| Transcript |
Houston athletes are off
to Gay Games in Chicago
Team Houston members
are among 12,000
registered for this
year's games
By JEFF BISHOP
Thr planr t1ckrts are purchased.
The hotl'l rooms arc booked, and last
minute conditioning is underway. On
,June 8. a private pizza party to pick
up tram jerseys, and to hang out one
last time before heading north to
Illinois will be held.
Next weekend, Team Houston ls
going to Chicago for the Gay Games.
Held every four years, the first Gay
Grunes took place in San Francisco in
1982. bringing together 1,350 partici·
pants in 11 sports. The games have
increased m size since then: 2006 brings
together 12.000 registered athletes from
over 70 colUltries competmg m 32 sports.
('!car Lake resident, Rex Manke, 15,
will be going to his fourth Gay Games
since 1986, to compete in outdoor sand
doubles volleyball. Marzke and his
partner are llymg up on Saturday.
"l'vo been playing volleyball since
'82. I didn't come out until '85, '86,"
Manke said. "I don't drink, and so I
don't go to gay bars. J saw th1~ fl} er for
a gay mlleyball league, Joined it and
competed m the Gay Games in San
Francisco m '86 J now mamly play
indoor sixes. M\' volleyball partner is
an old friend. and it's our first sand
volleyball m 15 years."
Keith Wright is president of Team Houston, the local organization that orgamzed gay teams to
compete in this year's Gay Games in Chicago. (Photo by Dalton DcHartl
For Deborah de Bram, 45, the
atmosphere of the Gay Games is
enough tu bring her back. Her only
trip so far was to Amsterdam in 1998,
where she won three medals in telU11S.
a silver in the Doubles 35-plus m1Xed,
and bronze's in Doubles 35·plus
Women and Single :JS.plus Women.
"I wa~ with my partner. and we
stayed at the host hotel." de Bram said.
"In Amsterdam. everywhere we went
[gay IJCOPleJ w~re there. An)1imc th. 1
you went anywhere the restaurants,
the mu cums. the bars you saw tl1l
athletes or the spectators. It was reall;:
really awesome. I wanted to go to
Chicago to try to capture that again"
De Bram pract1ccs with the Houston
Tennis Club, one of the many gay
sports organizations in Houston.
"The Houston Tennis Club has
been around for 26 years," de Rram
said. "Quite a few of the guys who
have been around since the inception
arc still pla)'ing." The group meets
Wednesday and Friday nights from
7'30 to 9 a m., and holds a clime on
Satw'dav from 9 a.m. to noon, hN id
Robert Lopez. ~. \\ill be pla) mg
where\er his team needs him most
Please see CAY GAMES on Page 4
Amy Sedaris gives fans
of her quirky TV clique
Some big-screen 'Candy.'
Page ll
Par1 of the new batch of gay soap characfers with thicket plot
Imes. Luke Snyder (Van Hansis right) on 'As the World Tums
spms on a dramatic axis as he struggles with a crush on his
straight friend Kevin (Karl Girolama). (Photo by Lorenzo
Bevilaqua courtesy PGP/televis1on illustration by Justin Winslow)
All my gay children
Soap operas continue inclusive,
if incidental use of gay characters
By ZACK HUDSON
"PASSIONS" CHARACTER SIMONE RUSSEIL HAS·
N'T had it easy.
Nov. a young woman in her 20s, Simonl' (Cathy
Jeneen Doe) has spent the majority of her forma·
tne years seething at her parrnts and sister
Whitnry while trvmg to teal Chad Wlutney's
boyfnend, aw~ from her sermingl) perfect older
s1bhng
But in true oap opera fa h1on once her famJI}
learned that Chad v. as possibly unon nd
Please see SOAP OPERAS on Page 15
Paul Scott says free
activism training will help
Houston gay families.
Local Life, Page 6
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee
wants to reinstate legislation
banning gay foster parents.
News, page 5
Actor Johnny Depp says
he has no problem
playing a gay character.
Dish, Page 16
2 JULY 7. 2006
JOSE MCDONALD
REAi.TY, INC.
5444 Westhe1mer, Ste 1560 • Houston, TX 77056
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HOUSTON VOICE wwwhoustonvoice.com I •
Pictured 1s Houston Mumapal Court Judge Barbara Hartle. John Lawrence; Kevin L Cathcart Dennis
Coleman who IS regional director for Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund the gay leqal advocacy
group, and local gay attorney Jeny Simoneaux_
Texas sodomy case decision remembered in Houston
A commemoration rcremon} marking the third anniversary of the Lawrence \S.
Texn sodomy casr decision w;i, held Junl' 26 at the Bermg & James Gallen: follm\ed by
a reception at the Houston GLBT Commt.111!} Center.
In 1998, HalTlS County Sh( Lff's deput1es, rcs1xmding to a false report of an armed
intruder, entered John Lm\1-cnce's Houston apartment and found him and 'I)ron
Garner having sex. Both were arrested and jailed overnight. They pleaded no eonte t to
the Class C misdemeanor and paid a $200 fine
The case wa appealed to the Texas Co1trt of Cr1mmal Appeals, which ref\1scd to con·
sider the matter. U.S. Supreme Court justices agreed in the fall of 2002 to hear the ca e,
and or.ii arguments Y.ere gm~n before the court m March.
An historic 2003 US. Supreme Court decision to strike down Texas' so-called "homo
sexual conduct" law sent cheers throughout the state and country among gay citizens.
The law had banned intimate relations, including oral and anal sex, bctv.('('n con·
senting adults of the same sex. It did not apply to heterosexual couples.
Get ready for an 'Amazing'
Houston Chamber event
The Houston GLBT Chamber of
Commerce will spon or ·~mazing Hace
Houston" on Friday July 7 from 6.00 1i.m.
to 10:00 p.m.
This event is alwa}'s a fmorite for mem·
hers and guests, said chamber officials.
Ba ed on the hit CBS Network tele\ is ton
show "The Amazing Race." teams are
formed and compete along a progrc sive
dinner route as they solve clue , titSks and
arriVl' to each destination fur pomts toward
herornmg the final wmning team of the
night.
Till' chamber has established host d1•s·
tinations for each stop along the route,
inrluding a wini> and cheese station. salad
stop, entrcc stop and the final destination
for dessert.
Chamber officials believe the event Is
a good opportunity for gay business own·
ers to promote their com1>any and net·
work with others For more tnformation
call 713-523-7576 or visit www.thecham
berhouston.org
MCC releases fall, summer continuing
education training schedule
The J\lontrose Counseling Crntl'r,
which SPr-vcs a large number of gay, les·
bian, bisexual a)1d transgPnder
lloustonians, has released the fall und
summer training schedule for its
Continuing Education DepartmenL
The first training session starts Aug.
18, and will includr. decisions on Sexually
Transmitted lnfect1ons such as Hepatitis
and 'l'uberculos1s. Another session on this
top will take place Nov. 17. Other sessions
include Cultural Diversity and Sen ith 1ty
on Sept 15 and HIV AIDS on Ort. 20.
The training sessions an• open to the
public. It last betY.cen three and four
hours, and reqmrc a 10 per hour fee if
paid ·n advance An additional $10 \\ill be
chargt'<I the day of the sessions if not pre·
paid.
All of the sec;s1ons \\ill be held at the
center, which is located at 701 Richmond
A\'e. For more information, call the center
ut 713·529-0007 or visit www.monstrosec
ounselingcenter:org.
PFLAG/HATCH scholarships
to be awared July 9
Winners of the l'FLAG/HATC II Youth
Scholarship Foundation scholarships
will hr announced ,July 9 at the monthly
meeting of the local Parents, Families
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays group.
PFl.AG offirmls said the scholarships
honor the outstanding acheirnment of
graduating ga}: lesbian, bisexual and trans·
gender high school students. Last year.
I03.1Xl0 worth of scholarships were handed
out to students about to start college
The meeting will he held at St. Paul's
United J\lethodist Church, which is local·
ed at 5SOI S. J\1ain St., at 2 p.m. For more
information on I' Fl.AG or on how to apply
for rwxt year's schofarships, call 71~67
3524 or C·mail helplin a pflaghouston.org.
From staff and wire reports
JULY 7. 2006 3 I I
Fort Bend County gay
murder case remains open
Police officials now have
full name of suspect, but
have made no new arrest
By ERIC ERVIN
Sheriff's officials in Fort Bend Count)
now know the name of a second su pect
wanted in the murder of a gay man. but
have not yet tracked hrm do\\n.
Offirials ha\e recent:y identtfied thr
second suspect as 19 ~ear old Alonzo
.Guerra. Originall}. the} only had what
\\as believed to be a pos. rble first name of
MAlon o" to go on
Guerra L<; wanted m connection with
the murder of Arnulfo Quintero Aguilar.
43, of Sugar Land. Police are also looklng
for Luis Carlos Rodnguez. 27
"There has not been any more arrests."
said Terriann Carlson, a Sheriff' Office
spokesperson.
Fort Bend County Shenff's officials are
still not saying if Aguliar was murdered
in his home last month because he was
gay. Ofticiab said it ap1>eared Aguilar suf·
fercd a tragic death of blunt forced trauma
to the head.
l'ohcc already have one suspect in cus·
tody On Junr 17, they rrcsted Alberto
Ramos, 17, for allegrdly takmg part m the
murder. Officmls s<ud Aguilar met Ramo
and the tY.o other men at a Hou ton area
gay bar and invited them to his Sugar
Land home.
Officials said Ramos gave a \oluntary
statement admitting he and two additional
suspects went to a bar in the Houston area
and targeted Aguilar with mtent1on of
robbing him of his money and proper!}
Agular's body \\HS found May 28 b}
friends who went to his home in 10200
block of Kent Towne Lane In the
To\\newest subdivision of Sugar Land.
After not hearmg from him after leaving
several phone calls, they contacted police.
Police officials said Agular had been tied
up and beaten with an object such as a
baseball bat
Sheriff's officials said Aguilar had
@MORE INFO
Fort Bend County Sheriffs Department
1410 Ransom Road
Richmond. Texas 77469
281-341-4700
wwwco.fort-bend.tx.us
Forth Bend County Crimesloppers
PO_ Box 1607
Rosenberg.Texas 77471
281-342--8477
wwwfortbend·tx-crimestoppers.org
Arnulfo Quintero Aguilar 43. was found murdered
May 28 m his nearby Sugar Land home Police have
made one arrest m the gay men's death. and are
still looking for two more suspects.
been eiq>ected at a gathering the pre\ 1ou
evening, but never arrl\ed Friend called
him se\eral time • got no repl}, and thrn
\\ent to his residence
The victim's home had been ransacked
and a number of items \\ere mi mg.
including his red 1997 Jeep Cherokee.
Police stopped the Jeep last weekend durmg
a spot cherk \Vhile being quesuoncd,
police say Ramos admitted to being invoh ed
in the man's death. He's been charged with
murder and is being held Without bond.
Death penalty possible
Pro~ccutor' ha\·e said the} might seek
the death penalty because robbery v.a
imol\ed, and might file hate crime
charges.
They are rncouragmg local gay re i·
dents to help \Hth findmg the remaining
two su pccts. Th"Y behe\·e other patron
of the bar might ha•<' seen them
"Certainly if they kno\\ somethmg
the} should call us. Carlson.
Carlson said the victim' famtl} ha
been postmg signs at Hou ton area ga}
clubs and neighborhood . No fan111) mem·
bcrs could be reached by press time
An up to $5.000 re\\ard i bcmg offered
by Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers to
anyone WJth information leading to the
t\\o suspects' arre t All caller can
rcmam anonymous. Anyone \\1th inf or
mauon on their whereabout~ l.s a ked to
contact the Fort Bend County Sheriff's
Office at 281341-4700.
