| Transcript |
MARRIAGE BILL: It now
bans civil unions. Page 3
LOSS IN KANSAS: Muller,
gays lose in Kansas. Page 5
Mixed emotions for gay Catholics
Millions mourn pope who opposed gay rights
By EARTHA MELZER
~any gay Catholics arc reflecting with mixed emotions
this week on the life and legacy of Pope John
Paul 11, uplifted by his dedication to world peace yet
disappointed b)' his staunch opposition to gay rights
and same-Sf!X marriage.
John Paul II, who died on April 2. led the Catholic
Church for 26 years and was the longest reigning pope
in recent histor}:
Some observers believe that the pope's strict tra·
ditionalist views had to do with his exper ience leading
a church within a communist state he was a
cardinal in communist Poland. As such, he was iso·
lated from the liberalizing forces that were impacting
the Catholic Church in other countries.
"He has set us back to the early '60s," said Daniel
Helminiak, a former Roman Catholic priest and author
of "What the Bible Heally Says About Homo~xualil):"
Helminiak, who is ga}; is now a psychology professor
at the State Univl'rsity of West Georgia. He left
the priesthood after 28 years in part because of the
church's teachings on sexualit):
John Paul II "institutionalized all of thl' restrictions
very solidly. They can be changed but it'll take
some doing," Helminiak said. "And eventually thl'y
will be ch:mged, I'm absolute!~ convinced, becaus"
they're totally foolish, totally off base. But he's set the
process hack decades."
While the pope spoke out for peace in the Middle
East and apologized for some past mistakes of the
Catholic Church. he rigidly upheld the church posi
tion th<it sex was for procreation onl}:
The pope callPd homosexuality "evil," and used
his position as head of the Catholic Church to oppos1•
the use of condoms as birth control or to curtail the
spread of A IDS. Especially the latter years of his
papacy, John Paul exerted significant politir.al pressure
iu:ainst gay rights and any form of secular
recognition of gav relationships, from domestic partnerships
to civil unions and marrtage
Please see POl'E on Page 7
Dunng lus 2b-year reign. Pope Jolm Paul II wrote a letter calling
homosexuality evil and fought the use of condoms m curtailing
the spread of HIV and AIDS. (Photo by Domenico Stmellis/AP)
dish
Time it was
Time to remember the
first-ever gay protest
outside the Whitehouse
Page 12
AWARD FOR DEAN: Some
question his stance Page 6
Award-winning basketball coach Meny Stephens faced harassment in the
Bloomberg School District because she IS a lesbian.
Award winning
lesbian coach settles
discrimination case
Basketball coach Merry Stephens
was subjected to harassment at
school because she is a lesbian
By BINNIE FISHER
Merry Stephens was named Teacher of the Year in
Bloomberg, Tex in 2004 and Coach of the Year in three out of five
year;. in her tenure as head coach of the Lady \nldcab basket
ball team, but suddenly all that no longer mattered.
There came a pomt about two years ago when her \\Ork wasn't
good enough, and the Bloomberg School Dbtnct began proceedings
to term mate her employment
What had gone '' rong?
Shannon Minter. legal director for the Kational Center for
Lesbian Rights (NCLR). said there \\as an explanation. Stephens
Please see COACH on Page 4
local life
When Equality l<nocks,
supporters of equal rights for
gays and lesbians are often found.
PAGES
The Village Voice dumped a
load of gay gossip but left
readers to name the suspects.
PAGE 19
2 APRIL 8, 2005
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local ne s briefs
Auctioneer Renee Jones Introligator Master of Ceremonies and Channel 2 Chief Meteorologist Frank
Billingsley actress Sharon Gless and Maria Todd from KRBE all posed for a photo when the program con·
duded at the HRC Gala
HRC Gala goes down as group's most successful
The annual gala staged Saturday night by the Human Rights Campai!,'ll's Houston chapter
will go down as the most successful yet, accord mg to the three chair-persons for the
event. In addition to drawing more than 1,000 guests, the event grossed more than
$220,000, with $93,000 of that coming from the silent and live auctions. The theme for the
2005 gala, held at the downtown Hilton Americas Hotel, was "Masquerade.'' The featured
guest was actress Sharon Gless, who plays Debbie Novotny on Showtime's 'Queer as
Folk.' Gless, who was presented with the Humanitarian Award, chatted with guests and
posed for photographs prior to the start of the dinner.
'The After Party' is seeking
audience members each week
"The After Party." the new Houston PBS
arts and entertainment talk show is looking
for people to make up the audience each
week. Hosted by Ernie Manouse, the show
airs at 11 p.m. Wednesdays. Each week, the
audience 1s made up of 20 people who come
in a group. Drama clubs. arts groups and
other community groups are encouraged to
participate. Groups must consist of 20 person~.
Audience members are expected to
show up at Houston PBS on the University of
Houston campus no later than 1:30 p.m.
Wednesdays (1 p.m. if they wish to tour the
studios before taping begins.) Taping is com·
pleted by 2:-15 p.m. To book a group, e-mail
Manouse at Ernie(l1 HoustonPBS.org and
include the name of the person making the
request, name of the group, contact infor·
matlon and available dates.
Montrose Counseling Center
assists victims of crimes
The week of April 10 has been desii,'llated
Crime Victims' Rights Week, and the
Mont~e Counseling Center wants to make
Houstonians aware that it has programs to
a55ist victims of violent crlffie. The center's
Anti Violence Program helps victims of violent
crimes including sexual assault. domCli·
tic violence and hate crimes me for Crime
Victims Compensation through the Texas
Attorney General's Office. The State of
Texas provides up to $50,000 for individuals
who qualify, but the crime must be reported
to police as quickly as possible, preferably
within 72 hours. In addition to its oU.er scrv·
ices, Montrose Counseling Center provides
counseling and case management services to
victims of violent crime. Information
regarding crime victim's assistance is available
at www.oag.state.tx.US!victims. Further
information on services offered through the
center's Anti-Violence Program is available
at 713-529-0037.
Banned in Singapore
but not in Houston
The gay singing duo of Jason and deMarco.
recently banned from performing in
Singapore, will perform at 7 p.m. April 17 dur·
ing Bering Memorial United Methodist
Church's annual Apri!Fest. AprilFest at the
church, 14-IO Harold St., kicks off with the
annual 2nd Blessings Rummage Sale from 7
a.m.·2 p.m. this Friday and Saturday. Church
members have brought household goods, fur·
niture, clothes and more to help raise funds
for the church. Apri!Fest closes with a
Carnival and Pancake Breakfast from 7:~
Noon April 30. Cost for the event is $6 for
adults and $4 for children 5-12. Admission to
the Ja<;0n and deMarco concert is $10. The
goverJJffient of Sing1pore dcnied a request
for the pair to smg at a concert to raise money
for AIDS charities because they celebrate a
"gay 1 ifestyle." www.ja<;0nanddemarco.com.
Sir Elton helps HGO
celebrate its 50th
Elton John, Renee Fleming and lesbian
soprano Patricia Racette will be among the
celebrities to help Houston Grand Opera
celebrate it's 50th birthday April 30. The
party gets underway at 8 p.m. at Wortham
Center. Individual tickets are $250 and $."iOO.
www.houstongrandopera.org.
From staff and wire reports
APRIL 8. 2005 3
lo al ws
Committee is still considering
proposed marriage amendment
HJR-6 now contains
language that would
also ban civil unions
By JIM NUU
The Texas House Committee on State
AffatrS is expected to vote as early as
'.\tonday on House Joint Resolution 6, a
bill that would not only ban same-sex marriage
in Texas but would also outlaw "con·
tractual agreements" designed to afford
legal protections to unmarried couples.
The committee last Monday conducted
a public hearing on the resolution
introduced by State Rep. Warren
Chisum (R·Pampa).
Although Chisum initially proposed
a constitutional amendment that would
define marriage as being between one
man and one woman, he later amended
it to include the "contractual agreements"
wording.
The hearing began at 2 p.m. Monday
and ran well into the evening as mainly
opponents of the amendment showed up
to testify.
The 100-seat capacity chamber was
filled to overflowing as Chisum read his
proposed amendment. To a comment by
Rep. Jessica Farrar (0-Houston) that the
amendment would write discrimination
into the constitution, Chisum said.
"This doesn't discriminate against anyone.
It discriminates against a practice,
not a people"
Randall Ellis, executive director of
the Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby of
Texas, argued that the additional word·
mg would have many "unfortunate
unintended consequences."
Kelly Shackelford, president of the
Free Market Foundation and a support·
er of the proposed amendment, arguPd
gay couples would still be able achieve
certain rights by having attorneys dra\\
up agreements for various issues, but it
would be \\Tong for the state to give
them marriage rights as a package.
"This is clearly something that we
can't put our heads in the sand about,"
he said. "Marriage between one man
and one woman does things that no
other relationship can do."
Virtually all who testified were either
PFLAG parents, representatives of
organizations or gays speaking against
the proposed amendment. Their testimony
was often emotional and included
personal stories about themselves and
their children.
Dick and Jimmie Sue Francis, Austin
parent~ of two gay children. pleaded with
the legislators. saying, "This will harm
you, particularly when you learn you
have a gay child or grandchild. Someday
you may have the opportunity to explain
to them why you voted in 2005 to support
discrimination against them."
Dick and Jimmie Sue Francis of Austin were
among those who testified in opposition to a proposed
constitutional amendment banning gay
mamage. (Photo by Jim NulO
Marriage has changed
over the years
April Ayers of Houston noted that
marriage has changed significantly over
the years and that some states once proh1b1ted
interracial marriage. She asked
committee members. ''Twenty years
from now, will we - society as a whole -
be ashamed of our decision to discrimi·
nate against the GLBT population as we
are now ashamed of discriminating
against interracial marriage?'"
Contacted late Thursday, Farrar said,
she hopes the language limiting ch•il
agreements will be removed from the
proposed amendment before the committee
votes next week.
"One Republican member of the com·
mittee approached me and said he was
really moved by the stories," she said.
The Committee on State Affairs will
decide whether to send the proposed
amendment to the full Hou,,e. Farrar said,
some legislators who don't favor amend·
ing the constitution are stlll likely to vote
in favor of the resolution.
''That's the political climate we're in."
she said. "If the situation is that it's OK to
hate gays, then that's the political climate."
Once the bill goes to the house, it will
need to be approved by a two-thirds
majority before being sent to the Senate,
where it will need another two-thirds
majority before being placed on the
statewide November ballot.
Ellis said LGRL is bracing for an ugly
fight.
Another Houston legislator sits on
the Committee on State Affairs, Rep.
Martha Wong, a Republican. She could
not be reached for comment regarding
the proposed amendment.
@MORE INFO
l.esbiaiVGay Rights Lobby of Texas
www.lgrl.org
4 APRIL 1. 2005 www.houstonvoice.com HOUSTON VOICE I local news
Case of Merry Stephens is one of "mob mentality"
COACH, continued from Page 1
is a lesbian, and school district officials
decided she needed to go.
