
NETWORKING 45' NORTH
things like "I need a TS. Must have breasts and be very feminine."
Excuse me, do I have USDA Choice stamp on my forehead?
Now, maybe you're saying "ifshe got laid more often, she
wouldn't be so cranky." To this, I politely reply, "k-duh!" Interested
parties are ever so welcome to apply. (No Cromagnons, please.)
Unfortunately, it's going to take a lot more than breaking my own
celibacy streak to make me feel like trans people have arrived. For
there is no trans Ellen on the horizon. No trans Barney Frank. No
trans Martina Navratilova. No trans David Geffen. For the
forseeable future, we seem destined to remain on the fringes of the
fringes of society, and I wish I knew what we could do about it
besides waiting patiently. Does anyone have ideas?
Perspective-
DISNEY ON PARADE
by Stephen H. Miller
The boycott of the Walt Disney Company called by the
Southern Baptist Convention-the nation ' s largest Protestant
denomination, with some 15 million members-received sweeping
media coverage . The Southern Baptists are angry over the family
entertainment giant's "gay friendly" policies, such as granting
health insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners,
permitting its ABC subsidiary to allow "Ellen" to come out of the
closet (on prime time TV!), and not forbidding private groups from
holding "Gay Days" at its theme parks.
There are a number of interesting questions that come to mind
about this latest installment in the "gays vs. religious right" saga.
For one, the boycott call has been brewing for a long time. At their
convention last year, the Southern Baptists had warned Disney
to discontinue its "anti-family, pro-gay, pro-lesbian" policies and
programming and pronounced that Disney had exactly one year
to respond to their objections. So why were our leading lesbian
and gay activist organizations caught off-guard (again!) when this
year's convention followed-through with the threatened action?
Another pertinent question comes to mind . The leaders of the
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force, among others, speak relentlessly about the need to
support racial preferences and every other element of the leftliberal agenda in order to cement an alliance with "progressive"
groups. For instance, the HRC, as a member of the Leadership
Conference on Civil Rights (which includes the NAACP, among
others) has pledged, in solidarity, to "struggle to pursue
meaningful and effective affirmative action policies and programs"
and to "work to undo the effects of the pernicious new welfare
and immigration laws." So why were none of our supposed allies
in the civil rights community (including the NAACP) willing to
criticize the Southern Baptist action?
There are, actually, a number of points here that concern the
cultural contradictions revealed when left-foot-forward lesbigay
activism attempts to confront the reactionary right. Consider this:
-14-
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
Developments at Disney prove that the free-market-and not bigger
government-may in fact be the gay community's best weapon in
the fight for equality. Disney hasn't adopted gay-inclusive policies out
of a sense of altruism, after all. Uncle Walt, remember, was far from
"gay friendly" and even fired one-time Disney teen star Tommy ("Son
of Flubber") Kirk upon learning he was a-gasir-homosexual. No,
the Walt Disney Company changed because sawy businesses have
learned that a gay-welcoming workplace attracts and keeps valuable
talent.
Moreover, Disney adopted its partnership benefits well after all
the other major Hollywood studios had done so, and just as its cashcow animation department was being raided by rival Dreamworks,
where openly gay mogul David Geffen isa leading honcho. So it turns
out that Disney's supposed "pro-gay" agenda is just old-fashioned
business smarts. The religious right, however, for all its
"conservatism," doesn't like the fact that the free market produces
and sells all variety of entertainment products, including gay-friendly
programs, or that a competitive marketplace means companies must
compete for highly prized gay workers. So, why aren't lesbian and
gay leaders attacking the Southern Baptists for being against free
enterprise? Because the realization that liberty and capitalism go hand
in hand is apparently foreign to our "progressive" activist leaders.
The whole Disney/Southern Baptist affair is rife with still more
culture contradictions, which could keep political analysts busy for
years. One example: I recently received and e-mail from political
philosopher Chris Sciabarra. He reports that in the Big Apple the
"Disney-fication" of Times Square/42nd Street-now largely owned
by Disney and populated with Disney theaters and stores and other
family attractions-is viewed by many locals as an unsettling
sanitation of a once sexy-if sleazy-adult entertainment district.
Now, says my informant, "along come the Baptists, and we are finally
realizing that Disney didn't push the sleaze out at all! They are sleaze!"
Seems you learn something new every day.
Finally, I should mention that some ofthe religious right's attacks
on Disney have been just plain loony. Last year, the Tupelo,
Mississippi-based American Family Association lambasted the names
of the characters in Disney's hit film "Toy Story," claiming sheriff
"Woody" was a sexual reference while spaceman "Buzz" referred
to drug-induced euphoria. Also found to be suspect (and I quote):
an "Etch-a-Sketch whose 'knobs' had to be 'adjusted' to produce
results."
But before we get too smug, let's remember that our own
lesbigay activists haven't been much better. A few years back Disney
was criticized by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation,
which decided that in "The Lion King" the villainous Scar (voiced by
Jeremy Irons) "speaks and moves in an effeminate manner," and thus
demonstrated stereotypically gay characteristics (this, despite the fact
that the film's executive producers and much of the animation staff
were openly gay). Then, last year, the National Center for Lesbian
Rights protested Disney's live-action remake of "l 01 Dalmatians" for
being (you guessed it) anti-lesbian. Kate Kendell , head of NCLR,
complained that Glenn Close's Cruella De Vil fit the stereotype of a
"stiff, man-hating, ball-breaking lesbian ." Hmmm.
Still, one thing we've learned from ill-conceived boycotts called
by both the left and the right is that they don't work. So maybe it will
NETWORKING 4S' NORTH
-15-
turn out that the Southern Baptists have done us a favor by making
the lack of public backing for organized anti-gay bigotry crystal clear.
If this happens (and I suspect it will), it would again prove that the
movement for gay and lesbian equality can't be stopped, despite
threats by the Cruel las of the intolerant right, or misplaced Mickey
Mouse antics by our own team leaders. Regardless of the Goofy
behavior all 'round, the American people are not Dumbos, and the
bedrock American values of liberty and individual rights fostered by
free enterprise are no Fantasia.
Stephen H. Miller, a contributor to the essay anthology "Beyond
Queer: Challenging Gay Left Orthodoxy," is a writer based in
Washington, DC.