4 JULY 7. 2006 www.houstonvoice.com HOUSTON VOICE I new~
Houston athletes join thousands for Gay Games
GAY GAMES, cont nued from Page I
hkely goalkeeper for the combined
Houston Dallas soccer team.,. For pre para
uon, Lopez 1s mamly try1.11J to get accustomed
to the heat.
"For me, personally, the hard part is that
we're playing in the afternoon," he said A
full soccer match should be 45 minute halves,
at two or three o'clock. Chicago weather th ts
tune is very close to Houston weather. Some
of the teams coming from the coldrr partS
aren't going to be used to it"
These three athletes will be Joining more
than 100 other Team Houston members in
Chicago. Although they sometunes play \\1th
competitors from other state.<; or even c.oun·
tries (d Bram s 96 mixed doubles partner is
from FranC£>}, they a!'l' Tram Houston for the
openmg crrc:mome . As fill nddrd lx>nus,
the)' get to use the Team Houston pm.
"Most countries and most of the people
m thn Umted States will destgll a pm based
on the logo for either vour country or your
state for your uniform,' de Bram !;aid.
"When you meet someone, or even whrn
you play against an o'Pponent, I \\Ould
@MORE INFO
Gay Games VII
July 15-22
Chicago. Ill.
www.gaygames.com
T earn Houston
sports.groops.yahoo.com/group/GayCames Team
Houston/
trade pins. By the end of the Games, I prob·
ably had 25 or 30 pms, and they're all col·
otful and say the date and the countries."
Team Houston exists as a non·profit
organization with two missions: to promote
the ga}. lesbian. bisexual and transgender
sport experimres, and to organize Team
Houston for the Gay Games. Each city tl'am
\anes. but typical])~ the role ts hl'lping to
facilitate regJStration, team uniforms, and
team events both at home and .:may, Its cor·
porate structure has been in placr smce the
1992 Gay Games m Vancouver, although
Houston athletes have been competing in
the Gay Games since its inception.
Recruitment dnves like this one were held all over town to get gay athletes to compete in the Gay Games.
"Some of my competitors from '86 are
going to be there," Marzke said. "It's nice
that every four years y'all get together I'm
excited to see everyone again."
The next Gay Games is set for 2010 in
Cologne, Germany,
Black churches preach acceptance for gays
102 congregations join
inaugural 'Faithful Call'
event for LGBT equality
By JOSHUA LYNSEH
More than 100 churches, most with predominantly
black congregations. stood up
last month for ga} s and gay rights as part
of a nat10n11:1de event to bring gay wor·
shippers into the fold.
Faithful Call to Justice. held in church·
es and synagogues across the nation June
24 and 25, was supported by a \\ ide variety
of denommauons, mcludmg Baptist,
Gatholic and the Umted Church of Christ.
The event \\RS organized by the National
Black Justice Coalit10n.
Organizers said the event's theme
that gays have "God-given rights to life,
love, liberty, and equal justice under the
law" reached more than 100,000 people.
Rev. Michael Eric Dyson, chair of the
coalition's religious advisory board, said
sermons given at the 102 participating
churches reflected God's love for all.
"Too often, our pulpits and places of
worship can transform into soapboxes for
bigotry," he said. "I try to speak out against
venomous characterizations of LGBT folk,
especlalJy those of color. and help them
speak truth to power."
Dyson said churches, espcctally those l~t·
cd in black conununities, must continue to wcl·
come and aff1rn1 gay members and visitors.
"We all need affirmation, and as black
people of all backgrounds, if we can't find
Rev. Rice Rollins pastor of the Breath of Life Fellowship Community Church m Tampa, Fla, encourages his
mainly gay congregation to nMte heterosexuals to Join them during worship Set'Vlces.
that through religion and faith, where cJ.sc>
should we turn"" he said. "It's time to heal,
and love, and truly seek justice for nll "
Supporting gay rights
Churches that participated in Faithful
Call signed a statement supporting gays
and gay rights.
·~s faith leaders, we acknowledge the spir·
itual worth of our gay, lesbian, bisexual
transgendcr and same-gender loving broth·
ers and sisters," the statement says. ··we wel·
come their fellowship in worship, and we
affll1ll their God-given rights to life, love, liberty,
and equal Justice under thC' law."
Churches from New York to Los Angeles
were asked to demonstrate their support by
delivering a sermon, or offenng other mes·
sages, that affirmed gay rights.
Faithful Gall organlzcrs said many of
the sermons were extemporaneous, and
were unable to provide any transcripts.
But Rev. Rice Rollins, pastor of Breath
of Life Fellowship Community Church in
Tampa, Fla., said he challenged his predominantly
gay congregation to be true to
themselves and their neighbors.
"The mainstream church community is
so quick to talk about the homosexual
lifestyle," he said. "It is so important that
we let people know that this is not a prefer·
enre, nor a lifestyle. It ts who \\e are"
Rollins also asked his congregation to
seek and welcome straight worshippers, just
-----
@MORE INFO
National Blaclc Justice Coalition
1725 I Sl NW, Suite 300
Washington. DC 20006
202·349-3755
www nbjcoalition.org
as predominantly straight congregations
should seek and welcome gay worshippers,
"It's the Lord's house." he said "No one
should feel uncomfortable tn th lnrd's house."
Mandy Carter, a coalition boanl mem·
ber who attendoo a Faithful Call worship
crvicc m Charlotte N.C'., said she hacl "an
absolutdy amazing tlmc."
"On my drive bark home to Durham,"
she said, "I remember feeling that my
heart and spirit \\ere full."
Some churches opposed event
But while many black churches joined
1n Faithful Call, others declined to partict·
pate. Rue said the NBJC invited hundli!<ls
of churches to participate. l\lany pa tors
didn't respond. Others expressed outright
opposition.
She said one coalition ally advocated a
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gay
parishioners and was against them openly
identifying themselves.
Among the churches that participated,
Rue said Faithful Call was well recciVl.'<I.
She said there were no indications that
attendance or offerings were do11.n ut partici·
pathig churches during 1-'aithful Call wcekenrl.
"It really excited a lot of people," Hue
said. "It got a lot of interest. There really
was a buzz out there about it."
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvo1ce.com I new b
Castro's niece wants Cubans to change attitudes on gays
HAVANA The niece of le:1der Fidel Castro wants her
countrymen to be more tolerant of homosexuality and bisexuality.
In March. 4..'l-year-0ld Mariela Castro. director of the
government-funded National Q>nter for Sex Education, promoted
a television soap opera that scandalil,ed many Cubans
by depicting bisexuality in a sympathetic light, Heuters
rt>purted June 29. The controversial show told the story of a
constmction wolil.er who leaves hb wife and children for the
man next door. Now Mariela Castro is campaigning for a law
that would give transsexuals sex-<:hange operations and hormonal
therapy in addition to new identification documents
with their changed gender. The proposed law, up for a
lX.'CCmber vote, would offer the surgery for free. Castro told
Heuters she wants to bring the revolution her uncle fought 47
years ago to the issue of sexuality. "I want to bring the revolution's
humanity to those aspects of life that it hasn't
reached because of old prejudices," she told Heuters.
Fidel rastro's 111!Ce MiliEla saKI M
~her t.trl3 rt»tdfuuy Kle.lS
to the Cl'&l of sex. n:reasP;J tOOcn:e
ta- g.l)'S cm lralsgefm ~
Men with older brothers
are more likely to be gay
WASlllNGTON (AP) Men who have several
older brothers have an increased chance of
being gay whether they were raised
together or not a finding researchers say
adds weight to the idea that sexual orientation
is b.1sed in bioloin: The increase was Sl'C'n
Jn men with older brothers from the same
mother. but not those who had stepbrothers
or adopted brothers who were older. "It's likely
tu be a prenatal effect; said Anihony E
Bogaert of Brock University 111 St.
Catharines, Canada, who did the rese:m.:h.
'This and other studies suggest that there is
probably a biological basis" for homosexuality.
said Bogaert. He studiro four groups of
Canadian men, a total of ~ people, analyz.
ing the number of brothers and sisters each
had. whether or not they lived with those siblings
and whether the siblings were related by
blcxxl or adopted. His findings were reported
June 'l:l in the Prorecdings of the National
Academy of Sciences. S. Marc Breedlove, a
profes.'iOr at !\1ichigan State C'niversity. said
the finding "absolutely" confirm~ a biological
basis. The effect of birth order on male homosexuality
has been reported previously, but
Bogaert's wora is the first designed to nlle out
social or environmental cffocts.
Gay Microsoft original
employee takes his own life
SEA'l'IU: Leaders of a half-dozen gay
rights groups mourned this week Ute death of
Hie Weiland, one of five original employees of
Microsoft. who had made large donations to
su1>purt gay rights and the fight against HIV
Weiland, 53, died last Saturda;; June 24, in his
Seattle home of self. inflict!'<! gunshot wow1ds,
the King County Medical Examiner's Office
reported Frida)! Friends say hE' suffered from
depression, the Seattle Times reported. "Ric is
someone who quiet!:,; and with great humilit;:
supportL>d the wora of many organir,ations
dedicated to advancing lesbian, gm: bisexual
and transgenderequalil)(" said Matt Foreman,
executive director of the National Gay &
l..i'Sbian Task Force, in a statement. "The
breadth and scope of this commitmt>nt was
immense and unwavering." Weiland attended
high school with Paul Allen, who oo-founded
Microsoft with Bill Gates. and the duo hired
Weilzmd in 1976 as one of the software giant's
original five employees. Weiland retired from
Microsoft in 1008 and became a benefactor.
Pentagon admits error in saying
homosexuality is mental disorder
WASHINGTON (AP) The Pentagon is revising
a document that calls homos<'X\lality a
mental disorder, officials said June 28.
I .awmakers, medical professionals and others
had pres.'il'CI for the change in a document out·
lining procedures for dealing with disabled
service members. "Homo:;cxuality should not
have been characte.lized ns a mental disorder
in an apJX>ndix of a procedural lnstnictlon,"
Lt. Col. Jeremy Martin. a DefenS<' Department
spokesman, said. The document outlines discharge
policies for service members with
physical disabilities, and in a section on
defects lists homosexuality alongside mental
retardation and personality disorders. Also,
this week. a new group was formed to lobby
for repeal of the "Don't Ask. Don't Tell" policy
on gays in the mili~ The !\lilitary Equality
Alliance announced its formation on July 5
and will focus on gras.~roots lobbying in select
congressional districts. ~we realized that we
could contribute in a wry significant way by
focusing on gaining the support of the public
in key Congressional distrkts and states,"
said ,Jim l\lalone~: the !,'l'OUp's director:
Mass. gay activists plan to
fight marriage amendment
BOSTON Gay-rights activists in
l\lassarhusetts are w-ging state residents to
contarr legisL1tors in advance of a ,July 12 constitutional
convention on whether gays
should be banned from marrying. "We need to
make sure legislators hear from supporters of
equality that discrimination should not be
added to the constitution," said Gay & Lesbian
Adovcates & Defenders Executive Director
Lee Swislow in an e-mail July 3. Hepublican
Gov. Mitt Romne); and Boston's Cardinal Sean
P. O'Malley encouraged the Legislature to
schedule a vote on the proposed same-sex marriage
ban. To be on the~ ballot, the amend·
ment must win the support of at least 50 legislators
during the convention, which is a joint
session of the House and Senate. It then must
win at least 50 votl'S during a similar conven·
tion during the :nTl·~ legislative session.