:-ICLR and attorney Michael Shirk from
the ~atlonal Education Association/Texas
State Teacher's Association earlier this
week negotiated a settlement agreement on
behalf of Stephens.
Under the agreement, Minter said, the
school district agreed to ;iay Stephens for
the last two years of her contract.
"This wasn't about trying to get a lot of
money," Minter said.
Instead, he said, the settlement was
about Stephens and all the other lesbian
and gay teachers who have been fired
because of their sexual orientation.
"This has ~cen going on for a long
time," Minter said. "Lesbian teachers and
coaches have had therr careers destroyed
by msidious campaigns like this."
In Stephens' case, Minter said, not only
had she been honored numerous times,
but she had led her team to district,
regional and semi-state championships,
breaking school and district coaching
C) MORE INFO
National Center for Lesbian Rights
www.nclrights.org
Shannon Minter, legal director for the National
Center for Lesbian Rights. said the case of Merry
Stephens was settled without going to court
becduse someone did the right thing.
records in the process. All along the way,
she received excellent evaluations.
Then, Minter said. leadership of the
d1Strict changed and Stephens found herself
fighting for her job.
Stephens said she was suddenly sub·
jected to intense harassment by superiors.
On Dec. 14, 2004, the Bloomberg School
Board began termination proceedings.
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"Merry Stephens is an extraordinary
coach whose leadership and teaching skills
were highly respected on the basketball
court and in the classroom," Minter said.
"This settlement agreement sends a power·
ful message that discrimination will not be
tolerated. The days when schools could dis·
criminate with impunity against lesbian
and gay teachers and coaches are past."
.Minter said the settlement came days
before a schEduled administrative hearing,
after School Board President Derous Byers
testified under oath in a deposition that the
Board's decision to terminate Stephens
was based on the personal anti-gay animosity
of several school board members.
Byers also testified that several school
board members publicly disparaged
Coach Stephen because of her sexual ori·
entation. including stating that she "did
not deserve to work" in the district
because she is a lesbian, Minter said.
'Mob mentality'
He describes what happened to Stephen
as "mob mentality. You have a group of
people who because of their own bias
decide to ruin a teacher's life."
Had it not been for Byers, Minter said,
the case likely would have gone to court.
"What was so umque to this case was to
have that unequivocal testimony," Minter
said. "Usually these things happen in
silence and behind closed doors. Mr. Byers
is just a good man who thought he ought to
tell the truth."
TSTA attorney Shirk noted, "In my 15
years of representing workers throughout
Texas, rarely have I seen such bigotry and
flagrant discrimination,"
He added, "I hope this settlement will
teach the board members who set this in
motion a lesson they should have learned a
long time ago· that G<>d's grace and the laws
of this State protect everyone equally."
Stephens. who does not plan to ask for
her Job back in Bloomberg, said she hopes
that by standing up. she will give courage
to others.
"My focus has always been to be the
best coach and teacher 1 can be," she said.
"No one should have to endure hostility
and prejudice. I hope that by speaking out,
I will give others the courage to stand up
for their rights.''
Helen Carroll, Sports Project
Coordinator for the National Center for
Lesbian Rights. applauded the settlement.
"Coach Stephens' courage in refusing to
silently endure this blatant discrimina·
lion is an inspiration to the many others
in her position; she is a pioneer in chang·
ing hearts and minds.''
Minter said the outcome is bittersweet
because, "Part of the sad thing about all
this is that she ;-eally loves this town.''
Officials of the Bloomberg School
District could not be reached for comment.
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HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com I national news b iefs
Kansas voters approve constitutional ban on gay marriage
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Voters in Kansas yesterday overwhelmingly approved a constitutional
amendment to ban same-sex couples from marrying or entering into civil unions.
With more than half of the precincts reporting, 276,876 votes, or 69 percent, were cast in
favor of a constitutional amendment, with 121,836 votes, or 31 percent, opposed. Gay marriage
is already banned under Kansas law,
and the law is not being challenged. But supporters
of the ballot measure said the ban
must be in the Kansas Constitution to insulate
it from legal challenge. ''The marriage
amendment is an unfortunate, necessary
reaction to activist courts," said Republican
state Attorney General Phill Kline. Among
the opponents was Democratic Governor
Kathleen Sebrlius. Kansas became the 18th
state to put a prohibition against same-sex
marriage in its constitution, and the 14th to
pass such an amendment since the
Mass:1chusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision
in 2003 that legalized same-sex marriage
in that state. Lesbian Tiffany Muller
lost her spat on the Topeka City Council to
lawyer Richard Harmon. who captured 64
pcrcmt of the vote.
Couple's effort to annul Conn.
same-sex union rejected
STA~1FORO, Conn (AP) A same·sex
couple married in Massachusetts can·
not get an annulment in Connecticut
because the state does not recognize
such marriages, a judge has ruled. The
ruling was the first to address an
attempt by an out·of-state gay couple
to dissolve their Massachusetts mar·
riage, according to Mathew Staver.
president and general counsel for
Liberty Counsel, a conservative group
that opposes gay marriage. Granting
the dissolution would have recognized
the validity of the marriage in anoth·
er state, he said. Hartford Superior
Court Judge Linda Pearce Prestley, in
a March UI ruling announced last week
by Liberty Counsel, reJected an
attempt by two women who live in
Connecticut to annul their marriage.
The women had filed a notice of intention
to marry in Provincetown, Mass ..
but said they were unaware that the
~fassachusetts law excluded nonresidents.
Prestley said the marriage was
invalid because it violated
Massachusetts law. so Connecticut had
nothing to dissolve.
N.Y. high court declines to
hear gay marriage lawsuits
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The state's high·
est court last week declined to hear two
cases contesting the state law that bars
same·sex couples from getting married.
The Court of Appeals ruled it does not
have the jurisdiction to hear the cases
before they first go to a lower appellate
court. In February, state S\lpreme
Court Justice Doris Ling-Cohan ruled
the state law is unconstitutional, find·
ing in favor of five same-sex couples
who had been denied marriage licenses
by New York City. The judge said the
city clerk may not deny a license to any
couple solely because the two are of the
same sex The city is appealing the
judge's ruling.
Lesbian Tiffany Muller earned only 36 percent of
the vote and lost her seat on the Topeka Kan. City
Council on Tuesday (File photo)
ACLU wants fonner students
in religious group's Ky. suit
ASHLAND. Ky. (AP) The American
Civil Liberties Union has a~ked a federal
court to let five former students and a parent
join an eastern Kentucky school dis·
trict in a lawsuit filed by a religious foundation
over anti·harassment training. The
suit, filed by the Alliance Defense Fund on
behalf of a student and parents at Boyd
County High School, alleges that anti·
harassment training violates the stu·
dent's first amendment rights of free
speech and religion. The training is part
of a settlemrnt of a previous lawsuit by
thr Gay.Straight Alliance, a gay-rights
cluh that had sought the right to meet on
school grounds. The five students askmg
to g1•t mvolved in the new case were plain·
tiffs m the earlier suit. The settlement
mandates that the anti-harassment tram·
ing emphasize sexual orientation.
Gay Foreign Service officer
wins ruling in bias case
WASHINGTON - A U.S. D1stnct Court
judge in Frbruary ordered a State
Department review panel to reconsider
whether two U.S. consular officials in Brazil
gave a gay foreign service officer a less than
favorable job performance review in 1994
based on alleged anti.gay bias. Judge Gladys
Kessler ordered the Foreign Service
Grievance Board to disregard an earlier
decision to dismiss a complaint by Karl
Olson. who chargl'd that his two supervisors
gave him a negative performance review for
his duties as Chief of the Non·Immigrant
Visa Section at the U.S. Consulate General's
Office in Rio de Janeiro. He served in that
post from 1993 to 1996. The supervisors,
David Zweifel and Edwin Beffel, denied they
had an anti ·gay bias and claimed they gave a
favorable review to another gay official at
the U.S. consular post m Rio de Janeiro.
Zweifel and Beffel said their review prai.<;ed
Olson for his work but said he was overly
"officious" and too demanding.
From staff and wire reports
APRIL 8, 2005 5
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6 APRIL 8, 2005 www.houstonvoice.com HOUSTON VOICE I national ne s
NLGTF honors Dean's record
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
WASHL\;GTON - The :-.:auonal Gay &
U!sblllll Tusk Force has been among the gay
community's stro11t,<>eSt advocates for legalizmg
samc-&!X mamage. So its dec1S10n to present
Its annual Lifetime Achievement Award
this week to a same-se.x maniage opponent
drew attention to what many activists consider
a vexing and complex issue that must be
addressed cautiously and creativel):
The Tusk Force was scheduled to present
its Lifetime Achievement Award to former
Vermont Governor and Democratic Party
Chair Howard Dean on Thursday at a
fundraising ceremony at the Omni
Shoreham Hotel here. Kate ~fichelman, former
president of NARAL-Pro-Choice
America. and Adam Ebbin, an openly gay
member of the Virginia House of
Delegates, were scheduled to join !l.'LGTF
Executive Director Matt Foreman m presenting
the mvanl to Dean. The event was
expected to attract about 400 people and
raise more than $75,000 for NGLTF.
Dean emerged as one of the nation's most
gay-supportive politicians In 200l when, as
governor. he played a key role in shepherding
through the Vennont legislature the nation's
first bill to legaliz.e same-se.x civil unions.
While remaining popular among gay
actMsts, Dean disappointed many in the gay
community during his 2001 campaign for
president when he said he opposed same-sex
marriage because he believes, on religious
grounds, that maniage should remain an
institution onl>· between a man and a woman.
He said full equal rights and benefits for same.
sex couples should be pursued through federal
recognition of civil unions.
Josh Earnest. a spokesperson for the DNC,
said Dean fully supports the Democratic Party
platform plan.ks on gay rights. He said that in
his role as DNC chair, Dean would not be
speaking on specific policy issues but would
instead concentrate on building the party's
infrastructure and financial support.
Foreman said "'LGTF selected Dean for its
Lifetime Achievement Award because of
Dean ·s "extraordinary" support for both gay
ciVII rights and non-gay progressive causes.
"Dr Dean has been an ally for the gay com·
munity for decades," Foreman said. ''He also
has advocated other causes that the Tusk
Force holds deai:"
Although he opposed same-sex marriage,
Dean's decision tc make his overall support
for gay rights a central part of his presidential
camp.1ign "moved" the other Democratic
presidential contenders to a more supportive
position on gay rights, Foreman said.
Foreman noted that Dean also spoke out
against a proposed constitutional amendment
to ban same-sex marriage.
Robm Tylei; oo-founder of the national
group DontAmcndcom. disagrees with the
selection of Dean for the award. "What civil
rights movement has ever given an award to
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someone who doesn't believe in total civil
rights for that movement?" Tyler asked.
Tyler noted that Dean's push for civil
unions in Vennont came after the Vennont
Supreme C.ourt ordered the state to adopt
either a civil union or gay marnage bill.
Although some gay activists wanted the legislature
to pass a marriage bill, Dean and state
legislators chose the civil unions option at a
time when opposition to both was fierce
among many Vermont voters.
"OK. that was years ago," Tyler said.