Reprinted from TWN in Florida.
WHYMAN SUED BY TRIANGLE
FOUNDATION
A Michigan state representative has been targeted by a Jesbigay
group in a libel suit.
Rep. Deborah Whyman, R-Canton Township, is being sued
by the Michigan-based Triangle Foundation over libelous election
literature Whyman distributed during her re-election campaign last
fall. The printed material characterized the Triangle Foundation as
a "homosexual extremist" organization and inferred that the
organization endorsed pedophilia because of its stated support for
"sexual minorities."
Information about the lawsuit was distributed in June in an
electronic posting by the Christian Action Network, based in
Killeen, Texas. According to the Michigan lesbigay publication
Between The Lines. A lesbian in New Orleans intercepted the
message and then posted it on gay and lesbian news lists.
According to the message, Whyman contacted the group's
president, the Rev. Curtis S. Tomlin, to solicit help and funds.
Tomlin posted the information on the group's web page.
The lawsuit against Whyman is pending in Wayne County
Circuit Court before Judge Susan D. Borman. According to the
attorney representing the Triangle Foundation, the Christian group
misrepresentated the lawsuit and inflated the number of counts
charged in the suit from six to 100.
Triangle Foundation President Jeff Montgomery was quoted
to say, " Whyman's
tactics at raising funds raises serious
questions about her own campaign financing. As things stand
now, there is nothing in Michigan law to prevent Whyman from
using her campaign fund to finance her legal battle."
It is believed Whyman has her eyes on a senate seat in 1998.
Whyman testified before Congress to support DOMA and she
was a significant sponsor of the Michigan anti-same sex marriage
bills passed last summer. She has repeatedly used vitriolic language
in attacking gays and lesbians and has used every opportunity to
paint the lesbigay population as an extremist group bent on
destoying America' s values.
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
REVIEW/FILM: 'BOYS LIFE' SEQUEL
MOST ENLIGHTENING
Boys Life 2 (Anthology, color, no rating, 1: 14)
By Emanuel Levy
A terrifically entertaining anthology, Boys Life 2, the follow-up
to the highly acclaimed 1995 hit, consists of four remarkable short
films about various aspects of contemporary gay lifestyles.
Focusing for the most part on adolescence and young
adulthood, the segments deal with coming out at a young age
(Trevor, Must Be the Music), responses to gay-bashing (Nunzio's
Second Cousin) and the effects of the past on the sexual identity
of a youngster living in the heartland (Alkalai, Iowa).
The first story, Nickolas Perry's Must Be the Music, is set on a
typical Friday night, when four adolescents head for a hot disco in
downtown L.A. Narrated by Jason (Milo Ventimigilia), the tale
depicts some tensions within the group before settling on their
conduct in a gay disco, where most of the action takes place. Fluidly
shot and smoothly edited, the film demonstrates its helmer's talent
in telling a rather weak story in a striking visual manner.
In Tom DeCerchio's darkly comic, message-oriented Nunzio's
Second Cousin, Sgt. Tony Randozza (Vincent D'Onofrio), a gay
Chicago police detective, gets a chance to exercise his own brand
of justice when he and his black date (Harry Walters Jr.) are
harassed by five hoodlums who believe it's a good night for gaybashing. Forcing them to recite in tandem 'Gay people are nice
people,' Tony proceeds with a dinner invitation to the gang's
handsome leader, Jimmy (Miles Perlich).
Centerpiece is a dinner at the house of Tony's domineering
mom (brilliantly played by Eileen Brennan).
The richest and most accomplished yarn is Mark
Christopher's Alkalai, Iowa, situated in the heartland, where
handsome farmer Jack (J.D. Cerna) unearths some painful - but
also liberating - truth about the clandestine identity of his dead
father, a war hero. It turns out his mom (Mary Beth Hurt) has
suppressed knowledge of her hubby's homosexuality under the
stricture of her father-in-law, a primitive brute who still can't face
the truth about his son.
Concluding the lineup is the well-intentioned, glitzy and a bit
superficial Trevor, Peggy Rajski's 1995 Oscar-winning live-action
short. Tale's titular hero (Brett Barsky) is a sensitive, overweight
Char P. Kirchner,
adolescent who worships Diana Ross and is utterly captivated by
showbiz. Misunderstood by his dull suburban parents and
ridiculed by his classmates for "walking like a girl" and for his
attraction to straight guy Pinky (Jonah Rooney), he becomes
depressed and considers suicide.
Displaying the diverse talents of a quartet of tyro filmmakers,
Boys Life 2 should serve as a calling card. Each helmer shows
strong potential for a viable filmmaking career.
HELPLine!
Gay? Lesbian? Bisexual? Transgendered?
Have Questions? Need Help?
Call: 616/946-1804
or 800/5 79-8769
Confidentially answered any time day or night
m
,f_
CPA, MSA
un es Wood
Tax Returns - Confidential & Discreet
Single Taxpayers - Use your filing status to your advantage
Un-Married Couples - Take advantage of all your options
Also
nearby
Marge & Joanne's B&B
Appointments in Williamsburg or Traverse City
P. 0. Box 1040
Williamsburg, MI 49690-1040
NETWORKING 45°NORTH
a women's resort
with 12 private
housekeeping rooms
nestled on 7 acres
in NORTHERN MICHIGAN of secloded woods
(616) 334-3346
WOMEN ONLY
Open all year, Near Traverse City.
PO Box 457, Glen Arbor, Ml 49636
(616) 267-5818
-16-
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST /SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1997
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S GAY AND
LESBIAN PRIDE CELEBRATION MESSAGE
PRESIDENT CLINTON MEETS WITH GAY
LEADERS
GAY AND LESBIAN PRIDE CELEBRATION, 1997
Warm greetings to all those participating in the 1997 Gay and
Lesbian Pride Celebration.
Throughout America's history, we have overcome
tremendous challenges by drawing strength from our great
diversity. We must never believe that our diversity is a weakness.
The talents, contributions, and goodwill of people from so many
different back grounds have enriched our national life and have
enabled us to fulfi II our common hopes and dreams. As we stand
at the dawn of a new century, we all must rededicate ourselves to
reaching the vital goals of accep tance and inclusion. America's
continued success will depend on our ability to understand,
appreciate, and care for one another.