From staff and wire reports
JULY 7 2006 5 I na I
Move to reinstate overturned
foster parent ban in Ark.
Court ruled barring gays
is unconstitutional
By Kll.LY CARSON
Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee is lobbying
legislators to reinstate a ban on gay
foster parents, but activists are still hail·
ing the Arkansas Supreme Court ruling on
June 29 that overturned the nation's only
such statewide ban.
The celebration isn't just about the
decision itself. but that Arkansas' justices
discussed at length mainstream research
that contradicts the notion that children
arc negatively impacted by growing up m
gay households.
"The fact that a court in Arkansas can
do that and come up with a reasonable conclusion
is encouraging," said Carisa
Cunningham, director of public affairs for
the New England-based Gay & Lesbian
Advocates & Defenders.
Cunningham said because state courts
weighing the legality of gay and lesbian
marriage often look at issues of children
in same-sex families, the Arkansas decision
brings to the debate judicial review of
the evidence.
In its unanimous ruling upholding a
lower state court finding that Alil.ansas'
ban on gays serving as foster parents was
unconstitutional, the state Supreme Court
said there is no connection between a foster
child's well being and the sexual orientation
of the child's foster parents.
In the original 2004decisionofa1999 lawsuit
challenging the constitutionality of
Arkansas' ban, Pulaski County Circuit
Court Judge Timothy Fox rejected claims by
the state that gays are unsuitable as parents.
The findings of fact by Fox, upheld by
the high court, included:
• Being raised by gay parents doesn't
increase the risk of psychological, behaviora,
or academic problems.
• Children of gay parents are as well
adjusted as those of straight parents.
• There is no factual basis for saying
heterosexual parents might be better able
to guide children through adole. cence.
• There are no reasons that health, safety
or welfare of a foster child might be negatively
impacted by living in a foster home
where there is a gay adult present.
• The blanket exclusion can hurt children
by excluding a pool of effective foster
parents.
Move to reinstate ban
Soon after the Arkansas high court's
decision, Huckabee, the conservative
Republican governor, said he hopes the
state legislature will reimpose the ban.
"I'm very disappointed that the court
seems more intere ·ted in what's good for
gay couples than what's good for children
Republican Gov. Mike Hudcabee says he would like
the Arlcansas state legislature to reimpose a ban on
gays as foster parents after the state's supreme
court last week ruled the prt!VIOUS ban unconstitutional
(Photo by Steve MitchelVAP)
needing foster care," Huckabee said
through his spokesperson Alice Stewart.
The Texas legislature also has tried to
bar gay foster parents, but the measure has
thus far failed to garner majority support.
Republican Rep. Robert Talton introduced
an amendment in the Texas House
in 2Cl0.5 that passed by a 13&6 vote with mo
abstentions, but failed to pa_o;s m a Senate
conference committee.
"It is our respon. 'ib ility to make sure
that we protect our most vulnerable children,
and I don't think we are doing that if
we allow a foster parent that is homoS<'~\lal
or bt-;exual," Talton said when his amendment
was approved by the T<'xas House.
"There's no doubt in the world that it
will come up again," said Dan Qumn, communications
director for the Texas
Freedom .Network, an organization that is
working to advance the main tream agenda
of religious freedom and individual liberties
to counter the religious nght.
Bans weighed elsewhere
But while media attention has focused
on the Arkansas decision, other states are
considering similar measure., said Ken
Upton, senior staff attorne) for the
Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund.
'"Kansas has had this issue pop up, but in
the last tenn the legislature e>.i>resslY declined
to let it get beyond a proposal," Upton said
Upton said fundamentalist Christians
are looking at new ways to limit the legal
rights of gays and lesbians.
"If you want to hurt gays, you have to
attack their relationships," he said. "The only
way to oppress and make second-class citizens
is to attack relationships "l\ith each other
and relationships "l\ith parents and children."
Kely Cnln can be reached at
~
--~--------
HOUSTON VOICE
JULY 7. 2006
PAGE 6
Free training for gay families
Statewide and national
gay groups to conduct
educational training on
effective advocacy
By ERIC ERVIN
THE STATE GAY RIGHTS ADVOCACY
group Equality Texas has partnered with
the national Family Pride Coalition and
their OUTSpoken Families program to
kick off the "Our Stories" educational
training sessions, scheduled to make a
stop in Houston July 9.
Equality Texas is inviting lesbian. gay,
bisexual and transgender parents and
their allies across the state to participate
in a speaker's bureau training session.
The Houston Equal Rights Alliance, a
local gay rights group, has Joined in the
effort, and IS supporting outreach efforts
throughout the city as part of Its ongoing
advocacy campaigll for gay Houston tans.
Officials believe the training sessions
will give gay parents the tools necessary
to become effective and knowledgeable
speakers and advocates for family equalit):
They believe this will help the cause of
gay families, since participants in the
trainmg sessions will be better able to
lobby government officials for change.
"These media trainings are essential in
working with LGBT families to tell their
family stories among their friends, at the
grocery store, and to our elected officials,"
says Paul E. Scott, Equality Tuxas executive
director. "For too long, LGBT families
have been left out of the definition of 'family,'
and it is imperative that we share our
lives to dispel the myths and stereotypes
perpetuated by extremists."
In an ongoing effort to coordinate education
and advocacy efforts, the statewide
gay rights organization, along v.ith the
Family Pride Coalition, recently launched
a media campaign spotlighting gay fami·
lies. Representatives with the two gay
rights organizations say ultiniately it will
be these families' stories that will change
people's opinions about gay families.
They point out that for the past four
sessions of the Texas Leg1slature, lawmakers
have attempted to restrict sameS<'
X couples from becoming foster par·
en ts.
"We know how effective LGBT parents
are in reaching our elected officials, and
we need to flood the Texas capitol with
people willing to stand up for their fami
lies." Scott says.
Eva Thibaudeau-Graczyk, who along
with her same-sex partner, is the mother
of four small children.
"We are the in-betweens," Thibaudeau.
Graczyk says. "A menagerie of cultures,
geographies, colors and lives brought
together by circumchance. We exist in a
space that definitions fail to imagine. We
are an inter-ethnic. transradal, adoptive.
female-headed, gay household of trans·
planted Yankees living in Houston."
Despite the obvious differences
between gay families and straight ones,
Thibaudeau-Graczyk points out that both
are the same, and have the same values.
"There are so many ways in which we
differ from the 'norm', but even more in
which we are the same," she says. " In
church one week, the children's story was
about finding God in the in between's.
"God was not to be found on the moun·
tain peaks, the blazing desert sands or
the ocean's expanse. God did not reside
in the extremes of nature or humanity.
Rather, God was found in the relationships
between people who chose to share
their love and resources with each other."
THE BIGGEST CONCERN FOR THIS GAY
mother Is the effects discrimination could
have on her children.
"My life would be much easier if I
could just live it without having to worry
about my children being harassed, or my
marriage over·examined and called per·
verted,"she says. "My life would be simpler
if I knew that I didn't have to scrimp
and save in order to pay for a second-par·
ent adoption so that my wife wouldn't
lose custody of our four children if some
tragedy befell me."
The views by conservative groups
UALllY
T E x A s
Paul Scott. executive director of the statewide gay nghts organization Equality Texas, said the group's
new; educational training program in partnership with the national Family Pride Coalition will benefit gay
families by leaving parents as effective and knowledgeable speakers and advocates for equality
towards the gay population and gay parents
doesn't bother Thibaudeau.Graczyk
"The religious right and the co1lSCrvative
politicians can spew all the rhetoric they
want to about how my family is demoralizing
the troops in Iraq with our anti-American
family values," 'I'hibaudeauGracryk says.
"They can label and villaini7.e us."
Despite the opposition and discrimination,
Thibaudeau-Graczyk's spirits
and family unit will not be broken.
"They can try, but I am not ready to
stop telling our story," she says. "I run not
ready to accept injustice. I am not ready
to stop believing in the basic goodness of
humanity.
" I keep on thinking that if I can just
educate one more person, maybe that will
tip the scales. I have my famlly to tl:link
about and because of them, I won't stop
llVlng my life.
"It's a good life. It's a blessed life. It's a
hfe that de ·erves to be heard."
According to the organi?.atlon's website,
Equality Texas' mission is to eliml·
nate discrimination based on sexual orientation
and gender identity/expression
-------~-
@MORE INFO
Equality Texas
PO. Box 2340
Austm, Texas 78768
512-474-5475
wwwequalityteaxs org
Equality Texas Houston Training
July 9, lpm to 5pn~ lunch at l2:30pm
Bering Umteo Methodist Church
1440 Harold Street
Houston. Texas 77006
by lobbying the Texas I.egislature and
other government agencies. The organi·
iation was formerly oall rd the
Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas.
The Equality Texas Founrtat1on conducts
research and educate:; TPxans
about issues of equality, and helps coordinate
efforts of gay and gay.friundly
organizations in Texas.
The Equahty 'l'exas Political Action
Committee works to help gay and gay-friend
ly politicians elected to the I .egislature.
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com
H*o*llfylw*o*o*d
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JULY 7. 2006 7
out in houston
I. Mr. and Mrs. GALLO
I.arm Bag and Jov.ni Ray were recently
aowned rcr,ralty, being named Miss and Mr. GAUD
(Gay and Lesbian Latino Oryanization).
2. Making history
Tootsie Zeis. Judy Reeves. Jade Esteban Estr.kla
and Jim Carper attend a fundraJSer for the Gulf
Coast Gay & Lesbian Archive Museum
3. Happy birthday
It was part tundraise[ part celebration last
month as Deb Mll'phy (left) celebrated her
birthday during 'Queer Bingo' which raises
money each month for the Houston GLBT
Community Cent&
4. Theater kickoff
Members of the Masquerade Theatre Company
stnke a pose during a kickoff party for the
upcoming production season.
5. Gospel celebration
Tim RolCkler, Marti Rickard, Doma Riclcard
Jonathan Wellington, Christian Wellingtoo and
Roe Morgan at the recent XALf
celebration. which was held at Metropohtan
Commuruty Gospel Church.
6. Fond farewell
Local gay activists Larry Simpson (left) and Km
Jones recently received a heart-wamung send
off before leavmg to start a new hfe together in
Mexico. Also pictured 1s Ruth Davis
Ail PHOTOS BY DALTON DeHART
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HOUSTON VOICE
JULY 7, 2006
PAGE 8
Who's better than you, Congressman?
No one is better suited than Jim Kolbe to address the plight of gay bi-national couples, and
doing so would help right an old wrong at the same time.
By CHRIS CRAIN
T'S NOT OFTEN THAT
life offers an opporturut~· for
redemption - the chance to
right an old wrong, to address
and perhaps even oorrect a
serious error from the past
Congresgnan Jim Kolbe has
one of those rare opportunities. With one public
act, he could make a symbolic statement
that would finally cleanse an ugly mark that
will otherMSe stain his record in office.
Tu some. Jim Kolbe's "sin" would be years
in public life as a gay Republican, and leaving
the party could redeem him. That's the painful
path taken by many gay Republicans
induding me disillusioned by the strangle-hold
social conservatives have on the GOP
Kolbe owes no apologies for his party
membership. Tu the contrary, he has done
an admirable job of sticking to his princi·
pies over the decade since he acknowledged,
after 12 years representing a moderate di.strict
near Tucson, Ariz., that he is ga}:
He has stood by his support for gay rights
even though it bucked his party leaders. and
he withstood shameful treatment from the
GOP's right-wing, which llteraJJy turned its
back on him when he spoke - on international
trade issues, not gay rtghts at the
aXX> Republican National Convention.
