| Transcript |
Atlanta Braves
relief pitcher John
Rocker apologized
this week for his
comments about
minorities and
gays, just days
after Major League
Baseball ordered
him to undergo
psychological
Gore Vidal talks
about being a
queer pioneer
who not only
defined what it
is to be gay but
then managed
to escape the
pigeon-hole of
that definitiongloriously.
evaluation. ~i~ra~iil Page 10 r:;,
Page 15
ISSUE 1,003 ALL THE NEWS FOR YOUR LIFE. AND YOUR STYLE. JANUARY 14, 2000
Texas City killings go unsolved
A year after two gay men were
slain, police have exhausted their
leads, as family and friends prepare
for a vigil to remember the victims
bv \1/\lTHH\ A. HE.'\'.':lF
Betty Parker \\ 111 onCl' .1gam ~t.i.nd on thl' fmnt lawn of hL·r
fe J.S Cit\ homl' Mond.1); light .1 mndll' .md search for thl' closure
that has eluded hl•r for .1 war
The day-Jan. 17-marks ·the one-year .mmwr.,.i.ry oi the
brutal doubll' hom1t1de that claimed the hie of hl'r son, Laaron
"IAirry" Morns, and his friend Kevin Tryals.
The two gay mrn Wl'rl' shot and burned to death m the city's
fiiot double sl,1ymg in morL' than 25 years.
:::: And in the year since the two men were disco\'ered in a burn:
i mg Ford Must.mg on a dead-;:nd ro.id, lhl• cnme has continued
~ to stump police inn-stigators, who ha\'e exhausted the few
> leads they had, and madL' no arrl'sb.
~ "YOu get .1gitak'Cl and frustratl'Cl bL'Causc you haw nobody to
? take to trial for two murdl'r;," ParkL·r s.1id this \\'L'l'k "The on!\'
-.:__...:ao-ic:..:;;11L-__ -..:__ ___ ..:__:_ ___ -'--' ~ th mg we can do b kl'l.'P praymg." ·
Three dozen people took part in a vigil last year for two gay
Texas Gty men slain in a double homicide, including Betty Parker
(background), the mother of one of the victims.
Kevin Tryals (left) and Laaron Morris were shot and found dead
along with Morris' burned Ford Mustang on Jan. 17, 1999. The
killings of the two gay men remain unsolved.
Friends and family will 1oin l'arkL'r on Mond,1y to plant two
trl'l"' in mcmorv of the -Iain men, and hold a fmal \1gil to commemoralL'
the .mmn>NIY of the killings.
\\ lulL' thL' t'\ ent may help Parker and others to core with the
un,.o;olwd cnme, Parker s.ud she\\ 111 not soon forgl'I \\hat happened
to hL•r 'on.
"for me, 1t 1s not a closure on the ca~e ,1t .111. That tree plantmg
will keep his memnr~ ah\,, \1,1\ bl• l L.m sit down and look
.11 the trt'l' and it flounshmg and go out and remember the good
tmw~."
\lorn~ and Trv.ils !.f,1\ ed out into the L'arl1· mornmg hours of
Jan. 17, 1999 stoppmg mat a local bar,\ b1hng m'arbvCaheston
and ~1ll'ndmg time behmd the v.hecl of ~1orns' ford \lust.mg,
purrhas1xl a d,1y earher
The) left a club m the 6 00 block of F\ 1 1765 about 2 ~ J m
Thm bod1e< \\ere found about lour hours later .is pol ce respondt'Cl
to a report of hca\) moke 'lear B.i;ou Campbell Road.
Somebme .ifter 210 am, the h\O fnends \\l'J'L' srot 5e\Cf<u
tJt'CS and k! led, and put m or near Morns' car, which was S(t
.ibl.uc on .1 dcad-rnd road off Loop 197South,1ust fe\\ m etrom
Parkers home m Ttxas Cit).
\1orns \\JS so badl) burned tlwt fam1\'members1dentfied
,.. h..m tlirough JC\\ l'lry and his auto.
\lt1•r the sl.n mgs, ll'X.lS (_ii) pohrl' SJ'L'Pt hours m two
t .. 1Jn-.;to11 gay b.1rs that \1ornsand fryals' Nied, loggmg uitcr'
IL'I''' \\'1th pl'<'f'll' who knt'\' thl• two nll'n. fhl')' g.1then.'\l
mound' of forl'nsK L'\ 1dl'n1c from thl• LTlllll' srcne.
But m tlw days .1tter the killirgs, .i.nd m tlw months smCl' tl1<'
rnme, authontJL~rnuldn't unearth ~ll~fX'l.is ordL·\·L'lop strong lmds.
Bec.msc the t\\Ci men ''ere found \\lth thm JL'\,·elf)\ robbery
m,1~ not Ix• a moh\l', pohceI-1.1\L' s.·ud. And polices.1y none of the
l'\1dl'rlcl' in the ca_~· supporl., ah ill rL·l.ill-d mohvation.
,... Continued on Page H
Baton Rouge High School student Martin Pfeiffer's transformation
from closet case to activist now includes a push
to start a gay student group at his high school.
Baton Rouge youth
leads fight for GayStraight
Allia11ce
Martin Pfeiffer left school
officials scratching their heads
when he asked to start a
student-led Gay-Straight Alliance
b} \1ELl\:DA SI-IL l TO\:
B \Wi\ ROlC.E- lake no m1Stake about 11 1artn
' \1.lrt) Pfe1fkr 1s one self a sured ~\ who' league
head ol most \ oungsters hL~ age-- \\ luch happtTIS to be
17
In manv respect , he's not unlike other high school
seIUO~ h1::; rkachtd-blonJ h.llr IS dose!\ cropped, he
"~ars an earrmg m each earlobe, h1~ baggy Cargo slacks
are topped b) an O\'er-s1led 5\\ eater ::, ung 0\ er his
shoulders 1s tlic O\ er-packed backpack that has become
an exten 10n of C\ cry student\ \\ ardrobe
Despite the s1milant1cs, Pfeiffer 1s notabl) different
The tall, lanky high school «enior b remarkably art1culak,
pohhcall) a~tute, and hell-bent on changmg the
\\Orld.
And he'~ ga).
:- Continued on Page 12
2 JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
( (L eath er L eath er I.S w h ere I.t 's at.
Experience the luxury that sets you apart from the crowd,
(especially if you like what you see at Roche Bobois, Cantoni and
other chi chi stores) what a moving experience!
Cutting edge designs at prices
you can afford. ) )
Sue Goldstein
The Underground Shopper, Dallas, Texas
HOUSTON VOICE • JANUARY 14, 2000
Cl?- Ll 1i·
HIV tl~~l
some
SUSTIVA" is the first HIV drug approved to be taken once-a-day
as part of your combination therapy. ju•.t tak<> three 200 mg c 1psule! tor ~ther oni:e daily.
w1tr r w1 • hou' f1 >Cl, h1. h fat meals .hould be avoided. Your doctor may suggest taking SUS flVA
~· '· c· T ~ ·o reduce any side effect, you may expenence
just did!
Once Da ily
SUSTllfA
efavirenz
Pregnancy should be avoided 1n women receMng SUSllVA because b1rt'l defects have been
seen •n pnmates dosed With SUSTIVA Barrier contraceptJOn should always be JSecl 111 combination
v. ·h o·her me\h '· or ·•traception.
Talk to your doctor when you start taking SUSTIVA. USTIVA may Charge the effect
SUSTIVA, an NNRTI•, must be used in combination with other · ner medicines (1nd1 · · If . Atwa)'S tell your doctor f
HIV drugs.
SUSTIVA is tough on HIV. It reduces the amourt of virus 1n your blood
· j tis<> the number of C04 cells. SUSTIVA can even be used 1n young
children. 3 years of age or olde~ This is based on results from controlled clinical
tnals at 24 weeks. Presently. there are no results from controlled clinical tl1als
·'-"Wl· · the · .n:-term effects of SUSTIVA
Now listed among
preferred anti-HIV
drugs in government
guidelines.'
you are taking. starting or changing any prescnption or non-prescnption
med1c1ne when taking SUSTIVA Your doctor may charge your med1anes
or change their dose. Y0t. should discuss your pnor medica conchtions
(such as mental Illness. substance abuse. hepatJtJS. etc.) with your doctor
before taking SUSTIVA
We know that copmg with HIV •s diff1Cult enough. Yourtreatr'lent doesn't
have to be.Ask your doctor about SUSTIVA For more important 111fonnation
SUSTIVA has manageable side effects. Most side effects are mild to
'TlOderate dnd can be managed.The mo<;t significant side effects associated with SUSTIVA therapy
have been nervous system symptoms ( d1zz1ness. trouble sleeping. drowsiness, trouble concentrating
and/or abnormal dreams) and rash. These usually subside within the first two to four weeks of
treatment. In a small number of patients, rash may be serious. Taking SUSTIVA at bedtime may
help make nervous system symptoms less noticeable.
•NNRTI • non-nudeoside ~ transcnptase 1nh1bitor.
Fe< men lnlonn>toon on SUSTIVA. al I~"'""" our-... at lrapllwwwsusuva.com
Fe< men inlomuoon on the updo•ed OHHS Guldtlints. • PDF 6lt d the ~ ~ Mllable " lrapllwww hmos.ori
see the next page for Patient Information about SUSTIVA
FOR HIV
Finally, a once daily medication to treat HIV.
SUSTIVA. It's about time.
www.sustiva.com
IG.aftsi>r~U!ed-Ac<r<snH'A>loaedMOrdAdol&"""PnionOnal~i>rT-fiHVnr.c~
,.,,_.,.,......., s.r.cts~O<term.r m.
9..JS"NA'" rd the 5<rb.nt Lego n trademar>$ dOliUlt ~-~
3
Copyright c 1999 °"""" l'Nnnoc:Ntals Conl*')< ~o ~ DuPont Pharmaceuucals
4
.....
How does SUSTIVA woril?
Can children take SUSTIVA?
y,
Who should not take SUSTIVA?
Once Daily
SUSTl\r*A
efavirenz
SUSTIVA™ {efavirenz) capsules
Patient Information about SUSTIVA*
(sus-TEE-vah)
• HIV '1 :::r lmmunodeflC ency Vrus) 1·fect1cn
Generic name efav1•enz (eh-FAH Vlh rehnz)
.are of yaur doctor
Con• •o pract ce 'iJ'• sex
600 mg ~ 200 mg cap::_ es. lake: •oge ) ooce a day by !!I
Oo ~ ta•• SUST'VA ~ -r-. are a erg • to Si.JSTIVA or any o' its ng·ed ents
·sUSTIVA"' - the Sl>NB(,RST LOGO are lrademarks
ol DuPOnt Phannaoeu1icals Company
Copyright c '999 Dul'll<lt Pharmaceu!ieals Company
-The brands listed 1t111 the ragtStef8d trademarl<S of 0- respacllw
owners and are 'IOI lr-.narl<s ol Dul'bnl Pharmaceutca • ~
JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
What other medical problems or conditions should I discuss with my doctor?
1"a ' 10 your octar r gh' ;way y
• Aie p•eg Jr o want o bee p~na •
• Ale t·east·feeding
• Have problems with your live o have '1d ' ;;all! s
• )tart or change any r:'ed c1:--e
• Haves de effects wh1 e taK ng SUST VA (elawenz)
• Have l h story of '!lelltal ness s;..bSlance or a cohol at:;.
What are the possible side effects of SUSTIVA?
Many p.at ents have d l1. ness troub es eep g crows ness trouble concentrating. ard/or ur. ...ll
dreams a few hou~ after start ng treatmen' wi h SUSTIVA These 'ee 1ngs rr.ay be less not1ceab e Jf y •
take SUSTIVA at bed! me T'ey alsc. 'end to go my after you ve taken •he med c ne 10· a few weeks
Rarely patents ~.M rrore ser :ius s de el'ects 'hat may affect mood or ability to th nk clearly T'1ese side
effects oa:u• more otten n patients w th a h story f rr.:::-tal l ness 01 wbstance abuse Tell yaur doctor
promptly any c these de effects cc t nue or they bother y • There 1s the poss bil1ly t'Jt these
symptoms rmy be more severe SUS'IVA is used with ak:ohol or mood z" ng (strec!J drugs You should
avo d dr Vlng &' opera! g "l3Ch nery I you are haVlng these side effects
One of t~e most convnon s de effects 1s r •' T'lese raSlles usua ly go away without any ':flange n
treatrwrt ln a sma l number of patients, r.::• may be • ' ous If you develop a rash, call your doctor promptly
Other corr.:-'On side effects mclude tiredness ~pset sto'.'lach von11t1ng. and diar•'Jea However, tr1s
not a complete st of side effects repo ea with SUSTIVA wr.::ft ' k 0 wit~ ~!her anti HIV drugs Do not
re y th s leaflet alone for ·lc"nalion dbo".! side effects Your doctor can d1sc:.:;s a more complete list
• A effects with you
P ease contact yCY.. :loctor :imed ely belore stoPll ng ".iLSTIVA bee.Me of s de effects T I yoLi
c other hea tntar prov aer r you 101 ce any s de effects wh1 e takmg SUS1"1VA
How should I keep SUSTIVA?
SUSTIVA 1s ava able as SC mg 100 mg and 200 mg :;apsules
Keep SUSTIVA at ro:::n :::'ll)elature 77 F 1 1n 'he bolt e g ven to you by your pharmac st
., 'e'.'Wature can range from 59" 86 F
~ SUS'IVA out of 'he reach ol ~ ren
How can I learn more about SUSTIVA?
I ' to you doelor or o!he "ea "care prOVlde! r you • auest OllS about e ' SLS'lVA or tilV
F add t fo~ on you can VlS t t'e SUS'lVA webs le at http //WINI ~ust1va com
This medicine was prescribed for your particular condition. Do not use
it for any other condition or gi~e it to anybody else. Keep SUSTIVA out of
the reach of children. If you suspect that more than the prescribed dose
of this medicine has been taken, contact your local poison control center
or emergency room immediately.
~ DuPont Pharmaceuticals
W<mmgton DE 19880
Issued Seplembef, 1998
HOUSTON VOICE • JANUARY 14, 2000
INSIDE
NEWS
Around the Notion ..••.•.......•••... .7
CDC: Number of block, Hispanic gay men with
AIDS increases . . • • • • . • • • . . • • • . . . .7
Plea ogreemenl reached in soldier's killing 7
Supreme Court allows AIDS coverage limits . .7
Goy atty. announces long-shol campaign ••. .7
Utah education board quiedy bans bias • . • .7
Pitcher says he spoke like a 'jerk' ...•.••. 10
Gore bocks away from 'litmus test' .. . •.•. 10
Dallas woman charged in roommate slaying 14
VOICES & ECHOES
Editorial: Speech !roubles Rocker and Gore .. 8
Minicucci: Conquering the queer virus .. .... 9
OUT ON THE BAYOU
Vivid Vidal . . • • • .. ...... . .. ...... .17
The shag's the thing ..... . ••••. . .....• 17
Out in Prinl: Mysterious reading .•...• •. .18
Bestsellers . ....... . . . ..... .. ...... 18
Eating Out: Generous but jumbled plotters •. 23
Post Out: A 'brave and foolish' do~ing .... 25
Occasions ........... ............. 22
Community Calendar . . .............. 26
My Stars! .......•.. •.... . ..•••.... 29
DIRECTORY .. . . ................... 28
CLASSIFIEDS .. • • .. .. . . • • • . ..... 30
CARMART ...• ..31
Issue 1003
All material 1n Hou tor> VnlCo IS pr.itoctod by
lederal copyright law and may not be repro·
duce<J Without 1he wr,tten 0011sen1 of Houston
Voice Tllo sUJ<ua1 or1e111a11on of advett1sers.
photographers. w1110rs 0nd cartoonists pub·
hshed herein is relthor 1rferrcd or lmphod
The arpearanco of riamcs 'lr ptctorial rcpre
sertauon does not nocossar ly indicate the
• xual or1entat1on of th<•l person or persons
Houston Voice accepts unsolicited ed1tona1
matenal but canno1 tako respr.nSJblhty for Its
return T110 editor reserves tho rKJh1 to accept.
reiect or edit ony submission
All 11gh1s revert 10 outhOrs upon
pubt1cauon. Guldollnes for frootance
.contr1butors are available ~pon ieques1
Houston Voice
500 Lovett Blvd., Suite 200
Houston, TX 77006
713- 529-8490
NEWS 5
Anti-gay marriage bill may hit legislature
Gay activists say a recent court decision in Vermont
may feed a conservative push to ban same-sex
marriage in Texas, allowing an anti-gay bill to slip
through the legislature ' like a greased pig'
by TAMMYE NASH
Dallas Voice
During the last two sessions of the
Texas Legislature, opponents beat back
measures designed to prevent the state
from recognizing same-sex marriages.
But such a measure may face an eastrr
time in the next session, beginning m
January 2001, legislators and gay rights
advocates said.
Last month's drcision by the Vermont
Supreme Court, requiring lawmakers
there to prov ide gay couples with the
same "benefits and protections" current·
ly extended to married couples, may give
added impetus to anti-gay m.miage legb
lation in Trxas, they said.
"The Vermont ruling definitely height·
ens thr [same-sex marriage] issul' m
Texas," said Dianne I lardy-Garcia, exec·
utive din•ctor of l esbia'n Gay Rights
Lobby of Tex.1s. "We've had to fend off
[anti-gay marri,1gl') bills in the last two
sessions of !ht• legislature And I expl'cl
wl·'ll have an l'Ven bigger fight this nl'\I
time around."
Stall' Rl•p. 1 larryl'tte Ehrh,ird t (D·
Dallas) agm•d.
"There's no qu('stron that there will be
,rn anti-gay marri,1ge bill introduced m
thl• next session," Ehrhardt satd " If they
an• ablt• to ma kl' this mto a rl•al emotion·
,11 issul', it's going to be very h,ud to
ddeat such .1 bill."
Both pn•v1ous bilb were dl'featl'd
through tl'chnical m,meun•rs, not by votes,
notl•d st.1te Rep. Clen \1axr) (D·Aushn),
thl' lt•gisl.1ture's only openly-gar member.
"We've nt'\ er had the votes to k1I: a
marnagt• bill," \1.ixey ~aid. "We've
.1lw;iys done it through parliamentary
procedure Whether or not we could do it
again depends on who controls the legis·
lature, the Democrats or the
Republic.ms."