We're not there yet, and that is why our efforts to end
discrimination against lesbi·ans and gay men are so important. Like
each of you, I remain dedicated to ending discrimination and
preserving the civil rights of every citizen in our society. We have
begun to wage an all-out campaign against hate crimes in America
-crimes that are often viciously directed at gay men and lesbians.
I have also endorsed and fought for civil rights legislation that
would protect gay and lesbian Americans from discrimination. The
Employment Non- Discrimination Act now being considered in
Congress would put an end to discrimination against gay men and
lesbians in the workplace- discrimination that is currently legal in
39 states. These efforts
reflect our belief in the right of every
American to be judged on his or her merits and abilities, and to be
allowed to contribute to society without facing discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation. And they reflect our ongoing fight
against bigotry and intolerance in our country and in our hearts.
My Administration's record of inclusiveness is a strong one,
but it is a record to build on. I am proud of the many openly gay
men and lesbians who serve with distinction in my Administration,
and their impact will continue to be significant in the years ahead.
I pledge to you that I will continue striving to foster compassion
and understanding, working not simply to tolerate our differences,
but to celebrate them.
Best wishes for a memorable celebration .
Bill Clinton
HEAR.
•
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NElWORKING 45°NORTH
Washington, DC-July 23, 1997- Kerry Lobel, National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force executive director and representatives of
eleven other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations met
with President Clinton on Tuesday July 22, 1997 at the White House.
Participants at the meeting, organized by Richard Socarides,
White House liaison to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
community, covered a wide range of issues including gays in the
military, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth, HIV/AIDS,
and family issues including marriage, adoption and custody.
Other topics discussed at the meeting were hate crimes, the
Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), state organizing,
presidential appointments, sodomy, and the intersections of race
and sexual orientation.
The group also talked about the
President's record on LGBT issues during his first term and
discussed their expectations for the current term.
According to Lobel, "we found the President to be open and
knowledgeable on issues affecting the LGBT community. This is a
President who at heart seems to have a deep commitment to
moving every American forward. At those places where we
disagree with the President, and there are many, we know for
certain now that he acts, not out of ignorance, but out of his
political analysis for advancing his agenda."
Lobel added that the President spoke at length about how the
cultural map of America must shift if LGBT people are to gain civil
rights. "We look to the President to speak out loudly and often
on issues affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
Americans. But we must be realistic. The President will not move
unless activists at the local and state level move him and the
administration forward."
Other participants at the meeting were Kevin Jennings,
executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers
Network; Tim Gill, founder of the Gill Foundation; Gloria Nieto,
executive director of the People of Color AIDS foundation of New
Mexico; Brian Bond, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian
Victory Fund; Lorri Jean, executive director of the Los Angeles
Gay and Lesbian Center; Martin Ornelas-Quintero, executive
director of the National Lation/a Lesbian and Gay Organization; Jeff
Soref, Co-Chair of the Empire State Pride Agenda; Dale McCormick,
Treasurer of the State of Maine; Kevin Cathcart, executive director
of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund; Nancy McDonald,
of Parents, Families
national president of the board of directors
Eggleston,
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG); Verna
executive director of the Hetrick-Martin Institute; and
Elizabeth
Birch, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has worked to
eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national
level since its inception in 1973. As part of a broader social justice
movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a
world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human
expression and identity where all people may fully participate in
society.
-17-
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
CHILDREN PAY THE PRICE
FOR GROWING UP GAY
By Steve Blow I The Dallas Morning News
Several of us middle-aged guys were having lunch the other
day, talking about the usual assortment of work and family
misadventures. Somehow we began to talk about that inevitable
stage in raising boys in which you discover their stash of "naked
lady" pictures.
And almost in unison, we voiced our reaction upon making
that discovery: "Yea! They're not gay!"
We all laughed and went right on to other topics. But I've been
thinking about that moment ever since.
I don't think anyone in that group had that reaction because
of hatred for gays or lesbians. It was more a feeling of relief that
our kids won't have to endure the hardships of growing up gay.
We're in the midst of social upheaval in this country over the
issue of homosexuality. We adults cuss and discuss the civil rights
and moral rightness of gays and lesbians.
And in the meantime, many children pay a price.
Woe to any child in these heated days who gets branded gay
or lesbian .
Male cheerleader
Did you see the news story last weekend about the young
man in Midland? He thought his dreams had come true when
picked as a high school cheerleader. Instead, a nightmare began
when students began to taunt him.
Even from the grandstands at a football game, students cal led
him "a .. . [expletive] faggot." And last month, the young man
attempted suicide .
One study found that a third of teens who commit suicide are
dealing with the hurt and isolation of homosexuality.
And a child need not even be gay or lesbian to suffer the
torment. Lots of those boys with a stash of "naked lady" pictures
at home get targeted because they are different - smaller, or
smarter or simply less athletic than the other boys.
A study in Seattle found that for every gay or lesbian youth
being harassed, another four heterosexual kids were being beaten
up or tormented because they "appeared" gay.
Picture this
Next Sunday afternoon at 2, folks will gather in an auditorium
at the Dallas Museum of Art to watch a film and talk about a nice,
safe topic: Discussing homosexuality in our schools .
Can you say "brouhaha," boys and girls?
The event is sponsored by P-FLAG - Parents, Families and
Friends of Lesbians and Gays. And the movie is It's Elementary an award-winning documentary that shows how homosexuality
is being calmly discussed in some elementary and middle schools
around the country.
I watched the film last week and noticed that none of the
schools were in Texas. What a surprise, huh? And I doubt the
day will come when Texas schools celebrate "Gay & Lesbian Pride
Day" as an elementary in Massachusetts does.
But the film does show that even the youngest children
NE1WORKING 45°NORTH
already know a lot about homosexuality (from those TV talk
shows, mostly). And it demonstrates that kids are capable of
getting beyond the giggles to heartfelt discussion.
Jim McBride also watched the movie last week . "That film
moved me emotionally as much as anything I've seen," he said .
"Because it was about me."
Jim will be discussing the film next Sunday. He is director of
the Hope Counseling Center at the Cathedral of Hope.