''Hov.-ever, he kL>eps saying over and over that
he still believes that marriage is between and
man and a woman. In other words, he still
believes in 'separate and unl'Qual' or mar·
riage segregation," Tyler said.
Added Tyler, "NGLTF should have given
this award to a courageous, out5tanding
Democrat who is an absolute frlend of the
LGBT community - San Francisco ~1ayor
Gavin Newsome. Instead. like abused chil·
dren, we continue to grovel at the feet of those
who continue to reject full equal right:; forus."
Eric Stern, the DNC's former outreach
director for the gay community and current
executive director of National Stonewall
Democrats, said Dean's record in support of
gay rights offsets his position on gay mar
riage. "We must push for full GLIIT marriage
equalit):" Stern said. "But we would not move
as fast in our efforts If we did not have someone
as boldly progressive a~ Howard Dean."
Stern said Dean mentioned gay issues in
Howard Dean. the chairperson of the Democratic
National Committee, was scheduled to be honored
on Thursday by the Task Force despite his opposi·
lion to gay marriage. (Photo by Rudy K. Lawidjaja)
his campaign speeches last year and contin·
ues to raL<;e gay right:; issues in his appearances
across the country as DNC chair, including
his appearances in conservative
Republican or "red" states. "Having someone
like Dean go to red states to address our issuC'S
is a big advantage for us," Stern said.
JefT Sorer. chair of the DNC's Gay &
Lesbian Americans Caucus. said Dean has yet
to name a replacement for Stern as the D!\C's
new gay outreach director, but he expects
IX-an to fill the position. The gay caucus
issued a statement at the DNC's winter meet·
ing m February calling for the post to be filled.
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HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com APRIL 8. 2005 7
a s cover story
Pope opposed recognition of gay couples, condom use
POPE. continued from Page 1
He also attempted to scapegoat homosexual
priests for the church sex abuse scandals.
according to Sam Sinnett, president of
Dignity USA, a group for gay Catholics.
Different time for gay Catholics
During the 1970s, ministries were
developed for gay men and lesbians within
the Catholic Church.
"When polls have been done among various
religious groups, Catholics come out
among the highest in supporting gay and
lesbian rights. This could be because
Catholic teaching is more complicated
than some think, it docs not condemn
homosexual orientation," said Francis
DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry. a 28·
year-old ministry that seeks to build
bridges between gay Catholics and the
broader Catholic communit}:
Despite a broadening sense of acceptance
of gays within the Catholic Church. in 1986
Pope John Paul II issued a "Letter to the
Bishops of the Catholic Church on the
Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons." The
letter, which was written in English and was
seen as aimed at American Catholics, called
same-sex attraction an "objective disorder"'
and "intrinsically evil."
"I think it was obviously on his watch
and his approval that we got the 1986 letter
on homosexuality as a problem," said
Mark Jordan, a religion professor at
Atlanta's Emory University whose books
include "The Silence of Sodom:
Homosexuality in Modern Catholicism."
''The view of that letter is now part of the
official catechism of the Catholic Church
and also been written into a number of other
official documents. so it would be very hard
to reverse," said Jordan, a gay Catholic.
Dignity USA, founded in 1969, had been
holding meetings in Catholic churches at
that time.In response to the pope's 1986 let-
The Vatican conducted an ll·year investigation into
Sister Jeannine Gramick's ministry to gay Catholics
before admonish111g her in 1999. (Blade file photo)
ter, Dignity chapters nationwide voted to
no longer meet at Catholic churches.
"This was quite traumatic," Sinnett
said. "People are hurt by the church's Ian·
guage. We exist to support people who are
integrating spirituality and sexualit):"
Dignity now has 3,500 to 4.000 members,
Sinnett said, and has about 50 chapters.
"There is an ultra-Orthodox belief that
the church is the people of God," Smnett
said "The bishops may have shut out gays
and lesbians, but gay and lesbian
Catholics are still able to practice."
Sinnett said that he attends a Roman
Catholic mass with his Dignity chapter in
St. Louis and the service is held in an
Episcopal church. Why did some gay men
and lesbians go to such lengths to stay
close to a religion that had rejected them?
"During the Vietnam era. conservatives
used to say to protesters 'Love it or
leave it' - they didn't understand the concept
of loyal protest." Sinnett said.
"Faith is a lot more [than the church's
statements on homosexuality) we can dissent
faithfully."
Grassroots change
In 1987, moral theologian Charles
Curran was fired from his position at
Catholic University because he refused to
follow the Vatican line on homosexuality
and birth control.
Sister Jeannine Gramick began pastoral
work with gay men and lesbians m
1971 as a nun with the School Sister~ of
:\otre Dame in Baltimore. Gramick said
she was encouraged and supported in this
work by her church leaders at the time.
"Gays and lesbians felt so abandoned.
some hadn't lx.oen to chm·ch in 10 or~ years
and felt there was no place for them."
Gramick said. "I told them every baptized
person has a place in the church. it belongs to
you as much as it belongs to straight people.
Despite the support for her work. the
Vatican conducted an 11-year investiga·
tion into what she was doing and in 1999
issued an order forbidding her to speak
about homosexuality or about the church
investigation of her ministry.
"During [John Paul's) papa<:); the movemmt
for gay and lesbian rights at the higher
level of the church deteriorated, .. Gramick
told the Blade this week. "But the movement
of middle management in the church in the
US. progressed due to advocacy by gays and
lesbians and their families.
"The pope's pronouncements became
much more repressive than pastoral. The
documents produced by U.S. bishops show
the contrast between what we see on the
Vatican level and on the national level,"
Gramick said.
Gramick said that the movement toward
acceptance of gays within the Catholic
Church will continue no matter what nega·
tive pronouncements come from the Vatican.
Pope and politics
State-by-state roundup of legislation
MINNESOTA
ST. PAUL (AP) After a passionate
debate last week that stretched over
three hours. the Minnesota House voted
77-56 to put a gay marriage ban before
voters next year. The bill would ask vol
ers to amend the state constitution to
define marriage exclusively as a union
between a man and a woman. Supporters
of the constitutional amendment said it
would prevent courts from allowing
same-sex marriages, even though state
law already prohibits them. "The only
way to ensure that activist judges don't
circumvent the will of the peoplP is by
allowing the people of Minnesota to have
their voices heard," said Rep. Dan
Severson (R·Sauk Rapids), the bill's spon·
sor. "That definition may stand in our
books." Democrats who opposed the ban
said it would trample the civil rights of a
mmority without helping troubled heterosexual
couples. "What single heterosexual
marriage that exists today will be
saved by the passage of this amend
rnent?" said Rep Keith Ellison (DFL·
Minneapolis). "Nobody thinking about
getting divorced today will change their
mind based on this amendment. ..
MAINE
AUGUSTA (AP) Gov. John Baldacc1 last
week signed legislation that protects gays and
lesbians from discrimination. Within hours,
a religious group launched a campaign to
overturn the new Jaw. 'This act not only
offers essential civil rights, but serves as a
welcome," the Democratic governor told suir
porters who packed the State House Cabinet
Room. "Our doors are open to all people. This
is a proud day for Maine." The law, which
received final House and Senate passage the
night before the governor signed it, takes
effect in late June. The measure amends the
Maine Human Rights Act bY making discrimination
illegal in emplo:yment, housing,
credit, public accommodations and education
based on sexual orientation or gender. Maine
law now prohibits discrimination based on
race, color: sex. disabilit); religion, ancestry
and national origin. The new law will e.xempt
religious organizations that do not receive
public funds. It also makes clear the law does
not condone or authorize gay marriages.
COLORADO
DENVER (AP) A Republican-led news
conference last week calling for a voterapproved
ban on gay marriage included a
sharp exchange after a state lawmaker
brought up bestiality as he said the issue
needed to be addressed. Rep. Jim Welker
(R-Loveland) said voters need to draw the
line on what marriage is and noted a
woman in India had married her dog a
year and a half ago. Democratic Rep.
Angie Paccione (D·Fort Collins) confront·
eel Welker. "Come on, Jim. It's not the
same :_ it's not the same to have someone
marry a dog than it is to have two loving
people get married," she said. Paccione
said the "moderate majority" that elected
The Catholic Church. under John Paul
II. argued not only that homosexuality is
against natural lav.: but that gays should
no protections under civil Jaw either.
In 1992 the Vatican issued a letter to
bishops urging them to oppose gay rights
initiatives.
The pope pressured the Italian government
to withdraw support for the World
Pride Celebration in Rome in 2000.
The pope al~o supported the Federal
Marriage Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution to limit marriage to opposite-
sex couple::. and asked bishops in
America to become involved in campaigns
against same-~ex marriage.
\\'hen the Roman Catholic Church in
the U.S. became embroiled in the scandal
mvolvmg pnests sexually abusing
teenagers, usually malb, the Vatican <:ug·
gested that gays should be excluded from
seminaries. Sinnett, of Dignity CSA, said
John Paul II attempted to scapegoat gay
priests during the scandal.
In November 2002 the church relea$• a
Jetter entitled, "Doctrinal l\ote on Som•
Questions Regarding the Participation of
Catholics in Political Life" which stated
that Catholic politicians should advance
Cath. lie teachings in their work.
AIDS activists say that by travelmg to
Africa and speaking against the use of
birth control and condoms. the pope set
back efforts to curb spread of the disea.;e
and that many have died because of the
pope's theological rigidity and opposition
to condom use.
While many gay advocates expressed
hope that the next pope will develop more
progressive positions on sexualit); 114 of
the 117 Cardinals who will decide on a
replacement were appointed by John Paul
II. and many doubt that any major doctri·
nal changes are on the horizon.
Yan r.o-- contributed to this report.
Democrats to power at the Capitol last fall
wants lawmakers to focus on "kitchen
table" issues like JOb.s, education and
health care and not gay marriage The
child of a biracial couple, she also brbtled
at denying citizens rights because of their
sexual orientation, saying it was once illegal
for blacks and whites to marl):
TENNESSEE
t-;ASHVILLE (AP) A freshman
Republican thinks his Web Jog IS refresh·
ing, but other la\\makers are offended.
They say Stacey Campfield's blog is unfair
and violates decorum. Campfield, who reir
resents Knoxville, calls gay adoption and
abortion "the new face of the Democrat
Part):" Under the title, "15 Ways to know if
you are a Democrat in the Tennessee
Legislature," Campfield offers such quips
as "You believe that the gender roles are
artificial but being homosexual is natural."
From sbff and wire reports
HOUSTON VOICE
APRIL 8, 2005
PAGES
When Equality l<nocks, gays find supporters
In just over a year,
Equality Knocks
has found more than
9,000 Houston voters
who say they will vote
in support of gay rights
By DAWN RORIE
Anyone who questions whether one
person can rrolly make a diffl'rence may
find the answer by looking at the leadership
of Equahty Knocks.
Tammi Wallace had no idea what lay In
store for her a little over a year ago ·when
she sent an e-mail to the Lesbian Gay
Rights Lobby of Texas, asking how she
could get involved. When LGRLexpressed
interest In startmg a project In Houston
that would identify voters who would be
likely to support gay 1Ssues in the voting
booth, Wallace agreed to lead the effort.