A.better case could be made that Kolbe
ought to atone for a relatively poor gay
rights record in hts early years in the U.S.
House. He was first elected in 1984, and
even tn the mid 1990s was votmg against
the interests of his own people gay
pcop!" about half the time, according
to the Human Rights Campaign.
But that was before Kolbe came out
pubhcly in 1996. Since then, he has scored
at or near a perfect score for each and
every term, playing an important private
role on a range of gay issues.
JIM KOL.BE'S "SIN" IS, RATHER, A SINGLE
horrible vote, cast back in 1996 for the socalled
Defense of Marriage Act, and now he
has a unique «;ipportunity tu strike a blow
against one the harshest, most mean-spirited
side eff~ of that nefarlous law.
DOMA a ticking political time bomb
foisted by a ~rvative Republican
Congress on Bill Clinton, the Democratic
president who cowardly signed it into law.
Kolbe paid a quick psychological price. He
believed wrong!}; as it turns out that
the Advocate was planning to publish an arti·
cle outing him for supporting DOMA. so
Kolbe acknowledged publ.cly that he is gay.
Still, in all the rears since, Kolbe has nc\ er
renounced the DOMA vote and, remarkably
enough. hasn't yet spoken out in favor of gay
marriage, even though he has lobbied against
a federal marriage amendment
Perhaps he rationalizes his support for
DOMA the way some others have, as
"states rights" legislation that really JUSt
prevents one state that marries gay cou·
pies from "forcing" every other state to
legally recognize those marriage licenses.
But Kolbe knows better than that. DOMA
goes much further. blocking the federal gov·
errunent as well from giving any legal recog·
nition to married gay couples.
Among the thousand-Odd federal rights nnd
benefits afforded to married heterosexual couples,
but blocked from gay couples by IXJMA,
is the ability of a gay American to sponsor a
samtLsex spouse who is not American for permanent
residence in the U.S.
Without federal recognition of their re.la·
tionships, many gay Americans are faced
with a cruel choice when temporary visas
inevitably expire: end the relationship or
live in exile. It's one thing for the U.S. gov·
ernment to dep1ive gay taxpayers of their
rightful benefits as married Americans, but
ifs quite another to force them to choose
between their partner and their country.
KOLBE KNOWS A LOT ABOL'T THE
intolerably harsh treatment of gay bi-national
couples. Jn fact. the Issue lies at the mtersection
point of his public and pnvate lives.
Among House Repuhhcans, Kolbe has
gained stature as a leading moderate on gen·
era! immigration reform Issues. Jn the current
debate, he has backed a 0011\bination of
stricter border oontrol popular among many
back home in Arizona, while offering to
those tmdocwnented immigrants already in
the US. a path toward citizenship.
Becall~e his views on immigration are
largely aligned v.ith President Bush,
Kolbe is viewed as a key White House ally
in the House, where his party leaders arc
much more strident.
On the personal side, as Kolbe acknowl·
edged in an interview with the Blade this
week. he is in a relationship with a foreign·
er. a man from Panama living In the U.S. on
a temporary visa. Kolbe was even escorted
by his handsome partner, who he has
declined to identify, to the Log Cabin
Republican's national convention.
At the black-tie gala that concluded that
gathenng on April 29, Kolbe was honored
for his years of service, and he gave by all
accounts a rousing speech that called on
gay Hepubhcans to speak out against injustice
against gays whenever they see it.
As they listened to Kolbe's speech. a
number of high profile gay Republicans
in attendance no doubt thought about the
struggle bi·national couples face. For no
good reason beyond coincidence, three top
officers in the previous Log Cabin leader·
ship slate are, like Kolbe, in relationships
with forei&'Tlers from Latin America.
Again, I include myself in their number.
So it is ~all over again, and Congressman
Kolhe's personal and private lives are coming
together in one piece cf legislation. 1his time
around. Kolbe has rosixinsored tlX' Uniting
American Families Act, which would allow~
Americans to spooror their foreign JXUincrs for
permanent residence here.
It's fair to ask why he has not leveraged
his influence on immigration reform, and
his unique access to White House policy
makers, to raise UAFA and the plight of
gay bi-national couples. The answer he
gave. in an interview this week with the
Rlade, was that immigration reform was
already too dicey, and too divisive, to
throw homosexuality into the mix.
~There aren't enough J>euple who know
about this problem," he said. "It's a matter
of making more peoJ>lc aware of it."
So let's connect the dots. There is no
smgle person ma better position than
Jim Kolbe to "make man; people aware of
It," and the most important people at that.
He is retiring at the end of this term,
so he can speak more freely than most. By
all accounts his JlOSt-Congres.'i plans don't
include lobbying his former colleagues, so
offending ultra-right Republlcans carries
no professtonal risk.
Ry voting for the Defense of Marrtage
Act. ,Jim Kolbe hehlcd get us and him·
self and some of his closest gay Republican
friends into this mess. Maybe a stirring
speech from the House floor, or even his
well-known negotiating prowess, can't win
passage this term for UAFA.
But when it comes to
"making more people
aware of" this injustice,
who's better than ')'OU,
Congressman?
1
- Clvis Crain @ is executive
editor of
Houston Voice and ~
be reached at a:rai1
~
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com
K. PEARSON BROWN
With my long rap sheet, they'd be
saying, 'Put the diamond ring down
and step away from the U-Haul.'
Call the lesbian
love police
MAYBE IT WOULD SAVE US ALL SOME
frustration and heartache if there was
such thing as lesbian love police. I imagine
members of the force looking like
Angelina Jolie in "Tomb Raider," strapping
and taut. commanding our attention
and our obedience
They'd carry handcuffs dangling from
their belts to use in particularly dicey
cases. Officers would step in when a
wron&>ful courtship begin and order,
"Stop! Rack away from each other before
somebody gets hurt."
An intervention from the lesbian police
would have halted me years ago from my
pursuit of ",Jane," a lesbian l),J \\ ith a c:iche
of come-011 lines. a closet full of steel-toed
cowboy boots and a balx.•n•ady Yamaha.
After a spin around the city with me
riding bitch and a few fuzzy navels the
drink we found ourselves arm
wrestling m a dark bar. When she wooed
me with, "Go on with your bad Sl' lf, girl
friend," I reallzed not only were our styles
worlds apart, but I needed an intcrprett•r.
Neverthele~s. next thing I knew, I was
in a two-year tumultuous affair that
should have never happened,
Same thing with "Barbara." She was a
burly TV camerawoman who could hoist a
55-pound camera over her shoulder with
no sweat. Like the Harley Davidson she
rode in on, she was loud and imposing, but
she could make me laugh like no one else.
My first impression and my first rebuff
was, "You're too butch for me." But a few
jokes and Jell-0 shots later, her wisecrack·
ing ways were irresistible. Before I knew
it, it was two years late1; and we were separating
because, after nil, she was too
butch for me.
Did I mention I left her for "Jane"?
l'H~:c1mtNG THE DYKES ON bikes wns
"Marty." a decade my senior, who even
without a motorcycle had a penchant for
leather and roughing it up. After eight
months, I finally threw in my whip. deciding
I preferred a kindler. gentler Jove.
Had a love cop stood bcl\n.>en me and
these and other doomed dalliances, perhaps
I might have sooner met my match.
If only someone had read me my rights a
Jong time ago: "You have the right to a
relationship that docs not require therapy
after three months.
"You have the right to a partner who
does not flirt shamelessly with other
T count{Y
rei:ently celebrated
its 230th birthday.
Do you think gay
Americans are better
off than those
in other countries?
Yes. We c1re able to live ou~ lives
free to be who we are, whteh is
not true in many other countries.
We are blessed to be in Amenca.
Many of our brethren lrve in conditions
far worse than we do. yet
we still have a long way to go to
enjoy the same rights and pnvi·
leges as other Americans do.
----
TORRGY MASON. 24
Houston
Club promotions
JOHAN E.VERSITJN, 38
Houston
Financial advisor
\\omen m front of
lOU. You have the
right to a lover who
does not announce to everyone
that you need to work out
more when you are in a bikini
at a pool party."
But there is no lesbian
police force, and the West
Hollywood sheriff's department
doesn't count.
SO WHAT DO I DO. NOW
that I am in love? The kind
of love that makes me
want to jump on a sofa.
She's beautiful. smart.
sexy and sweet, and I want
to be with her forever.
I have to \\under what a lesbian
love cop would be advising
me no\\~ "Slow do\\11. Put
the diamond ring down. Step
away from the U-Haul."
The reality is that le. bian
love' is a lawless place. The
best we can do is to write our
own rules and govern ourselves
accordmgl}:
So as I plan to move in
next month with my :;oul
mate after a three-month
romance, I realize the author·
ities would probably say we
should wait.
But by now. I'm a repeat
offender: a felon with a long
JULY 7. 2006 9
rap sheet. I've done hard time and
learned my lessons. I deserve to be put
away for life. with the woman 1 love.
Iii\ K. Pearson Brown is a Los-Angeles based
~ writer and public relations director She
can be reached at LezTalkWeHo@aol.com
Yes. Tlis OOll1try has nm rescmes
fa' GI.BT~ Wf!re Wey tmiusc
~ ill! a yotJY:J OOll1try with rimf
~ wOO ~ pnl(JessM! ~
inf~ ill! rd~ inf plllm'<
l fa' cu ileas rm1y as nu:h as
~ 11 rim'f <iher comtnes. We
crud be better off. lxJt ~ ill! skJwty
wirm,i men inf men t9rts.
LIZ WALDEN. '1
Houston
College professor
We are better off because 1 think
most Amencans believe m equafi.
ty for all We do have a lot of
room for unprovement. We need
to elect politicians that believe in
equality for all. also.
NORMAN SALVATO. 56
Houston
Event/party rental
Yes. In this country we have a lot
more freedom and can generally
be who we really are. In some
other countries. people are subJect
to very harsh punishmenJ for
being GLBT.
STEVEN GOMEZ. 34
Houston
Travel agent
Sound off about what's happening in your world at www.houstonvoice.com/soundoff. Interviews and photDs by Dalton DeHart
10 JULY 7. 2006
A memorial is being established to honor gay,
lesbian and bisexual service members who hove
been killed or wounded in action.
Please contact us to add a name or make a
contribution. Your confidentiality will be strictly
maintained and the soldier's honor will be upheld.
Sponsored by The Center for •he Study of Sex'101 M r.Qf'ihes r' the Molitory ot
the University of Co lorr>10 Santo Borboro o-id the GLBT H stoncol Society
rcs-sMM I Memorial@gaymilitary.org
(805) 893-5664
http:/ /www.gaymilitary.ucsb.edu/memorial
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www.houstonvoice.com HOUSTON VOICE
"Here's every England fan's chance to get
revenge on the world's biggrst winker Our
human dartboard shows Portuguese nancy boy
Cristiano Honaldo."
Umdon tahlnid The Sun. on I'vrtugal .';(}('Cf!r player
Cristiano Ronaldo (center), who angered Hriti~h
fans by encouraging referf!es to eject a player fmm
Bnglnnd during the tern rocmtries' i\vrld Cup quartl'Jjinal
match. won by Portugal (/'Ire Sun, .July 4)
"ThC' Sun's homophobic sneers against
Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo are
out of order. We urge the ~'ootball Association to
prove its proclaimed commitment to tackling
homophobia by reporting The Sun to the Press
Complaints Council."