He wasn't one of those tormented for being gay as he grew
up in Vicksburg, Miss. In fact, he was class president and
quarterback of the football team. He played quarterback on
scholarship at Mississippi State and went on to a 25-year career
with IBM .
"But I was miserable the whole time," he said, "because I
knew people would hate me if they found out what I was really
feeling inside."
He said he was moved by the film because it shows that
children are capable of grasping what many adults can't - that it's
not about approving or disapproving of homosexuality. "They
understand it's all a matter of respecting people," he said .
Oh, we'll probably have a big controversy over whether
homosexuality should be discussed in our children's schools .
We'll argue back and forth as if we actually had a choice in the
matter.
But the plain truth is that it's being discussed right now. Often
with fists .
{Reprinted with permission of th e a uthor and Dallas Morning N ews}
NETWORKING
45° NORTH
IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THESE SELECT LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS:
Border's Books • The Bookie Joint • Horizon Books
Interlachen Coffee House • JavaSite Coffee House
Ray's Coffee House • SideTraxx Nite Club
Out N About Women's Coffee House
Marge and Joanne' s B&B
IN THE PETOSKEY AREA:
Between the Covers • Horizon Books • Roast and Toast
SAULT SAINT MARIE:
Open Mind Books
-18-
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
CONGRESS COMES HOME FOR AUGUST
WORDS AND MUSIC:
Set Up a Meeting with Your Lawmakers while
They're in Your Neighborhood: It's Easy and
Essential
What's New In Books, Magazines, CD's And Tapes
Your U.S. senators and
representatives are coming home
HUMAN
to their districts for the August
RIGHTS
congressional recess, so now is a
perfect time to set up a meeting
CAMPAIGN
with them about the issues you
care about.
Meeting with our lawmakers is both easy and essential in
working to end discrimination, secure equal rights and protect
the health and safety of our families. And remember-when
Congress isn ' t hearing from us, they are hearing from anti-gay
groups seeking to promote discrimination against us.
There is a great deal to discuss with your members of
Congress: co-sponsoring the Employment Non-Discrimination
Act (ENDA), a bill to protect Americans from job discrimination
based on sexual orientation; amending federal hate crimes
laws to include sexual orientation; securing adequate funding
to fight HIV/AIDS; and addressing lesbian health concerns .
Hearing from you when they are at home helps your
lawmakers do the right thing when they return to
Washington-so get out your appointment book!
Set up a Meeting
1. Contact the Human Rights Campaign's Field Department for
free information on the issues and a lobbying manual that
makes it easy to set up and conduct an effective meeting
with your lawmakers:
• Cal I (202) 628-4160 and ask for the Field Department;
• Write to the Human Rights Campaign, Field Department,
1101 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005; or
• Look for the manual through HRC's Online Action Center
at http:// www.hrc.org/congress/ lobby.html.
2. Then call Congress at (202) 224-31 21 and ask for the office
of the senator or representative you want to meet with.
When you are connected, ask for the scheduler so you can
set up a constituent meeting with your lawmaker during the
August recess.
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and
gay political organization, with members throughout the country.
It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and
educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can
be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
To join, call (800) 777-4723.
By Rick Could
Fall is typically a big time of year for reading materials and
music. Here are some suggestions as the weather turns cold:
At The Bookie Joint, Shelley has recently acquired a personal
library that is mostly gay and lesbian books. The 800 plus library
belongs to someone who is seriously ill and financially stressed.
The majority of the money from the books will go to this woman.
Shelley says the books are in mint condition, and while about 80%
of the titles are of interest to lesbian readers, there are books that
will appeal to both men and women. So come in and browse, buy
and help someone out at the same time!
At Waldenbooks, Kevin gave us this list: The Men From The
Boys by William J. Mann, $22.95 . A summertime romance with a
22-year-old houseboy is the catalyst for a gay man's discovery of
himself, his family, and his place in life. And you thought good help
was hard to find!
Out and About Cay Travel Guides: USA & Canadian Cities, by
Billy Kolber-Stuart, David Alport and David Savage, $14.95 . The
second in a series of gay travel guides from the acclaimed
newsletter Out and About.
Roberts Rules Of Lesbian Breakups by Shelly Roberts, $5 .95.
The syndicated columnist, "the lesbian Erma Bambeck,"
humorously turns her attention to breaking up, dyke style.
Lesbian Erma Bambeck, hmm?
Out In All Directions: A Treasury of Cay and Lesbian America
by Lynn Witt, editors. $16.99 . A lively chronicle of gay
accomplishments and history and a useful guide to gay concepts
and communities nationwide.
The Beauty of Men by Andrew Hollerman, $12 .95. This
acclaimed author's third novel is now out in paperback. This story
is about a man, though surrounded by losses in the AIDS era, still
mourns the passing of his own youth.
From Horizon Books, Jennifer suggested the following : Kept
Boy by Robert Rodi, $23 .95 . Rodi, author of
Fag Hag and
Clamourpuss, strikes again with a hilarious and touching look at the
title character's fight to keep his keeper.
Dream Lover by Jane Flutcher, $9 .95. Two women who once
had a passionate affair 20 years ago, meet again unexpectedly,
and guess what? Well, if I have to tell you ... go back to Regency
Romances 101 !
Now That I'm Out, What Do I Do?by Brian McNaught, $22 .95.
This primer will help!
The Last Party by Anthony Haden-Guest, $25 .00. This is
purports to be the tel I-all story of the Studio 54 era.
Comics North's
From Cheboygan, Dave Elyea invites you to
spiffy new digs. The store is now located at 211 N. Main St.,
across from the Post Office. Here's some new comic titles :
Roberta Gregory's Naughty Bits #23 , $2.95. Spotlights the
origin of her charactor Bitchy Butch, who reflects on her
beginnings in response to the media circus surrounding the
"coming out"episode of a certain prime-time sitcom .
BOOKLIST
NElWORKING 45°NORTH
-19-
continued page 22
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1997
PROFILE: IAN WHITNEY
"The National Education Association deplores
incidents of hate-motivated physical and verbal
attacks against individuals or groups because of
their race, color, national origin, religion, gender,
sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status
or economic condition. The Association urges its
affiliates ... to create an awareness of hatemotivated, violent activities and to develop
programs to oppose them ... "
I asked Ian how he got started on this endeavor.