With that, Equality Knocks was born.
At first, the project consisted only of
Wallace, her partnl'r, Beth Tudor, and a
small group of dedicated volunteers. The
group worked out of the couple's home.
Ml\ly dining room was basically con·
sumed with Equality Knocks stuff,"
Wallace remembers.
Within a month, fifty people had
signed on to help with exit polling in the
2004 primary election. Seeking to identify
people who would vote in favor of gay
civil rights ISsues such as marriage
equality, volunteers organized block
walks, stafieded phone banks. and set up
tables at various gay events.
By the end of last year. Equality
Knocks had identified 9,000 voters who
said they would support equal rights for
gays and lesbians.
At the beginning of this year,
Christina Gomez stepped into the role of
project drrector for Equality Knocks.
Citing a proposed federal constitutional
amendment that would ban same-sex
marriage as the catalyst for her initial
volunteer work for the project. Gomez
decided to take on a leadership role wtth·
in the group after seeing the devastating
losses in the 2004 election.
"That was the push I needed," says
@MORE INFO
Corrm.l1ity Worlc Day
10 am.-2 p.m. Saturday
Houston GLBT Community Center
3400 Montrose Blvd, Swte 227
When Tammi Wallace asked. "What can I do to help· she found herself leading Equality Knocks. (Photo by
Dalton DeHart)
Gomez. Refusing to accept defeat. she realized
that ''this is our chance to do something
about it. We are going to take hold of
this and we are not going to let go."
While identifying fair-minded voters
is an important part of the project,
Equality Knocks also works to fight for
gay civil rights and educate citizens
about the importance of those rights.
Over the past year, the hot-button
issue on the Equality Knocks agenda has
been gay marriage. Many citizens,
Wallace says, are not aware of the more
than one thousand rights provided by a
civil marriage, Including the right to
visit a sick partner in the hospital.
"Whether you agree or disagree with
gay marriage, ''she says, "denying people
basic rights and responsibilities to protPl't
thPlr families is wrong."
Pushing for job equality
Lq.i · lity Knocks has also been pushing
for emp1o;ment non-discrimination protections
for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals
and transgendered persons, as well as safe
school environments for gay students.
This year is shaping up to be an espe
cially busy one for Equality Knocks. The
group has recently been working to edu·
cate voters about House Joint Resolution
6, the proposed marriage amendment to
the Texas Constitution. State
Representatives Martha Wong (R·
Houston) and Jessica Farrar (0-Houston)
are on the committee that has been con·
sidering the amendment.
Since Wong has not demonstrated support
for S3)' and lesbian equality issues, vol·
untccrs worked tirelessly to encourage her
con~tituents to contact her and encourage
her to vote against the discriminatory
amendment. It meant walking from door to
door, talking to voters one-0n-0ne.
"It's Important that we put a face on
the issue," explains Gomez. Volunteers
are encouraged to share personal stories
to inform voters of the dangers that such
legislation poses to families and children.
In addition to fighting discrimination,
the members of Equality Knocks have
been working on restructuring the organ·
'1
J(ffi:I "0 ~>:ID
~llilTII:~
ft Equality Knocks
Founded. 2004
Founded by. Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of
Texas and the Houston Gay and Lesbian
Political Caucus (PAC)
Address: 1302 Waugh Drive, PMS 536.
Houston TX 77019-3908
Web site www.lgrl.org/equalityknocks
Phone 713-521-1000. ext. 2
ization itself. Originating as a result of a
coalition between LGRL and the Houston
Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus (PAC),
Equality Knocks has been growing at
such a pace that the leadership has decid·
ed to create Equality Houston, a stand·
alone organization that will house the
proJect and continue its work.
Wallace, who is currently serving on
the board of HGLPC, will serve as presi·
dent of Equality Houston. The challenge,
she says, lies within the need for
resources: dollars, supplies, and most
importantly, volunteers.
"Volunteers are needed in all areas,"
Gomez explains. Every person can add
something to the group, no matter what
their skills or level of involvement.
It was because of the need to reach out
to the community, other organizations,
and potential volunteers that the
Community Work Day was born. Group
leadPrs and volunteers gather to work on
projects and to meet people and talk oneon-
one with them to fmd out how they
can get involved.
Gomez stresses that equality will only
be won by people making a personal deci·
sion to help bring about change. '"Every
voice counts," she insists.
Besides being a po. itive way to get
involved. volunteering for Equality
Knocks is a good way to make friends.
"You meet so many people doing this,"
she acids.
On Saturday, Equality Knocks and the
Houston Gay and Lesbian Political
Caucus will conduct a Community Work
Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Houston
GLRT Community Center at 3400
Montrose. Anyone interested in learning
more about the work of Equality Knocks
is encouraged to attend.
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com APRIL 8, 2005 9
out in houston (Photos by Dalton DeHart)
At the Human Rights Campaign Gala last Saturday, actress
Sharon Gless, who plays Debbie Novotny on Showtime's
'Queer as Folk' talked with attorneys John Nechman. who
received an award from HRC. and Mitchell Katine, an attorney
who worked on the landmark case that struck down the
Texas sodomy law.
Actress Sharon Gless (right) received the Humanitarian Award from Maria Todd
of 104.fM KRBE during the HRC Gala
Pranksters in Pumps, a fundraiser for the Montrose Softball
League, was a rousing success last weekend.
Houston City Council Member Gordon Quan threw out the first pitch at last weekend's
season opener for the Montrose Softball League. and observers reported it
sailed directly over home plate.
Randall Ellis (center). executive director of the Lesbian Gay Rights
Lobby of Texas and Sue Lovell (right). who is running for At-large
Position 2 on the Houston City Council, JOined Houston City
Controller Annise Paricer (left) at the kickoff of her next re-election
campaign.
Kim Padgett (far left), owner of The Padgett Group, welcomed (from left) Monterey County vintners representalive
Rhonda Motil Ramon Ontiveros. Krystal Peoples and Jennifer Eberi1ard to a wine tasting
event hosted by the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association.
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I 1f1ii t4td ll voice
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edi orial
A papal smear
Against the torrent of media coverage
of the pope as much-beloved, we should not forget
the human cost of his policies on gays and condom use.
By CHRIS CRAIN
TWAS LIKE RONALD
Reagan all over again. For
the second time in less than
a year. we have witnessed a
tremendous outpouring of
grief and love for a major
historical figure whose
record on HIV I AIDS and the treatment of
gay people was disturbing, at best.
Except this time the mourning masses
and fawning media coverage has been
world....,ide, not nationwide, and the his·
torical record is downright pernicious,
rather than unforgivably neglectful.
We all knew Ronald Reagan, even if he
wasn't a friend of ours, and Pope John
Paul II was no Ronald Reagan.
Where the former president responded
in an irresponsibly slow manner in the
early years of HIV I AIDS, the former
pope actively blocked HIV prevention in
an unconscionable fashion. Where
President Reagan largely ignored early
attempts to enact gay rights legislation,
Pope John Paul heartlessly campaigned
against gays and their families.
The laudable role played by the Polish
pope in bringing down the totalitarian
communist states of Eastern Europe has
been told and retold countless times since
his death. But as was the case in the days
following the death of the former presi·
dent, the media has reduced to passing
mention - or ignored entirely the for·
mer pope's controversial record on the
issues of particular importance to gays.
THERE ARE VARIOUS THEORIES
about why this pope was so aggressively
regressive In his views about sex in general,
and homosexuality in particular.
Some say he had been sheltered m
Poland by the Iron Curtain from the
groY.ing scientific. psychological and
social understanding of homosexuality
and the aspirations of gay people. Others
argue that he was more concerned about
re-establishing authoritarian order in a
church whose believers had largely
rejectcc: Vatican teaching on sex. Like all
priest~ and nuns who take a vow of
chastity, he was uniquely unequipped to
plum the complex depths of human sexu·
ality in any meaningful fashion.
Whatever his reasons. his record is
clear. John Paul II inherited Roman
Catholic doctrine that viewed "homosexual
acts• as "intrinsically disordered," and
he quickly expanded that insulting label
to mere •homosexual attraction" as well.
In the face of a universally recognized
population explosion of crisis proportions,
and the global pandemic of AIDS
that was killing millions and orphaning
tens of millions, this pope adhered to tra·
ditlonal Catholic dogma that the use of
condoms is a sin.
And more than that, he used the influ·
ence of the church, especially as it grew in
the Third World countries of Africa and
elsewhere, to discourage condom use, and
to block HIV prevention programs that
dared to differ. The human cost of those
choices will be tallied for generations, but
it's already clear the body count for which
John Paul bears responsibility is far larg·
er than the several million who have
flocked to Rome to pay him last respects.
IN THE LATTER YEARS OF HIS
papac); John Paul II aggressively breached
the wall between church and state and lob·
bied Western governments against treat·
ing gays equally under civil law.
This campaign came even as a shock·
mg scandal of sexual abuse by priests,
facilitated by the active neglect of the
Vatican, was proving once more that the
Roman Catholic leadership lacked basic
understanding of adult sexual behavior.
Any non-religious institution facing such
clear evidence of misguided thinking, neg·
ligent oversight and active cover-up would
have been so thoroughly discredited that
il~ views on anything related to human
sexuality would be rejected out of hand.
But Pope John Paul II, after only
addressing the ~-ue directly a handful of
times and acting in baby steps only after
the outcry was impo~ible to ignore, was
undaunted. Rather than retreat to reconsid·
er whether centuries-old thinking about
sexuality and celibacy caused or con·
tributed to the crisis, the pope's spokesman
joined a chorus of cardinals and bishops
blaming the inexcusable sexual abuse of
boys and te<>nage males on - you guC'SSetl
it gay priests and homosexualit):
If the pope were Jewish, such SC'.tpegoating
might quality as chutzpah of epic
proportions. As he was not, the more
Catholic description of "intrinsically dis-
HOUSTON VOICE
APRIL 8. 2005
PAGE 10
ordered" or "evil" seems more apt.
Whether as a distraction or because
the arrogance of papal "infallibility"
knows no bounds, Pope John Paul contin·
ued until his dying months to attack any
effort to lend civil legal recognition to
gay couples, even though doing so would
expand health insurance coverage and ·
ensure a more stable home and protected
future for children raised in gay families.
THE PRESS EVENTUALLY GOT AROUND
to filling in the dark side of Ronald
Reagan's legacy, and there's every reason to
believe they'll do so with this pope as well,
especially as the cardinals meet to choose
his successor. Hopefully the Gay & Lesbian
Alliance Against Defamation and our other
advocacy groups won't lose their voices for
fear of offending "people of faith," every.
one's favorite post-election focus group.
Don't expect the next Roman Catholic
pontiff to hand down or even allow a more
tolerant posture on gays or condoms, much
less apologize for John Paul's shameful
record. The Vatican waited until 1992 to
finally apologize for forcing Galileo to
recant his view that the earth revolved
around the sun, and it was eight years
later before John Paul apologized for two
millennia of Catholic Church actions that
mocked the teachings of Jesus Christ.