Peter Tatchell of the British gay human rights
group OutRage, responding to the Sun's coc•erage
(Press Release .• July 5)
"I probably would consider myself a bigger role model today since coming out than I
was before, and for a whole ditforent audience ... I know a lot of people look at me and
say, 'Wow, Sheryl is well known, a great athlete, a single parent, a black female and gay.'"
f,esbian WNRA star Sheryl Su·oopes (Windy City Times .• July 5)
"I think we'll win. I believe the courts will
recognize the constitutional principle that you
can't give rights to straight couple but deny
them to same-sex couples."
Roberta A. Kaplan, an attorney uho argued a
gay marriage case m New York. predict mg victory
m the rose; a ruling that was expected Thursday
(u:ashingtonblade.com, July 5)
"That is bull[bleepf. Tickets arc going
through the moon "
Ken Sunshine. a spokesperson for Barbra
Strei.~and '.~ tour promoters, denying reports that
the gay icon:~ latest farewell tour is suffering from
poor ticket sales (New York Post, .July 5)
"Corporate America has never been in touch with moral America. Corporate
America is just trying to placate this community that has a lot of monC'}: The homosexual
community 1s spending thC'lr efforts on corporate Amertca because they can't
get America to do what they want through the legislative process."
Andrea Laffer(): executwe director of the anti.gay 1'mditional Values Coalition, on
news that the majority of fbrtune 500 companies now off domestic partner benefits (San
Francisco Chronicle, June 30)
"This film is spreading obscenity and debauchery, which is totally against Egyptian
moral values."
Mustafa Bakri. an independent member of Parliament who k>d a campaign against
the film 'The Yacoubian Building,· saying u defames f<:gypt. in part. by portraying homosexuality;
legislators will review the movie after 112 Mi's demanded that gay scenes Ix'
censored (Guard tan, July 5)
"The civil unions and marriage han is wrong because it would mark the first time
we have ever amended our constitution to limit freedom."
A statement issued by four former Wisconsin goioerrwrs Democrats l'atricA· f,ucey,
Martin Schreiber and Tony Earl and Republican Lee Sherman Dreyfus opposing a
state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage (Capital Times, .June 28)
"Whether you are gay or straight, everyone needs
someone to love. While we may not agree on every
issue, we are united in the values of love, understand·
ing and tolerance."
California (',on Arnold Schwarzenegger in an
addrrss to the gay partisan group fog Cahin Republicam
Inst week; he IJi!toed same-sex marriage legL~lation passed
hy the state:~ legislature in 2005 (!,.A. Time.\ ,June 30)
"What does Arnold Schwarwnegger believe in
beyond trying to save his own Job? One day he is vetoing
civil rights bills, and the next day this."
Dan Newman, spokesperson for Schwarlencgger's
Democratic opponen.t, State Treasurer Phil Angelides,
who backs gay mam.age (L.A. Times, .June 30)
s1• ng1• eb
Diva Diana Ross' lost
jazz album, 'Blue,' is made
available to her adoring public.
Page 14
GAY HOUSTON NIGHTLIFE, ARTS & CULTURE www.houstonvoice.com JULY 7, 2006
Sweeter than candy
Comic Amy Sedaris
brings cult TV hit
'Strangers With Candy'
to the big screen
By ANDY ZEFFER
GAY, GAY. GAY, GAY, gay, gay!" Amy
Sedaris cries gleefully over the phone.
Sedaris is U.'ied to the gay factors of
life. For starters, there is her best·selling
w1iter-humorist brother, David Sedaris,
with whom she JS close.
And being an actor virtually guaran·
tees coming into contact with Jots of gay
people Then there are the gay charnctPrs
on her cult-show-turned-motion-picture,
"Strangers With Gand};" which comes to
theaters in wide release on .July 11.
Given the cast of characters, the irreverent
nature and
off the-wall
Mrt Sediris plays ex-con Jerri BW< in the capOOously
comical 'Strar,im Wrth c.nly.' basro on tllC' Conmy
r.entral TV sro.v (PIXJ!o eotrtc5y of Thinkfilm)
"Strangers.'' it is no surpri ea large por·
tion of its following are gay fan .
"I think misfits tend to love it," Sedarls
says. 'i\nd Comedy Central ne\'er got
behind the series. so it is because of those
people that it is what it is toda): I'd rather
do a show like that than a network show
that is up in your face telling you to watch
it because it is full of pretty people.''
PRF.'ITY IS ONE THING SF.DARIS'
character in the film is not. For those
unfamiliar with the TV show, Jerri
Blank is a 46 year-old ex·junkie and con
who returns to high school in a bid to
start her life over
After being released from jail to find
her father in a coma. Blank goes on a
quest to win the high school science fair.
ThlllW in an inept prmc1pal, an art
teacher and science teacher in a gay lo~e
affair, unrequited love from the school
jock and a loathsome stepfamil~; and all
kinds of hilarity ensues.
The origins of Jerri Blank can be
traced to Sedaris' brother David, she says.
"There was a woman David knew in
Chicago, and it became me trying to iml·
late David trying to imitate this woman."
Sedaris explains. "So I had to get the
voice dmm and the body de\'eloped over
the years, and I had a fatty suit made.
People comment that I don't really look
like her. or they get disappomted I don't
have her background."
It is fair to say that "Strangers With
Candy" b equally offensive to everybod):
Joining her in the twisted humor are
Comedy Central political jokesters
Stephen Colbert and Paul Oinello.
Colbert plays science teacher Charles
"Chuck" Noblet. and Dinello plays art
teacher Geoffrey Jellineck. The two
carry on an illicit Jorn affair. Dinello al:;o
directed the film.
Sedaris met her collaborators years ago
when they all became members of Chicago's
@MORE INFO
'Strangers With Candy'
Friday, July 14 in wide release
Angelika Film Center
510 Texas Avenue
713-225-1470
NIGHTLIFE: HotGG gets the party started this weekend, with
a run down of hot events. Page 12
Actress Amy Sedaris has captured a large gay fan base with her show 'Strangers With candy.' A mOVJe
version of the Comedy Central hit show opens July 14.
famed Second City comedy troupe.
"We've worked together for over 20
year:;, and none of us are ever going to
change," Sedaris says. "We know too
much about each other. We never plan
when we are going to work together. I'll
just call Paul, and he'll call Stephen, and it
kind of happens."
Other big names appearing in
"Strangers" are Sarah Jessica Parlcer,
Matthew Broderick. Ian Holm and Phillip
Seymour Hoffman.
"I called a lot of them up. and they said
they'd do it." Sedaris says. "Sir Ian Holm·s
son told him to do it."
AS FOR THE SOMETIMES-FUN AND
sometimes-dark humor of "Strangers,"
Sedarls says people generally accept it.
"I would have more heroine marks and
tattoos. but I don't want to be in make-up
that long," she says. "That's why I wear
turtlenecks. And I don't think a lot of pee>
pie want to see track marks."
In supporting roles in films like like
"Maid In Manhattan" and "Bewitched,"
Sedaris does not have any of her haggard
Jerri Blank trappings. She says that in her
film career. she has an uncanny ability to
be found in scenes that are cut in editing or
have nothing to do with the re.~t of the film.
"I like ~mall roles like that." she says.
"If the part is longer than five lines. I
don't want to be in it. I am not very good
at doing other peoples' thtngs. It is hard
for me to understand how you can be talk·
ing if you already know what you are
going to be ~ing. Some people can look
at a ~cnpt and say those lines like they've
ne\-erheard them before. I am just not
iramed that way I think of mvself as
more of a clown than an actress."
Clowmng around even come mto play
with the forthcoming cookbook Sedans hi
working on for release in October. Well
reputed for her delicmus cupcakes and
chee~e balls, the book includes all her
"jackpot recipes," she says.
And m Sedarts family fashion, the
book has a twist
"It will also include a crafts section,"
Sedaris say~. "Because I like making
crafts. I wrote it for illiterate people, so it
is very VIsual Paul Dinello b making fun
of me trying to take something senou l};
so it is also very humorous."
As for her "Strangers" character Jerri
Blank, Sedaris says she will always hold
the character dear to her heart.
"Jerri Blank is like a rash," Sedaris
says. ''You never know when she is gomg
to reappear."
BOOKS: Houston area lesbian poet publishes her first book, with a
collection of poems exploring her soul. Page 13
12 JULY 7. 2006 I houston n·ghtlife JOHNNY HOOKS
The party after the storm
If a rainy July 4th
has your spirits down,
let these events brighten
up your nightlife
WELCOME BACK TO HOVOON1HE GOGO!
After the post-Pride crash and the soggy
Fourth of July this week, we'll get to see
some fantastic new pictures from a new
photographer on the scene, laugh out
loud with a lesbian comic and say good·
bye to a former Houston Voice "Best Of"
award winner.
RYA."11' FUGATE HAS BEEN A FIXTURE
here in Houston for many years. He is an
artist, one of the best massage therapists
in town and his longtime partner, David
Lewis, IS a well·k'llown photographer
whose work among the likes of the Voice
photographer Dalton DeHart, Yvonne
Feece and John Conroy make this a
nationally known city for photography.
Just witness the bi-annual exhibit
"Foto-fest" every other year. So for Fugate
to step out of the shadows of his peers
and mount his own exhibition, quite
frankly, takes a lot of guts. Not to worry,
Fugate's work is splendid. To see for yourself,
save the date of Thursday, J uly 27
at Meteor from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
You'll ellJOY happ) hour prices and
yummy bites. To see hls new works on can'<
as. which were inspired from his trip last
summer to Vienna, Austria where he stud·
1ed under the renO\med artist and pamter
professor Phlllip Rubinov Jacobson, drop
by thlS event and sneak a peek.
This weekend Fugate will exhibit his
paintings at a new gallery located at the
Lovett Inn 501 Lovett Blvd. The event,
called "Grand Opening Week end" will
feature an artists reception on Friday,
July 7 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and an open
house on Saturday, J uly 8, from noon
unW 5 p.m. Beneficianes of the event
include the Houston SPCA and Montrose
An exlu'brt displaying the photOIJraphy of RyC¥1
Rugate will take place July 27 at Meteor nightdub.
Lesbian comic Suzanne Westenhoefer will keE>p them rolling in the aisles during her July 13 show at the
Houston I mprov.
Counseling Center. Fugate will share wall
space with many other well known local
artists, so bring your credit card and dig
deep to help our four legged friends and
the counsehng center. For more informa·
tion, call the Lovett Inn at 713-522·5224 or
online at wwv.:houston-art-gallery.com.
ARE YOU READY TO LAUGH IT UP
with one of "our" own? Then make sure
you head over to the Houst on Improv
located at 7620 Katy Frerway in the
Marq*E Center on Thursday, J uly 13 at
8:30 p.m. Nationally known, out-lesbian
comic Suzanne Westenhoefer.
According to her bio, in 1991
Wcstenhoefer appeared on a groundbrcak·
mg episode of the Sally Jesse Raphael
show called, .. Breaking the Lesbian
Stereotype ... Lesbians Who Don't Look
Like Lesbians". Says, Suzanne, "In the 12
years since that showed aired, I still get
mail from people who tell me how that
show changed their lives. It changed
mme too."
She recently opened for the Indigo
Girls and can currently be seen as a rcgu·
lar celebrity panelist on the Game Show
Networks' remake of the classic game
show, "I've Got a Secret." This one night
only show is a benefit for the cancer relat·
ed Pink Bracelet project and tickets are
just 25. The Improv's full dinner menu
will be available. For more information,
call the Houston Improv at 713-33.1-8800 or
visit www.improv.com.