Maxey said ti was inevitable that the
leg1slature would take up another anhgay
marriage bill in 2001
"We'd have this bill again whether the
Vermont ruling had come down the way
it did or not,'' Maxey said. "I don't thmk
we can continue to block it. I know that if
the Republicans control the legtslJture m
the nex t session, Texas will have a
'Defense Of Marriage' law."
St.lie Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa)
introduced bills in 1997 and 1999 to pre·
wnt the state from legally recognizing
same sex marriages, including unions
conducted legally elsewhere Both bills
died m the State Affairs Committee.
Opponents .ilso were able to ,,1ym1e
efforts to have Chisum's bills passed .is
Jmendments to other legislation on the
House floor.
Chisum drd not return calls srekmg
comment
llardy-G.irci.1 agrt•ed with \faxl')' that
the November elt•ct1ons will play J 1..ey
role m dl'ciding whl'lher the nt•\t ll·g1slature
will pass ,in anh-gay marriage bill
"This l'il'l'tion couldn't be more import.
int," I f,mjy-Garaa said. "Our commum·
ty has to ha\·e an energized votl' m
:\'owmbl•r, and all of our emph.1sis this
year rs going to be on the t•lertron. That's
our best ch.inre to defeat .m}' anh·ga\ ll'g·
isl.1tion. But if the Rt·publican.~ take over
tht• Tl-X.ls I !oust', the marriage bill is gomg
to fly through there like a greased pig."
,\ruling by the Hawa11 Supreme Court
m 1993, dt•clanng that the s!Jte s failure
to gr.mt marriage licenses to same-sex
State Reps. Harryette Ehrhardt and Glen
Maxey said that it will be difficult for gayfriendly
lawmakers to beat back efforts in
the Texas Legislature next year to pass a ban
on same-sex marriage.
couples was a form of sex d1scrimmahon
prohibited by the state constitution,
sparked a flurry of legislation around the
U.S. barring same-sex marriage.
In 19%, Congress passed and
President Clinton s1gnrd the Dl'fmse of
Mamagr Act, a measure w1thholdmg
federal recognition of s.ime·sex mar·
nages and permitting stalt•s to do the
same By thl' end of 1998, 29 stall's had
passed similar legislation, according to
the National Gay and Lt•sbian Tasl.. Forcl'
In No\·rmber 1998, llawa11 voters
appro\ ed a constitutional amendment
pl'rm1tting the state's l;m makl·r,, to
dedarl' th.1t mamag<' was ltm1trd to a
man and a woman--omethmg lawmak·
ers had aln•adv donl' in 199-1. Tht• Hawaii
Supreme Cou;t ruled late last yt•ar that
the constitultonal aml'ndmt•nt l\as the
final word on the gay marriagr contra·
vers} m the state, endmg a IJ\Hutt by
three gay and lesbian couple eckmg the
nght to marry
Last year, 16 add1t1onJI states constd·
rrcd anti-gay mamage leg1slat10n,
including Texas. But only one passed
such J nu•asure-l..ou1s1ana, \\ h1ch
bffamr the 30th state" 1th J la" barring
same-sex marn.ige
In the wake of the \ermont court dlO·
-ion I.isl month, efforts to ban gay marnagcs
h.n r been .innounced in II\ o ~tales.
Hate crimes summit in Houston expected to draw hundreds
by ~IATTlll \\'A. HI :\:\ff
Find ng pratlic;il ways to addn•ss h.1te
cnnws will bnng together local, st,1tr ,rnd
fedl'ral offtctals dunng a day-long summit
next wt•t•l.. ex1lC'rtt•d to ,1ttract up to 7001>.ir·
t1c1p.mts.
f'l1e focus of thee\ cnt-targetrd at cler·
gy, educators, law t•nforcement and mm·
munrty groups-1\ ill mcludr hate cnmcs
motl\ .1ted by sexual om•nt,1t1on. :\anC}
Rodnguez, thl• motht•r of a gJ} man slam m
1 louston m•arl1· 10 yr.irs ago, and Bill Lann
i l'l', act mg .1ss1st,1nt U.S. Attorney Ct·ner.11,
who has spolwn out on gay-rl'1,1tt•d hate
crimes, Ml' srht•duled to t.1ke p.ut m
rhursdav's summit.
"[Org~ni1t•rsl haw tril·d to rt>ally cowr
the wholl· gambit,'' said Tran·y Cobb, a
spokeswom.:in for M.:iyor Lee Brown. "It b
a very diverse group."
I louston polict• Chief ( 0. BrJdford Mii
also take part ~mce t•arly 19%, Bro\\ n and
Bradford h.n e greatly expanded the police
departmt•nt's rtforts on halt• cnmes, mclud·
ing apprnnting .1 hate criml's coordinator
.ind e\p.indrng training for officers.
Thl• 1dl'.1 for the summit grl'\\ out of the
regular meetings of the 1 louston Arra Hate
Cnmes Working Group, a col1.1borah\ e
effort thJt mdudt•s local, state and federal
gowmmrnt offit1.1ls, la\\' enforcement and
prosecutor~.
Some 1,000 pl'oplc \\Wl' tn\'ill'd to attrnd
the l'n·nt, though organizers mowd th1,
wet•!.. to opt·n the se"ion to the publ c,
Cobb said
The event ts brokl•n mto two panel dis·
cuss1ons, along with two break out sessmn!to
focus on dl'velopmg practical .:ipproaches
to comb.:iting h.:ite cnmes m mdro
Houston, Cobb said.
Org.imzers a'~o tapped orrnh le~b1an
City Counal\\oman Anmse Parker for sug·
g~hons on \\hat orgamzahons m the ga1
commumty should be ii'!\ 1ted to attend
"They wanted to tocu, on people \\ho
arc acttvely involved 111 -onw sort of hate
cnmt'S \\Ort>," l'arl..er aid. 'It 1s more
about ha\ mg prople that can affect \\hat ts
happening hrre 111 Houston "
Hate Crimes Summit
Jan. 20, 8 a.m to 5.30 p.m
George R. Brown Convention
Center
1001 Avemda de las Amencas
To pre-register 713-437-6966
www c1 houston.tx.us/crtygovt/
mayor/hatecrimes htm
6
i"o rAa}ann Klllllk4t n. thr C.mu Up
SOLD!
Antique
Country Pine
at Competitive
Prices
Phone: 713-266-4304
Fax: 713-781-8445
E-mail: hbw4gla@acninc.net
www.europinedirect.qpg.com
3029 Crossview,
Houston, TX 77063
One Block East of Fondren
and Westheimer
w THEIMER ROAD
3: .....
c:i N cc ClARKCREST w
z * >
UJ (/) UJ
cc (/) -'
0 0 C( z a: >z
0 0
LL RICHMON AVENUE
JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
HOUSTON VOICE• JANUARY 14, 2000 NEWS
Around the Nation
CDC: Number of black, Hispanic gay men with AIDS passes whites
,\TIJ\NTA (AP}-l'or the first time since AIDS ,mested the nation's attention rn the early
1980:., more bl,ick and l fi.,pamc gay rnl·n Ml• living with till' disease than are white gay men. The
( entrrs for Disease Control and Pre\'enhon rcportl'CI 1 hursday that mmonhes represent 52 p<'I·
lent of the gay .uid bisexual men who had ,\IDS 111 1998, up from 31 percent in 1%'9. Black mm
made up one-third of the cases, \\ hile I hspamcs r•·prcscnted 18 p<'l'Cent of them. Researchers
s.i1d the report suggests that the stlgmcl of homosexuality plays a role in ::.prcading the dtSease
bcalusc blacks and I hspamcs arc less likely than whites to identify thelll!ieh es as gay or seek
AIDS prl'vc.nt10n and treatment scn•1ccs. "People have totally ignored the con.,istcnt fact that
gay men of color have always been the largest single nsk catrgory for men . . and this issue is
never talked about," s;ud Dr l lelene Gayk•, d1ro:tor of the COC's nahonal ct·nter for prevention
of HI\~ sexually transmiltl'CI dL«eascs .md tuberculosis. Gayll' said trends identified several year.;
ago led rcscarclwrs to project that the number of nonwhitl' gay men with AIDS would surpa s
whites, but the increase happcnL><l fa<>ter than l'Xf'l'(.·fl'd.
Plea agreement reached in gay soldier's death on Kentucky base
!'ORI CA\1PBI I.I , Ky.-Army Spc. Justin
R. Fisher, 26, \\\is smknctd to 12 I /2 wars in
prison on Jan. S in tlw bc•ating dmth l;f a b.irracks
mate who had been rumort>d to be gay.
foher admitll'd he hl'CI to military In\'l'Stig.1·
tors .md obstrucll'd the 1m·cst1gat10n '' hrn he
wiped blood from a baseball b.1t that Pvt.
Cal\ m Glover used to kill Pfc. Barry \\'inchtll,
who had been sleepmg. l!ndl'r a plea agreement,
the Army dropped other t.hargt•s.
F1 her'scourt marbal tri.il had been scheduled
to ~tart last S.1turday. \\ mchell. 21, was killl'CI ..
wlule he slept m his cot .it Fort Cclmpbcll. <
(,fowr, 19, ol c;ulphur, ( lkla., was com1cted of ~
premcdit.:it,•d murder and scntrnccd to life m ~
prison .md prosecutors &.1id ht• was drin'n by 7.
hatred of homoscxu;ils. In the\\ akc of the pk\1 ~
agrl'erm•nt, l'Jt .ind Waif\· Kuttele!>, Windwll's
mother .rnd slL'pf.ithcr told the IVaslrmgton
l'osl they are cons1dcnng swng the Army for
l .. :hnt; to prot('(t th~i son. On Mond,1\ Armv
offiuals said the\ I\ 111 imcshgate alleged ;mil·
gay acllons Jt I ort (.impbcll. "-}, dunng the
period lead mg up to Winchell's murder
Spc. Justin R. Fisher may be eligible for parole
after four years under a plea agreement he
reached over his participation in the killing of
Pfc. Barry Winchell.
Supreme Court allows insurers to set AIDS coverage limits
WASlll:\C.10:\ (AP}-The Supreme Court, rqectmg allegations of illegal bias, let an msur,1ncc
company provide less health care co\'eragc for All)S..relatcd illnes.<;('S than for other cond -
hons under the s.1mc pohC}- Two Ch1cago-ar,.,1 men bought health care p01ides from :-.tutual of
Omaha with a SI million maximum bmefit for non-AIDS-rt•lated condition~, but .:i much smaller
Lrrut for All)S..rd.1tL'li illnesses. Thl• men charged m therr suit that such limit-; ,·1olated the fcdl'ral
Aml•nmns With Disab1litil'S Act.,\ fl•dl·ral judgt• 111 Ch1r.igo ruled for the two men m 1998,
but till' 7th L.S. Cm Ult Court of Appc.1ls rc\'l'rsed th.it ruling. ~lulu.ii of Om.iha did not rduSC'
to Sl'll insur.mce to people rnfl'Ctt•d with I llV, tlw .1ppe.1ls court said, but instead m;ide a cO\'l'Iagt'
tkos1on similar to,, furniture storl' dl'Ciding not to sell whl'l'kh.1irs. l~l\\}'l'rS for the two
men told tlw 1ushccs th.it the limit on AIDS cm er.ige "prl'~ents a classic ca!'*' of db.ib1hty·ba$l'd
d1scnm1nat1on." !he court tuml'CI dm\11 thl' .ippcal J,m 10 without cornnwnt.
Gay Dallas attorney announces long-shot run for U.S. Senate
DAI I.AS-Bobby \\ightman-Cen•antcs \\ill jom four other little-known cand1d.1tcs m the
March 14 O..'mocrahc pnm,1ry for the opportumty to f.icc Republican Sen Kay Badey Hutchison
11' the member gmer.il elcct10n "The chanrt>S of me\\ mnmg !the primary I .ire \Cr\' good,"
\\ightm.ui-Cm.mtc told the Dalin Vmcc "At lea t I have two target groups !of 1otersl. gays
and II ,panics." W1ghtman-Ccrvank said the n'ason he deodcd to enter the r,Ke \\.lS so
I hspamc would lead the Democr;ihc state llcket m the ge'1eral elcct10n \\1glitman.Cen ilf'tcs
ran unsum sfully thl' 19% Repubh,an pnmal) scckmg a stall' Distnct Judge position 111
[);ill.is ( ount) l lutcluson 1s expected to be o proh1bit1w faHmte for reelection, whoc\cr \\In.~
tl1c Dcmocr,1t1c pnrnarv.
Utah education board quietly bans anti-gay bias
SAi.i I.AKI: ( 11 Y-\\ith so little fanfare• th.it L'\'l'n g.1y nghts .1drncates didn't know about 1t,
Ut.1h h.1~ JOllle<.I (lnly eight other :.tale:. Ill b,mning .mh·g.iy di-.cnmination by school pl·rsonncl,
the IV11s/1111glo11 Blade n'ported Jan. 7. Utah'~ Bo.ird of l'ducotion .ippro\·l'CI the cha~ge in it~ ethical
nxk I.1st M.iv. but ,ichvbts did not find out unhl Nowmbrr when 1t came to hght dunng J
court he.inng on°a lawsuit !>l'ekmg t~i gu.uantl'l' tht• right of public school students to form gaystraight
alh.mn.,,. 'fhl• Ut.1h code change addl'li ~l'xual orient.ition to the list of categories on
which ll'.icht>rs, admirustrator.;, ,:ind other school personnel arc bam'Cl from discriminabng
agamst students or co-workers
-From staff and Wirt reports
lverything you
Right Herel
Right No
2000 XTERRH
1ne NeW
Need life Insurance
but don't want the hassle
of a medical exam
or blood test?
Call
The Equideen Group
at 713-952-7913
Re=l{)(IS. exduslans and ltmilatons may apply
ltx1 iv. be asl>.Sd 'IJBdica qll6st'°"s
an
I •
LONE STAR
NISSA~B I LE
Sales Hours: 9-9 M-F • 9-9 Sat. Service Hours: 7-7 M-F • 8-2 Sat.
12230 Southwest Freeway• Stafford, TX• 281 -243-8600 • FAX 281 -243-8635
Nissa11-0ldsmobile Dealer
7
8 VOICES AND ECHOES JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
1· if ii I t>4 td I 'I EDITORIAL V OICe: Let Rocker exercise his freedom of speech
STAFF
Associate Publisher
Mike Fleming
m1keCihoU5tonvo1ce com
Editor
Matthew A Henr e
ed1tor@houstonvo ce com
Production
Bethany Bar tr an Gr aphoc Designer
M e Swenson Graphic Des goer
Contributors
Rich Arensc oe dt. Kay Y Oayus,
Trayce D sk n, Earl Dor an,
D L Groover, Robert B Henrlersn ,
C.1p Pl~ster El ~ yler
Photographers
Dalt r- DeHar• K m Thompron
rer'Y Su var
Adverti<1n9 Sales
R chard B Hoyes
Ken Burd
Office Adm1n 1strator
Marshall Rainwater
Classifieds & Directory
Carolyn A lloberts
Carolyn Whole
Nationa l Advertising Represent ativ eRivendell
M.>rket nq Company, Inc
112 241 6863
A 'MndowMedia Publication
Publishers
OmsCnn
Rock Ells.i<ser
rn .......
~= ....... MEMBER
CHARTER MEMBER
GREATER f.!OUSTON
GAY & LESBIAN
(HAMBER OF COMMERCE
Established 1914 as thP Montrose Star
500 ~DVr!tt E'vd S r te 200
Houston Texas 17006
(71 l) 529--8490
(800) 129 8490
Fax (713) Sl9-9S31
Contents copynght 1999
Offoce hDLn: 9 am. to S 30 p weekdays
To submit a letter
LPtters should be fewer than 400 words We
reserve the ngf-t to edit for content and
length We will withhold names upon
request. but you must inc ude your name and
phone numbe-r for ver (1cat1o:"I Please serid
ma I to Houston Vooce SOO Lovett Blvd Su te
200 Houst Texas 77006 fdx (711)
529 9531 or e ,..., I to ed tor@housto
voice com Op om expr~d there n do nrt
rel ect those of the Housto;i Voice
The critical rcspon!'<! to the verb.ii msulLs
hurled by rt'lief pitcher John Rocker ::it gays,
people with AIDS, ethnic minorities and foreigrwrs
has mostly insisted thJt the Atlanta
Bra~cs and Ma1or Lrogue Baseball muuJe the
mJn permanently
Unti• this week the cntl(s hJve gotten
their WJY
In lhl• Wl'Cks following the pubhca!Jon
l,ht month of Rocker's angry d1atnbe
against l\e\\ Yorkers, including "queers
with AIDS" and those speaking ,i foreign
IJnguagc, the opinmnated rehlf ace has
bcrn uncharactc 1st1cally quiet
Within ho1.1,.., ,1tter news broke about hr~
colorful <oporl ll'"''"'d 1rter\'lf.'\\, in v.h1ch
he ,1lso called ,1 nunonty teamm,ilc he thmks
LS o~crwe1ght ".i f,11 monkey," Rlxker issued a
bnef written st.itemcnt ... poloi;1Z1ng for lus
n'marks, rahonahzmg them Jway ,1s the prod·
ud of .m emotlonal .ithlete who feeds of!
"compel hve 7.eal"
Th.it pubhc statement, m \\ h1ch Rocker
Jdm1tted h.1vmg "evtdenced strong compl'litiH'
fl'lhngs," had more the nng of a pubhc
n•latlons m.1dune m full retrt'at than a Macon
good Oil' boy.
l~i~t week, Braves President St,m Kasten
announced that Rocker had personally cla~
rated on th.it public apology lxhmd dosed
Joor;, ma D1.'C. '19 ml'l'tmg ''hen: the ZS. year-old
surely knew his JOb was on the line.
"What we have here is a player who h.1s
expressed remorse. Under those c1rcum·
stances, I am not going to abandon a player or
an employee or a friend," Kasten said.
The Bra\'l'S organu.ation, whidi ro.~ thus far
shown all the signs of circling the wagons
around its talented young prospect, a ks too
much of its fans and the city to expect that v.e
trust a stiff pubhc apology of doubtful authcn
tlcity and a pnvate apology given with the
pitcher's I velihood on the line.
Then, this week, Rocker finally spoke up, m
his own words, If' an mtcr.iC\\ broadcast by
FSP . He ct d, mdccd, cxpl"C"i5 rcmor.;c, but 11
sounded rr1on:.1long the lines of, 'Tmsony tlJ05l•
cw \ork tans trcatL'CI me so hombly, malJilg
me to s.iy tlungs th.:it made me look like a ierk."
ot only was Rocker not part1cularly contnte,
he failed to take full responsibility for lus
rc111arks, bla111·'lg the 5.1. reporter for nusrcprescnting
lus Vlews. though he didn't diallcnge
the accuracy of the tape-recorded interview.