If we are to challenge religious tenets
like those of the Roman Catholic Church,
we should be direct and straightforward.
So far, gay rights groups have joined
Democrats in ceaseless talk about "hav·
ing conversations" with people of faith,
which comes off sounding like an especially
meaningless episode of "Oprah."
Catholic and non-Catholic heterosexu·
als need to understand that the church's
teaching on homosexual sex is essentially
the same as their own sexual behavior;
Every act is sinful unless specifically
intended to pro-create; that means no
marital sex for pleasure and no condoms
or birth control. Because our homosexual
behavior can never have that aim, and
our "homosexual attraction" is recognized
to be "innate," gays are to be entire·
ly chaste: no love, no sex, no nothing.
Even Catholic priests, who at least can
marry the church, have proven incapable
of living up to that restriction.
The Catholic doctrine on homosexuality
is indefensible, and when it is fully
explained, is completely out of step with
accepted modern ideas about human sex·
uality. Sometimes it takes a few good
funerals for real progress. but don't
expect the burial of
Pope John Paul II help
the blind men in
charge at the Vatican
to finally see.
I Clvis Crain is @ executive editor -of
the Houston Voice
and can be reached at
~
/
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com
o int RICHARD J. ROSENDALL
John Paul II was an eloquent defender
of human rights, yet objected bitterly
to inclusion of gays and women.
A pope of
contradictions
LIKE MANY FORMER Catholics, I
have never Jost my fascination for Holy
Mother Church. When she gets you early,
she never quite Jets go.
I thought of this while the news sta·
tions were in deathwatch mode for Pope
John Paul II, and as his death was report·
ed I recalled his first visit to America.
I stood atop the steps of the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in
Washington, D.C., on October 7, 1979, listen·
mg via loudspeaker as Sister Theresa Kane,
welcomed His Holiness on behalf of women
clergy by urging him to accept women into
all the ministries of the church.
As the polyglot pontiff understood, she
meant women priests. It was an exhilarat·
ing moment, witnessing the speaking of
truth to power.
Many of the women inside the shrine
wore armbands, blue for the Blessed Virgin
Mary, as an expression of solidarity with
Kane's message: "It is appropriate that a
woman's voice be heard in this shrine."
There was hesitation in the pope's voice as
he responded, obviously appalled. He awk·
wardly urglXl the nuns to return to wearing
traditional habits. A week later (speaking of
troublesome modern developments), the first
national gay march came to Washington, and
I remember the street vendors along the
march route still hawking papal memorabilia.
JOHN PAUL II WAS A POPE OF
contradictions. He played a significant role
in bringing down the Iron Curtain, yet he
was one of the last authoritarian rulers in
Europe. He was the first pope to recognize
Israel, and initiated unprecedented ecumenical
outreach to leaders of other
churches. yet he aggressively suppressed
heterodoxy within his own church.
He was an outspoken advocate for the
poor, yet he opposed the Marxist-inspired
liberation theologians of South America,
even though the leading oppressors on
that continent were the oligarchs whom
the leftist theologians were resisting.
He was an eloquent defender of
human rights, yet he objected bitterly to
civil authorities granting a permit for a
gay rights march in Rome.
Three years before John Paul's ascen·
sion to the Chair of Saint Peter, the
Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith had declared that "homosex·
ual acts are intrinsically disordered."
Deciding this was insufficient, the new
pope's chief doctrinal enforcer, Joseph
Cardinal Ratzinger, issued a pastoral Jetter
in 1986 stating that "the inclination itself
must be seen as an objective disorder."
Ironically for an organization that purported
to defend families against a demonized
minority, John Paul's church was
g
business:.-:"*
may be prop
I think it ts a great idea. Many of
our community have moved out
of Montrose. A GLBT business
district with a good business
We have reached an era of GLBT
buying power. If we work
together. we can make changes
in the GLBT community.
"Knowledge is power."
at the upcoming
conference on the
Mure. What are
your thoughts?
mix targeted to our market
could be an attraction lo bnng
people back into Montrose.
RICK TAYLOR. 51
Houston
Business owner
JOE REYES, 42
Houston
Sole proprietor, 10 Inches To Go
APRIL 8, 2005 11
Pope John Paul II is seen at the center of the judges of the Roman Rota the Vatican tribunal that can grant
marriage annulments, at the Vatican Thursday Feb. 1. 2001. The pontiff said there was no possibility for
marriage to be re-defined according to different cultural models. stressing again the Vatican's opposition to
gay unions. Marriage is not just any old union between human persons. susceptible to bemg configured
according to a plurality of cultural models. the pontiff said. (AP PhotolArturo Mari)
excruciatingly slow to respond to revelations
that it had acted in effect as an
organized crime network facilitating the
sexual abuse of children by priests.
Indeed, its first instinct was to stonewall
and hire aggressive attorneys.
In this scandal the church's insular
and unaccountable men's club demonstrated
in the clearest manner its feet
of clay. Boston's Bernard Cardinal Law
was rewarded with the highly prized
post in Rome.
Thus the idea that the church's ruler is
divinely ordained and answerable only to
God. long outdated in the secular realm,
is extended by the Vatican even to criminal
matters.
ULTIMATELY, HOWEVER. IT IS NOT
John Paul Il's shortcomings or blind spots,
but his many good works that point to the
greater tragedy of this man and the world·
wide church he led so firmly for so long.
Anyone who claims special access to
divine wisdom, and leads a large organization
dedicated to promulgating it, is
bound to find himself, however good his
intentions, at odds with what Thomas
Jefferson called "the illimitable freedom
of the human mind."
Each of us is born with a priceless gift,
a brain. Surely that gift should not be dis·
honored by refusing to think for ourselves.
As the world mourns this contradictory
man, this authoritarian freedom fighter
whose pastoral journeys took him from
Auschv.itz to Jerusalem. my heretical brain
cries out amidst the h~mns and eulogies:
No one has a monopoly on the truth.
~ Richard J. RosendaD is a Washington·
~ based writer and actiVtst and can be
reached at rrosendall@starpower.net
I think we should not segregate
GLBT businesses into one dis·
Irie!. but integrate all GLBT busi·
nesses into the Houston business
community.
I think 11 will be a wonderful
idea to ere.lie this busmess dis·
trict in Houston. It'll show the
rest of the nat1011 and the GLBT
commumltes how strong our
community really is.
It's t1111e for the commuruty to
band together and show a uruted
front
S1IPHEN DU BAY, 48
Houston
JO CASADY, 40 Sales Rep.. Frst American Trtle
Houston
Managemeni
ABEL ROORIGUEZ. 46
Houston
Flllel'al chctor/entalmer
Sound off about what's happening in your world at www.houstonvoice.com/soundoff. Interviews and photos by Dalton DeHart
GAY HOUSTON NIGHTLIFE, ARTS & CULTURE www.houstonvoice.com
Anwar Robinson next?
Those damned bloggers seem
determined to have a gay
contestant on 'American Idol.'
Page 19
----
APRIL 8, 2005
----------------~
pivotal protest
APRIL 17 MARKS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC, PRE -STONEWALL DEMONSTRATION
By BRIAN MOYLAN
ORTY YEARS AGO, JACK NICHOLS
and his partner, Elijah Clarke, sat on the
floor of their home in D.C. making signs
for a gay civil rights prote;;t.
Nichols' friend and gay roommate
said, "You guys are crazy. People are
going to attack you."
MNo they aren't," Nichols replied. "They're just going
to stand there and ooh and ah, just like you are now"
Nichols was right. On April 17, 1965, he and nine
other protesters - including gay civil rights pioneers
FrankKameny and Lilli Vincenz held a gay civil
rights protest in front of the \\ltite House for two
hours, and no one was attacked.
To honor the anniversary of this pivotal protest, the
Rainbow History Project, a i::roup dedicated to preserving
Washington. D.C.'s gay histol'}: has po. ted information
about these early gay civil rights advocates on the group's
Web site at wwv.:rainbowhistory.org, pickets.him.
"With the {X>S.~ible exception of a picket in New Yorlt,
this was the first public demonstration by gay men and !es·
bians," says David K. Johnson, author of "The Lavender
Scare: The Cold War Pe.r;ecution of Gays and Lesbians in
the Federal Government" and a history professor at the
University of South F1orida in Tampa ''Thts was the
begnuung of a whole series of organl1.ed demonstrations."
The previous protest in New York was a spontaneous
event led by six civil rights activists in :-:cw York City who
publicly voiced their objection, in front of the \\ltitehall
Induction Center, to the military's anti.gay policies.
That first demonstration In D.C was arranged
overnight, but it was a long time coming.
It all began m 1961, when Kameny founded a D.C.
chapter of the ~lattachine Society, a social and political
group for gays that started in Los Angeles in 1950.
In April 1965, Nichols and Clarke heard reports that
Fidel Castro was putting gay people Into work camps in
Cuba, and tht'y decided this would be the perfect reason
for a picket. They called Kamen}: \~ho eventually
agreed that the time was right for a demonstrauon.
"I always felt that we would [picket) some clay and soon,"
Nichols. 27 at the time, says. "But nothing ever seemed to be
so significant that It required that we do it. But putting~
pie away [in camps) filled the bill.•
The two men started calling up friends and fellow
activists to try to round up a group for the next day;
Nichols made the signs.
"Except for Lilli Vincenz's," he says. "She made her
own She wa~ al\\ays very independt'nt. ·
Vincenz, 27, says that she got a call from Nichols and
agreed to attend, even though she was to take the twopart
test for Mensa (the "high IQ'' club) th" next day
"1 was [at the test] with my shopping bag and my
A group of protesters picketing for gay civtl rights in 1965 in front of
the Pentagon. This was part of a series of actlOllS that year after the
initial demonstration m front of the White House on April lZ (Photo
by Kay Tobin Lahusen)
sign," she recalls. "But the picket was at a certain time,
so I didn't have time to take the second test."
Twenty-two then, Paul Kuntzler, a :\lattachine member
says he got a call from Kameny and agreed to attend.
Nichols also recruited Gail Grnen, who also was 22 at
the time and married to her first husband.
The other five protesters who attended that day were
Gene Klecberg. bisexual Judith "J.D." Kuch, Perrin
Shaffer, Jon Swanson. and Otto Ulrich. Shaffer and
Ulrich are now deceased.
GREEN. WHO RECALLS THE EVENT AS "EXCITING,"
said sht' was a bit afraid.
"We were more or lt'ss afraid we would lose our
jobs," she says.
Nichols says he \\ouldn't let Clarke attend the protest
because he worked m the Office of the Joint Chief.~ of Staff
and would likely lose hts Job.
Vincenz. who was t'Xpciled from the mihtalj' in 1963
for bemg a lesbian, was working as a waitress at the time
"I was between careers, and I could aflbnl to do it," she
says. "We all could afford to do it or could take the risk."
Vincenz eventually became a psychoanalyst.
The news media were not notified before the event so
that no one could prevent the demonstration or investi·
gate the people who were there. The picket was covered
briefly in the Washington Afro-American.