"I've been thinking about it a lot. .. I didn't see
any people doing anything; there's only so much
a person can do who has a full time job, so I
thought maybe I should. I talked to a couple of
my straight friends and they agreed and the more
people we talked to the more people supported
it."
"Going to IAA helped me a lot in doing this whole
project."
Ian attended Traverse City Schools through the tenth grade.
He spent this past year at IAA majoring in creative writing . After
graduation next year he plans to begin college at NMC and make
his decision about a career at that time.
"It may be law, or education administration. I' m leaning
toward education though ... "
A music lover, Ian played cello through junior high and the
first two years of high school at Traverse City.
"I really enjoy playing cello in the orchestra, but I'm not
playing now at Interlachen. I think I could get into the orchestra
there, but I don't think I could practice as much as required given
my present major ... if it were music - ok, but not now."
This past year Ian worked at Big Boy, where he found the staff
Now he works in the friendly
accepting of his gayness.
atmosphere of Copy World where he finds help with petitions and
posters as well as advice and support from the staff.
In talking about the breadth of support, Ian made it clear that
this is not just a gay issue.
"If you do not support safe communities, what
do you support? Unsafe communities?"
Ian Whitney is a young man with a mission - a
mission to garner community-wide support for Safe
Schools in Northern Michigan.
"The Hate-free TC forum is really helping
because we can tie in with that. .. It is a human rights
issue."
A student at Interlachen Arts Academy, Ian
has been working on this project since last fall . He
has enlisted the support of several organizations
including PFLAG, GLSTN, Friends North, the local
Democratic Party and many individuals who have
signed the petition to include two resolutions in
school board policy.
"We are promoting these two resolutions
which have been adopted by the National
Education Association and we are going to try ultimately to get the
local school board to adopt similar resolutions .. ."
The resolutions were adopted by the NEA in July 1992. One
reads, in part:
" The National Education Association believes that personnel
policies and practices must guarantee that no person be
employed, retained, paid, dismissed, suspended, demoted,
transferred, or retired because of race, color, national origin,
religious beliefs, gender or sexual orientation, residence, physical
disability, political activities, professional association activity, age,
marital status ... "
Ian's comment on that resolution was "Lots of times schools
say, 'we are not firing so-and-so for being gay (or whatever) they
are still working for us -we are just transferring them . .. ' They don 't
think that is discrimination, but it really is."
The second resolution is a commitment to do something about
it by creating programs, holding in-service training for teachers,
etc. It is worded in part:
FRIENDS NORTH, INC., P.O. Box 562, TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49685-0562
YES, I want to be a supporting member of the Friends North Organization
D Single : $15.00
D Couple : $25.00 (includes one-year newsletter subscription)
I am enclosing an additional:
□ 10.00
□ 20.00
D 40.00
and I would like to see this used for:
□ Newsletter
□ Where needed
D Education Fund
Optional First Class Mailing $8.00
Total Enclosed
$ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _
Name(s) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __
City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ST _ _ _ ZIP _ __ _ _ _ _ __
D I would like to continue
receiving the newsletter but
am unable to contribute.
Phone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ __
D I am New to the mailing list.
D I am already on mailing list.
D Note my new address.
D Please remove me from your mailing list.
The F/N mailing list is confidential and our mailings come in an unmarked envelope.
NETWORKING 45' NORTH
-20-
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
"The good thing about this is that it is not just a gay issue ...
we are focusing on protecting all kids - everyone - that's why I
am thinking we'll have lots of support from people we might not
ordinarily expect it from ... even fundamentalist Christians, for
example ... their kids are affected by discrimination ... Everybody
should just come together and work together ... in Traverse City
we have all these separate groups, I think we all want the same
thing in this matter - even though some are social groups, some
are discussion groups, some are advocacy groups .. I think there
should be one great coalition for this effort...as long as we
broaden the concern ... and these resolutions do that."
Right now the effort is to raise money to pay for copies of
the resolution, the poster, and other publicity such as bumper
stickers and flyers. GLSTN is acting as fiscal agent for the
project. Checks made out to GLSTN are tax-deductible.
One major source of support for Ian is a young man named
Matt whom he has been seeing for several months. Matt lives
in Petoskey and attends North Central Michigan College there,
but they manage to see each other with great regularity.
"I decided some months ago that I was never going to
have a relationship until I'm about 40 and everybody is so
tired out that they just want to settle down ... then I'll find a
relationship. So I just stopped looking ... And then I met Matt!
He wasn't looking for a relationship either. We met at
Windfire."
Lest we are complacent about hatemongering and
harassment in Traverse City, Ian relates an incident that
happened to him and Matt recently.
"I've never really been harassed but three times in one
week we were harassed. We were at Seven-Eleven and this
guy sitting in a beat up old car was yelling 'queers! faggots!' at
us in a really mean voice. I think he was drunk and just looking
for a fight. And then we were walking through a group of
skaters and they were calling us faggots too - and we weren't
even holding hands or anything."
So the need for increased public awareness and individual
awareness is great, not only to minimize incidents such as
these but to reduce to a mInImum all kinds of
depersonalization of the neighbor and the stranger. Ian is a
bright, talented, and determined young man with the
leadership qualities to keep this project alive and help educate
us all in this regard.
Bay
Business
Services
Inc.
GAY PRIDE EUROPE
PARIS - Gays & lesbians and their supporters in several world
capitals participated in marches in June to commemorate riots in
New York nearly 30 years ago that galvanized the gay rights
movement.
Around 200,000 people from across Europe danced and
chanted their way through the streets of Paris in the country's
biggest gay rally ever.
"Equal rights without sexual discrimination in France and in
Europe," chanted one group of participants at the head of the
march, accompanied by the heavy beat of techno music.
Colorful floats, representing gay and lesbian groups from
Spain to Denmark, were involved in the march.
At one point the rally stretched for more than five miles from
Place de la Republique on Paris's Right Bank to the Vincennes
forest in the city's east, where the march finished.
The June celebrations commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots
in New York, which led to the modern gay rights movement.
Several cities, including New York, San Francisco and
Toronto, had parades scheduled for Sunday, June 29.
This year, for the first time, dozens of European organizations
joined Paris' annual march supporting homosexuality. Many were
calling for greater rights for the gay communities in their country.