Rocker also f · ed to addre;s all the groups
smeared by his screed, csproaUy those
"queers" and people with AIDS. Peter
Cammon, the f.Sl'1 intcrvicv.er, couldn't cwn
bnng himself to repeat Rocker's slur, summarinng
the insult as "the tlung about AIDS."
Befort' v. e can put tlus controversy behind
us, Wl' need to hear Rocker rL'cant --0r
defend-his rt'al views on homoscxu.1hty and
AIDS, smce thl• 5.1. intl'rview .ipp.irently
"wasn't him."
Unleashing Rocker's big mouth would also
please lus many conservative fans, who have
been quick to defend hIS "f'it"51 Amendment
nght" to speak lus mind
A quick dvia; history lesson would n'lllmd
thL'5C patriohc defenders that the Fir;t
Amendment right of fn,'C sp(.'•. '.C li, hkc all con-;
htutlonal nghts, protects us from pu~ hmmt
by the gO\ cmmcnt, not private employers like
the Atlanta Bra\ es or t-. la1or League BJscball.
The "frl'l' spt.'(.'Ch" battle cry 1s ,1s hypoaihcal
as 11 IS .ihisturical, commg trorn thl same
wnscrvatl\ cs who ,1rt' thl• f1r~t to .ittack g.iy
nghls pmtcct1ons in the \\Orkplate by ch.imp•·
orung an employer's basic right to hue and hre
employees for whatever rt'ason they choose
There's an exception, apparently, when the
employCl' is trashing the cthniaty and nahonal
heritage of his tL'ammatcs, damagmg the
reputation of his emplo) er, and tamng the
reputation of a chen..shed Amenrnn sport.
If Rocker is to redeem himsdf \\1th the Br.tVl!i,
thm fan.s, and the aty of Atlant.1, and b.~ hill
supporter.; gmerall): we need to hmr more.
Let's hear Rocker, unplugged, \\'.lX eloquent
about hIS true feelings on homosexuality and
Uw I llV I AIDS ep1dcnuc. Ihm m.iybc we can
.ill judge whether his .ipology 1s gl'l111111e.
Military leaders have already failed the 'litmus test'
Al c.orc lOUld be cx..used for feeling J ht·
tic de1a vu I.1st week when he was bl,1sted
from all s des for fall ng v1c:tlm to a clever
dl•batl' qul•stlon about whether he'd adopt
a "htmus tc-;t" demanding that his h1ghlevd
military appointees agree with his
oppos1hon to "Don t Ask, Don't Tell"
It was almost exactly sc\cn years ago that
the C.. inton-Gorc adminIStratmn saw its
posl-lnauguratmn honeymoon e\•aporate
when the president announced his plan to
follow through on a campaign promise to
end the ban on gays in the military.
Last week, many of the same military
leaders who back-smpcd from the
Pentagon in 1993 were talkmg to the New
York flml'S from the comfortable perch of
retirement, blasting Corl' for allegedly
introducing .1 nc\\ qualification for office m
his proposed Jdmm1strahon.
In fact, CorL''s "litmus test" could h.iVl'
been interpreted much as he "cl,mhcd" 1t
later, as dcm,indmg a w1llingnl•ss to enforce
the comm.mdl'r in--ch1cf's position on the
issue, putting aside person,11 nusgivings.
Th.it's an 1mporlant issue 111 11 military
that h.is .ibjl'Ctly f,11kd to c.my out the
spmt or fetter of "Don't Ask, Don't fell,"
which was supposed to h.1ve f.ic1l1tatcd
sen•1n• b~ gays but which has resulted in
dramatic.illy increased discharges.
It's especially telling that these saml' m1l-
1t,iry leaders (and other mires) h.ive not
taken issue with thl· GOP front runnl'r,
Texas Gov. Gl'orgc Bush, who said in a
debate days l.1tcr that he would impose a
litmus test, too, only his app01ntel'5 would
have to support the ex1shng, D/\IJT policy.
I he real "litmus test" for m1l1tary
.1ppo111tments .md any others, for th.it
m.1ttcr, ought to exam1m• tht' JHl'juchccs
of tlw .1pplic,mts, 111cludmg .111y hoshlily
tow.1rd gay men .ind lt•sb1.llls.
I he DAD I policy w.1s l'll.ldl•d J"> a ~·K·
nf1cc to that pre1ud1ce, which 1s wh,1t
actually would undermine "unit cohesion"
1f gavs served openly And 111s th.it
pre1ud1ce, from the command to the
troops, th.it ha-; made the polity unwork
.:iblc in prathcc
HOUSTON VOICE • JANUARY 14, 2000 VOICES AND ECHOES 9
VIEWPOINT
Conquering the queer virus that infects us
by MARIA E. MINICUCCI
We'w certainly awarl' that
g.1y men and lesbians an•
beginning not only a new ymr, but al'l' on
the verge of a new era. kdia hype aside,
our rrnchons range from nonchalann' to
hopefulness to anxiousness.
\1ost of us, on some level, art' hopmg,
1f not expecting, that our world will be a
heller plaCl' for us. And better mt•ans a
place free of prejudire, free of \'lolenn•,
frC<' to lo\'e and to li\'e. The l'l'C'ent court
dt'C1s1on in Vt·rmont over g.1y marri.1gt•s
gives us a gl.mce at what could be in
stort• for our community.
And owr the ve.irs, it's bt'en thl' tirt'less
work of ma~y to help creall• such a
pl.ice for all of us "sl•xual outlaws." Our
efforts an• somellml·s \'al ant m the faCl'
of seemingly msurmountabk odds and
m 1d1011s obstaclt•s thrown m our path.
We haw bc·m stridt•nt in identifying
these obstaclt'S and diligmt in workmg
through, around, and with them.
Our work needs to be ch('('n'd, cl'lcbratt'<
f and earned mto this new t•ra. But !ht•
work is hampcl'l'd by our mability, or
unwillingness, to identify and ,1ttack .1 ~:rious
sollln' of rnntamimhon. It is helping to
undt·rmim• and s.1botagl' our obJt'CtiH'S.
It '~ the qmw virus.
Inexpensive Small
Business Networks
The \'irus 1s running rampant among
some of us. Unfortun.ilel); it's not endemic
to 1 loustorr-it reaches queer rommumhcs
throughout North America. And It has the
potential to be lethal to us as mdi\ iduals
and to our ovil rights work.
In a Simple definition, the queer ';i!US 1s
trashmg oursclvl'!>, what ~ms to be th(
umqut' .ib1hty by gay men .ind lesbians to
eat our own. Sometimes it's the c.isual, off
the cuff remark or attitude m cnllazmg .i
p<'rson or some group or org.inlZ<ltion \\1thout
regard to the amsequence of what
wt"rt•saymg. It's easy to S('t'--C',1\·t'Sdwp on
the crowd .it loc.11 gay coffee she>p or rrad
through the d.iilr po,tings to the I louq1in
Arhvist Network
The virus is running rampant among some of us. Unfortunately,
it's not endemic to Houston-it reaches queer communities
throughout North America. And it has the potential to be lethal
to us as individuals and to our civil rights work.
need to be reminded how all of this sen cs
as a maior impediment to our\\ ork on avil
rights for our commurul). We need to take
rl'sponsibility for it.
R.1ther than rrcyclc these old, harmful
mmdsds, resentments .ind self-righteous
,1ttitudt>s, Wl' need to n.•build our pohhcal
pl.itforms, psyches .ind relationship:; that
h.1\ c bl'en infected \\1th this queer \1rus.
faking e>n this rebuilding i~ es..,enhal if
we are to cl.um that we're committed to
success. It'~ not an easy thmg to do; it's
much easier to damn and cnticize than
rework and rebut Id But \\ e should ron-
1der the co I of not domg 1t That cost is
much higher
Let us step mto a new t•ra with a romm1tment
to new and pos1t1ve war of think.mg,
new approache; to old problems, a positl\
e reg.ird for our differences Rebuild not
recycle
Mana l Mzmcum zs prcsidc11l of t/ze
Hou~to11 l.esbum & Gay Com11111111ty Centcr.
The queer vims has left behind scon"> of
the walking wounded, folks likt• me who
have worked in the community ,md
watched as the virus cats aWa} at orgamz.ations
with a good mLsston. They md up
dismantled, st.ignant, or fraught with di..,_
rontmted members.
Soml' of us disregard the nature of the Let us know what you think
virus .ind kel justifil·d in spread mg it, a sort Send the editor your letters (400 words maximum)
f c or op-ed submissions (800 words maximum).
0 barebacking without n.>gard. " '10 yo· Names may be withheld upon request, but submissions
bclil'\'e lhJS group had the nerve lo do tht °6rJ'/ "'A must include a name and phone number for verification.
this and that?" I can hmr the grumblings. ~/ U Houston Voice, 500 Lovett, Suite 200,
A quKk n•achon to why this happ<'r , lr:----~~~..Jr/ Houston, TX 77006
might point to internalized oppn'SS11in ,md I fax: 713-529-9531 • e-mail: editor@houstonvoice.com
home>phobia. But whatl'\U the c-.1u~l'S, Wt'
Quality Systems
Competitive Prices
Old Fashioned Service
Sharp, Speedy Repairs
£/¥?
~e-.~~
Maranatha ~~ 'J
Fellowship
Metropolltan
Community Church
For more info .••
713-528-6756 or
maranatha@ev1.net
WE'RE MAKING A MOVE ••• we w.il be sharing the home of
Central Congregational Church at 1311 Holman
(right •cross from the HCC-Downtown campus)
on January 30, 2000
Our worship time will be at 6:30pm; w1t11 1·1ble Study at 5:30pm.
Offices are located at 117 Tuam.
We will continue worshipping at 3400 Montrose, Suite 600
through January 23rd, with worship celebration at 10:30am
and Bible Study at 9·30am
And ... Beginning this Sunday, January 16th,
Part 1 of an 8-part sermon series on the truth about
"omoscxuahty and the Bible;
"Is Homosexuality a Sin or Not?"
Everything you wanted to know ... and MORE!
We're starting this year off in a new direction!
Come visit us In our
new location (Jan. 30) at
1311 Holman
across from HCC-Downtown Campus
10 NEWS JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
Braves pitcher says he spoke like a jerk'
by LAliRA BROW~
Just days after he was ordered to undergo psychological
cvaluahon, Atlanta Braves rehef pitcher admitted
Wednesdav that his comments about minorities and gar in
a m.:ig.:lllne ar!tcle made him sound hke "a complete jerk."
In his first mterv1ew since the uproar, the 25-year-old
rel f p1kher spoke to ESP at his home m Macon, and
c1gain c1polog1zed, repec1hng thc1t he 1s not a r.icist.
'v1.iior League Baseball last week ordered Rocker to
undergo fS) cholog1cal e\alu.illon to l>elp determine wh.it
'l\JS 1r. his head when he rc1iled .igamst raa.il and ethnic
mmonlles, women, 1mm1grants and "a queer\\ ith AIDS" m
an mterv1e'I\ last month
But there 1s no simple psychological diagnosi to explain
bigotry, psychologists pointed out, while a coaht1on of
activists m Atlanta warned nothing less than "Rocker's
head on a platter" will dissuade them from launching pickets
and protest, agam't the Braves.
"It seems to me thh 1s stalling by the commissioner of
ba ball," Dr James Jone<;, a professor of psychology at the
Univers t} of Delaware, told the /-1011ston Voice "I don't see
an} bas , for psvcholog1cal !'valuation-he didn't engage l'l
an) bizarre bch.ivwr
"~k s.11d things that arc intemperate and inappropriate,
but people S.lY thmg hke that all the ttme," s.itd Jones, an
expert in both rac1 m and sports ps} chology "~le 1s a bigoted
gU\ but vou can't explain that by suggesting he 1s not
competent mentalh "h1ch is kmd of the 1mphcahon of ha\ -
mg to undergo psychological C\ aluatwn."
A.v n F Poussamt, a clinical professor oi psychiatry at
Han.ird ~led al School, offered a s1m1lar asSl'S ment, calling
the plan c1 "dodge" because "psychological testing 1> not
set up to evaluate racism"
Racism and prqud1ce are not listed 111 the American
Ps)Ch1atnc A soc1ahon's manual of mental disorders,
Pouss.1 Pt noted tP tlie 'cw Ycrk Tm11>, and "off1c1ally. mental
health profcs tonals behne racism ts so common m
America thJt 1t represents a social problem rather than perSOP
p.ithology"
Ach\1sts oppos ng Rockers statements agreed
John RocKer 1 not craz\ His hatefu1 rem rks are not J
result of wt: t in his head, but r.ithcr result of a hatcftlkd
heart "s.i:J \1 hJcl Langford, president of thE Lmted
'south- :..dult Confenmce, which organized a prote t Jan 7 m
front of the Bra\ cs st.idtu!T' at Turner rteld.
Althounh verJI ot At Jnt.i ., most prominent gay organ-
1zat1ons \\~re a'llong thC'se parhctp.itmg in the local prote t,
some also exprC".sed frustr.ition that Rocker's comments
.igam t g.ivs .md people with J\llJS .ippe.ired to be getting
less and less .1ttenhon as the story continued.
After promt5tng actton would take place m J.inuary,
Basebal Comm1ss1oner Bud Schg issued a statement last
week call ng Rocker's comments "rcprl'henstblc and completeh
inexcusable"
I am profoundly concerned about the n.iture of those
comments as \\ell as by certain other ,1spC<ts ol hts beha\wr,'
Sc g satd explaining that he\\ ill take "whale\ er addt!
tonal Jetton" deemed necesSJrv after the ps}cholog1cal
tests arc completed
Br.ives President St.in Ka ten and (.eneral Manager lohn
huerholz hl Id a pre<;s conterence the same da\, re1terat.ng
their d s.1grccment "1tr Rocker's comments, but sa\ ng
the~ \\OU J \\att for a dcc1swr. from Ma1or Lca,;ue B.i co.ill
bdore t.ikmg fi..rthrr Jctmn
Ka ten and ~huerholz said Rocker apologized for the
rem.irks ma meeting'' th tt>em on Dec 2Cl, ,1nd K.i~ten sug
gested Rocker may be able to stay with the ll'am.
At ,1 prate t J.in -. ~me accused tl>e Bra\ l"> of "passing
the buck (\n Rockers punt llmcnt But Br.ncs spokes!T' m
J m fxhultz told the /-1 uil • Voice It \\J5n't the team that
decided M,1 or League B.istbJll would handle the problem
'It \va<. our mtcnhon to handle this unttl !1.1.iJor League
Baseball tepped m and said '\\e feel this affects the entire
port,' ' Schultz said
"Whatever they do would not preclude a different action
by the Braves," he added.
In the ESPN interview Wednesday, Rocker pointed out
that teammates Andruw Jone:., Bruce Chen and Odahs
Perez-all minon!tes from outside the U S.-hved with his
family m Macon while they were playing for the Braves
minor league affiliate in :-..1acon.
"If I was a racist, would I want a black guy li\•mg in my
house and would I invite him to come to my house' I did
that three ttme~ O\'er," Rocker s.ud
Other than a brief written statement, the interview markro
the first hme Rocker spoke publicly about the controversy.
Rocker ~aid he "1ust lost (his) cool" and said things he
didn't mean about New York fans because he wanted "to
inflict some emotional pain m retahatton to the pain that
had been mfl cted on me "
~( , tJ.::.~:
.,, 'l t:ll,fi;" '(
iVJtr.:~ m; 1
~~~1
Rocker said he was frustrated
by New York Yankl'es'
fan~ who threw batteries at
him dunng the World Series
He said Mets' fans spit in
ht, face, poured beer on him
and beat a likeness of him
during the NL Ch.1mpwnsh1p
Scncs.
"You hit one home run in
the big leagues, it doesn't
make you a home-run hitter,"
Rocker said "To make
one comment ltke this doesn't
make you a raust."
Under orders from Major
League Baseball, John Rocker
underwent psychologicol
evaluation last week.
HOUSTON VOICE • JANUARY 14, 2000 NEWS 11
Gore backs off pro-gay 'litmus test' for Joint Chiefs
The competition for g;iy votes m the DemocrJtlc pn~sidenti;
il pnmnry grew C\'l'n more complicated last wel'k, as
Vice Prl's1dent Al Core first plcdgl'd he would make support
for g;iY" in the military .1 "litmus test" for appomtments to
the military's Joint Chiefs of StJff, then .1pparrntly b;ick·
trackl·d from the stand.
As Democr.ihc prl-sidenhal candidate: .. continued thm compelltion
for gay \'Otes this week, candidates in thl' Republican
p:irty linl'Cf up against allowing gays to Sff\'l' openly in the military-
further illustrating the mde g;ip between the two parties
on m.my gay nghts is..,ues.
In a Jan. 5 televised debate in ~ew 1 lampshire, where
they face ,1 critical Feb. I primary, both candidates were
Jsked whether they would mJke support for Jllowing
openly g<1y service members a "litmus test" for appointing
the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff ·
Gore answered first, explaining he hoped to make
progrt'ss cii1 service by opt'nl}' gay soldiers similar to
President Harrv Trum;in's racial integration oi the military.
"I think that would require thosl' who w;inted to sen·e on
the Joint Chiefs to be in agreement with that policy," Gore
said. "I would insist before appointing anybody to the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, that that indi\ idual support m~ pohcy, and
yes, I would make that a requirement."
Gore said there is a difference between using a "litmus
lest" for military offiaals and u~mg them for appointing
Supreme Court Justices. In the case of military appoint·
ments, one is "not interfering with an independent judicial
decision," he said.
Bradley offered a more nuanet.'CI answer, stating that military
leaders are expected to follow the orders of the
President, the Commander in Chief.
Mike Sctmdl.
HIV+ aew member cl The~.
on the dosing converoence of VIRAMUNE•
·Soiling the Pacific was both a mental and physical challenge,24 hours
a day. The ocean controlled when I ate and slept. Fortunately, I had to
toke only one VIRAMUNE tablet twice a day· as part of ITT{ ootiretroviral
combination.
·Although I chose VIRAMUNE• as part of my combination for its
convenience. the goal of ITT{ therapy was to reach an undetectable
viral load.At the lime of the race.I was fitter 1tian ever:
Ask your doctor whether VIRAMUNE' could fit into your treatment
strategy VIRAMUNE Is indicated for use with other antiretrowal agents
for the treatment of HIV· I infection. However, there 1s no cure for HN
infection. Currently. it is not known whether toking VIRAMUNE 1n combtnation
with other antiretrov1rals will help you rwe longer or reduce the
number of Infections or other Illnesses that can occur with HIV. You
should also be aware that all antiretrovirals can cause side effects.