The protest took place without a hitch and bolstered
everyone's spirits. Shaffer and Ulrich wore sunglasses
during the event to partially hide their identities.
•·on a drep level. I had the feeling that we were doing
something important by ht'lping our society," Green says.
Vincenz echoed Green.
"Next to my wedding ... that was the most important
day of my life," she says.
Both Vincenz, 67, and Kameny say that the direct action
their group took put them at odds with many gay people at
the hmt', who would have preferred to stay in the closet.
"There wrre people who disapproved on a variety of
levels, saying that this was undignified," Kameny says.
~ichols had other feelings about the protest.
"I was certainly glad that we had the gumption to do what
we did, but I wasn't patting myself on the back," he says.
There were more protests to rome.
FIRST, IT WAS BACK AT the White House on May
29, then in front of the U.S. Civil Service Commission
on June 2G, next at the Pentagon on July 31, on to the
U.S State Department on Aug. 28, and finally back at
the White House on Oct 23. The final White House pick·
et had a contingent from the newly formed Chicago
:\fattachine Society, bolstering the numbers to 65.
By then. the l\lattachine Society had a system for
notifying the media b<"forc and after each protest to
gain attention and coverage. News organizations like
Reuters, magazines like Confidential, and even CBS
News covered the protests, organizers said.
Certain guidlines were established for protests that
included men wearing suits and ties and women wear
ing dresses. The idea was to give homosexuality the
best image possible for the public. organizers said.
Also that year, l\lattachine joined the Philadelphia
chaptr.r of the Daughters of Bil it is, a lesbian group.
and began holding an annual protest on July 4 in front
of Philadelphia's historic Independence Hall. It took
place every year through 1969. but was callt'd off in 1970
in observance of Christopher Street I.1beration Dm;
one of the nation's first Gay Pride events nation. ·
THIS YEAR, ON t.IAY I PENNSYLVANIA Gov. Edward
Rendell, a J>emocrat, is srheduled to unveil n plaque In
front of Independence Hall commemoratmg the
protests.
"We were the fringe of the fringe of the outer
fringe," Kameny says. "We\e gone from the fringe to
being remPmh red personages."
MOVIN' IN: A gay former Houstonian is back with the touring
cast of the hit Broadway show, 'Movin' Out.' Page 15 I MARTHA DOESN'T KNOW: Don't get your Houston
gardening advice from Martha Stewart. Page 16
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com APRIL 8. 2005 13
14 APRIL 8. 2005
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HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com
JOHNNY HOOl<S
Former Houstonian and gay dancer
Sean Kelly is back with the moves of
Twyla Tharp and the music of Billy Joel
Swingin' to Billy Joel
MANY PERFORMERS IN MUSICAL
theater are required to learn one or two
parts at best. However gay dancer and
former Houstonian Sean Kelly must
learn all the male parts as the dance cap·
tain/swing on the first national tour of
the Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp
Broadway musical 'Movin'Out'.
"It's funny, we have what we call 'swing
moments' in rehearsal, where suddenly
you find yourself on the wrong side of the
stage, going into a different role than
what you're rehearsing," he says.
Sean Kelly was born in San Raphael,
in Marin County, California. There he
trained at the Marin Ballet, under the
direction of Maria Vegh. Though he
refuses to give his age, "Are you kid·
ding?" he laughs, he will admit to being
in his late 30's.
Isn't that a bit old to be performing in
a show that is nearly all dance? "Well, if
I was still in performing classical ballet,
then I would say yes." he says. "But this
show is contemporary in every way."
Sean Kelly lived in Houston from 1985
through 2000. "It was nice to have a steady
paycheck, and I loved living in Houston."
he recalls. "The city really supports its arts
community, and that is so refreshing."
Kelly was a member of the Houston
Ballet and danced here for many seasons
as a Principal Dancer, eventually becom·
ing Ballet Master. He danced all of the
company's full-length classics and many
contemporary works by such choreogra·
phers as Ben Stevenson, George
Balanchine, Glen Tetley, Christopher
Bruce, Paul Taylor, Jiri Kylian and
Stanton Welch, among others.
Kelly has been on the road for many
years now. He is single and doesn't even
have time for a pet. "I am just never home."
Previously he toured the US and
Japan as Dance Supervisor with the
musical 'Swing' and has been a guest
artist with a variety of companies
throughout the U.S. as well as abroad.
Recently he staged Ben Stevenson's
'Cleopatra' for both the Boston Ballet and
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
Kelly is also a choreographer having
creatrd numerous works with the
@MORE INFO
'Movin' Out'
April 12·24
Broadway in Houston
Hobby Center
800 Bagby
713-629-3700
www.BroadwayAcrossAmenca.com
Former Houstonian Sean Kelly is the dance captain/
swing for the first national tour of 'Movin' Out.'
(Photo by Joan Marcus)
Houston Ballet as well as Diablo Ballet,
Lexington Ballet and Ballet Spartanburg.
He has been invited to teach at the
Houston Ballet Academy, the Beijing
Dance Academy, the High School for
Performing and Visual Artists and Tulsa
Ballet Theatre's summer program.
Not happy to rest on his laurels, Kelly
has participated in three international
ballet competitions and was a member of
the original Broadway cast of 'Movin' Out,'
which v.'On Tony awards in 2003 for Best
Choreography and Best Orchestrations.
THE SHOW'S STORY FOLLOWS FIVE
friends from their 1960's high school
graduation to their reunion some years
later. In between, everyone finds or loses
love, the men go to Vietnam (where one
perishes on the battlefield), and everyone
must readjust to life after the war.
With no traditional dialogue, the
story is told through more than two
dozen or so well-known Joel songs like
"New York State of Mind," "It's Still
Rock and Roll to Me," "Angry Young
Men," and "Uptown Girl," among others.
Tharp 's delicious choreography tells
the rest of the stor}: An exhilarating
band is led by Darren Holden, who sings
lead and plays piano.
AskE'd what he mL~ses most abouf
Houston, he says, "The people and mv
friends. Even though the early '80s w~re a
tough timr in Houston, I really liked it."
The last time Kelly was in town was a
sad occasion, thr funeral of his friend
and local ballet star Mark Arvin.
This time. in addition to chowing down
on Texas barbeque, he says, "I also can't
wait to go to JR's and the Brazos River
Bottom! There is nothing like line dancing
with a cute cowbo}:"
APRIL 8. 2005 15
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ho111e ELLA TYLER
Get your Houston gardening information from
the gay garden club, Urban Harvest, the Texas
Extension Service, from anybody but Martha
Don't listen to Martha
MARTHA STEWART MAY BE OUT OF
prison and back to advising America
about its recipes, crafts and gardens. but
that doesn't mean that we Houstonians
should listen. at least to her gardening
pronouncements.
Her gardening advice is wrong, wrong,
wrong for Houston. So, although her decla·
ration that she would be out of prison in
time to plant her spring garden showed me
that she is a real gardener
and doesn't
just play one on TY, it
is too late for us to
PLANT a spring garden.
That does not mean
that we cannot BUY a flowerfilled,
absolutely gorgeous spring
garden. Nurseries all across the
area have a mix of cool-weather
and hot-weather bloomers now.
The cool-weather bloomers -
spring garden to Martha -are
in full bloom.
Annuals such as petunias,
snapdragons, stock,
alyssum and primroses will
probably not thrive past the
beginning of June. Some references,
even local ones, list marigolds
as hot· weather plants. but they really
are happier in cooler weather.
Annuals complete their life cycle
from seed to bloom to seed - in one growing
season. Unless they reseed, they will
not be back next year. Since there's not a
lot of time for these plants to grow. buy
big ones. Look for ones that have open
flowers and lots of buds.
Perennials bloom for a short time once
a year. then. with the right conditions,
good care and luck. they bloom again in
the following years. The conditions that
cause problems for perennials are our
summer heat and/or our lack of cold.
Some plants just need cold dormancy to
bloom. Fuchsia~. for example, don't make
it through the summer; no matter how
hard you tr): Enjoy one, then send it to a
friend who lives in a cool. moist climate.
Geraniums will stop blooming in the
sununer. but if you keep them in the shade
and move them back to the sun when it
cools down, they might bloom again.
It does not get cold enough here for
ft MORE INFO
Garden and Yard Club
713-661-6378 or 713-863-1066
Urban Harvest
www.urbanharvest.org
Texas Extension Service
texasexteflSJOfl.lamu.edu/ag nr.html
tulips to bloom again, but amaryllis and
some kinds of daffodils and lilies will
come back.
MOST BUSHES THAT ARE FLOWERING
now will not flower again this year. To
avoid transplant shock, which causes the
flowers to fall off, dig a hole and put the
pot in the hole. As soon as the flowers
fade, take the plant out of the pot and
plant it properly:
Some gardeners I know recommend
cutting off the bottom of the pot, slitting
the side half-way-up, then putting the pot
in the hole. After filling the hole half way
with dirt, cut the rest of the way up the
side and remove the pot. I am certain I
would hurt myself, so I have never
tried it and do not know if it works.
It is not too late to plant seeds for
sununer-llowering annuals. Cosmos,
zinnias, celosia and sunflowers are
really easy to grow from seed. Others,
such as periwinkles and begonias are
tricky, but are available now in small pots.
The plants will get big soon enough if
you feed and water them regularly:
You may plant gladiola, dahlia, ginger
and caladium bulbs (or tubers)
now. Gingers and caladiums prefer
shade.
Many vegetables and
herbs are decorative and
edible. Lettuces do not
like hot weather, so
buy plants.
Tomat()('s set fruit
when nighttime temperatures are below 70
degrees, so grab some of the already potted
plants of many varieties are available
now. I bought one that has flowers alread}:
Peppers and okra are easy to grow
from seed, as are melons, cucumbers and
summer squash. They are so easy to
grow. be prepared to deal with lots of
whatever it is you are growing. There are
varieties of watermelon that produce
small fruit. but the plant is still big.
Vegetables and herbs require a lot of sun.
The first rule of successful gardening
is "chose the right plant for the right
place." Add, "plant it at the right time"
and most of the battle is won.
There is plenty of help for novices.
Any good gardener in your neighborhood
will be glad to give you advice, and the
lesbian and gay gardening club (Garden
and Yard Society) meets the second
Friday of each month.
Urban Harvest hosts classes and gives
great advice about gardening here.
Books are full of gardening inform·
tion, but use a local one. When Martha
starts her .show up again, turn the TV off
when she talks about gardening.
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com
J.A. CHAPMAN
The ambience leaves something to be desired,
but exceptional cuisine with a South American flair
makes Meson del Sol an extraordinary find in Houston
South American flair
"I FEEL LIKE I'M AT A BANQUET
hall," my dining companion remarked as
we took our seats in the spacious dining
room at Meson de! Sol
Simple white walls with innocuous
decorations, a dance floor in the center of
the room, industrial carpet, and ivy·
topped Roman columns definitely leave
the impression it's a reception hall.
Which in fact, it is.
The owners rent out the space under
the moniker of Hacienda del Sol for par·
ties and corporate gatherings. And with a
stunning v1eY. of the downtown skyline,
and an outdoor deck. it's a great setting.