"We come from Italy and do not have the same rights as
Denmark or other countries," said Maximilliano Rosselli from
Milan, Italy.
In Mexico City, a transvestite headed the march down the
city's main street, Paseo de la Reforma.
Chants of "No political freedom without sexual freedom!"
rose from the marchers, most of whom were in everyday dress.
Marchers parading through the heart of Berlin passed a stage
with actors dressed as historical figures, including a concentration
camp prisoner branded with the pink triangle the Nazis forced
homosexual inmates to wear.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia, a carnival-like parade drew 500 people.
Small groups of locals and tourists watched along the route.
leatherA parade by lesbians in Toronto included a brigade of
clad women on motorcycles and some women who marched
topless as thousands of onlookers lined both sides of the street.
"Doing what we're doing today helps other people
understand we're normal people like everybody else," said Mary
Brown, 28.
HELPLine!
Offrn (616)!,41-5748
Gay? Lesbian? Bisexual? Transgendered?
Have Questions? Need Help?
ANDREW L. MITCHELL
Call: 616/946-1804
or
Accounting& TaxService
Confidentially answered any time day or night
810-B South Garfield Ave• Traverse City, Ml 49686
NETWORKING 45' NORTH
800/579-8769
-21-
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
YOUTH ACTIVISTS TO ATTEND 3RD
ANNUAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING
INSTITUTE
For the past two years, NGLTF's Youth Leadership Training
Institute has brought together lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgendered young people from every region of the country
representing a wide range of racial, cultural, religious, and class
backgrounds, for a week-long intensive skills-building training.
This year, the Institute will bring back 40 graduates from '95
and '96 for a weekend-long follow-up training to address the
growing needs of their communities; share their experiences, and
strengthen their organizing and leadership skills to make real
change. This year' s trainers will include NGL TF Executive Director
Kerry Lobel and nationally-acclaimed writer and activist Suzanne
Pharr. The training will take place at the Highlander Center, nestled
in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, July 17-20.
Through the Youth Leadership Training Institute, the Task
Force works to recognize young organizers and activists as
leaders in their own right and to offer them the opportunity to
learn the skills necessary to make a difference in their communities.
Graduates of the trainings have gone on to organize youth
groups, support services and events in their local communities.
After graduation from the Institute in '95, Russell Roybal began
working on his project, the Queer Youth SpeakOut, a
demonstration for an by queer youth at the Republican National
Convention. It was hailed as the most impactful demonstration
during the convention. In the Fall of '96, Russell was elected Vice
President of Gay and Lesbian Latinos con Orgullo. This past
January, he was hired as Assistant Development Director at The
Lesbian & Gay Men's Community Center in San Diego and joined
the Board of NGLTF . He is its youngest member.
'I owe a tremendous debt to the Task Force. It helped to
strengthen my voice and support my work in our community . I
am a product of NGL TF. The Institute gave me access and for that
I will always be grateful," says Russell .
The field staff continues to handle hundreds of requests each
month from people needing assistance in all 50 states and acts as
an information conduit for the Federation of Statewide groups,
where much effort has been focused since its inception at Creating
Change last fall.
c5uzelle Garb.ti,
G.£iropraclor
Activator Method (low force technique)
and gentle manual adjusting
•
Massage Therapy
Holistic Health & Wellness Educator
814-B S. Garfield• Traverse City, MI 49686
Res: 616-275-2502 • Office 616-933-4424
NETWORKING 45' NORTH
The Federation is a network of statewide gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender political organizations which provides a vehicle
for groups to share resources, information, ideas, and coordinate
strategy to increase our movement's efficacy at both the state and
the national level. Our field staff has invested countless hours
organizing, assisting, and strategizing with individual statewide
groups. Their concerted effort and commitment has enabled the
Federation to gain strength and momentum every day. Through
countless conference calls, e-mail listservers, and meetings,
statewide groups are able to compare notes, share experiences,
and strategize about issues they are confronting in their state.
This summer, representatives from every participating
statewide group will travel to the Highlander Center in Knoxville,
Tennessee for the first official meeting of the Federation . This
historic three-day meeting will include a full day of special skills
training; debriefings on the struggles and triumphs of the 1997
legislative session ; committee formation ; group structure and
communication; and future plans for Federation work.
The Federation ' s cohesion thus far points to the necessity of
organizing our movem ent from the ground up, the method NGL TF
has committed to since its inception in 1973 . The progress already
made speaks volumes, and will build gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered communities across Am erica.
In addition to NGL TF 's commitment to the Federation, the field
department works to keep activists and the media informed of
what's happening in state capitals . On a bi-monthly basis, NGL TF
releases a Legislative Update which focuses on gay and HIV
related legislation . NGL TF has been commended by community
leaders for providing this valuable information to people on the
front lines of the onslaught of attacks against our communities .
A complete copy of the NGLTF Legislative Update and
accompanying chart is available by calling NGL TF at 202/33 26483 x3327. This and previous editions of the update are
available at httpJ/ www.ngltf.org.
Organizers in Action
Field organizer Betsy Gressler attended a DC conference
hosted by The Interfaith Alliance on the Promise Keepers
movement in March. The event was primarily a coriference for
denominational religious activists to talk about the impact of the
Promise Keepers on their churches. Betsy is a key organizer in the
effort to educate our communities about the Promise Keepers
movement. Most visible through its network of men ' s-only
stadium events. Promise Keepers is a grassroots operation run by
prominent right-wing personalities. This year's events will
culminate with a Million Man March in Washington, DC in
October. Stay tuned for more information . If the Promise Keepers
are visiting your city, call NGLTF for organizing materials.
Field organizer Tracey Conaty recently participated in a panel
discussion at the PFLAG Mid-Atlantic conference in Wilmington,
DE on the major issues facing our movement. She also attended
the National Youth Advocacy Coalition Conference in April. At that
conference, Policy Institute Director Urvashi Vaid convened a
meeting that included Tracey, local Florida activists, and
representatives from other national organizations to strategize on
advancing youth issues in Florida.