VIRAMUNE is associated with severe rash and liver toxic1ty,1nclud1ng
fatal cases of each. Other side effects reported include fever.nausea.
headache. and abnormal liver function tests. VIRAMUNE is. however,
generally well tolerated by most patients.
• RQc°"""" dod oooe """ /00 mo l<lblot orce a m.-'llr W 14 cloys 11>en""" 200 mo IOIJlet .....,. a m,.
-P-lease s-ee lfl"4·lOlfa:1 1 ntormotion about VIRAMUNE" on adjac.e.n.t .p.o.g,o,. _ 1·800·274-8651 • Woostte. w.iwVlran.necom • 1·800·848-0120 (Q'\--- ~ Roxane Laboratories
Bradley doe~n't cJgree with
the concept of litmus t.:-t-.,
but he could not 1magme
appointing anyone to the
jOint ch1ds who didn't sup·
port aJIO\\ U1g gays to sen· I.' ..
openly, the candidate's staf· :::
fcrs latt>r said. accordmg to ~
the 1'.'ew York Times. =
But faced with munediate :
outcry &om ~urcr:; ranging :
from !'0011.' of hb own support· 2
ers to mtlitan leader.; and 'cter· i3
ans groups. Gort> bcl<l.L'<i away ' One of the nice things obout
from his litmus k>st phlge later mititory people is they're
m the \\wk-in ''hat his cam- straight'. -GOP presidential
paign !'taff called a "clanficabon" contender Alon Keyes, who
of ht~ pa;ition. chastised his opponents for
"I did not mean to imply not colling for a return to a
that there should C\W be any complete ban on gays in the
kind of inquiry into the per· mifitory.
sonal political opinions of offi-cers
in tht' IJ$. m1lita~~" he told rt'porters at a ha.~hl) con·
venl'CI nl'ws conference after a campa1P1 rally at a 0..'S
\1omes-area high ~hool
"\ \ 'h..11 I meJnt to conwv wa' I '' ould not tolerate, nor would
any conunandcr in chid, n0r would any p~1dmt tolerate onlm
not b.:mg follmn'Cf," Gow s.1id, mst'bng he nc\ er u... .'.< l the tl'rm
"litmu.' te:-t," although 11 was included in the wordmg of the qut-..
bon to \\ tuch he answered "res "
5':,·era] former memtx>rs of the Joint Oiiefs ot Staff, many oppl~
11t'l1ts of gar in thl' milit.al); told the Nao York Tll7lt."5 Gore's U\lbal
pk'\:lgl' was wrong
"~1ilil<ll)' ofticers ccrtcJinly l'\l'Cute thl' orders ot tht• prl':'idmt,
but a litmu~ ll-st befon.'h.ind would place an officer man untt'n·
abll' ptNtion saying, 'Do you believe what I behew''" said Gen.
Carl E. \1und~~ a retired commandant of the \1anne Corps.
E\'m 5'.'1'1. John Kl'l'T): a \'il'trum \ eteran rampaigrung for Gore
in l':ew Hamp'hl.I\', "1id he d1sigmxl v.1th Gore'~ pledge,
although he groerally ::.uppor1$ allowm~ g.:iys in the nulitaiy
~ John \ kGun, a candidate for the Republican pre-idenbal
nommabon, ;;aid at a GOP debate m ~mth Carolina that Gore's
pledge wa" "a dl'gracelul tatcment," \\lule a Penta~on
spok~man offered a remindlT that campaign promt-...~ don't
always translate into action.
''Candidates for pohllcal office are certainlv fn'l' to do that
and must do that in onlcr to explam their viev.s to the
Amencan people," said Rl'ar Adm. Cr Jr~ Quigley, a spokesman
for Dclcn.;e St.'cn.'tary \ \ illiam Cohen. "But I would not "pec1J·
latl' as to v. hat that ma\ or mav not mean a \ear from nm' "
Changing the policy \~·11! be tmpo~sible \\ 1thout
Congr~1onal support, President Clinton a!'recd la"t week.
\\'hile Democrats Al Gorl' and Bill Bradlev debated how to
appomt military leaders ''ho share their Opp<b1t10n to "Don't
k,k, Don't Tell" la~t Wet'k, Rl'publi~, candidates ~poke out m
fa, or of the m1htan s ban on open!\ ga\ sen .~emembers m
their own tde\ 1scd debates.
Responding to Gore's statement ma debate that he \\ould
ha\ e cl htmu~ test' for muitan appomtees to ,upport open·
Iv gay sen ice member~. Texas Gov Geo~e Bush, current!)
the pany's front-runner, went :-0 far a~ to Sl) he v. ould adopt
a "litmus ll>st" rl'quinn~ that appomtl't.':' cJgree to keep gar
from sen mg openh·.
At th!.! same time, the Rl'Publican ;\.atio1ul Comm1ttcc &aid 11
pb.ns a new TV ad accusmg Gofl' of advO\.-ating a pohcy that
would prohibit Gull \\ar heme::. Colin Po\\l'll and ;"\'onnan
Schwarzkopf from sm•ing on the Joint Chieb of Staff, looking
to e\plrnt Gore's
The ad ft'ature:-. shots of soldiers at work, of Powell and
Schwarzkopf and ends with: "Call Al Gore. Tell him the
only htmus te::.t ought to bl' for patriotism." The ad will
reportedly air m Iowa, :\ew Hampshire and a few other
states v.1th early primary date!>
-From ~taff and wire reports
12 NEWS JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
Youth takes on school officials to form student-led gay group
,... Continued from Page 1
''I guess you could s;iy I'm ,m 'in your face' kind of guy," he
says during an interview Ja,t Wet'k at IA'>U in Baton Rouge,
where he t.ikes several hour~ of das..;,cs after leaving McKinley
High School "But hey, I'm gay, I'm queer, I'm out, I'm proudhavc
I m1s.c;cd anything?" He grins broadly. "Could you tell?"
Could 1t be by the rainbow nngs he\\ cars .iround his neck?
Or th~ rainbow tag pmncd to J shoulder strap on his backpack?
Or the rainbow flag on the back of his mom's car?
Pcrh<lps another telltale sign 1s the way he mgl•rly whips
out his wallet and pullc; out two photographs of lus boyfnend,
who attends another Baton Rouge high school.
For a moment, Pfe1fter's face douds. "I le has a hard hme
sometimes," he s.ud of his boyfncnd "l lc's taunted and
teased .it school, but he -..1ys it's okay, that it's bccowe 'normal'
VIRAMUNP (nevirapine) Tablets
VIRAMUNP (nevirapine) Oral Suspension
for him. That's disgusting. I wish I could do more to help
him."
"Do more" d(l{~n't adequately desrnbe what Marty Pfeiffer
I!> doing-for himself, his boyfriend, and countle:;s other gay
teens in Baton Rouge.
Pfeiffer has taken on the F.ist Baton Rouge.P.irish School
Board, ~cKmley I ligh where he wants to start a Gay-Straight
Alliance for gay and gay-supportive students, and homer
phobcs who have unsucce,sfully tried to ,kewer him and his
sexual orientation on radio programs-.111 at gre;it risk for
being so pubhc at a time when fanatics trunk nothing of sending
hate mail, or worse.
"Yes, thl·re .ire consequences for my actions and for bemg so
out, but the bcnd1ts far outweigh any negative consequences,"
Ptl'iffcr said. "People have to J..now it's oJ..ay to be
gav, to be out, to be themselves, and they don't have to take the
1""' 1- .. """"-~-·--· llW • ll2and•,,.,..., hf 81192
1""'1 lt.'1t<rd--('l.l ... _LJl>oralory_•_•ll2 ... Bll92-
- N<ln(.'-3i7l .)d- . I
•5 ~11411
• 11)
1
19 1)
_IU:llm_llll _______I 1_1) _. ....
-... ............... ....,.,. .. Mlclaanmts.
Tlll'•d11it'111Dd'fol~·- ...cVtRMUllr..-...-=~··,...·--..
~~· Ptlm MllcaatntedSll:Dtl_ hlny~ peanl:af~ .... r.:ti'f'IRlilil.JJff• =::-..-. ::-:.::i:m~==='!r.1:'.I: n211!d•bamol..,..., _... ________ ... __ _
............ --...... ..., ....... ,.,.Cla:llNd ..... tnl21~11 ...
_:ZS ....... _ ... ___ ------
M ... ....i Orlsli. 7'1.ol ..-.U ....... VIRMIJll.•M:a.Qll.
litit2:Pllallllgllll,.._ .. l'Wllll11Adllc..lld TIWI'
ACTG:i<11• 8111111 •1011 alMB!l«D DATA
IM»ZIN ZIN'61A ""·ZIN llN
,,,,,_
ZIN ,.,, - '6d
I 197 201 !II !II :ZS 2• 252 2SI
-_-..d,,.l..l, _ 396'1. 239'1. 2117" .,.,.
~°"' •2'> 37.3'1. 200...
G_tM: .I. J_•4• .... 15 .. 33'1. °"' '°"' °"' ·111--11 .. 16'. 11'4 2001111-Dlilorh""""" ...... 200 .. _ 'I-NIQIAdCoT\GJ2 ..4..1 lworaW_ .O. _dGlllr,_id., t_& •-or 1--lor-- _ 3 ____ .,__l:Ol_m _ VIAAMIW•ACTG2'1 ...
"!mls811'1-37an,d81~.1 --.. -~----- ACTG2'1 Ttill.1G37Mdlll011
CIDl'<- .. _
lf/Pol!N .... ZIN ... IM'•ZIN ZIN- _.. _ 191 !01 ~ !II
Oiieal Kdel'lzOl llS*d ... ...., ,, .. m. .,.. .... • :m. - 2 20 3 - 3 3 11 3 ' • g 3 .......... ) 3 11 D
-r..-- 2 ' D D -- 1 2 2 D D 0 • 0
-"'~ - .0 ' 0 0 0 2 D
~ - •' 00 •2 D1
~--·----ocarr1111·---•
l'lanl>Qtd __ ... _'-_ _ ... __
ACTG2'1 81111371111011
~ llodll'l"l'r Jn&<lht1m
\j1lll1v Roxane Laboratories
...
~ r.
!;:
0
~
GLSEN's Brenda Bm-ron says only two school systems-in California
and Utah--liove not alowed chapters of gay-straight alliances .
harassment, th.it they e<m fight back. I'm not afraid, no matter
what m;iy happen. I'm never going back into the clo~t. Never.''
A rough road to take
Pft:lfft:r's transformation to gay activist didn't occur without
personal angst and pain.
Although he suspected he was gay for many years, it wasn't
until he was .:i teenager that he came to grips with the reality.
During middle school years-sixth through eighth
gradc:.-he endured perpetual taunting and teasing.
"I was preppy in those days," he says. "I sensed I was different,
and .it that age 'different' is bad. The worst thing you
could assign to your,;elf was that you're gay.
"I was called 'fag' daily, teased, and pickl•d on. Why?
&'CauSt• I was quiet and kept to myself, and I didn't liJ..e girls."
l'fl'iffer s.i1d his depress1C>n deepened. As he moved into
high school, rumors that he was gay persistl.J "and I was
making a real effort to hide it."
When his mother "had the big sex talk with me, I told hrr
I'd nevl'r h.we ~x with a woman, so she l..nl'W ~oml'thmg was
up." S.msmg hcr son's growing despair, his mothl·r got lum
into ther.ipy. By ninth grade, Pfci fft>r said, heh.id h.id enough .
"There were .1 lot of things going on m the nl'WS, .ind I was
hcgmnmg tn mourn the f.ict that I never had ,i childhood
bccausc of the way other ~tudents trl•akd ml'.
"One d.1y. my mom ,md I were in W.il·Milrt-1 could show
you the ex.id spot-,md she asl..l.J me what w,is wrong, why
I was so quid. So I iust blurted it out .... She said It wasn't a
complete surpnsc I thmk she talked to my ilunt, who's rf.',illy
ccx>I. ... I know 1t w.isn't f.',1sy for her, but my mother m.idl' 11
very clear she loved me no matter what."
It w.is his mother who found a gay youth group at thl•
Baton Rouge J.imbd.:i Center, and who conhnUl'S to provide
const.mt support
"My father, well, th.it's a different story," Pfeiffl'r s.1ys quietly.
I hs father believes hom~·xuality 1s wrong "so we don't
talk .1bout 1t murh." F.1m1ly counseling has ms...J some of the
stress, he ,idds, "but it's ::.till very hard."
Rebel with a cause
Pfl>1ffer beg.lll networking through l.1mhd,1, the C:.iy,
J.e<;bJan ,rnd Str,iight Educ,illon Network, ,md thl' lntcmet,
.md his tr.l!lsform.1tion from hm1d rlci,,e1-<,1sc to out-.indproud
g.iy ,ictlvist continues.
"Be111g g.1y is not .ibout sexual beh.wior, you kno\\," he
s.iys. "Why character11.e soml'one th.it w.1y? Peopll• \\,ml
to rt•dun• 1t to sex, but that's unf.lir. ... Fn•ryone as umes
vou 're lll'll'rn l'Xu.11, but how do you know th.it? I low do
}•ou know you're gay? You just know by the way you react
to people But Wl' receJ\'e signals and hav( internalized
ml•s.<;,1ges society has sent us. Don't buck the systl'm, don' t
HOUSTON VOICE • JANUARY 14, 2000 NEWS
Lambda director Tim Vining (left ) supports Marty Pfeiffer's efforts to start a Gay-Straight Alliance
in Baton Rouge.
be 'd1tlt'rl•nt.' wh,1teH!r that means
"I hl• h,1tred d1rectl•d to1,·ard gap. 1s
bcc.HISl' we're secn as a threat to scxwty's status
quo. '\\t' don't c.1rc 1t you're gay as long
ii" )OU don't tl.1unt 11' So 1n• learn to h1dt• 1t,
to dt'n1 1t, to mkrnalue the pam, and th.it's
u1ncd1bh· unlw,1lthv"
l'ft•iffer s,11d his l.Jucahon .rnd cont.Kt with
. 1dult ptW'>-p.irhcul,1rlv IA1mbd.1 dim.tor
f 1m \'ming-,rnd intl'r,Ktion \\'Ith otht•r g.1y
youth bol ... ttn•d his dt.,irl' to hdp otht•r '>tudrnts-.
md himsdt.
!A1st }'l'M, altl•r ,1ttending a n.1t1on,1I
GI.SI:\ wnkrt•nct•, Pk1tler decided to start a
G.w-Str,11ght ,\lli,1nct•club at ,\kKmlc1· I ligh
A CS,\, ht• stn:!SSl''-, 1s a studl.'nt-run org.1rn1,1-
hon th,ll has .1 faculty ~ponsor, a m1..,s1on
st,1temrnt. and pro1·1de ... ,1 safe '>pace for ktd~
who art• g.w or gay-... upporhw
"Our g<>,11 • .., to reduce har.i...sment of
these !..id,, to m.1kc ... chool s,1for for all ... tudenh,"
l'ft>1fll'r expl.1ins. "We'll do some
t>ducatlon .:tnd .:tw.:treness about GU!T
l'>'>Ul'S, .:tnd probably do some commurnty
outreach, some \'Olunteering.
"[A GSA club] is basically a place for
kids to talk ,md fl•el safe. Gay and g.:ty-support11
·e kids c.itch all kmds of hell. In fact,
the su1nde rate .1mong ga~· teens is much
h1ghl•r th.m straight kids. The haras'>ment,
cruelty, isolation and depression are 1·ery
hard to tal..e, so support is 1·ery important"
Brend.1 Barron, Southern as ... i ... tant fteld
director for G1$E:-.;, s,11d unlike detractors
sa1·, studl·nts in GSAs do not discuss st'\ or
te.lch ~ex educ.1t10n. GLSE'\'s Student Pride
CSA otfors support to more than 700 GS:\
ch,1ptl'rs in schoob .icros' the nalton, ",ind
therl' h,l\'l' bl'l'll onh· two instanCl's-in
Orangl' County m C1litorn1a .rnd m Ct.1hwherl'
d1.1pll'r" h,1\'l•n't been allowed."
Taking it to the board
Pfl'Jffrr felt the .1tmospherl' at \lcKtnll·~
I hgh 'l'l·med conduc11·e to the form,11ton of a
G.11-Str,11ght Alh.ince group. The school 1s
compnscd of tr.1d11ton,1I .:tnd gifted ~tudl'nb,
'\·l'n' mi\ed raci.111\', \\'tth .1 !Jrge numbl·r ot
non-Contorm1<.ts hl..e ml'sdf," he s.11s
To his surpme, l'nncip.11 Almeni.1 \\',men
rt•tu<.ed 111s reque<.t
l'te1ftu ne\I appw.:ichl'd [ast Baton
Rougt' public -chool otttnal,, One director
of high sthool programs told him
school 11as no place for a gay organtz.itton
I ligher powers, howC'1 er, pro1 ed to
be more diplomatic
I le n•ct•tn•d .1 letter from ~,·hool'
Supenntl·ndl·nt Gary \lathl'\\'S .1ssunng
thl• tl'l'n that actwn would be taken to
l'st.ibltsh ·bl'Cau'>e none e\bted-ottici.
11 policy for the form.lt1on of l'\tr.1-curmul.
ir clubs, including thl' Gay-Str.11ght
1\llt.rnce S1mil.ir reassur.1ncl'S c.1ml'
from Don \krccr, associate supenntendl'llt
ot curriculum and tn'>truct1on,
l'fl'1ifer s.11·s. l'ohc\', howel'er, doe not
guar.intee creation of PSA ....
Call to \la thews and :\1ercer were not
rl'lurned by press llml'
'It's my underst.indtng that onCl' thl•
policy t'> sl!t, 1t', up to the prtnctpals to
decide 1f .rnd hO\\ to implement 11."
Pfeiffer sa1·s. "I think-I hope-\b.
\Varren will allow the GSA "
An school s\'stem subcommittee 1s
C'xpccted to disc~ss pohcy parameters and
language during a Jan. 20 mcehng. The
mJtter should to go before the full boJrd a
wl'ek later. Pfetfft:r plans to attend both
meetings and e\pects anti-gay forCl'S to be
there as well
'Tm enough of a pragmatist to know I
h.ll'e to 'conform' a httle," he says, reterring
to the board meetings "I probably
won t \\'e.ir the earrings and other thmgs
[bec;iuseJ 1t\ important that mv message ts
heard and that my appearance doesn't
cau'e interference"
\'mmg, "ho teaches at ~t. Joseph's
Academv, 1s leading il l ..1 mbda card·s1gntng
camp.11gn to 'how support for Ptl•titer
.md CS:\ clubs Ill e\'en· 'chool th.it w.ints
one. I le ,11,0 ha' urged supporters to cont.