SIPPORA GALLERY, VOTED DEST
gallery by the readers of the Houston
Voice in 2004, is closing Aug. 1. "It ts time
that I turn my attention to my mm artis·
tic path," says owner Amy Meyers. "But
before the doors are shut and locked, I am
hosting one final exhibition."
And HotGG certainly wishes her wrll, but
will miss her daring and unconventional
receptions. Your last chance to see what all
the fuss is about L~ during the exhibit
"Kaleidoscope" The final party is J<'riday,
July 7 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. The
Kaleidoscope show will feature artists Allan
Rodewald, Ron Gordon. and Jim l.A..>en The
reception features those infamous nude body
painted models by Maia. Sippora is located at
Z34 West Gray St and can be reached at
www.sippora.com or by phone at 713-520-1005.
KRISTINE W. IS A DANCg DIVA AND
full-fledged legend in the world of elcc·
tronic music. She makes a triumphant
return to Houston on Saturday, J uly 15
for a "Christmas in July" concert at
Ric hs! This time she brings her full setup
of backup dancers with her and tickets
are going fast with their reasonable $20
price tag. You can get yours while sup·
plies last at M2M Fashions, 3400 Montrose
Blvd., the Hollywood SuperCenter, 807
Fairview St., Lab 5 fashions, 309 Gray St.,
Flounce Boutique at 1621 Westheimer
Road. and Flounce Menz at 1625
Wcstheimer Rod. Tickets can also be purchased
online at www.richs-houston.com.
www.houstonvoice.com HOUTON VOICE I appts.
Rev Stfver1 Bailes wiH be on hard to discuss 'A
Blinding Flash of the Obvious' on Wednesday.
SATURDAY
JULY 8
A1 •P""'"9 reception will be held tod.1y for nrt1~t l£N
DAVIS' SHOW "SLICES OF LIFE" at the Hooks-Epstein
Galleries, 2631 Colquitt St The reception nios from b
p.m. to 8 pm. and the show continues through August
12. For more mformation, call 713 522-0178 or v1s1t
www.hooksepste1ngalleries.com.
nE STARBUCKS MIXED MEDIA MUSIC SERIES
rebl'Tls to the Musei.n of Fmc Arts Houston with hw per·
form.mces by popular Montreill-lllicd wundcrldnd
OiROMEO and Houston'sowo SPAIN COLORED
ORANGE. Austirfs WAXPl.OITATION DJS Md PRINCE
J<lASSEN will then hit the dcclcs with resident DJ
CEEPLUS and the HOUSE Of BAD KNIVES. and cm=:;
Craig "BBC" long Jnd E.P. Saralt from 8 pm. to midnight
The event 1s open to those who arc 18 and OV('r only,
with general adm1ss1on $10, students with ID $5 ,111d
free for museum mcm~rs. For more mforrn.it1on, call
713-639-7300 or v1s1t wwwmfoh.orq
TUESDAY
JULY 11
l\'ople for the Amcnca1 Way. Amcr1ca1 CM! Ubertics
~ af Texas. AltlClrs Circle Parents Md Friends of
LesbiaRi and C.~ Eq.JJ!ity Texas and the Hooston Equ.'11
RK;rts Aliance Invite~ to an r'l'CqltlOll and~ of
the film •A BllNOING Fl.ASH Of TIE OBVIOUS' at the
Fi!Y umanan ~list Oud\ 5200Famn111
Chaming Hall '111 Wcdncsdly, Jdy 12 Thc docurmrt.iry IS
about the 2004 Cincinnati C.1r111J1911 "CITIZENS TO
RESTORE FAIRNESS.· a Q1'0l4l that helped~ the cit'/5
ll·vror-old arm-gay IJ~, that diso1mtf1Jll'd against !JJY, lesbi..
in and bisexual citizens. You rrust RSVP by tod.1'f to
atterd. f.·1m1I Jo'{ Authur at IOY(a pfJW1lf!l or call 512-476-
73~ A $20 dorotion IS SIXjgl'Sted Piinellsts include the
filrmlakcr, Rev. Steven Balr~ Hol.1Ston aty Controller
Annlse Parker; Jerry SimonCJux, g.1'{ nqhts activist and
attorney; Tammi Wall.lcc, president of Houslon lqt!Jl Rights
Afti.:ince: and moclY.Jtor Dcccc Eck5tclt\ director of the
T~t reg1011 for F\'ofJlcfor the AmcrJcilrc Wirf
THURSDAY
JULY 13
The SUMMER ISRAELI FILM SERIES continue; this
month with "BONJOUR MONSIEUR SCHLOMI' t011J9ht
,1t 730 p rn at the Jewish Commu111ty ~tcr 5601 s
Bracswood Blvd The film f~ on the tough life of a
gc:uus lb year old Schlomi. who IS fon:ed to act as a
caretaker for his ~functional f.lflllly For more infonn.1
lion c.ill 713-729-3200 or Jog onto WWWJCchoustonoro.
WEDNESDAY
JULY 12
nic film .A BUNDING Fl.ASH Of TIE OBVIOUS' '1.'«'!>tion
and screening Is tonight. The tl'.'Cq>llOll is from 5:30 - b
pm and the wwlng and panel d1SCtl'iSIOl1 IS from b - 7YJ
pm Panelists iticludc the filmnakcr, Rev Stcwn B.imcs.
Houston City Controller the Honorable Arnsc Pariccr. Equal
rights nctivlst and AttomC'y. Jerry Sirnor'('aux, P'1!sidcnt af
HcltAton Equal Rghts Alliance, T.anm Wallace. and rnodcrator
Dt«e Ecl<stclr\ Dirl'ctor of ~ for the American
W;rf, Texas./Southwest region Fnt UnlUrian ~t
Oudl, 5200 Farnn, Clumirg H.lll
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com I books AMANDA MAHMOUDI
Houston 'Soul' sister
Local lesbian publishes
book of poetry that
examines her inner self
A COMMON STEREOTYPE OF POETS IS
that they wander through life wtth their
heads m the clouds. Imagino the surprise
to find poet Dec Main at home in a small
tmrn ju~1 outside of nearby Dickinson,
Tex., with her wife, children and dog.
lier first book "Soul of a Poet" hit
stores a couple of weeks ago, and Main
still cannot believe it
"I live in my brain," she explained.
''And I know how messed up it is. To
think that anyone would be interested in
what I write is incredible."
After reading a full binder of her poet·
ry; Main'· wife thought otherwise. She
encouraged her to share her work with
others. Main has since created the web·
site www.mypoct1cdrcams.com on which
she statt•s, "If you can dream it, I can
write about it."
She writes personalized )>OCms based
on suggestion, promising to expre s
thoughts and emotions from the client's
perspective. The poems in her book do not
neressarily reflect her own experiences.
It is important for her to challenge her·
self and her readers. She claims that her
work has brought people to tears or left
them in complete shock.
"When you read this poetry. try to fig.
ure out if it's my experience or someone
else's," she said.
She cites popular authors like Patricia
Cornwcll nnd Stephen King among her
favorites. She also likes writers who make
her laugh like the late Erma Bombeck,
Judy Blumt• and Dr: Seuss.
Main first began writing poetry in high
school That is when reading the Y.orks of
1-:dgar Allen Poe and Shel Silverstein
made its impact on her as n writer:
"They both had the ability to make
poctr; understandable," she said. "Before
@MORE INFO
'Soot of a Poet'
PublishAmerira
$9.95
www.publishamerira.com
Book Signing and Reacilo Events
Paperbaclc Swap N'Shop
July 15
Dickinson. Texas
Midsummer Books
July 22
Galveston. Texas
Hollywood Book & ~
Aug 19
Houston. Texas
Lesbian poet Dee Main of nearby Dickinson recently
had her first book of poetry published. Main said
she began writing when she was in high school.
that, I had no desire whatsoever to read.
It took me a few years to realize that I had
talent and others do too."
In those years, Main lived in at lea t
eight states and tried more professions
than she would like to admit.
"I've done a lot," she said ruefull):
"Let's Just leave it at that."
:\1AIN IS ELUSIVE ABOUT HER
professional past. Now she works full·
time arranging construction and a~set
evaluation for Viewpoint Energ): Her goal
is to build a career in writing.
"This book is really just the tip of the
iceberg," she promises.
She is already submitting her second
hook to publishers. this one a collection
of lesbian erotica with a comedic twist
Even though the process of publishing
"Soul of a Poet" was relatively easy. Main
has been left on her own to promote the
hook. ShP schedules all of her oppear·
anees and nmdings.
She will he at the l'aperbark Swap
N'Shop in Dickinson on ,July 15,
Midsummer Books in Galveshm on July
22 and at Hollywood Book & Cafe in
Houston on August 19.
She contains her excitement y. ith per·
spcctive and determination.
":\ly poetry stands on its oY.n," said
Main. "I say that I'm g8j: Not a Jot of
authors are capable of doing that.
"Gays and lesbians are still frowned
upon, especially here in 1'exas. This b
the biggest problem. It could either help
my career or it would be uicide. If pco·
pie don't want to buy my book because
I'm gay. they're losing out."
. Her creative struggle began a long
tune ago, but now it is there for ever) .
one to see. Stereotypes will come and
go. In the end the poet, with her head in
the clouds and feet on the ground, shall
persevere.
JULY 7. 2006 13
14 JULY 7. 2006 I music ANDY ZEFFER
Lady sings the 'Blue'
Never-released album of
jazz standards serves as
reminder why Diana Ross
became a star
THE TIME WAS THE EARLY '70S. AND
Duma Ross' star as a soloist was well on
the nse.
Much of her success had to do with her
motion picture debut in the 1972 Billie
Holiday biopic.' Lady Smgs the Blues."
When it was first announced that Ross
would portray the jazz legend, rritics were
doubtful. Ross looked nothing like Holida};
and her recognizably sweet. high voice was
drastically different from Hohday's tortured,
soulful vocal mstrument.
Yet mstead of trying to impersonate
Hohday, Ross knocked down Holiday's
phrasmg and adapted her own sparrow
singing style to the jazz standards fea
tured m HLady Sings the Blues."
The film was a huge hit and Ross \lias
rewarded with a nommation for the Best
Actress Academy Award. The compett
tion that year was stiff. and Ross lost out
to another nsing star, gay icon Liza
Minnell11n "Cabaret" Still, with a high
profile and a number one soundtrack LP,
Ross was nding high
The "Lady Sings the Blues" soundtrack
was produced, arranged and conducted by
Gil Askey. Inspired by the success of the
soundtrack, Askey v. ent on to record twelve
more jazz standards with Ross. Renditions
include well-known favorites such as Cole
Porter's "Let's Do It," the Gershwms' "I
Loves Ya Porgy," and "What a Diff'rence a
Da} Makes," "Had You Been Around" and
"Can't Get Started With You."
Surprisingly, the album was shelved
and never saw the light of day.
LEGEND HAS IT THAT MOTOWN
honcho and Ross svcngali Berry Gordy
feared the singer became too jazzy after
bnmersing herself in the mm, and that she
would lose touch v.ith her general audience
A music-world Midas with an uncanny
sens bility of what the public craved,
- Gordy's gut instincts proved correct In 1973,
Ross hit #l v.ith the blockbuster pop hit.
"Touch Me In the Morning." The unrelrased
jazz tracks were soon forgotten and gathered
dust 10 the Motown vaults. Until now.
Simply titled '"Blue," the stellar set of
standards hits store shelves more than
three decades after it was recorded.
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Gay fans will love the newly released Diana Ross
CD 'Blue,' rescued from rotting in the vaults of
Motown Records.