-22-
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
un,vi]ijffl~fllllilfi ~i 1J~l11~[1i11li~]~~r,il1~rIf. UK
M 001 111 475
A Never-Ending Media Frenzy
Mark Johnson has stepped right into the fray as NGLTF's new
Media Director. In his first week, he appeared on local television
and was quoted in the Washington Times, a right-leaning local DC
paper, that referred to our Blueprint for Presidential Action as "the
homosexual agenda." The Task Force has been quoted in 40
news stories since March, and has issued 33 press releases,
which are often printed in non-gay publications nationwide.
Be on the lookout for Mark's new monthly column,
"Mediacracy," which will be sent out to various publications
nationwide, and is posted on our website. The column will analyze
and discuss coverage of gay news.
(BOOKLIST
continued page 19)
Dagger of Blood#3 by John Blackburn, $2.95. This concludes
the most recent erotic adventures of Coley, the 19-year-old
bisexual porn star and voodoo sex god.
From AB CD's Norm gave us the following music picks:
Surfacing, Sarah Mclachlan. It's finally HERE - the long awaited
follow up to the 1993 multi-platinum, Grammy nominated
"Fumbling Toward Ecstasy." This is destined to make Mclachlan
a superstar. Mclachlan is arguably one of the finest singer/
songwriters of the 90's.
Hourglass, James Taylor. After 30 years of recording Taylor
has made another near perfect recording worthy of a Grammy
nomination. This collection proves Taylor still has what it takes to
make wonderful music. Strong points include: Little More Time with
You, Line Em Up and Ananas.
Standards, Sam Harris. This is the guy from 13 straight(?) weeks
of winning the male vocalist catagory on Star Search. After stumbling
around at the beginning of his recording career at Motown Harris is
back in top notch fashion. Harris recently appeared on Broadway
in the musical "Grease" and received a Tony nomination for his role
in the current musical on Broadway "The Dream."
It's Time, Linda Eder. Hailed as the Streisand for the 90's, Eder
comes so very close to exactly that. Eder is probably best known for
her work on Broadway in the musical production of Jekyll & Hyde,
which has also been recently released on disc. Be sure to snap this
one up, Eder is stunning and the material is delivered to perfection.
OK Computor, Radiohead. Considered to be "the band" of
songwriters and recording artists, Radiohead's last release, "The
Bends," was on many critics "Best of" lists last year. This new
release is definetly a concept album designed to be listened to from
start to finish.
Drag, k.d. lang. lang's latest is not a concept album about
crossdressing, however, you would never know it by checking
out the cover. The latest installment is all about smoking - but not
a pro smoking album. Its loosely tied together with songs about
love and other addictions. Included are covers of Steve Miller
Band's "The Joker", which lang gives (pardon the pun) a breath
of fresh air. Also of note: The Hollies' "The Air the I Breathe" and
the standout cut, "Theme from Valley of the Dolls," too bad for
Dionne, this version is superior. (Norm's comment, not mine!
Dionne is my personal psychic, after all!)
These businesses appreciate your business and comments.
NETWORKING 45°NORTH
-23-
FOR FIRST TIME, NY FEDERAL JUDGE
STRIKES DOWN ENTIRE LAW BARRING
GAYS FROM MILITARY SERVICE
NEW YORK, July 2, 1997-ln the first full defeat of the
military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute, a federal judge in New
York struck down the law, saying it unconstitutionally imposes
special rules on gay troops.
U.S. Judge Eugene Nickerson of the Eastern District of New
York rejected both the conduct and speech portions of the law,
ruling that they violate the Constitution's equal protection
guarantee and serve no purpose but to placate the fears of some
heterosexual troops.
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and the American
Civil Liberties Union, which jointly brought the case, Able v. U.S.A.,
praised the ruling as a breakthrough toward ending the
government's discriminatory treatment of lesbians and gay men in
the military.
"We are now one step closer to having this archaic law
overturned once and for all," said Matt Coles, director of the
ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project. "This case is about the
most basic American value: equal treatment, one set of rules for
everybody. The entire law, both its conduct rules and speech
rules, violates that principle."
Lambda Legal Director Beatrice Dohrn said, "This is the first
court to strip away all of the military's euphemistic justifications.
Judge Nickerson explains that the military's cloaking its
discrimination in gay-only-conduct rules cannot shield it from the
Constitution. Any law based on prejudice is unconstitutional. The
decision gives us strong ammunition for the inevitable appeal."
Following argument in his Brooklyn courtroom November 18,
Judge Nickerson issued a 48-page ruling, saying, "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
homosexuals but not if done by a heterosexual."
Nickerson also sharply rebuked the government's argument
that the law is needed to maintain military readiness, saying that
the government had made "an outright confession that 'unit
cohesion' is a euphemism to catering to the prejudices to the
heterosexuals."
The ruling was prompted by a federal appeals court decision
last July that sent the case back to Judge Nickerson for further
action. Although Nickerson ruled in March 1995 that the law's
restrictions on speech were unconstitutional, the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals held that the validity of the entire scheme
depended on the "conduct" portion of the ban and directed
Nickerson to reexamine the law on those grounds.
The "conduct" portion of the ban sets up special rules for
lesbian and gay service members, requiring them to remain celibate
and refrain from any affectionate behavior. Similar rules do not
exist regarding heterosexual conduct. Under the "statement"
portion, gay troops are prohibited from saying anything that may
reveal their sexual orientation.
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 4 • AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997
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STATE AND NATIONAL HOTLINES
LOCAL SPIRITUAL:
Department of Justice Hotline (for reporting
Hate Crimes against gays and lesbians) ............ 800-347-HATE
Michigan Wellness Networks .......... ..... ... ...... 800-872-AIDS
Gay/Lesbian National Youth Hotline .................. 800-347-TEEN
Rev. Geraldine Colvin & Rev. David Florence
Unity Church, 3600 Five Mile, Traverse City .......... 616-932-9587
Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Grand Traverse
6726 Center Rd., Traverse City-Home: 938-9078 ... Office: 947-3117
Rev. Nancy Hayward, Circle of the Sacred Earth .. . .. . ... 616-223-7999
STATEWIDE SERVICES
SOCIAL I POLITICAL I MEDIA
The Network: Lesbian and Gay Community Network of W. Michigan
909 Cherry St. S.E., Grand Rapids, Ml 49506 . .. . ..... 616-458-3511
Lavender Morning
P.O. Box 50729, Kalamazoo, Ml 49005 .............. 616-685-6061
Kalamazoo Resource Center
P.O. Box 1532, Kalamazoo, Ml 49005 ........ . ...... 616-345-7878
Affirmations Lesbian/Gay Community Center
Suite 110, 195 W. Nine Mile Rd.