Kt \ lathe\\''> d1rl'Ctl\' to e\press thl•tr support,
.md to ,1ttend both ses'>lons
"Wl•'re e\pecllng oppostllon bv the
u ... ual people 1' ho are bigoted and tilled
with hatred to\\',ud gays," \'ming sJ1d, "so
ti's important th.:tt people-ga\' and
straight-get out ,rnd support \!arty .:tnd
the GS:\s ."
If you are seriously ill, money
shouldn't be an added source of stress.
Selling your life insurance policy is an option to consider.
As one of the oldest vioticol settlement
brokers we have the experience and
knowledge to get you the h ighest
cash settlement possib le .
M. Bryon Freemon
f ~I ! (luef ( ' Adwcmt
* o~e q~ c • s ~p e appl1cot on
* Compet •-ve b1da ng process among
mu tiple fund ng sou·ces
.,.. Ary size policy
o cost or ob 19ahon at any t ~e
* All policy types cons dered, ~c uding
some 1ess than two years old
* HIV and other ser·oi.s lnesses
* Qualify ~P to 900 ~<ells
* Your settlement moy oe tax.free
* Conf1dent1ality now and o ways
BENEFITS
~AMERICA
ReMn yaur cor.-pieted
app ceuor and receive
a tree Videotape
Exercises for
People with HIV
by People With HIV.
13
800-777-8878
Celebrating 10 years as your advocate .
www.benefitsamerica.com
Member V1at1 A~·. _ot1on of America Benefil> America NA Inc
• One source for all your medication needs
• HIV certified pharmacists to help manage your therapy
• Private one-on-one consultation with your pharmacist
• Nutritional service and support available
• Coordination and filing of insurance benefits
• Confidential home delivery available
Larry Harrison, RPh
4101 Greenbriar, Suite 235
(713) 521-1700
William Southward, RPh
Jeffry Felcman, RPh
3407 Montrose, Suite AS
(713) 522-7373
Monday
9:00 - 6:30
Tues - Fri.
9:00 - 5:30
Mon - Fri
9:00 - 7:00
Saturday
9:00 -1 :00
www.statscript . com
14 NEWS JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
Double homicide still unsolved
We must leave it ,,.,;th him."
ramil) mcrnbm; of the \ictims have &id the
brutality of the slaymgs showed hate was a factor.
"It was O\'erkill, a brutal murder. I just don't
under.;t<lnd how they can sleep at night I just
keep praying that they can get one of them,"
Parker s.ud
The two men were friendly and tra\eled
heavtlv, fanuly members said Moms, a hair::
dres..<;CT, had returned to fexas City a vear ear~
lier after liVIng in Las Vegas. T ryals, unem~
ployed for nearly a year, alway!> kept a posit1\e
> outlook and uplifted people with his compli:
i: ments, said Gwendolyn Tryals, his sister.
~ "Everv brne you saw him, he had a smile on
<-----------------' i;l his face/' Gwmdolyn Tryals said. ''He always
Betty Parker, the mother of a gay man slain in
Texas Gty, is organizing a vigil to mark the
one year anniversary of the unsolved case.
.-- Continued from Page I
'There IS nothmg new as far a' breaking 1t,"
Capt Ron Schoolcraft said. "The fire did damage,
destroyed a lot of stuff We 1ust haven't got
a break yet."
A month after the slayings, friends and relatives
of the l\vo men held an emot:iooal VJi;tl to
renew mtere;t in them: Family memlx'rS held
c:andles and wore white T-shirts emblazooed "In
LoV!ng Memory" and a large photo of Morris. A
local p.1Slor led them m prayer.
"We are praying for each other, and for
those who did tlus," the Rev Tyron ColliflS
said. "For the Lord said, 'Vcn~ronce is mine.'
tried to make you feel good. He didn't have that
kind of an enemy that would do that to him."
But her brother Wa!> too busting, something
she had warned him about m the pa,t.
''It 1s SJd that we hate people lx'Cause of
their race, theu gender," Gwendolyn Tryals
5'lld "I told him to be careful, 'You are black
and gay-you ha\'e two ~trikes agamst you.' I
told hun he needs to watch himself"
Family members remain hopeful that the
case will be solved.
"It's a small town, somebody knows
something," Parker said. "The lead, they
did have when it first happened, it went
nowhere. The only hope I ha\'C is God to
make [the suspects] show their face, at
least one of them You feel like your
hands are tied "
w, ~ Afi Sfmt4 ~ ProWder dedicated to servmg thE HIV communUy
Now Accepting Medicare, PPOs
& Standard Insurances.
Exercise Programs
Personal Trainers
Nutritional Intervention
Massage Therapy
Stress/Pain Managment
Neuropathy Therapy
Peer Support
Workshops & Seminars
Steroid Education
Increase Self Esteem
Dallas woman charged
in slaying of roommate
Police say 'abusive
relationship' ended
in slaying
b~ TAMMYE. (';ASH
Dallas Vot
DALLAS-A north D.111.is woman
has been .irrested and lharged with
killing her long-time ro()mm.1te, police
said
Lisa Rae \1eeks, 35, w.is arrested on
Dec. 28 after the body of her roommate,
Danielle D' Alexandris, ~5, was
discovered on Christmas Day m a
pond at the apartment complex where
the two women 11\'ed.
"From wh.it we know so tar, 11
appears that there was an argument,
and the suspect killed her roommate,"
s.iid Dall.is police Sgt. Ross S.ilvermo
"In an attempt to dispose of the body,
the suspect then put the body in a
trash bag .ind left it in .i pond there on
the (.ipartment complex! property."
Meeks' court-appointed attorney, Tim
Menchu of Dallas, had no comment
S.1lvcnno s.ud the l\\o roomm.1tl,
h.1d lived for "<>ix or ~evrn Yl'aro; in
something of .in abusive relahon>h1p "
But he 11d he \\as unJb!e to ~onfmn
rumor that the t\\o women were ksb,
m lover'> or provide det.itls about
the .illcgcd abusive nature of the relahonsh1p
betw(·en the two womrn
Two residents of the ap.irtment
complex where the women lived
found D Alex.indns body on DC'c. 25,
inveshgators said. The res1dl'nts h,1d
nohced a garb.ig<' bag in the pond a
day earlier. Because of the cold wrather,
they w<11ted for warmer weather
before ,1ttempting to retrieve the bag,
police said.
As they pulled II from the\\ ater, th(•
tra~h bag opened and the residents
saw the dead woman s hand, according
to a police report The two residents
then summoned authonttes
Meeks was arrested after mvrsllga·
tors found trash b.igs in her .ip.irtmcnt
matching the one used to dispose of
D' Alexandns' bod\ lnveshgators also
said Meeks had several bruises indicating
that she may h,l\'e bel•n in a
phys1Lal alterc:tt10n
PHONES
PAGERS
Premier
PAGING & WIRELESS t 2220 MURPHY ROAD, SUITE E
281-575-8500
WWW.CALLPREMIER.COM
Free phone small print - Original Phone price _$99.95 & $69.95. Your cost after in-store
instant rebate is $49 45 + tax. Your cost after $50 mall-in rebate 1s Free+ tax (4.12). Credit history
and a 1-year agreement required. Hurry, offer ends soon!
Free pager small print- New activations only. $9.95 for act1Vahon. 1-year agreement
required. Offer ends 1131199
HOUSTON VOICE • JANUARY 14, 2000
Chat I Personals I News I Travel I Entertainment I People
~ PlanetOut ~com
www.planetout.com I AOL Ke'yWO!d: PlanetOut engage -t enjoy
THIS YEAR
I will set out
to do something great
for myself.
..
MUSCLE MECH AN ICSSM
15
Selling your life insurance
is a decision
Wilen YCl'J re goy IV!ng w '" H v end tt>nking o' se :>g yovr
lfe •st.rol'Ce st-ouldn t you be 9 ven o foce-lo-foce
con tot Cl'.,, o nc>1Yess1.<e 'lC>Obigoho.' erwronme'1ti
Registe<~ 111 Texas
Member of
Notional Vioftcol Association
Call 1 ·800-275·3090 today! LINKED VIATICAL BENEFITS
Jl!Oier Bl11es
md
... ... eWritis
WRITIEN AND PERFORMED BY R
NASH
JANUARY 12 - 30
THURSDAYS 8PM $18
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS 8PM $20
SUNDAYS 6PM $18
$15 STUDENTS ALL PERFORMANCES
TICKETS:
713.426.2626
3722 WASHINGTON AVENUE
BETWEEN YALE &
!
. • · WAUGH/ HEIGHTS
16
Bernie Johnson
Realtor
--~;'~-KELLER
Will.IAMS
Direct: 281.364.4862
Office: 281.364.1588
25303 1-45 North • The Woodlands • 77380
An Independent Member Broker
Soecialiling in Monwome1Y and North Harris coulllJ
JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
THE PLAZA
AT
RIVER OAKS
~
1920 W. Gray• 1945 W. Bell
713-528-5277
SEE THE CLASSIFIED SEm'ION
HOUSTON VOICE •JANUARY 14, 2000
A GUIDE FOR YOUR LEISURE TIME
The challenging, boldly erotic British TV series 'Queer as Folk'
will come to American television thanks to a two-hour pilot
that begins production this spring and will air on Showtime
by DAVID COi D\1/\N
Fiftl•en·yl'.ir-old Nathan grins with cocl..y charm
th.it lw's "dl'.ld proud" lw got laid on his first foray
mto thl' g.1y world. Stu.1rt, 29, pirl..s up till' \'1rgin,
tops him, tlwn drops him like .in l'mpty drug b.1gg}
as Ill' r.Kl'S aftl'f his lll'\t nmqul•st. /\ lril'nd', moth·
l'r rings up \'rnn' to tl'll him her son h.1s dll'd or .111
o\'l'rdosl'. I le t.11..t•s the 1:.111 on his Cl•ll -wlwr1•
dsr7-at thl' disco, 111 the m1d"t of yet ,111otlwr 111ght
of wild p.11l\'111g.
Tlw furor that l'rupt1•d when Bnt.1111's Ch.inrwl 4
cxportl'd rts ",\rn11sh'.1d \laupin's Tail's of tlw Crt\"
to the United St.1tcs virtual!\ ensurl'!i th.it thl' bro.id·
rastrr', "Qu1·t·r ,15 I olk" will nl'n r, l'\'l'r lw w1d1•ly
trl•·c.ht on this s1dl• of tlw 1\tlant1c.
Th.it's b1· .. 1usl' till' 1•1ght-p.irt so.1p 01wr.i .1bout
tlw hn•, .ind l.1ys of twn g.iy men .111d .1 gav boy m
\l,1nclwst1•r, Lngl.ind, 1s l'\tr,1ordrn.irily bold .ind
1•xphnt-so much so th.it it \\'.ls blastl•d lw w.itth·
dog' on thl' nght .111d tht! ll•ft wlwn 1t .iin•J in Brit.mi
l.ist )'l'<lr. lronic.111\', tlw eight rp1sodl'' cont.1m Jl1't
thrl'l' l'\phcit sex !>Cenes-but the'l' arl' incredibly
r.1w in their intensity. And thl' characll'rs' st'X talk.
is whl.'n Nathan l'c~tatrc.illy dl'scnbes his first .111.11
st'\ l'\pt•rience-sl'ts .1 new stand.ird for frankness.
Bnt.1m's Bro.idcashng St,1nd.irds Commission
rn~lwd to mveshg.1tl' the show when rt rl'Ceivt•d 10
wmpl.1rnts aftl'r the first t•p1sode aired. Re\'lews
11we la1gely hostile: the Daily Telegr.1ph's James
Watson calkd it "uncomprom1"mgly rude"
The Bill issued an apology after its breakfa,t
shm1 ran a 2(becond ''Queer" clip of two men ki-smg
"It cont.1ms th1· most explicit gav 'rx scene that
h;l\ e been ~l't'n on TV," said BBC Online.
'Twrv hbel hurled at the gay community O\ l'I
thl' \'<'.Hs sc·l'ms nnd1catcd bv 'Queer as folk,"'
wroit' John \1acLeod m the I k~ald of Gla,gow.
Fn•n thl' gay rights group Stonl'wall cril•d foul,
ob1l•ding in p.irtlcular to the portray.ii of sex
m.ichinl' Stu.irt. (l.11l•r, th1• group e:N·ntially .1pologizl"
l for its initial fl'.lChon.)
;,.- Continued on page 21
Not only is Gore
Vidal a prolific
writer, he's being
written about.
Biographer
Frank Kaplan's
'Gore VidaV
at 850 pages,
was published
in November.
Gay author Gore Vidal, whose
newest novel deals with time
travel and the alteration of
history, speaks frankly of the end
being near and the government
needing to stay out of bedrooms
by\ 1:-\CE~I KO\AR
E sa\1st, no~ ehst plav\\ nght, congre:;-1onal cand date and
e:1.conatmg oc1.1l-h1 toncal cnllc, Gore \ 1dal 1<. a queer pione<'
r \1 ho not only def med \\hat it 1, to be gav but then man·
aged to e ape the p1gron-hole of that defmllmn-glonous \
Latest of his man) \1orks1s "The <;m1th-0111an lnshtution"
m \1 h1ch a 13·\ car-old prodtg\' '-' called from (\ 1d.il's alma
mater) ~t. Albans school to the ~m1thsoman museum,\\ ho e
hall" -tretch both through hmc and -pace and \\here a secrd
proiect to create the atom bomb ts takmg place.
Humorous, touching and ms1ghtful, the no\ el " one of
Vidals most acce s1blc work!. and (borro\,mg from \1dal 's
autob1ogr.1ph1·J a pahmp est of manr la) er' This interview
,.. Continued on page 22
18 OUT ON THE BAYOU
Brooding over death, follies and the emperor's clothes
by ELLA 1YLER
If you're in the mocxi for 50me light reading,
there's .i tno of gay-th1.:med mystenes
thJt can help feed that yen for less than
strenuous bedtime readmg.
Local wntcr Tim Hemlin throws everything
in the pot for hlS fifth book, DEAD
1A:'l:'S BROTH, and the result IS hearty
and satisfying eil :vt.ir~h ll 1s the chef for
a catering firm .ind .i student in University
of Houston's creah\e wnt..ng program. As
the book begins, he and a fnend are leaving
a gay bar and interrupt .i group of skinheads
beating .i man
Both men wade into the melee, and as
the police <1rm c and the skin-heads leave,
ell recogruzes a nearby anll-gay protester
.is a prominent hate-mongering minister.
One of the skin-heads threaten' Neil, and
since he has picked up ~ell's wallet, II m.ty
not be an idle threat
But all that happen b a ~enes of ugly
letters \\1th the wc1pe for "dead m.tn's
broth" arriving .ti the catering office. They
threaten "queers" hkc ;'\eil's boss and
"queer-10\ers' hke :-.!e1l Then, the other
prominent caterer in town b murdered and
his office trashed ~ell thinks it's the skinheads,
but his boss 1s arrested
Then the main witne~s. a disgruntled
emplo)ce of the catering firm, is killed and
\;eil becomes the prime suspect. As Neil
.md the colorful private detecllve C.J
\tlcDaruels 1m estigate (and eat therr way
across town) they discover that the dead
men, the publisher of a local magazlne, and
the mini ter have several things m common,
including a few closets
It's entertaining to see Houston through a
\vnter's eye. and Hemlin tos.<;e:; out a few
cooking tip. and some of the mo:,t interestmg
metaphors around
Orland Outland's motto must be "too
much of a gocxi thing 1s wonderful." DEATH
WORE THE E:\.1PEROR'S NEW CLOTIIES.
the third in the series featuring Doan
McCandler, who prefers to wear dres&.'S, and
Binky Van de Kamp, a poor heiress, sends our
duo and their respective lovers to New York.
The guys ha\ e taken jobs with gay billionaire
Andrew \Yeatherall, \\ho has made 11 fortune
for himself and many others specufotmg on
computer stocks.
Weatherall hire~ Van de Kamp lo oversee
his chantable fund, and McCandler
finds a JOb as muse to a dress designer.
Wea therall has always been out of the closet,
and is unabashedly liberal. His archenemy
1s a right-wind media magnate,
Herbert Kildare, who begins his war on
Wcath('rall by outing Weatherall's lover, a
professional baseball player.
KildJre O\\TIS the team that acquire~• the
D verseWorks presents
I I Jlt!\t.i i voice
TIM HEMLIN.
A CU LI NARY MYSTERY
DEAD MAN•s
BROTH
player and soon after, when it looks like his
intention is to rum the player's career, he is
murdered in Binky's office. When Weatherall
1s arrested and the bank accounts are shut
down, Binky and Tim, Doan's lover, go
undercover to work for Kildare's enterpnscs
to see what they can find out. It's Doan,
though, who discovers the odd low triangle
that IS behind the murders. The book is total·
ly improbable, but lots of fun.
Richard Stevenson's STRACHEY'S
FOLLY begins as private investigator
Donald Strachey and his lover are V1S1hng
an old friend in Washington, D.C. to see the
AIDS Memorial Quilt. The friend spots a
panel for a former lover, Washington insider
Jim Suter, but he had seen the man alive
and well in Mexico only two weeks before.
The other shock 1s that also viewing the
panel is a heavily disguised, former congresswoman.
I Ier politics were notoriously
conservative, and she resigned after a campnign
finance scandal
Strachey's friend hires him to inwstigate
and then is nearly killed. Strachey finds out
that plenty of people wanted Suter dead,
includmg a drag queen who impersonated
Hillary Clinton and Liddy Dole. Strachey
finally locates Suter, alive, but a virtual pnsoner
of his wenlthv ~1exican lover. Ill• ob\i·
ously know~ something, but what7
Stevenson's work 1s an entertaining look at
the d;irk side of politics.
Dead Man's Broth
by Tim Hem in
Ballantine Books, 289 pages, SS 99
Strachey's Folly
by Richard Stevenson
St Martin's Press, 216 pages, S 11.95
Death Wore the Emperor's
New Clothes
by Orland Outland
Berkley Pnme Cnme. 198 pages, S5.99
JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
What yo!'r neighbors
are rea.dutg . . .