But the rest of the time it's a rcstau·
rant And that's why we were here
Meson del Sol specializes in South
AmeriCTm cuisine. with nods to other gas·
tronomic influences. Italian pastas make
an appearance. as do Caribbean, Tex·Mex.
Creole and Hawaiian dishes. There's
something for everyone.
They start you off with chips and salsa.
The chips are homemade from tortillas.
and the salsa is chunky and full of flavor.
The appetizer menu is not your typical
collection of starters. The patacones with
cheese ($2.99) are worth a try. Mashed
green plantains are flattened into patties
and then deep-fried and topped with
shredded cheese. The patacones are thin.
crispy and tasty, but the cheese adds little.
I preferred mine plain with a little salsa
for spice.
Be sure not to miss the excellent Peruvian
ceviche ($ 7.99) - tilapia lightly mar~ted in
lime, red onion and cilantro. The fish is ten·
der and perfectly done. It's served with avocado
slices, mango salsa, and crackers.
There's plenty to share with friends.
The tilapia in chipoUe sauce ($15.99) is
one of the house specialties. The fish is
lightly breaded, pan seared until just
flaky, and served on a creamy, spicy chipo·
tie sauce. It's simple, but well executed.
The polio de la casa ($12.99) is also worth
a try. Grilled chicken brca~t is topped
with a creamy spinach and mushroom
sauce that's full of flavor. The chicken is
fork-tendei~ and the sauce is packed with
spinal'h no skimping here.
The Caribbean shrimp ($15.99). done in
a creamy tomato based Creole sauce, were
a touch overcooked. but still tasty. And
the Serrano's rib eye steak ($16.99), a gen·
erous cut of black-angus beef, was cookPd
exactly to order.
MAIN DJSIIES COME WITH STIR·FRIED
vegetables. which were spicy on one visit,
bland on another, but always tender crisp.
Also on the side, the fried sweet plantains
arc not to be missed. Tender, very sweet
and crispy on the edges, they are quite
simply some of the best I've ever had.
Because of its proximity to a school,
Meson del Sol is BYOB. If you bring your
own wine, they'll open it for you and provide
glasses. They' ll even keep your bottle
of white cool and top off your glass.
Just because alcohol isn't S('rved does
not mean drinks aren't available. The
homemade fruit juices are among the hid·
den gems at Meson del Sol. A wide variety
of fruits is used, from the familiar straw·
berry to the more tropical passion fruit.
Made ('ither with water ($2.49) or milk
($2.99). they're cool, refreshing and filled
with flavor. The milk version is almost
like a dessert smoothie, and indeed is a
perfect way to round off your meal.
The service at Meson de! Sol is efficient,
but the wait staff isn't always well informed
on the menu. They are friendly and helpful,
however. and will do their best to find an
answer if they don't know it offhand.
The food at Meson del Sol is excellent.
Fresh ingredients expertly prepared make
it worth a visit. But the ambience leaves
something to be desired. The room seems
quite empty when only a few tables are
filled, and the linens. silverware, and china
seem more typical of a catered event than a
fine restaurant. It's an odd juxtaposition.
Even with the banquet hall feel, Meson
de! Sol is worth a visit. A restaurant of
this quality where you can bring your
own alcohol is an unusual find.
(o~ Meson del Sol
1220 Taft St
713·529·6255
www.mesondelsol.com
Food ••••
Service: • *,..
Value: 19'!9!'91
Scene: * '911/2
.. = Stay home and eat cereal
191 ,. = Well, if you really must
rel 191 le!= Fine for all but the finicky !el,.• • =Worth more than a
20-minute dnve
!e! le! ,. • • =As good as you'll
find in this city
APR! L 8. 2005 17
stay
&~~Additional Parking Available
emNERdl ::i~~E,l!!
1111 WESTHEIMER
OPEN for Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner with a full bar
7 DAYS a week
Early Morning and Late Night
1220 Taft Street
Houston Texas 77019
713-529-6255
info@MyCateringCompany.com
Full Service Catering
Corporate Events
Carry Outs & Delivery
From Breakfast to Late Dinners
18 APRIL 8. 2005
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JOHNNY HOOKS
Two new restaurants are opening, there's
a new wrinkle at the Community Center,
and The Art of Living Together'
Opening in Montrose
IT'S TIME TO GET OUT AND ON THE
Go-Go with your only weekly column on
all things queer in the Bayou City
FlRSTTHOUGH A BIG CONGRATUIATIONS
to Amanda Carmichael who was the
lucky winner at Club Eve of two killer
seats to last weeks Margaret Cho performance!
You go girl!
WELL IN LIGHT OF ALL THE CLOSINGS
in the hood, it's nice to be able to talk
about some openings. The space that
once housed Cafe Noche at 2409
Montrose is being retooled as Senior
Rita' 'Already the building has "I fresh
coat of saffron·colored paint and four
very "Christo-esque" triangular sails
have been installed on the patio. Back in
the day, the Senior Rita's in the Village
was the place to be apres brunch. Patios
packed, disco blaring, boys and girls
everywhere.
ALSO NEW AND OF NOTE IN THE
Montrose is Aladdin, a new restaurant
at Montrose and Westheimer. Word is
that the new owners have invested big
money on the decor inside; the transformation
on the outside is obvious for all to
see. HotGG's only question is this. Where
are all the patrons going to park? Even
with running valets, the streets in the
area are filled with Pacific Strt·•t revelers
every night. Will be interesting to see
how this shakes out.
WHILE OUT AND ABOUT THIS
weekend, take time to see "CoexistenceThe
Art of Living Together"' on view
at Hermann Square, 901 Smith. in
front of City Hall. This traveling exhibit
1s brought to you by the Holocaust
:\luseum of Houston and the City of
Houston. Free and open to the public
daily, this exhibit teaches tolerance and
diversity through art, film and dance.
Something we could all use more of in
this day and age ... Ciao Karol! 713-942·
8800 for more info or visit www.hmh.org.
GET YOUR DIRTY CAR WASHED AND
help the Lambda Center this weekend.
The Lambda Center is holding a
fundraiser Car Wash , Saturday from 8
a.m. to l p.m. at 1201 W. Clay, between
Montrose and Waugh. It's for a good
cause so please stop by. With all the
pollen on cars, HotGG can't see your
rainbow flags!
THE HOUSTON GLBT COMMUNITY
Center debuts a new performance night,
called "Featured at the Center" this
Friday. Poet and singer Aaron Coleman
Aaron Coleman hosts ''Featured at the Center" this
weekend at the Houston GLBT Community Center.
hosts " Featured" where talented community
members can present music, dance.
poetry and other spoken-word perform·
ance, stand up comedy, film or display
works of art. "Featured" takes place on
the second Friday of every month at the
Community Center. 3400 Montrose,
suite 207. There is no admission charge,
however donations to the Community
Center are welcome always! Performers
and artists interested in participating in
any "Featured" program should contact
Coleman in advance at 713-522-0712 or
aaronssongslO yahoo.com.
MR. OOti GILL HAS TURNED THE
reigns of the Mr. Prime Choice event
this year, over to Mr. Robert Harwood
of Key's West. Mr. Prime Choice weekend
still remains at The Ripcord, and this
year we have two handsome men compet
ing for the title:
:\1r. Laurence Van Valkenburg, from
Galveston and Mr. Greg Misak yan.
While there is no talent portion per se.
the filmed fantasies are not to be missed.
Mr. Prime Choice is crowned this
Saturday night at the Ripcord, 715
Fairview.
FINALLY DARLINGS. KEY'S WEST
WILL be the sight of memorial show for
Russell Box, called "Ima
Cummin'Home" Presented by Miss Ima's
Friends. the evening benefits People with
AIDS Holiday Charities and gets underway
at 7 p.m. at Key's West, 817 West
Dallas. 713-571-7870 for more information.
"1l If you have any club announcements or
~ events. email them to
jhooks@houstoovoice.com or call
713-529.-8490. See you on the Go-Go'
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvo1ce.com
dish There's a Fine Line Between Telling the Truth and Talking Trash
'Idol' gossip
Anwar Robinson gets
gayed, Oscar winners
get defensive and
Michael Musto
gets cryptic on us
Those damn bloggers are just bound
and determined to have a gay contestant
on this year's "American Idol," the super
popular glorified karaoke contest on Fox.
The latest target of Internet rumors is
ANWAR ROBINSON. The 25·year-old
New Jersey singer. who auditioned in
D.C .. has been pseudo outed on gay
entertainment information Web site
\1rww.afterelton.com, the brother to
lesbian site www.afterellen.com.
The site has posted a personals profile
found in the men-seeking-men section of
ww\\:BlackPlanet.com. Of course, it
could be a fake.
"BlackPlanet.com indicates that
Robinson's last login was Jan. I, :m5, before
the contestants for the fourth season of
['Idol') were made public," afterelton.com
reads. "No one knew at the time that
[Robinson] would become one of the finalists
... which makes it unlikely to be a fake
profile ... It also rai<;es questions around why
Robinson did not remove his profile once he
was S<'lectcd to be on the show."
John Chiklis, the \\-Titer of the stol):
concludes that Fox doesn't want the
contestants to be out while on the show
and claims to have •·,ource<" who say that
Robinson has been out since high school
First season finalist JIM VERRAROS
is the only openly gay contestant in the
show's histor); and he came out after the
series ended.
For those of you
who forgot about
Verraros, his second
album of pop tunes.
"Rollercoaster" is set
to hit stores April 26.
He also stars in
"Eating Out," a gay
comedy that screened
in D.C. last June and
Jim Verraros is being released in
select cities April 8.
While the bloggers obsess over rumors
about the next gay idol, it looks like
Verraros has been busy getting to work.
Get shorty
It looks like the winner of this year's
Oscar for best short subject documentary
may also have a short fuse.
Last week, Steve Kalafer, the producer
of nominated short "Sister Rose's
Passion," sent a letter to the Academy of
Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences claiming
that life partners ROBERT HUDSON
and BOBBY HOUSTON unfairly used
reenactments m their award-winning
'American Idol' finalist Anwar Robinson is the latest
of the show's smgers to encounter gay rumors.
movie "Mighty Times: The Children's
March," the Associated Press reports.
In his letter. Kalafer
says the film fails to
disclose which scenes
are reenactments of
events from the black
civil rights movement,
Hudson & Houston's
subject. Dale Olson. a
publicist for "Passion"
told AP that "Mighty
Times" is "an Bobby Houston
intentional deception
to the Academ}:"
Hudson had a bitchy retort for the Los
Angeles Times, saying, ''The pain you feel
inside after losing can make anyone spin
out of control."
Ouch
Musto be true
Village Voice gossip columnist (and
Dish's arch nemesis) MICHAEL :\1USTO
purged himself of a whole lot of gay
gossip in his column on March 29.
Unluckily for his humble readers, he took
all of the names out. so we have to guess
for ourselves.
"Which swiveling pop star has been
known to pick up guys in the steam room at
a Miami hotel gym- a lot?" Musto queer-ies.