Understated and never over the top, Ross
masters the subtleties and raw emotlon
necessary for good Jazz.
She tells the stories of hope and
heartache with just the right amount of
sadness, coyness and sultriness. Hl'r manner
is in dirrct contrast to her huge pop
anthems and ovrr-the-top stage persona
that became the stuff of legend and
parody for countless drag queens.
It Is ahnost difficult for hstenrrs to think
thlS is the same Ross with the massive hair
and sequined gowns flying behind her. the
image that the public knows so well.
www.houstonvoice.com HOUSTON VOICE
()MORE INFO
"Blue'
Diana Ross
Motown Records
www.motown.com
nu: SUCCESS OF ROSS' SL"lGING CAREER
blazed through the '70s witl1 hits like
"Love Hangover" and "Upside Down," and
mto the '80s with "Endless Love" and
"Missing You."
Unfortunately, by the end of the '80s,
Ross became a commercial commodity
that she and her handlers didn't know
exactly what to do with. Widely spread
reports of her outrageous bitchy behavior
did not help, nor did well-documented
books like '"Call Her MISS Ross" and
Supremes partner Mary Wilson's tell-all
"Dreamgirl My Life as a Supreme "
Ross' last big episode of vtsibillty was
not due to a hit record, but to a 2002 DUI
Tabloid fodder aside, Ross is a deserving
music legend, a trailblazer for the
llkes of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston
and so many others
With "Blue," her face and voice arc back
in front of millions where they belong_ 'I'he
album captures Ross at her best, during a
time that cemented her as a breakout star
blazing with promise and amblt1011.
Music lovers of all kinds should appreciate
this red1Scovered gem, and dichanl
Ross fans should revel in it.
BETHEL EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN CHURCH (UCC)
An Open and Affirming Congregation
Shelter for the SPIRITUALLY HOMELESS
1107 Shepherd Drive@Center Street
Houston, TX 77007 • 713-861-6670
www.bethelhouston org
The Rev Wall r L McF11dd6tl, Pastor
Saturday Nochc de Oracion 7 00 PM
Sunday Christian Education 9·00 AM
Sunday Worship and Communion 10 30 AM
The Rev Ralph C La her Asslst11nr P11sto1
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HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvo1ce.com JULY 1 2006 15 I
More gay characters found on daytime soaps than ever
SOAP OPERAS, continued from Page I
Whitney's half brother. Simone's skull·
duggery barely registered a blip on the
family melodrama radar.
So what's a sexy but ib'llored vixen
like Simone to do? The answer is simple:
Leave town and carry on an affair with a
slightly older ·woman, then come home to
come out as a lesbtan to her mostly sup·
port1ve family and friends, of course.
Welcome to Harmony Population:
Suffering. '
"Passions" also throws together a 300
year old witch. a mermaid and American
daytime television's very first African.
American lesbian in :>imone.
And you thought the Gay Pride floats
were awesome.
Viewers who tune into so.1p operas for a
little ··1ove in the afternoon" might get a dif
fcrmt kind of love one that dared not
speak its name much on soaps for years
now that the well appointed bedrooms and
boardrooms of four shows regularly feature
active, young and hot gay characters.
Since Bianca ~lontgomery, daughter of
Susan f,ucci's Erika Kane on uAll My
Children" came out to her mother in :nxi.
soap scribes began fiddling with the sexual
identiti~ of tortured teen characters. With
four current openly gay charactPr-s, daytime
soaps stir up more gay drama than any other
p1~1 in the genrc's54-year history on telrvisron.
THE SOAPS TOOK THEIR FIHS'I' SHOT AT
ollcringagaycharacterback in 19roon 'l\11 My
Children." Dr. Lynn Qlrson, played by Donna
1\JSCO\\: came out as a lesbian to a patient with
a crush and that's about as sexual as the
good d1x.ior, or any other gay soap character.
would get for quite some time. A gay man
whose never-seen partner with AIDS came
L1ter, followed by a couple of gay tems who bat·
tied community homophobia in the 1~~
Before and after the first wave of gay
characters on daytime, "Dynasty,"
"Dallas," and "Melrose Place" fans would
get to sec the steamy albeit sexless
suffering of gay men who would question
their sexuality, confront familial pres·
sun!S, homophobia. and the growing AIDS
crisis during primetimc soaps.
"l think prime time did that first inte-gral
ing gay characters and now daytim~ is
playing catch-up," says Film and 'l'V Studies
professor Stephen Tropiano, author of ''The
Prime Time Closet A History of Gays and
I .csbians on TV" (Applause Books).
Tropiano says that historically, one of
the largest hurdles for gay characters on
any show is interference from nervous tel·
cv1sion network executives.
The characters "would not only be
denied fulfilling and lasting relationships
with other men. but their identities as gay
men would be filterrd through their posi
tioning as heterosexuals within their
respective plot lines," he says. .
Before Bianca's gay character was wnt·
ten into ':All My Children," the purpose of
gay characters was to make a . point or
explain homosexuality for the audience a
When Simone (Cathy JeneM Doe) C<l11e out as qay
on the NBC Daytime hna 'Passions.' she became the
fim African-American leslD! in ~opera history.
(Plru IJ'j Pclll Drinkwater COlrlesy NBC Universal)
task handled within the course of a fc"
episodes. The distraught parenl~ or angry
bullies who caused the early gay characters
so much turmoil would suddenly sec lhe
light. Then the story and the character·
would simply vanish.
Since the idea of making a central character
on a soap gay wouldn't fly "ith network
brass, the secondary characters were
simply too difficult to write. Daytime dra
mas are always set in close-knit communi
tics where the characters know each other
and are usually connected in some way
'The gay person who has no family on a soap
opera is a sitting duck. They're there to suffer,
teach us a Icsoon. and then go away," says Daniel
R. Coleridge, TVGuide.com !ioap columnist and
author of '"l'he Q Guide to Soap Operas
(Aly~n}, which hits bookstore; in September.
THE DAYS OF GAY CHARACTERS WHO
exist simply to be thrown away appear to
have slip!J('CI by lrkc so much sand through
the hour glass.
"Welcome to the real world," says Jean
Passanante, head writer of "As the World
Turns." "Things have evolved enough now
ft MORE INFO
'All My Children'
Weekdays at l p.m.
ABC
'As the Wol1d TllllS"
Weekdays at 2 p.m.
CBS
'General Hospital'
Weekdays at 4 p.m.
ABC
'Passions'
Weekdays at 2 p.m.
NBC
Gay & lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
www.glaad.org
Luke on 'As the Wol1d Tums' blog
http//blog.myspace.com/atwtluke
that we're able to make Luke Sn}·drr, the
son of a central couple, ga}: as opposed to a
day player character that nobody really
knows," she explains.
Passanante has arguably created more
gay characters for daytime tclrvision than
an) other write1: She was head writer on
''.All My Children" when Bianca came out
and worked on "One Life to Live" in the
1990. when the character Billy Douglas,
another troubled gay teen. came out to his
priest and inadvertently sparked a massive
wave of homophobia in fictional Llanview,
where "One Life to Live" is set.
Even the priest became the target of an
anti-gay wltchhunl Billy's most s1g11ificant
connection to anyone in Llanview was to
Joey Buchanan, the teenage son of the
show's main character. When the story cul
minated, so did Billy"s pre,,encc in Lian~ iew.
''.At that point, I don't think there \\OUld
ha\"C been any question of making the son
of the central couple ga};" Passanantc says.
ult gives you an idea of how much better
things are now."
Damon Hominc. media entertainment
director for the Gay & Leshian Alliance
Against Defamation, says that the newest
batch of gay characters make soaps worth
tuning in.
"It is significant that the soaps are mcluding
thc:;c characters, and I hope these shows
continue to c.x-plore their li\'CS and all the interesting
stories that can be told," Romine says.
'"\\ ben a daytin1e character comes out. it's still
news because ifs so rare, and ifs historic that
three soaps on three different networks each
feature a gay character. and that these charaoters
are part of the soap's core families."
Since soaps are all about telling stories,
the gay kids get into their share of hijinks.
On '/\s the World Turns," 17 year old Luke
Snydc1; scion of super couple Lily and
Holden, is grappling with a crush on his
straight best friend, being blackmailed for
being ga); coming out to his parents, and
avoiding the sticky tentacles of a stream of
"ex-gay" counselors ready to whisk him off
to aversion therapy camps and IJ('rhaps
most troubling Just being a teenager
"The 'world turns' around Luke's sexu
ality;" laughs C'-01rridge. "Its 'when am I
gomg to getmerthis crush on this bo) who
isn't interested in me?' He i n't a PSA ad;
he's a real person "
That said, Van Har. 1s thr actor \\ho
plays Luke, appeared alongs1dr soap legend
Martha Byrne, who pla}s his mother,
in a Gay & Le"bian Alliance Against
Defamation Pubhc Sen ice Announcement
that aired immediately after an 'J\s the
World Turns" episode in Ma}.
THE PSA ITSELF CACSED SOME MlNOH
turbulrnce with the Traditional Values
Coalition a conservative national political
lobb}; which asked its members to boycott
the episode and fire off letters to thr
show·s producers.
Hansis. unlike Luke, is both straight
and undauntrd by thr minor controvers).
"How can accepting ~omebod) for who
they arc be a negath·e thing?" Hansis asks
Houston Voice.
Luke, the late,,1 . oap character to come
out, Joins Bianca, Simone, and Lucas Jon s
on "General Hospital" Thebo~ s are garner
ing attention, but their female counterpartS
nre. so far, garnering the most affection.
On ·~n l\ly Chlldren," Biancn, \\ho
drops in from time to time for big stories,
currently resides in Parb with be t friend
and longtime crush Maggie. The tv.o left
with a loving but strictly platonic relation
ship, but Bianca sincr re\ealed that they
are very much m love and raising Bianca's
daughter, Miranda don't a k together.
In 2002, Btanca got luck); -.ort of, by scoring
a hot goodbye kiss'~ ith Lena, the corporate
spy who was raiding Erika's compan).
Simone is currently without a girlfriend,
but she hared several steam) onscrecn kl~ ·
es with Rae, her first girlfriend. She is enjoy
ing a much better life since com mg out.
uBasically, her role was to be bitchy to
her older sister, who was nothing but kind
to her," says Coleridge of Simone. "She just
became a much more likeable character
because she was no longer ob cssed with
stealing her sister's boyfnend."
Coming out ha. n't been eas) for any of
the characters. but the male characters
seem to face the most danger \\hen they do.
A gay ba~her \\ho tricked Lucas attackrd
him. It's a device soap writers llSC' to hedge
bets about how fans will react to the char
actcrs, C-01rridge says.
b typical on a . oap, Luca had to be
gay shed," he says. "Once you place
soml\One into the victim role. we at home
have¢0 feel 'orry for them."
Still, the gay storyllnes do make an
impact, according to Romine
'These storic~ have the ability to reach
the many different generations of vie\\ers
who watch daytime and share \\ ith them stcr
rie-. of our lh•cs," he says. "What~ iewers are
seeing L' that more and more of theU" own
nelghbors and friends are dealing w1th these
i! sues, and the soaps are merely reflecung
the reality of the world we live m."
16 JULY 7. 2006
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dish There's a Fine Line Between Telling the Truth and Talking Trash
Gay on the high seas
Depp's gay pirate fantasies, Boy
George gets trashy and queens
terrorize the Big Easy
DISH HAS A CERTAIN LOVE OF TIIE S~:A.
especially when it involves cute sailors,
but there's something especially hot
about that long-held pirate fantasy. Throw
J OHNNY DEPP into the mix, and that
midnight dream becomes downright
pornographic.