Men on Men 2000
ed. by David Bergman, $12.95
2 Don't Get Me Started
by Kate Clinton, $14
3 Cybersocket 2000
by Gaynet Directones, $9 95
4 The Hours
by ~ichael Cunningham, $13
5 Whole Lesbian Sex Book
by Felice Newman, $21 95
6 Best of the Superstars 2000
edited by John Patrick, $ It 95
7 Welcome to World, Baby Girl!
by Fannie Flagg, $7.50
8 Way to Go, Smith
by Bob Smith, $24
9 Outfoxed
by Rita M.:ie Brown, $24
10 The Talented Mr. Ripley
by Patncia Highsmith, $13
Crossroads Market
BOOKSTORE & CAFE-
1111 Westheimer
713-942-0147
Legends-Men of Falcon
Bruno Grounder, $42.95
l Best of the Superstars 2000
edited by John P.:itnck, $11 9S
1 Sensual Men
by Bruno Gm under, $29 9'i
4 Chop Suey Club
by Bruce Weber, $60
5 Girls Will Be Girls
by l..eslca Ncwm,:in, $12.95
o This is What Lesbian Looks Like
ed by Kais Kleindienst, $18.95
7 The Book of Lies
by Fehce P1cano, $24 qs
S Cybersocket 2000
by Gayne! Directories, $9.95
9 Outfoxed
by Rita Mac Brown, $24
IO A Woman Like ThJt
ed. by Jo.in Larkin, $24
·LOBO Y;"··
3939 Montrose Boulevard
713-522-5156
HOUSTON VOICE • JANUARY 14, 2000
WHAT YOUR PROTEASE
INHIBITOR CAN BE:
•
VIRACEPT IS POWERFUL It's tough on HIV. In many people, VIRACEPT lowered the
amount of HIV in the blood to levels below the limit of detection of the test used,
and substantially increased CD4 cell counts aher 24 weeks of triple combination
for the treatment of HIV infection when ant1·HIV drug therapy is warranted It 1s
not yet known whether taking VIRACEPT w1 help you live longer or reduce the
number of infections or other illnesses that can occur with HIV Some common
therapy. (The clinical significance of changes in viral med1cat1ons and some HIV related medications
RNA levels in blood has not been established. The
virus may still be present in other organ systems.)
VIRACEPT IS EASY TO LIVE WITH Take it three
VIRACEPT
nelfinavir mesylate
should not be taken with VIRACEPT. For some
people, protease inhibitors have been associated
tablets and oral powder with the onset or worsening of diabetes mell1tus
times a day with your normal meals or light
snacks. VIRACEPT IS GENERALLY WELL TOLERATED People treated with VIRACEPT
may experience some side effects; the most common is diarrhea of moderate or
greater intensity in 20% of people in clinical trials. VIRACEPT WORKS It's indicated
*IMS NPA Prescription Data 8/98 - 5/99
and hyperglycemia, and with increased bleeding
in patients with hemophilia Ask your doctor. For more information, call
toll free 1-888-VIRACEPT or visit www.agouron.com.
(Refer to the important information on the next page.)
19
20
VIRACEPT
nelfinavir mesylate
c ' •
Information for Patients About VIRACEP'r (Vl·ra-cept)
Generic Name: nelfinavir (nel-FIN-na-veer) mesylate
For the Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection
Please read tills lnformation carefully before taking VIRACEPT. Also. please read this leaflet each time
r,ou renew the prescnpt1on.1ust 1n case anything has changed This is a summary and not a replacement
or a careful discuSSJon with your doctor. You and your doctor should discuss VIRACEPTwhen you start
tak ng this medication and at regu ar checkups You should rema n under a doctor's care when taking
VlRACEPT and should not change or stop treatment without I rst ta k ng with your doctor
WHAT IS VIRACEPT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
VIRACEPT s used in the treatment of people w1th human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1nfec11on.
Infection with H V leads to the destruction of C04 T cells, wh!Ch are important to the immune system
After a large number ol C04 cells have been destrO'Jed, the nfected person develops acqu red unmune
def ciency svndrome (AIDS)
VIRACEP1 works by block ng HIV protease (a prote •-cuttng enzyme). whicll IS required for HIV to
mult ply V RACEPT has been shown to s gn hcantty reduce the amount of HIV in the blood. Yoo shou1d
be aware. however, that the effect of VIRACEPT on HIV 1n the blood has not been correlated with Jong·
term health benef ts Patents who took Vl'lJ\CEPT also had Sl9" f1cant increases In the11 CD4 cell count
VIRACEPT is usually taken together with other ant11etroY1ral drugs such as Retrovir4 (z1dowdine,
AZT) Ep r4 am vud ne 3TC). or Zent" lstavud ne d4n Tak:no VlRACEPT n comb naUon with other
a • retrOV1ral drugs reduces the amount o H V 111 the body (viral oadJ and raises C04 counts
VIRACEPT may be taken by adu Is adolescents, and children 2 years of age or older Stud es " infants
younger than 2 years or age are ~ow tak ng place
DOES VIRACEPT CURE HIV OR AIDS?
VIRACEPT is not a cure for 11 V inleCI on or AIDS 'he long term effects of VIRACEPT are not known at
tlus l!me People ta ng V RACEPT may sll deve op OllPOrtunistIC in'ecbons or other cond t ons
assoc:ated wi:." HIV n1ect1or. Some of these conditions are pneumonia, nerpes virus mlect1ors,
Mycobactenum avium complex (MAC) 1nlecl!ons, and Kaposi s sarcoma.
It 1s not known whether VIRACEPT w II help you live longer or reduce the oumber of inlecuons or other
illnesses that may occu·
T'lere IS no proof that VIRACEP~ can reduce the rsk of transm tt ng HIV to others through sexual
contact or b ood contammat on
WHO SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT TAKE VIRACEPT?
Together With your doctor. you need to decide whether VIRACEPT IS appropriate lor you m 'llak1ng
your deCJSJon. the followmg shoold be considered
Allergies If you have had a seroous allergic reaction to VIRACEPT. you must not take VIRACEPT.
You shOtlld also inform your doctor nurse or pharmaCISt ol ar.y known allergies to substances such as
other med1tmes. foods. preservatives. or dyes
II you are pregnant The effects of VIRACEPT on pregnant women or the11 unborn babies are not
~ffACE~~you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. you should tell your doctor before taking
n you are breast-feeding. You should d scuss With your doctor the best way to l~d your baby You
should be aware that d your baby does not already nave HIV there IS a chance that n can be transmitted
throug" breasHeed1no Women should nol breast-teed 1f they have HIV
Children: VI RACE PT IS available lorthe treatment ol children 2 through t 3 years of age with HIV There
IS a powder lorm of VIRACEPT that can be mixed with milk. baby formula, or loods like pudding
tnstruct10ns on how to take VI RACE PT powder can be found In a laier secbon that discusses how
VlRACEPT Oral Powder shOu d be prepared
11 you have liver disease· VlRACEPT has not been stud ed 111 people will' liver d sease If you have r111er
disease you should tell your doctor before tak ng VlRACEPT.
Olhtr medical problems· Certain medical problems may affect the use or VIRACEPT Some people
tak1no protease inh brtors have developed new or more ser10us diabetes or high blood sugar. Some
people with hemoph1 ia ~.ave had increased bleeding It is not lulown whether Jhe protease mh brtors
caused tnese prob ems Be sure to tell your dOClor II yoo have hemophifia types A and B. diabetes
me 1tus. or an ncrease in th rst and/or lreQuent uronal!On
CAN VIRACEPT BE TAKEN WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS?
VIRACEPT may inttract with other drugs. including those you take without a prescnpt1on You must
discuss wit~ your doctor any drugs that you are tak no or are pl;mrung to ta<e belore you take VIRACEPT.
Drugs you should pot take with VIRACEPT:
• Seioane• lter1enad ne. for anerg1es)
• H1smanai- (astem1zole, for allerg1esl
• Propufsid• (cisapnde, lor heartburn
• Cordarone• (amoodaro~e. for megular heartbeat)
• Ou1nidine (for irregular heartbeat). also know" as Ou111aglute~ Card10Qu1n~ Ou1rudex~and others
• Ergot derrvatrves (Ca'ergot" and others. for migraine headache)
• Halclon" (tnazolam)
• Versed° (m1dazolam)
Takino the above drugs with VIRACEPT may cause serious and/or hfe·threatemng adverse events
• Rilampin (!or tubertutos1s), aiso known as Runactane" Rifad1n•, R1fater4, or R1famate"
This drug reduces blood levelS of VIRACEPT
Dose reduclion requ111d If you tak1 VIRACEPTw1th
Mycoootin• (nfabutin, !or MACj; you win need to take a lower dose ol Mycobutin.
A change of therapy should b1 considered II you are taking VIRACEPT with:
• P~enobarb1tal
• P!lenytom (D1lant1n" and others)
• Carbamazep1ne (Tegretoi- and others)
These agents may reduce the amount of VIRACEPT in your blood and make It less effective
• Oral contracepUVes ("the pill")
H you are tak no the p II to prevent pregnancy you should use a d1Herent type of contracepl!on since
VIRACEPT may reduce the effecl!veness of oral contraceptives
HOW SHOULD VIRACEPT BE TAKEN WITH OTHER ANTI·HIV DRUGS?
Tak1no VI RACE PT together with other ant~HIV drugs increases their ab11ty to fight the virus It also
reduces the opportunity for resistant wuses to grow Based on your history of taking other ant1·HIV
med cine. your doctor wi I direCI you on how to take VIRACEPT and other anh·HIV medic nes These
druos should be taken n a certain order or at SPWllC times This wi depend on how many times a day
each med1CJne should be taken It will also depend on whether It should be taken W1th or without food
Nucleos1de analogues. No drug mteracuon problems were seen when VlRACEPT was g111en wlth
• Retrovu (Z1dovud1ne. AZT)
• EpMr (lamMJdme. 3TC)
• Zerit lstavud ne. d4 T)
• Vide:<"1didanosine cfdl)
II yov are taking both Vidu (ddl) and VIRACEPT; Videx should be taken without lood. on an empty
storr.ach. Therefore, you should take VlRACEPT with food one hour alter or more than two hoors before
you ta<e Videx
Nonnucleos1de reverse tr1nscnptue inhibilors (NNRTls):
When VIRACEPT IS taken together with
• V ramune• (nevirapmeJ
The amount of VlRACEPT U1 your blood may be reduced Stud es are now ta• no place to learn about
the safety ol comb ning VIRACEPT with Viramune
• Other NNRTls
VIRACEPT has not been studied w th other NNRTls
JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
Other protnse Inhibitors:
When VIRACEPT 1s taken together with:
• Croxivan• (ind1navir)
The amount of both drugs 1n your blood may be increased Currently, there are no safety and efficacy
data available from the use ol this combination.
• Norvlr'" (rotonavirJ
The amount of VIAACEPT 1n your blood may be Increased Currently, there are no safety and efficacy
data available from the use of thls combination
• lnvirase• 1saqu1navir)
The amount or saquinav11 In your blood may be increased. If used m combination with saquinavir hard
gelatin capsules at 600 mg three limes daily, no dose adjustments are needed. Currently, there are no
safety and efficacy data available lrom the use of this combination.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF VIRACEPT7
Like alt medicines, VIRACEPT can cause side effects Most ol the side effects experienced with
VIRACEPT have been mild to moderate. Diarrhea is the most common side effect 1n people laking
VIRACEPT. and most adult patients had at least mild diarrhea at some point during treatment. In clinical
stud es about 20% of patients rece1111ng VIRACEPT 750 mg (three tablets) three times daily had four or
more loose stoolS a day In most cases. diarrhea can be controlled using ant1d1arrhea1 medicines. such
as !mod um• A·D (IOperam de) and others. which are available without a prescription.
Other side effects that occurred in 2% or more of patients rece1111ng VI RACE PT Include abdominal pain.
asthenia. nausea. llatulence, and rash.
There were others de effects noted In cl nica' studies that occurred n less than 2% or patients receiving
VIRACEPT However, these side effects may have been due to other drugs that patients were tak ng or to
the 1 lness itseH Except for diarrhea. there were not many d lferences Ins de effeCls in patients who took
VlRACEPT alono with other drugs corr pared w th those who took only the other drugs For a complete hst
of s de elfeCls, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist
HOW SHOULD I TAKE VIRACEPT?
V RACEPT IS available only with your doctor's preswpt on The ght blue VlRACEPT Tablets should be
taken three times a day VIRACEPT shou d a ways be taken with a meal or a I ght snack You do not have
to bke VIRACEPT exact:v every 8 hours Instead. you can take rt at normal times when you are eating.
T1ke VIRACEPT exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not increase or decrease any dose or the
number of doses per day. Also. take this medicine for the exact pe11od or tJme that your doctor has
instructed Do not stop taking VIRACEPT without first consulting with your doctor, even if you are
reeling better.
On?y ta'e medlC ne tMt has been prescnbed spectta ly for you Do not give V'RACEPT to others or
take medicine prescr bed !or someone else
The dos1no of VIRACEPT may be different for you than for other patients Follow the directions lrom
your doctor, exactly as w11tten on the label. The amount or VIRACEPT In the blood should remain
somewhat co11S1stent over time Missing doses w I cause the concentration or VIRACEPT to decrease:
therefore. you should not miss 1ny doses fiowever. 11 you m ss a dose, you should take the dose as
soon as possible and then take your next scheduled dose and Mure doses as 0110 nally scheduled
Dosing in adults (Including children 14[nrs ol 1g1 and older)
The recommended adult dose or VIRAC PT 1s 750 mg (three tablets) taken three times a day. Each
dose should be taken with a meal or hght snack
Dosing 1n children 2 through 13 years of age
The VIRACEPT dose 1n children depends on their weight The recommended dose Is 20 to 30 mg/kg {or
9 to t4 mg/pound) per dose. taken three times daily with a meal or light snack This can be administered
either in tablet form or. in children unable to ta<e tablets. as VI RACE PT Oral Powder
Dose instructions w II be provided by the child's doctor. The dose will be g111en three times daily using the
measuring scoop prOV1ded, a measurtng teaspoon. or one or more tablets depending on the weight and
age of the chi d Tne amount of oral powder or tablets to be given to a child 1s descnbed in the chart below
Pediatric Dose to Be Administered Three Times Dall)
BodyWtight II.umber 11,umber II.umber
o(Lntl of lt>tl o(
K~ Lb Scoops' Tu.spoons' T•bltu
7 to < 8 5 '5 5 to <18.5 t
8 5 to <10 5 '85 10 <23 I•
10 5 to <12 23 to <26.5 I'
t2 to <'4 26.S to <3t 1•.
t4 to <lb 31 to <35
tb 10 <18 35 to <39 5 9 2 •
18 to <21 J9 5 to <50 5 10 2'h
~B ~o.s 15 3'.
In measuring oral powder. the scoop or teaspoon should be level
• 1 level scoop contains 50 mg of VIRACEPT. Use only the scoop provided with your VI RACE PT bottle.
' 1 level teaspoon contains 200 mg ot VIRACEPT N'ole A measuring teaspoon used for dispensing
medication should be used for measu11ng VIRACEPT Oral Powder Ask your pharmacist to make sure
you have a medication dispensing teaspoon
How should VIRACEPT Oral Powder b1 p11p111d7
The oral powder may be mixed with a small amount of water, milk. formula. soy formula. soy milk.
d etary supplements or daory loods such as pudd1no or ice cream Once mixed. the entire amount must
be taken to obtain the full dose
Do not mix the powder with any ac1d1c food or 1uice. such as orange or grapefruit 1u1ce, apple 1ulce. or
apple sauce. because this may create a bitter taste
Once the powder is mixed, 11 may be stored at room temperature or relngerated for up to 6 hours Do
not heat the mixed dose once 1t !las been prepared.
Do not add water to bottles of oral powder.
VIRACEPT powder IS supplied with a scoop for measunng. For help m determining the exact dose of
powder for your child. please ask your doClor. nurse, or pharmacist
VIRACEPT Oral Powder contains aspartame. a 1ow·ca1one sweetener, and lherefore should not be
taken by children with phenyl~etonuria (PKUJ
HOW SHOULD VIRACEPT BE STORED?
Keep VIRACEPT and all other medicines out of the reach or children Keep bottle closed and store at
room temperature (between 59'F and 86"Fl away from sources or moisture such as a s1rk or other damp
place Heat and moisture may reduce the ettect111eness ol VI RACE PT.
Do not keep medicine that IS out of date or tnat you no longer need Be sure that 11 you throw any
medicine away. it IS out of the reach of children
Discuss all questions about your health w th your doctor II you have Questions about VIRACEPT
or any olher med1ta: on you are tak ng ask your doctor nurse, or pharmacist You can also call
t 888 VIRACEPT (t 888 847 2237) toll free
T~e lollow1ng are registered trademarks of tne11 respective manufacturers Retrovor, Ep1vir/Glaxo
Wellcome Onco1ogy1111V: Zer t. Vlde~'Bnsto~M1ers SQu1bb Oncology lnvirase, Versed/Roche laboratories
Inc. Seldaoe. R1'ad n, Rrtamate. R tater/Hoechst Manon Roussel H1smanal, Propuls1d/Janssen
Ph.armaceut1ca Inc. Halc1on. Mycobut1n/Pnarmacia & Upjohn Co, R1mactane, TegretoVC1baGeneva
PnarmaceuticalS V1ramune/Roxane Uboratones. tnc, D1lant1n/Parke·DaV1S; CnxivaivMerck & Co. Inc.
lmod1umA-DiMcNed Consumer Products Co: Cordarone/Wyetn·Ayerst Laborato11es. Oulnaglute.'Berlex
l.Jboratoroes. Card1oquut/Ttie Purdue Frederick Co; Ou1mdelC/A H Robins Co, Inc, CafergoVNovart1s
Phamiaceuticals Corp 1'01V1r Is a trademark of Abbott laborator1es
Issued 11113197
CALL 1181 VIRACEPT
VIRACEPT is a reoostertd tr~•·• ot >.oouron PNnNCtulic. s. Inc
Co9Yr'9'11 c 1999 Aoouron PllnNClullU!s. Inc All 1'9•ts llstr>td
HOUSTON VOICE• JANUARY 14, 2000
THE
SHAG'S
THE
THING
;... Continued from page 17
And indel•d, the series shows aspects of
thl' gay life that many gay peopll' would
gladly join in covering up. Premiering as it
did 1ust in time for the Parliamentary
debate over lowering the age of consent for
gay Sl'X, "Queer" seemed tailor-made for
making troubll'.