"What handsome ex-series star (a
Golden Globe winner) once flirted with a
guy across the aisle on a plane and even
tried to follow him into the bathroom, to
the consternation of the actor's young
male 'assistant'?"
"What marriage between a gay and a
gal was partly done for the gay to get
press and the gal to get a green card?"
"What two young hunks (one a faded
star of an Oscar.winning flick and the
other a broken-up boyfriend) may well
have commingled several years ago when
they were both more famous?"
These are a couple Dish figured out,
let's see if you're as good.
llf'ti Send comments. suggestions to
~ Dish@houstonvoi
APRIL 8. 2005 19
20 APRIL 8, 2005 www.houstonvoice.com HOUSTON VOIC
CLASSIFIEDS Visit houstonvoice.com to place your ad. Up to 25 words only $12.50 per week. 504 eac
additional word. Fax toll-free 1.888.409.6768, or call toll-free 1.877.863.1885. Deadline fc
online ads: 8am Wednesday. For other submissions: 5:30pm Tuesday.
REAL ESTATE SERVICES
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HEIGHTS TOWNHOUSE 105 sqft 2 SR, I 5 BA 2 car gar
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WANTED TO RENT
INTERNATIONAL POSTDOC RESEARCHER at Medical
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month max 1ease) around MortroselMuseumll<eights. Contac1
anurosenmann@hcmnai corn
RENT FURNISHED HOUSING
GLBT COMMUNITY HOUSE S '00/wtc fulrnshed private
'ledr BIL ~ PAID Cable, ,)S._ yardl West Herght5tNc:11
SheP£rd/61 o ~011.• No alcohoVdrugs. rl' ll 906 4119
ROOMMATE SERVICES
NW 610 & 290 Shafe 2 BR, l BA •own :ow WO, Pool, Sat
Iv. Quiet BR .mfumished w Side patro S395 00 SS deposit
References Howard 713 681 3114
SHARE I HOUSTON
SE 610 LOOP AREA Jg l BR house to share Lrg swrmmmg
~ S400imo. 713 941 4646
COMMITMENT CEREMONIES
brady's corner
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HEY HOUSTON! A new gaynesbian Crossover Country/
l'l>p Group IS fomung 1
We nftd: Acoustic & Electnc Instrument Playen. Mandofin.
iSts, lead Gwta1 Bass. Hand & Drum P.fCIJSSIOOISIS, fiddleN•
olrn. Keyboard. Lyncmi. Melod)oWnters and Harmony Singers.
tt you c.an act. sing. dance or ate otherwise creatrve. we want
you• Must be goal oriented. no pt"ofessional exp necessary
Call (713) 493-9646. "Dreams are earned '10I grven·
EMPLOYMENT
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Adecca
HOSPITALITY
ADlCCO HOSPIT ALITV 1'5 hlrinq part time
lo<•I ~lclons •nd ,,_rm•Mnt jobs with
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES
POSITIONS AVAILA&U INCLUOt
waiters bartenct•rs. room att•ndants.
laundry <h•fs. cOOks and
surv•lllance per.onnel
C•ll (713) 627•0471 tor •pporntmont
lmmHlllt• opentnqs nperlen<• • plus
bul •II •vels considered
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EARN UP TO S4,000IMO pan trme Bwld a S l:xJK residual
orne with 2 yea~ fu I tllne Ca S: Ta ey 2S 1 448 5991
866 204 1347
EXPERIENCED WAITSTAFF! We are wrrently see< :iq
expenenced waitstall Qua! fied <i!ndidates must be avai
able to work Monday thru Friday S 30 11 3Cam, Sat day
& s..nday 6am llocn. f you have a pos. :e anrtude. a ea
team player & ran PJOYide exceflen• guest se:vtce thr we
are IL f )'OU'
PLEASE APPLY IN PEllSON TO
Y< Hendnx or M Martin
The Courtyard at Md! n Brcokhollow. 2504 North Loop
Wse• atTC Jester 1713)688-7711
FREELANCE REPORTERS NEEDED
"" hard news.
Send res..:ne and three dips to
Editor Houston VOtCe
500 lOYett #200
t<ouston Texas 77006
Part Time Bookkeeper
Resurrection M.C.C. is seeking a bookkeeper. 1S -
20 hours a week.
Knowledge of Windows, Excel & church related
databases a must.
can (713) 861 -9149 OR email resume to:
vmgibbsOResurrectionMCC.org
TEXAS SHIRT CO. IS hmng at OUf Heights •ocahon. LISI
of opportunities & appfrcauon at hnpJ/www.txsh1rts.com/
employment.asp
WAITSTAFFI BEST LITTLE NOODLE HOUSE 1eekrng
c Jte. experienced GAY ( kay Stratglll too) wartstaff. Come
on ovei to Jenni's Noodle House. 2130 Jefferson St Stop by
betwttn the '1outs of 2·6pm. Monday 5a11Jfday
Use your noodle r
OBITUARIES
BERTRAM W. CLAPP, 66, of Houston passed away
peacefully at Park Plaza Hospital March 31 at
1:15pm from complic.ations c.ausod by diabetes.
He was bom in Cape Cod, Mass. on December 30,
1931. He was precoded in death by his parents,
Bertram W. aapp & Jane B. aapp; his grandparents.
Richard A. Jennings & Marion E. Jennings. &
Edith B. Oapp. He is survived by his sisters, Marion
E. Coleman of Houston & Amy F. Rose of Harwich
(Cape Cod}. Mass.; nephews Larry Greeley &
Stephen Rose; niece Rebocc.a McMahon, several
great nieces & nephews, & many loving & loved
fTiends & his two beloved c.ats, Missy Moo &
Missy Girl. He was employed for the past 35
years by House of Coleman, where he served as
Bindery Foreman. He enjoyed photography, was
known for his talent for holiday decorations &
pen & ink drawings, & was a Civil War buff. He
also was a member of the 'Nite Caps'. His family
would like to thank his primary physician, Dr.
Gary W. Brewton, & Dr. Edward W. Stool, Dr. Jo·
seph Gathe, Jr., Dr. Gary L. Hagstrom, Dr. Victor
Cumagun, & the staff & nurses at Park Plaza Hos·
pita! for their wonderful care & support. For
those desiring, memorial contributions may be
made to SNAP, P.O. Box 702S6, Houston, Texas
77270. or Kindred Spirits Celebration, 901 W. Al·
abama, Houston, Texas 77006 per Bert's wishes.
A celebration of life is being planned. Call (713}
S23·2521 for details, location & time.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
L00K!
HOMEWORK
A+ QUALITY HO"vlE REPAIR!
CARPENTRY
• DECKS • FENCES •TRIM/MOLDINGS •
NEW CONSTRUCTION • PAINTING • PRESSURE WAS~
Local References • Immediate Response
Free Estimates • On Time
Call KERRY at 713.493.964
CLEANING SERVICES
TERRY'S HOME SERVICES I I~ t yoor time too valuable
•o spend · 1 deaning' Need a Maid with attenhon to deta1 &
dependab 1tyl Call Terry, (832) 630-66391 (Also seeking ex
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DEADLINES
Barn Wednesday
for online submissions only.
5:30pm Tuesday
for all other submissions.
HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonYOice.com
HOW IS IT THAT THE SAME ESCORTS
have been advertising in the local gay
rags since the early '90s and yet the age
listed in their ads never changes?
TO THE GUY WHO QUESTIONED HIVpositive
men in adult bookstores having
sex with others all day and not telling
them: If you're in adult bookstores having
unprotected sex, you're a moron.
TO THE GUY WHO WANTS THOSE HE
tells his problems to to "stop laughing":
You get what you pay for; I'm not your
damn shrink!
WORKING IN A GAY BAR DOESN'T
make you gay. Reading a gay magazine
and being bitter enough to submit a post
to it, well that's pretty suspect.
IF WE WANT "NORMAL" AMERICA TO
..,.,,, ''"
love us, we have to stop making fools of
ourselves and practicing lewd and crude
behavior like dancing naked and groping
each other - in the streets at Pride
events and other gay venues.
THE GUY ONLINE ASKED TO BUY
tina from you not because you are black,
but because so many guys online do crystal
meth. Everything is not about being
black or white.
IT'S LAUGHABLE TO HEAR YOU
so-called bears ranting at each other over
how you must behave in order to be one. It
just goes to prove the folly of succumbing
to labels to define who you are in the first
place!
SPEAKING OF THE SEARS CATALOG, I
can remember one time years ago it was
recalled because it was thought that a model's
8= THE YEL OW PAGES OF GAY PORN
36 easy·t~surf categories
Cruising • Voyeurs
Bodybuilders· Erotic Art
Bears & Cubs Twinks
Celebrities • Solo
Adult Stars • Athletes
Amateurs • Galleries
Escorts· Exhibitionists
Tht Frtt Gay Dirtctery
28,000 Websites Listed
1,000s of Free Se11 Pies
13,000+ flff Stories
All men are gay,
but most are still
in the closet.
penis was sticking through his pajamas!
GAYS ARE "IN YOUR FACE" AND
"shoving gay rights down everyone's
throats"? Nothing is worse than the incessant
bullshit from anti-gay activists who
make up lies about us to deny us our
rights. If they got anymore "in your face"
with their self.righteous "Bible-based"
persecution we'd be having intercourse!
TO THE OLDER GUY WITH THE HOT
Latino boyfriend: Enjoy him now because
soon enough "ugly" won't be in style, and
I'll be able to get on that!
TO THE BLACK MEN WHO GO TO
primarily white gay bars and roll your
eyes at the sight of another black man:
What's that about?
THE INTERNET HAS SPOILED THE
gay world for me. I used to like the surprise
that came with meeting someone in
the real world, rather than recognizing
them from their online ad. What's the
point if I already know who they are?
MATURE MEN WITH NO HAIR ARE
much hotter than young men with attitude.
And no, bitch, I'm neither .
APRIL B. 2005 23
WHY DOES MY BOYFRIEND INSIST
on watching me take a dump? He even
likes to look over the bathroom stalls in
public places while I do it. It's embarrassing
and weird.
I LOVE ':AMAZING RACE" AND AM
happy to see a gay couple on it again. I hope
they win. My only gripe is that Lynn and
Alex are such nelly queens. Why do some
gay people have to make such a stereotypical
spectacle of themselves on TV?
YEAH, I HAVE BACK HAIR. I HATE IT,
too, but do you know how hard it is to
shave it by yourself? Cut me some slack;
we all have imperfections.
I'M A STRIPPER, AND I'M SINGLE BUT
dating right now, and I have a message for
you bastards who want a relationship
with me: Don't ever fucking try to get me
to stop. If you met me while I was stripping,
then you shouldn't ask me to stop.
BITCH BOY RESPONDS: If they met you
with attitude, they shouldn't ask you out!
THERE ARE TRUE GENETIC
heterosexuals, but the vast majority are
JUSt too brainwashed and conformist to
consider any alternative.
E1itm' m These are real btches. sent 11 tr,< real ~
mrt Qa'i life's little armyarx:es. aro the big ones. too.
Got a bitch?
Call l-8Q0.858.8088
or e-mail bitch@expressga
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