Depp doesn't shy from making a gay
connection with his infamous charncteriza
tion of Captain Jack Sparrow from 2003's
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of
the Black Pearl."
In an interview in Rolling Stone, he
more than suggested that his fey
portrayal comes from n willingness to
enjoy the boys of the sea.
"I liked the idea of [Jack) being
ambiguous," Depp told the magazine.
"Women were thought to be
bad luck on ships. And
these pirates would
go out for years at a
time. So, you know.
there is a possibility
that one thing might
lead to another.
You're lonely. You
have an extra ration
Or1ando Bloom of rum. 'Cabin boy'"'
Dlsh can easily
picture tbe Captain climbing ORLANDO
BLOOM'S mast and hoisting the sail.
Depp will be doing the pirate prance
again in the upcoming "Piratus of the
Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
Boy George's dirty job
Talking all this trash reminds Dish of
BOY GEORGE'S new gig. He'll be
working with the New York City
sanitation depai1ment between now and
August hauling trash, accordlng to PR
inside.com, a situ where press releases
are posted for med ta organtzations.
Boy George, born George ()'Dowd, was
sentenced by a city judge on Tuesday, June
"n, to five days of community service with
the trash picker·uppers. If the pop star
doesn't complete his five days of service by
August 28. he could face ja ii time.
"You have to do the community service,"
Judge Anthony Ferrara told George in
court. "It's up to you whether you maku it
an exercise in humiliation
or humility."
Humility for a
man who helped
create "Taboo," an
entire Broadway
musical about his life
and music?
This whole drama
stems from a nasty
and embarrassing Boy George
The gorgeous Jo/my Depp has no fear of playing
gay. especially as the fey Jack Sparrow m 'Pirates
of the Caribbean ' (Photo by M.ltt Sayles/AP)
Incident involving cocaine in Boy
George's apartment Ct.'Orge called in a
burglary report to the police in October
of 2005, but when the police arrived to
check out his apartment, they found a
stash of cocaine.
Added to the entire mess is a lawsuit
against George and his agent. A Miami,
Fla., HIV I AIDS organization, Care
Resource, is suing the pair for backing
out of a contract. Gt'Orge was scheduled
to be a guest DJ for the 21st annual White
Party but backed out of the deal after his
October arrest. Care Resource is suing for
almost $15,000.
Drag queens gone berserk
"The drag queens are com mg! Lock
your doors! Draw the blinds! Warn your
neighbors!"
So it goes apparently in New Orleans
where a roving band of marauding drag
queens is stealing shoes, handbags one!
other girly accoutrement from local
shops. The New Orleans City Business
weekly newspaper reported the event
with alarmingly norid languag1•.
"In the ensuing weeks, the gang of
transvestites continued their reign of
terror," staff Y.Titer Richard Webster writes.
Robyn Lewis, owner of Dark Charm
fashion store for women, said there are
thieving queens, but it's not nearly that
dramatic.
"We're not hiding under our counters
terrorized by a bunch of men in drag,"
Lewis told the Blade. "Journalists!"
However, she did admit to blling part
of a local drag.queen phone tree.
Whenever one of the shop owners secs
the bejeweled ladies heading their wa:,: he or
she gets on the horn and sounds the alarm.
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com
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HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com
IF I WANTED TO HAVE ORAi. SEX
with a condom on, I would JUSt give head
to a dildo.
I FINALLY GET LUCKY AND PICK
up a trick, and now I know why I don't do
it that often. I don't know how to make
them disappear.
MDISEASf: FREE. UB2." CAN THE
guys who put this lame-ass line in their
personal ads really prove that thl'y aren't
carrying herpes, hepatitis, HPV and so on?
IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME OUT
of ,your boring life to notice what people
arc doing at clubs and gyms, maybe you
should wonder why you're not getting laid.
Bitch Boy responds: To bitch .
THP.HE"S NOTHI~G TO BITCH ABOlrr
anymore'
Bikh Boy responds: .. or not to bitch ...
IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BITCH
about, you must be dead or your life is so
dull and boring you're too numb to realize
you need to bitch about it! No one is ever
that happy for long.
Bitch Boy responds: ... that is the
question!
I'M SICK OF GAY REPUBLICANS
who Justify backing a party against g:iy
rights by saying they aren't single-issue
voters. But then they vote on a single
issue like "the war on te1Tor." You're only
fooling yourself'
CAN YOU BITCHES WHO CALL US
pretentious for talking nhout upcoming
vacatwns nnd home 1mprovt•ments tell us
what topics you approve of?
TO THE BITCH ABOUT D.JS GETIING
all the attention" All the bnlliant lighting
in the world won't make up for a lousy DJ.
People go to the clubs for thr(.>e primary
things: sex. drinking and music. No one is
there for the lighting.
Bitch Bov responds: Yes but consider the
reverse: 1iad (as in bright) lighting sends
the queens scattering like cockroaches.
IN RF.SPONSE TO BITCH BOY ASKING
if anyone has met a man who uses a con·
dom during oral sex: Actually yes. my
neighbor says he always uses a condom
for that
I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN
over safety but what is sexually stimulat·
ing about the taste of latex? Yuck.
I HEALLY DON'T UNDEHSTAND HOW
escorts can deal with having sox with peo.
plo they are not attracted to? Ye5, you're
gettmg paid good mone}; but how can you
stomach bcmg intimate with some of the
people who pay for those servtcos?
HI BITCH BOY! I ALWAYS ADORE
your blatant sarcasm. but why is there no
Biotch Gyrl or a kSession" not so male.
drenched'' Insert rude response here:
Bitch Boy responds: Because I'm very tn
touch with my feminine side Nothing
stopping you gals from creating a womyn·
born-womyn·only "saf!' space·· to do your
bikhing!
ESCOHTS SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO
get paid their full fee if the John doesn't
like what you look hke after you first meet
and you go no further than that. Some
people have no business hcmg escorts.
Forget about tightening the leash. If your
so-called girlfriend is throwing other
women in your face, it's time to cut the
leash. '!'he nerve of her!
A BOY IS SO:\tEONE UNDER 18, SO
why do so many people who nre obviously
men advertise themselves as such?
Just because you shave off your body hair.
do drugs and act like you're still in high
school with no direction in life?
WHY LABEL YOUR COLOR AS
caramel? You're either Hispanic, black,
whiteur Asian.
Bitch Boy responds: You trytng to get
laid or taking the Census?
WHY DO PEOPLE WITH SNOT IN
their nose go out to the bars nnd then
snort it up repeatedly withm earshot of
eVl'ryone else? Do you really think anyone
will find you appealing hke that?
I DO SUPPORT MY COUNTRY IN A
time of war. In fact. I love my country
enough that I tried to warn people that
the war would be a huge mistake. which it
has turned out to be.
I HAVE A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE I
don't go straight to the bars after work to
piss it all away
IF YOU PLAN TO ADVERTISE YOUR
business in a gay publication. don't put
your ugly mug in for everyone to see.
I MUST BE A LESBIAN TRAPPED IN A
gay man's body. I'm a whiz at plumbing,
but I'm hopeless at arranging flowers.
JULY 7. 2006 19
Nightly gay prayer: "Oh Lord,
watch over me while I lay me
down, my hot abs to keep:'
Bitch Boy responds: How's your mullet
hangin?
IF THERE'S JUST ENOUGH ROOM I~
the bar for a walkwa); it's intended for
foot traffic, not two fat-asses gettmg 1t on
and making the rest of us sick to our
stomachs. For the love of all that 1s holy,
get out of the bar and onto a treadmill!
I}' I :\lli'T A HANDSO:\IE AND TOGETIIER
guy who told me upfront that he had
Hepatitis C, I would find a way to have a
satisfying safe-sex life with him. So all
you guys who've told me how attractive I
am but run the other way because I hm·e
HI\~ I hope your desire to screw without
a condom is a good trade-off for your
loneliness.
TO THE STRAIGHT WO:\tAN AT WORK
who just can't seem to understand why I,
a gay man. do not want to marry a
woman: Why would I marry someone like
you and end up divorced four years latrr
like your gay ex-husband?
1'2\f FED UP WITH PRETENTIOGS
queens whose online profiles pn ss 1
interest in "documentaries." Name the
last documentary you saw and give me a
synopsis. bitch!
SO YOU LIVE IN A FABULOUS
efficiency apartment that costs 1 gnnd a
month and you can't afford to see a movie
on our date. Why not move out of the gay
ghetto? What's the point of being in the
center of it all if you can't afford to do
anythmg?
I'M SO SICK OF BOHING.
monotonous gay-themed movies. Aren't we
supj)OSCd to be witty and artistic? Why can't
y;e make a decent movie about ourselve;.?
JUST BECAUSE YOU GOT PLOWED
in front of a camera for $1.000 doesn't
make you a "porn star." It makes you
someone who got plowed in front of a
camera for $1.000.
SOOP BEING SO JUDGMENTAL ABOUT
thosf who struggle to "move on." !\lost
gay guys quickly jump from one "love" to
the next, often while they're stlll involved.
Forgive some of us for having feelings.
TO THE PERSON WHO GRIPED
about civil unions being recognized in
only one state - not true. Not only in
Vermont, but also in New Jer e}: I blame
the gay media, which refuses to acknowl·
edge it because it was signed into law by a
Hepublican governor
Bitch Boy responds: Err, you mean
Connecticut. not New Jersey, \\ hich had a
big ole queen as a governor, but he v.ras
clo et case and only signed into !3.w
domestic partnership .
IP SHE'S YOUR "BEST FHIEND"
who just happens to be your ex, why did
you spend Saturda} night with your arms
around her waist? At least be honest with
your·elf. even 1f you can't be with me.
STOP WORKING TO GET 1Y
attention. I'm not blmd. so if I found you
attractive you'd already ha\e m} atten·
tion Staring at me, standing in front of
me, dancing next to me, and shaking what
I'm leaning on are anno} ing and only
make you rven less attract1\e
E\'ER ~OTICE HOW JOA'.\' COLLI~S
is startmg to look more and more like a
drag queen every year?
WHY ARE ALL·FDIALE COLLEGES
liberal, lesbian paradises \\hile the all
male colleges are the most con. en.ative.
militaristic and gay-hostile schools
around? Maybe it's because, after all these
years. giris still ju;.1 wanna have fun.
IF YOU "J\EG4NEG" GUYS ARE SO
paranoid about catchmg somethmg, then
why the hell are you advertising on a sex
site in the first place?
WHAT'S SO DAMN \\'RONG WITH
the Peter Pan Syndrome? The alternative
b boring and overrated
AS A LATINO. I Fl:'\D IT EXTREMELY
dista~1oful and a major turn-off when
omeone says, "I love Latm men." I don't
tell white guys. "110\ e Caucasian;.." Am 1
supposed to be flattered that you are
enamored by my Latino-nc s?
Bitch Boy respond .. : I behe\e the correct
term is "Latinocit):"
I AGREE WITH THE GUY WHO SAYS
bemg masculine is natural to him. The
main reason so many gay guys act effemi·
nate is because they think of themselves
as female.
JLST BECAt;SE YOU WEAR A HAT
Lm C. · ·sn mean you're not bald.
it just means that you 're insecure
Eillrs' Ide These in real bi!thes, smt ii 11,i real mDfi.
abool ~ ife's ~ ~ ill1 !1-e ag cres. too.
Got a !itch?
Calll~
oreillait~
20 JULY 7 2006 www.houstonvoice.com HOUSTON VOICE
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