"Why doesn't Jnyone stop me?" taunts
the lusty Stuart, thl' right-wing's worst
nightmare of ii sexual compulsive as he
rushes off to "shag" his teenage lover. "It's
not my fault-they should stop me."
Try though he might, the self-centered
Stuart seems incapable of generating more
than a casual interest in Alfred, his son,
born to a lesbian friend in the first episode.
In the series' most chilling incident, one
character collapses after snorting a line of
heroin. The trick who gave him the drug
simply slips out, leaving the victim to die
alone on his kitchen floor. Later at the
wake, Stuart memorizes the mother's
heartbroken lament and cell-phones it into
OUT ON THE BAYOU 21
the office to use in a mortuary's ad campaign.
With keys he swipes at the funeral,
Stuart raids the dead man's house for his
porn collection. Stuart laughs at death-but
not at age. His impending 30th birthday
(still months away) fills him with incalculable
dread.
"Frankly, I was expecting criticism from
the g<1y community,'' said Russell T. Davies,
the series openly gay co-creator and writer.
"I know a lot of these gay politicians and
gay spokespeople work hard, but they've
fallen into the trap of living in a world of
political correctness. That's not my problem;
it's theirs. 1ot any of it has given me a
slecpbs night."
"I think I'm a little naive," said , 1cola
Shindler, the executive producer. "Mc and
Russell have a different threshold for shock.
I don't think we were quite prepared for the
level of impact it had. We were aware we
would be attacked, because we weren't
putting across positive images; we were
putting across real people."
"Everything you see in other programs
with gay sub-plots are issue-led," Davies
said. "You give them three episodes before
the gay character walks in and says, 'Oh,
I'm HIV-positive,' or 'I was just beat up on
the street.' [TV writers] have to stop introducing
characters where his or her only
characteristic is they're gay. That's not a
character That's rubbish."
According to one film industry insider,
working on "Queer" was no picnic. Mark
Levine now lives in Atlanta, but while he
was a vice president-development with a
production company working at Sony
A fresh approach for
restoring the skin you are
born with.
Available NOW for men
and women.
SPECTACULAR RESULTS!
• improve skin tone,
clarity, elasticity
• effectively treats fine
lines, wrinkles, sun
damage, acne scarring
and hyperpigmentation
ASK ABOUT OUR
TRANSDERMAL HAIR
REMOVAL PROCESS
Studios, he met Charlie Hunnam, the 18-
year-old actor who played Nathan.
"Charlie said the entire process was a
really miserable shoot. They were filming
on a couple of drafty soundstages in
England. The crew was an old-school,
traditional, beer-drinking, straight bluecollar
crowd. The actors would have to
do all these wild sexual antics in front of
the crew, and they were being harassed
and snickered at.
"It was a really terrible environment, and
by the end of the eight episodes, nobody
wanted to come back," Le\'lne said
Hunnam told him.
As word of the shocking show spread, ib
audience grew-eventually to more than 3
m1lhon. When the eight-week ::;eries ended,
audiences wanted more of Nathan, Stuart
and Vince. They'll get their chance when
two one-hour sequel episodes air this year
on Channel 4
Writer Davies said to maintain its
integrity, the show must end, not drag on
for years. "We could have trotted it out; a
lot of people would have been happy. I
wouldn't, though.
"Thing is-1f I do say so myself-there
was such energy and originality in that first
series, and that vitality has to be maintained.
It has to stay fresh, it has to stay one
step ahead of what everyone in bog-standard-
telly would do. And this is the perfect
solution. It was never a soap, it was a story.
And every good story has an end."
But will it end?
Channel 4 has reportedly asked for plots
for 20 half-hour episodes of a spin-<>ff show
to air later in the year.
"We found a huge enthusiasm for the
show, and it was quite clear we hadn't run
out of stories," said Commissioning Editor
Jonathan Young. "It's been a very successful
show for Channel 4."
Furthermore, American audiences will
get a U.S. version of "Queer" thanks to
Show time. Gar director Joel Schumacher
("Flawless," "Batman and Robin") 1s set
to direct a two-hour pilot to introduce
the U.S. series.
The show would seem to fit m with
Showhme's bold slogan ("No L1m1ts")
and with its established reputation for
testing boundaries (its "Sex and the City"
prompted a rash of complaints when it
aired in England).
But at least one big change lrom the
original already seems certain· In
Showtimc·~ version, look for Nathan to
be 18, not 15. And that change was recommended
not by pro-censorship conservatives
but rather by the image-consoous
folks at Gar and Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation (GLAAD).
"When it comes do\.\<n to that, that's an
illegal act. It's statutory rape," Scott
Seomin, GLAAD media director, told the
Los Angeles limes. "Gay men since forever
have been linked by the religious right and
other groups [to) pedophilia."
The furor that greeted "Queer as Folk"
in England only seems likely to escalate
when the show debuts in its
Americanized form. Shooting for the U.S
version-set in New Jersey-should
begin this spring. Stay tuned ...
TRANSDERMAL HAIR RESTORATION
All natural transdermal skin and
transdermal lace technology
MILLENNIUM SPECIAL
1 System ... $650
2 Systems ... $1200
reg. $990 each
Offer valid ONLY January 1 - February 1, 2000
WE SERVICE AND REPAIR ALL TYPES OF HAIR SYSTEMS,
WHILE YOU WAIT. FULL SERVICE, $30
1 11 1· //~
3843 N. Braeswood
713-669-0466
_22 __________________ --O'_U'-T-'--O-'__N.___ __T_- 'H--'-E"~B"'A""""'Y""''-O"-U-=-----------J-A_N_U_A_RY_14...:...,_ 20_00 • HOUSTON VOICE
-:;... Continued from page 17
Wils conducted via fax from his hotel m
ewYork.
Houston Voice: 'fl.'here did Ifie msp1Tal1on lo
write "Tlie Sm1thso111a11 Jnst1t11t1011" come from'
Gore Vidal: I enjoy mvcntmg alternahve
universes It:..e Myra, Breckmridge and
Duluth and now Smithsonian. There arc
intricate structures and you must never
cheat the reader. I started out with a premise:
how could World War II have ocen
avoided? Well, eliminate World War One
and there would be no vengeful Germ.my
falling for a p~ychopath like Hitler So how
to stop the First World War? Eliminate
Woodrow Wibon as pre~ident. So my 13·
year old prodigy hero, installed as of 1939
in the Smith:.onian to work on the atomic
bomb, d0t.'S just that. But thmgs go wrong.
... That's the plot.
HV· Is the novel a nu:taplwncal approac11 to
amt modern 1s-:11es'
GV This 1s not 1939. :-\o colhs1on of great
powers 1s m the offing despite what the military
and their friendly polihc1ans h.:ive to
say at appropriations ltme. But it 1s clear
that our military industrial political complex
1s longing for a major war with Chin,1.
Reservations Recommended
(i13) 97 -DECO (3326)
2990 Briarpark Drive at Westheimer
This will probably kill us all but not before
the few ha\·e made J grl'a.I deal of monl'y,
our god.
HV If you, like your character T from your
book, could set a vu•w screen to look forward m
time what might you expect to sec as the most
important roent of the neTI century or two'
GV. In a pe>s1m1shc mood, the endeither
gradual or colorfully nuclear In an
ophmistic mood, our departure from a
pl.met that wc are usmg up like ·l frayed
piece of Kleenex to yet more pristine
Kleenex in the heavens.
HV: At the end of c/U1pter four, t/ie lh>ing display
dummy, Tom, indicates t/iat more than one
of the former Presidents made use of an al/ male
e:cort service "pretty regularly." Wlio n11glll
those Presidents Jurx been'
GV· You arc prurient. It was ~id of lifelong
drplomat bachelor Buchanan and of
Franklin Pierce in whose arms, m
Plymouth, '.\:cw Hampshire, Nathaniel
Hawthorne died.
HV: You fll7lJI.• d&ribed sexual orientation
labels as adjective-; describmg acts ralhJ.'T than
no1111s descnbms people, do you st 11/ feel tl1l~ iu111'
GV. It Sl'Cms so obvious that I no longer
repeat myself other than to ,1dd that only in
a so weirdly super,titious .ind 'l'Clarian a
wuntry as the U$. could a personal identity
be forged out of 'cxual desire, the most
fluctuating of .ill transient emotion.
HV. Both pres1de11t1a/ candidate.; Bill Bradley
and Al Gore hnz•c shozcn .;uf'port for dome.'l IC
Enjoy exquisite culinary creatwns at
the Adam's Mark Hotel includin~
made-10-0rder omelets, homemade
pastnt!s, sawry seafood, mouthuatermR
pasta, seasonal salads,
delwable entrees, plus an
1mbd1ewble array of our finest
desst1ts. Then sit back. relax and sip
chainpame uhrk listenin~ to some
oj Ho11Ston'~ finest 1a~~ musicians.
Ewry ~und:iv, 10:30am • 2:Npm
Adults: ·n.so; Seniors: $20.50;
Children 5-11: 12.50
l'ndcr 5 Free
partnerships but have oppo~ed outrrgf1t !(ay
marriage Whal art' your jcelinss 011 tl1eir
~lances and this issue in general'
GV \1onogamy 1~ hardly normah\'e tn
the male, particularly in youth. The marn.
ige issue, howl'ver, 1s a great boon for
homophobes because 11 lets them sidestep
II the thmgs that should be set nght from
sodomy laws m vanous state., to d1sCT1m1-
nation m the work place
Abo marriage makes people thmk of
God, \\ho 1s so very important to our poor,
bamboozled folks. The founders (.rnd I)
wanted God thrown out the window at
Philadelphia, but the crazies breed like
chiggers and he keeps slithering back in. I le
now dominates ~o much of radio and TV.
l:ntil a stake has been driven through the
heart of monotheism, the U.S. will never
come withm J continuum of civilizJtion.
That suits them chiggers real fine.
HV: Do you have a stance 011 the IOf'iC of gay
ndopllo11s'
GV· For most Amenc.:ins, rather than
expose the young to love and, in due course
perhaps, desire, it 1s far better to J()(k them up
in prisons, ~ubjl'Ct them to torture, sexual
abuse and execution.
Th.:it is the American way. We a.re f.iml>d in
the ovilized world as the m~t barbarous of
nations in the treatment of our cihzens. But I
reckon God wanb us like that, doing tus work.
-t.9 million Americans .:ire m prisons, under
dctenhon, under surveillance, on parole. Now
the pnvatizJhon of pri.'-Ons is proving a bonanza
for some of our crooked otizens.
George W. Bush exults in the fact that as
governor of Tt•xas, ht has barbequed I 00 people
Good Americ<m CL·orgc, God loves him.
HV You once wrote (ill 1966) tlUll "in a cr<1ilizrd
society, /arr sfwuld not f1111clio11 al .11/ 111 Ifie
,,,£'11 of sex, crcrpt l!J protect people from bemg
mterfi.'!Td with agamsl the1r w1//," 1111d ""'d tlu1t
'seT lrves are of no co11sequencc 111 ciriilized rountrics
" Wllfll i11.f111cncrs co11t111ue to make sex and
~nial orimtnl1011s :>uclr n contnn~·rsy 111 Amcrim
and does this mean we arc 1101 ch•iliu~i?
G\': ,\~ you may by now suspl'ct, I don't
thmk we arc civilizl'd. The media is
obsl'ssed with sex, particulMly m the priv.:
ite livl's of politici.:ins, due to thl' fact that
,1s we do not have a rl'prl'sentativl' government
(offices arc bought and paid for by
corporate America), we .ire not allowed to
discuss real politics.
This leaves us wrth nothing but pri\·ate
lives. What is politics? Who collects what
money to pay for whom to buy what. That's
it. In one h.indy phrase. But corpor.:ite
,\mcrica ob~ervcs omerta !code of silence]
on this delicate issue so we nevl'r know
what goes on in tht• Senate Finance
Committel'. And never will now. The corporate
owned medi.i is happy to go along,
smearing politicians who .ire, admittedly, of
no great use to .rnyone in any case.
The Smithsonian
Institution
by Gore Vidal
Harcourt Brace & Company, S 13
Experience the
Art of Dining
"If my husband would ever meet a woman on the street who
looked like the women in his paintings, he would fall over in a
I
dead faint" -Mrs. Pablo Picasso
Mon-Thu
Friday
Saturday
Hours
Lunch 11 OOam until 2 OOpm Dinner 5 OOpm until 10 OOpm
Lunch 11 OOam until 2 OOpm Dinner 5 OOpm until 11 OOpm
Dinner 5 30pm until 11 OOpm
Sunday Brunch Buffet 10 30am until 2 30pm
905 TAFT
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77019-2613
713.523.5FOX
Proudly serving all hungry Houstonians!
HOUSTON VOICE • JANUARY 14, 2000 OUT ON THE BAYOU 23
Ea ting _O__u ---'R-E:.S;T'-'--'A~RU.c.A.;.N'-'-'-T--'-R~EV-=-'EW~S
Generous but jumbled platters
by KATI IRITN l FF
TEALA'S provides an mtere,ting study
in juxtaposition.
Take, for example, the mingled roots of
Tcala's n11sinc. \\ hilc on n tnp to tlw
Yucatan, Teal Anom.1ipra,ert, who also
owns Thai Pepper, discovered that desp1ll
lhl' d1fforl'nt hl'misphcrl'S, Thailand and
\1cx1ro h,1\'e much m common when 1t
comes to food .
Abundant !il'.1food, fresh hot pcppt'rs,
:tl':>ty limp ,ind nlantro, ;ind a hint of a
wood burning grill fl,wor, ,ire ,111 culinary
tr.11ts sh.m•d of both countries. Om• t'\,1m
pie le.1la':. otters IS a special southe.1st
J\s1an n•rs1on of the traditional molt•
sauce-an exclusi\•e house peanut molt•
sauce But despite claims of a fused cuisine,
outside of its particular mole sauu•,
Teala's offors nothing distinctive from the
usu.ii pLitos l\lex1canos.
\ly dinmg rnmpamon and I started with
the Chicken l-.1jit.1 and Jack Cheese
Qm•s,1dilla ($8.50) Tlw cheese and chicken
grilled m t.11ita sauce provided a 'fllC)'
punrh to tlw dish and blendt•d well with
!ht• lw.1ps ot t•xtra guacamole from !ht•
Cu.K.1molt• Salad ($.1.75).
rht• qut•sadillas 1\We not arranged in !ht•
U u,1[ f,m·likt• manner for t'.1S)' ,l((('"·
lnstt>.1d !ht•\' were stackt•d on one ,mother,
seemmg more like a JU!llblt•d bundle of
chicken ,md tortilla. cl'erthclcss, tht• gt•ncrous
porhons left us feeling hkc we had
fin1~hed the entrce, not 1u~t the .ippellzer.
\1y companion also ordered the Black Bean
Soup ($3 95), wh1Ch she found to be rather
ordin.1ry .md too salty.
For the marn course, I ordered the h.ilf
pound plattt•r of chKkt•n fajitas (~I0.95),
which 1s Sl'n cd with tht• U''u,11 I.ire
of l>n1ons, gu,1camole, net', fn1olt•s
Teala's Mexican
Restaurant and Bar
4319 Montrose Blvd
713·524-6922
Opt for bread, water al home
OK 11 you really must
f,'le for most
Worth t~e drive. so love a Iott le
As good as t gets
c-harros and pico de gallo. 01·er.1!1, the dish
w.1!i prl'd1Ct.1bll'.
Tlw same w.1~ true oi the Vegct.man
Fnchil.id,1s ($8.95), serl'ed with spinach,
soy be.m strips, J.Kk cheese and l'nchilada
saun• My dmmg wmpanion described the
dish a~ "pt•destri,1n," complaining that
the soy bean stnps tasted morl' like dehy·
dr.1tl'd space food.
fhough the entrees don't inspire any
hmt of d1stmct1veness, the raspberry
crrcsec:ikc dessert ($19S) ended the meal
on .i positive note The chcc ccake had a
lighter, grittier texture than most, and 1t
didn't il',l\'c c,1kcs oi cream cheese plastered
to my p.1late. The thick graham
cr.Kker crust had cl homemadl freshness
th,1t m.1de it l'Xcrphon,11.
Tht• d1 tingu1shing fea ture of Tcala's 1~
not its cuisine, but its decor. When you first
t•ntl'r the re,1,1urant, there's an overwlwlm111g
srns.1t1on of ha\'ing o;tcpped
into .i weslt·rn saloon. With n l.irgt woodrn
ch.1ndl'li1·r, a st.mcasc lt'.1dmg to a balcony
Ol'l'r !ht• bar and a hitchrng post scp·
Mnting tht• b.ir from the dmmg area, 1ou
could stage .in old-fashioned Western
c;huotout rn the plan•
Again, in the decor, Tenla's juxtaposes
1>ne stylr with another For example, p.1inl·
mgs ranging from a gramy portrait of a
\1.m,1cl11 band to 1'ic,1sso-csquc modern
J'n nts adorn the v. alls l.Jrgr paneled wrnclo\\'
s, which m.1ke up one side of the
rl'staur.1111, face tht' parking lot and pm·
v1th .1 ski lodgl ,1tmospht•rt quilt• d1spar.
1h from n s.1loon.
i\ l.irgi.' d1lap1datcd sign surrounded by
flashing bulbs .md pamted with the word
"f.irnuntr" h.mgs over the bar, adding to
Te.1la's d11·crsc and k1tc;d1y decor. If you're
l1x1k111g for .1 nrw place to dme, or for a quirt
pat10 to converse with fnmds over a marg.
mta, Ihm fc,1J,1's may be the pla C for }OU
..... ...................... .. . . . .. - ,. ... .... ......................
r-----------------------------,
IAth• ~i~ltf l'ur•~· ?
\\'•• d••lh-••r 'l ill
:i:oo .\.~1.
l<'rida~· & Sal urda~· !!
t71!S.H71-l!t!t!t
:i210 ~lonfros.• Hh·d.
Bcnrr lni:rt"d1enr'
Betti:• Pizza
I.mo;.:•• l-Top,1, ti11;! Piz:.m
Two 20 oz. « 'ok••s
uni.•
su .• ,.
17 .!l!I nrlf'r !l1t.m .•
on....-· .,.,rir,..., t 1"'J t uo. "•:' ... w .-."1hi11f-4 .,. hh
odu..- •It••,..,._ \ehlhitt-1 ••1•init"> '"'Ir•. "' ......... , ................. .
L-----------------------------~
For Auto, Home & Health
Regina
Your
Community
Insurance
Agency!