Ferndale, Ml 48220 . ... ....................... ... 810-398-7105
http://www.webspace.com/-tcc/affirmations/index.htme
Lansing Association of Human Rights
P.O. Box 18062, Lansing, Ml 48826 ................. 517-332-3200
e-mail ................................... lahr@macatawa.org
Lesbian Connection
P.O. Box 811, East Lansing, Ml 48826 ............... 517-371-5257
Triangle Foundation (Lesbian/Gay Foundation of Michigan)
19641 W. Seven Mile Rd., Detroit 48219 .... . ........ 313-537-3323
................... . ... .. ..... . ...... .... Fax: 313-537-3379
email ....................................... trijeffm@aol.com
Between The Lines (newspaper/monthly) ............... 810-615-7003
33528 Eight Mile, Ste. 185A3, Livonia, Ml 48152 ... FAX 810-615-7018
e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pridepblis@aol.com
The Third Coast (magazine/monthly) .................. 616-451-4903
1322 Hurd, SE, Grand Rapids 49506 ............ FAX 616-451-0915
e-mail .................. ... ............. lllrdCoasst@aol.com
NATIONAL SERVICE I SOCIAL I POLITICAL
P-FLAG: Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
101214th St. NW, Ste. 700, Washington, DC 20005 .... 202-638-4200
GLAAD: Gay/Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
80 Varick St., #3E, New York, NY 10013 ............. 212-807-1700
......................................... Fax: 212-807-1806
email ..................................... glaadnatl@aol.com
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force .. . ....... ... .... 202-332-6483
2320 17th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009 ....... Fax: 202-332-0207
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund ... . . .. 212-809-8585 x 205
120 Wall St., NY, NY 10005 .... . .... . ......... Fax: 212-890-0055
ACLU Lesbian/Gay Rights Project
1370 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94130 .......... 415-621-067 4
HRC: Human Rights Campaign (National Coming Out Day)
1012 14th St. NS #607, Washington, DC 20005 ....... 202-628-4160
............ . ............... . .... . ....... Fax: 202-347-5323
e-mail ..................................... www@hrcusa.org
Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, Political Action Committee
101214th St. NW #707, Washington, DC 20005 ....... 202-842-7679
GLSTN, Gay Lesbian Straigh!Teachers Network ........ 212-727-0135
121 West 27 Street Suite 804, NY, NY 10001 .... Fax: 212-727-0-254
-24-
LOCAL COUNSELING:
Third Level Crisis Intervention, . . .... ..... ............ 616-922-4800
1022 E. Front St., TC, Ml 49686 .... .. .......... and 800-442-7315
Women's Resource Center ..... .................... . 616-941-121 o
Rodger Landvoy, PHO .. ..... .............. ..... ... 616-929-1711
Susan Breuer PHO (Frankfort/ Traverse City) ........... 616-352-4261
Margo Million, ACSW .............................. 616-947-0511
David Blisk (Maple City) ... ........ ........ ... ...... 616-228-5105
Joanna T. Lauber, MA, OTA, CHt ..................... 616-947-8842
Barbara Jones Smith, PHO .......................... 616-947-1444
Elizabeth Most, MSW, ACSW (Petoskey) ............... 616-439-0656
William D. Gould, MA (Gladwin) ...................... 517-426-2351
David Rushlow, ACSW, Munson Medical Center ... ...... 616-935-6385
Bay Area Counseling (Petoskey/Harbor Springs)
Margalo Bley, MSW, ACSW ....... ..... . ........ .. 616-348-3616
Daniel C. Doran, PHD, CSW ........................ 906-635-9263
Lois Martindale, Ph.D., Benzonia ..................... 616-882-5888
CDRS (a free substance abuse referral agency)
808-A S. Garfield, Traverse City .......... 929-1315 or 800-686-0749
LOCAL SERVICE I SOCIAL I POLITICAL
Friends North (information line) ...................... 616-946-1804
Common Voices - FIN Rap Group .................... Ed - 947-4697
.................. . ........................ Tom - 275-6127
Windfire Gay & Lesbian Youth Support Group-Call Third Level for location & time ......... .. . ... ... 616-922-4800
or ............................................ 800-442-7315
Side Traxx Nile Club, 520 Franklin St. off of 8th St. ...... . 616-935-1666
Traverse City Human Rights Commission, 400 Boardman . 616-922-4700
Gay Alcoholics Anonymous,
Grace Church, Washington at Boardman, TC .... John 616-922-0746
P-FLAG, Traverse City, POB 1705, Acme, Ml 49610 . Cindy 616-271-5045
GLSTN (Gay/Lesbian/Straight Teachers Network)
PO Box 9, Traverse, Ml 49685 .. . ..... .... ..... .... 616-943-5050
NOW (National Organization for Women) Gail Trill . ...... 616-938-1333
LOCAL HIV/ AIDS HEALTH COUNSELING:
HIV/AIDS Wellness Networks, GTA, Inc., ..... . ......... 616-947-1110
P.O. Box 1632, Traverse City, Ml 49685 ........... 1-800-494-1160
Business Office ................................. 616-933-0279
HIV/AIDS Wellness Networks - HIV Support Group and
Family and Significant Other Support Group ....... ... 616-947-1110
Thomas Judd Care Center, 1211 W Front St., Traverse City,
Mary Dillinger, RN, Clinical Nurse Specialist .......... 616-935-8140
David Rushlow, ACSW Social Worker ............... 616-935-6385
H.A.N.D.S. (HIV/AIDS Support: Petoskey) ............ 1-800-248-6777
Community Health Clinic ............................ 616-929-4448
(anonymous counseling/testing; same-day results no fee)
Northern Michigan Planned Parenthood ................ 616-929-1844
(anonymous counseling & testing)
Grand Traverse County Health Department ............. 616-922-4831
(anonymous HIV Testing Center)
Emmet County Health Department (Petoskey) ........ ... 616-347-6014
Also call the District Health Department in your area