ROB SCHMERLER & STAFF
713.661. 7700
Buslnru l:utJrnncr • l\orl·t'rs Comprnsatlon
Croaip llroltli • Ll/r lnsurancr & much morr
6575 li: f,oop Soutli, Suite 185 Bella ire, TX 77401
24
Paving the Way
in Y2K
I have an opponent and we are kicking off
Danburg Campaign 2000.
I appreciate and look forward to yo11r
co11tin11ed support.
Please call (713) 52-0ebra and sign up
to volunteer I need your lzelp!
713.520.8068 District
512.463.0504 Capitol
Have you met this agent?
You should meet her, get to know her
She has the answers for your life insurance problemsAuto,
Life. Business, Home.
She may save you money. too. Call her soon.
GWEN FOSTER
INSURANCE AGENCY
5414 Katy Freeway@TCJester • Houston.Texas 77007
713-961-9455 fax: 713-850-0856
Catch tlze Bering Spirit-A Place for Everyone
.I)~ BERING MEMORIAL v ,Ir' U"-;ITED METHODIST CHURCH
A Reco11cili11g Co11gregatio11
\\ h n.• p: rson~ rl');•lrl , rt ~·xu,il on•nt.ll on, gt•ndPr, Pthniut~ or age fuhv r.irt r1pate
1r tic chun.h ~I ft• and mm1stnl's ,1s lo\ N.I disoples of ( hnst.
- ~EW EARi Y SERVICE -
~111ufa11 l\'orslli11 •••.•••.•.••••••.••••. 8:.10"·"'·
~1111111111 St·ltool ••••••••••••••••••••••••• 9:4011.111.
S1111day l'\'orsltip •••••••••.•••••••••• 10:50a.m.
Rev \larilyn Ml'eker-Willi,1ms, Pastor
1440 HJrold at Mulberry • (711) 526-1017
www.beringtimc.org
1'145 199 Celebrating 150 Year.. of Serving. Sharing and Caring
No Dues, No Mt>mbership
With Fruncisr.an Hospitality
CALENDAR
Friday Jan. 14 Friday Jan. 21
Communion Service Morning Prayer l Oam
Kolbe Prayer Line lOam Monday Jan. 24
713-861-1844 Movie Night 7pm
Eucharist 7 30 pm
c mail: Kolbc@ncosoft.com "Patch Adams"
or visit our website at Monday Jan. 1 7
Friday Jan. 28
ww".neosoft.com/-kolbe Euchar st 7 30 pfl"I Morning Prayer 1 Oam
Thursday Jan. 20 Movie Night 7pm
PH.(713) 61-1 • 1030 Heights B!Yd.
OutToge!her 7.30pm "Joan of Arc" Houston, TX 'ii
JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
Special Guest Speaker
Reverend Jimmy Creech
Rev. Jimmy Creech has been working diligently
to change the laws within the United
Methodist Church that discriminate against
Lesb1ans/Gays/81sexualjTransgenders.
After performing a same sex holy union
ceremony for two men, the Methodist
Church Jury found Creech guilty of violating
the rules of the church ar>d withdrew his
credentials of ordination.
Come hear Rev. Jimmy Creech's remarknble
story of faith, hope and renewal; and how
his ministries continue.
Sunday, February 6, 2000
9am & llam services
All programs are free and open to the community!
Resurrection MCC
713-861-9149
1919 Decatur St., Houston, Texas 77007
www.mccr-hou.com
'Do you want a 6,a6y? got questions?
All Aspects of Infertility
Artificial Insemination • In Vitro Fertilization Specialist
Donor Bank Information
Hormonal Therapy
Dr. Michael A. Allon, M. D.
office hours by appointment
phone (713) 467·4488
fax (713) 467·9499
www. drmallon. com
8830 Long Point • Suite 801
Houston, TX 77055
HOUSTON VOICE • JANUARY 14, 2000 OUT ON THE BAYOU
Past Out 1983
GAY AND
LESBIAN HISTORY
by DAVID BIA'.\CO
A 'brave and foolish' darling
by DAVID BIA:\CO
\\'ho \\'.ls Ccorgc Cukor7
I lollyw1xxl director Crorgc Cukor worked
in a vane!)' of film genres 01·cr llL~ long c.m'l'r,
but the romed1· of se.\ual manners became his
particular f11rt,; A gay m.ui 11 hose hom<JSC\ll·
uhty was an opl'll seuet 111 I lollywooJ,
( ukor's comfort ''1th both m.ik• ,md fcm.:ilt•
5exuahty .md identity shmcs through many of
his now cl.1~~1r corned K5.
Cukor w.is born m New York City m L 99
lo m1dcllc-dass, I lung.man Jew1.~h p.m·nt . If
his family h,1J gotten its way, he would haw
attended Columbia University and become a
lawyer hkt' h!S father and uncle. But Cukor,
who had been entranced b) \Jc\\ York theater
s111ce childhood, had Broadway Ill mmd.
At first, he w,mtl'<l to be a playwright, but
he soon tound he hall'<l one un.wo1dablc
a!>-pt..'Ct of wnllng-work111g alone. Naturally
greg.mous ,md willy, Cukor d1sco1wt•d he
was bctll'r suttl'd to !itag,~man.1g111g and
dir•'Cting. I IP got his start in summer stock in
Uw l',1rly 192(b .ind within a few years had
founded his own seasonal company in
Roc:hestcr, NY. In rpg1onal theater, Cukor
g.uncd ,1 rcput,11lon .:is a diredor whom actors
could trust lx'<\1use he both lisll'ned to them
and modestly rduSt~ to t,1ke credit whm
thrir pcrform.rnccs excdlcd "I le had grt'.lt
pride," one collc.1gue n.'Callcd, "but no 1 anity."
Cukor mowd on to Bro.1dw.:iy, 1\here his
producllons \\WC only moderate succ<'SSCS.
Still, he was 111 demand bemuse of lus t.1IC'nt
for working with actwsscs, whose rol<-s he
sccm<'<i to undt•rst.rnd .111d emp.ithlll' with
better than straight m.11t• din'Ctors did.
rlw .1ppell.1t1on "worn.m's dm•rtor" (a
slight, giVl'n tlw ~l'x1sm in the l'ntert.iinment
111dustry) followt•d Cukor wht•n lw
went to l lollywood 111 1929, .111d 01·l'r th<'
years he mad<' his m.uk with a numbl'r of
so-c.:illcd "wonwn s hims." Besides Ins
.:iffm1ty with actresses. Though not p.irticu·
l,1rly pohllcal or ft•m1mst Cukor w.1s sens1
live to womrn's issues.
C'ukor fell mto et1medy by .:icddcnt, but 1t
proved his -;trong swt He once quipped Uiat
the :;tudio moguls "uSt.'Ci to 1udge your t.1lcnt
by your pl'rc;onality. If you walkt•d into U1c
front offite with a long t.:ice, they g.we you
straight dr,una, 1! you rn1<k<'Ci jokl's, thc•y
gave you wnwdy. I crackt'<l Jl>kl'..,"
I Ii~ first kw lilrns wen' unrl'm.ukablt•. But
m 1932, lw garnl'red kudos ior "i\ Bill ol
Divorct'llll'nt," , t,1rnng 24-yl•ar·old Kath.1mw
l lepburn in her llrst scrt'l'n role. fh.it movil'
launched .1 lifl'11mg friendship with I kpburn,
who went on to st.ir 111 nine of lus films.
Another ~oll.1lx1rat1on with Hepburn w,.b
" yh'1a Scarll'lt," a gender-bending comedy
co-st.:imng ( JI)' Crant "Syh 1a ::i..:arlctt" was
Cukor'c; most personally re\ cahng film,
"bra\ c .:is well .:is foolish," as he l.:itcr phrased
Academy Award-winning director George
Cukor was originally selected to direct 'Gone
With the Wind,' until he and Clark Gable had a
falling out on set.
1!. nw ),•ad rhar,1cter is an emlwzzll'r's
d.i ughter, who noss-drl'sst•s to esr.ipe .i run-
1n with .iuthonlil'S. rhe plot dirt'C!ly chal·
lt•ngl'd tr,1d11lon.1l m.ile·fl'm.ile roles and
boldly winked ,1t homosexu.11ity
Cukor \\'clS J),l\ 1d 0. Selznick's ongmal
thoicc to dirrd "Gon( \\Ith the \Vmd ... 13ut
,1fter onl) n tew wrek.' on the 1ob, thcrt• were
conflicts with Cl.irk Cable, who hated
Cukor's fl'}' manner, especially the wav he
calll'd cnst ml'mbers "darlmg" One day
during f1lmmg, Gable ~tormed off the set,
shoutmg, "I won't be directed by ii fam·! I
ha1·,, to work \\1th a 'rc;il mJn'!'' ~hortl)
tlwr<•.1ftl'r (ukor wa..' repl.:iced b\· Victor
l'll'mmg, .i p.:il of Cable's.
Although the general public \\as
un.1w.1rl' of Cukor\ se\ual orientation, his
homos<'\u,1lity \\"1> well-known in !ht•
ind us try hir w.irs, he hosted !iOirct'S .11 his
lfollywood villa, \\ h1ch h.:id been dl'Coratl'd
bv g.:iv .:ictor William I lames. At these
l.msh affairs, the queer chic could see and
be i;ecn l ukor ., Sunday afternoon pa riles
competed 1,·11h the ,111-malc fetes of Cole
l'orter, .:ind the two \\ere sometimes called
"the riv.ii qul'cns of I lollywood"
Cukor'scan.'Crspanned five decades, but he
won only one /\,adcm} i\wMd, for dircctmg
''~1y J',11r l.1dy" (1%1). When he made hts last
fi lm, "Rich .111d f ,1mous" (1981), he wa 81, Uic
oJd,><.t dirrctor shll workmg m 1 loUywood I le
d i•·d two )'•'.lrS l.i t•·r.
\1,my of l11s films han• b<'COm<' qm'l'r cult
1,1\'ontes: "( am1ll,•" (1917), with ib C\qu1s1tcly
p.1111ful d<'.llh SC<'ne; "The \\'omen" (1939),
with .1 campy 'lntchmC5S" reminiscent of
dr.1g rultur,•; .rnd the musical r.-make of" J\
St.1r L'> Born" (hls.t), ,1 comeback n•hiclc for
g.1) icon Judy Carland
Viw1J Rianco '' tlicartt/zJrofGay f..SS£'rtlml> a
col/('(11011 of '"' /11~lory rolrmm He can I:
rmcl1ccl a' D.wc81mrn 1 o/ C'Jm
25
26 OUT ON THE BAYOU JANUARY 14, 2000 • HOUSTON VOICE
ommunity calendar
saturday, jan. 15
Afttr Hours KPFT 90 1 FM, 12 a"' to 3 am 713 526
5738
Q·Patrol walks lhe st eets at 8 45 pm. 7'1 528·5AFE
Vosual Arts Alliance •O am. 181 583 8408
Dignity mau at 7 JO p m for gay (athohcs 713 880
2872
St 5t phe s Eposcopa Churc" Rosary at 8 a m 1805
W Al.lbama 111 528 6665
Houston ... sb1an and Gay drop n hours fr m no n t? 4
m 803 H wtho ne Montr'?se Wr te •'5 Pro1ect l to
4 IOP"' l P'"' 11 5<418'8
A trrnat ve t-te.i th Expo aod Psy h c fa 10 l am t
6 pm 1120 H ster 711 912 7124
sunday, jan. 16
tot ton Au: :t T e C .J ton ~ Hol"!"'losex ~Is neets
11J 942 700l
Ra nb w R ;fers Ab cy e rlub f women 713 869
•686
Chu1ch of tl>e XI Apos• es A-qi ca" R te Old Cathohc
Churcl> Holy Commun o 10 10 a m at 219
Westhe1mer 713 665-7903
St Stephen·s Episcopal Church Holy Rite Euchar st I at
1 45 am Hoty Rt Euchar st II at 8 5:> a ni Education
hour at 10 a m. C.horial Eucharast at 11 am 1805 W
Alabama 713 528 6665
Mar.tnatha Fel owsh1p Metropout.Jn Church
•Preachmg the Gospel• Bible s•udy at 9 JO p m 1 ll
528 6756
Re'Surrrct on MCC Services at 9 a m and • 1 a m 713
861 9149
Grace luthrran Church Sunday 15choc.I for aj ages at
9 30 • m Service at 10 30 am 71l 528 269
F rst Unna 1dn Un1venahst (hurct\ Serv ces at 9 30 a .m
and11J am
Community Gospel Serv ce at 11 d M 1 p m Sund<ity
School for ch dren 4305 Loi n 7' 3 880 9235 or
www commun tyg spr org
Houst n M SSI Church Serv-Cf' at 10 10 a m 713 '>29
8125
Coven nt 8 :tpt st Church Se-v re at 1 'JO pm edi..t..ton
"ou at l pm 711 668 8830
Ber ng Mc"T\ di Un ttd Mett-od st Ct\urch Serv1ce'5 at
8 JO am ' 50 am Sunday srh.oo dt 9 40 am 71 J
<2 1017
R liurrect on MCC liiandbc Choir rehear at 1 JO pm
711 86' 9'49
The Womens C.r up I 45 am 111 5i9 8511
Un tar Jn Fe W'5 p ~ Gafveston Coun•y 402 Church
St on Galveston Se:'V eat IC 30 •"' 409 765 8330
Faith and tiope Fellowship Seni1ce at 11 am. 713~520·
1847
First Congregatioral Church (Memor1JI). Service at 11
am 713-468·9543 or fcc-houston.org.
Church of Kindred Spmts (Beaumont) Service at 7 p.m
409 835·4765
\Jmtarl :"Fellowship of Houston. Adult forum at 10
a m SerV1Ce at 11 a.m. and noo". Open C1rcle Family
Suppon •t • 2 30 p m 1504 Wirt 713 686·5876
'erfa1th Worsh p Ce ebrauon.. 7 p rn. 2'i15 Waugt- Or
71l 528 3601
Thoreau t.m1tar Jn U 1versalist Congregation Adult dis·
uu n at 9 45 a m service at 11 a ..,, 394'i Gree briar
St •to d 181 l11-8ll81 www neosoft com/-tl>orea
Pf.AG Woodlands satellite meeting at 2 pm 713 867 9020
monday, jan. 17
Gay Fatherslf.tthen F rst suppon group, 8 pm 713
861 618'
Calendar/Computer workshop for Pride Week. 7 p m
713 529 1213
Ber g Support Network Gr ef and Divorce Groups at 7
p"' 71l 526 10•7
Frolit Eye Clinic free eye e.xams for propte w1t"l HIV
113 830 3000
AoDS Careq1v•rs' Support Group 6 pm 71l 731-4300
I V testo-g Fret from AVES from Ip m. to 6.15 pm
113 626 2837
FrontRunn•rs 6 10 pm 713 521 802'
Kolbe Proiect Eucharist at 7 30 pm 713-861 1800.
lntegnty Houston For gay and lesbian Epm''.opaltaru.
7 30 pm, Autry House 6265 Main
More light Presbyter ars. Meett.,9. 1110 1o.ovrtt 9 .30
pm 181 .i44 8861 X309
81.lck lesbian and Gay Coalitions weekly meeting at 7
pm 80l Hawthorne Houston lesbian and Gay
Commur:1ty drop n hours from 6 to 9 p m • 803
Hawthorne 713 524 3818.
tuesday, jan. 18
FREE H V testing at Club Houston at 8 30 pm to mid
night the M ntrose Omr' 713 830 3000
Helping Cross Dressers Anorymous 1 p m • 239
Westheomer 71 I 495 8009
C..iy Me"\ ttlV+ Psychotherapy. ·The Survivor's C11 .. 1e•
ceremony ard r.elebrat1on M0ntr se Counseling Ce:iter
at 4 30 p rn 713 5n-0037
Youth R•p 6 30pm 711822 8511
Afterc.ue Group Treatment Mont""ose Counselmg
Center at 6 pm 713 529-0037
AIDS Alliance 'the Bay Area 7 pm 711 488-4492
PROTEC'" A" HIV negative support group at 1 pm. 113
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •••••••••
"Fun· - Tiie Advocate •
• The lnterners
: Funnest
•Dating
••S ervice •• •• •
"CHI Siter - YahH
"Best eallae matchmaker'"
- HX Magazine
•• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• • .,.. .
www.edwina.com
•• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
526 1017
Women Survivors of Childhood Abuse. Montrose
Counseling Cent•r at 6 30 p m. 7 I 3·529·0037
Bering Support Network lunch Bunch Gang at 11 d m.
713 526·1017
Gay Men's Process Group. 7 p.m .• 3316 Mt Vernon
713·526-8390.
Men"s Network D1scun1on group 1or social, educational
development of gay and b1se.xual men, 1 p.m.
Monttose Counsc11ng Center 713 529 0037
More on Relationships. Oncuss1on group 1 p m 415 W
Gray 71l 861 9149
Lambda Skating Club skates at 8 p m at the
Tradew1nds. 713-523-9620
Gay & 81 Mctle Support Group suppo t group forming
Sponsored by AVES 713 626 2837
Houston Lesbian and Gay Community Center drop m
hours 6 to 9 pm lesbian Coming Out Group meets at
7 30 p m HlGCC monthly board meetor>g at 1 p m 80)
Hawthorne 113 518 3818
wednesday, jan. 19
Free HIV Test ng at ThLmas Street Chmc at 9 am ro 1
pm 2015 Thomas Street 713 793 4026
Free HIV testr"'g by the Montrose c in1c at Mary's <4 8
p m ) and M1dtowne Spa (8 p m. to muimght), and
Ripcord (9 pm. to midnoght).713 830·3000.
B1Net Houston 1 30 pm. Social meeting at Cate
Toope•s. 1830 W Alabama 713·467 4380
Women's Network 1 p m Montrose Counseling Center,
701 Richmond 713 519 0037
HIV survivor suppon group. 7 p.m 713 782 4050
Mind/Body Connection. Alternative Approaches 1 pm
1475 W Gray 713 524·2374
Proiect Caesar 7 pm AFH. 3203 Weslayan 713 623-6796
Out Skate Rollerskating Club, 8 to 10 pm at 8075
Cook Road 281 933·5818.
Houston lesbian and Gay Community Ce-nter drop in
hours 6 to 9 p m Houston Gay & lesbian Polrtu a1
caucus morthly board meeting at 6 pm 803
Hawthorne 713 524·3818.
thursday, jan. 20
Free HIV testing at Toyz (9 pm to modnoght) by the
Montrose 01n1c 71l 830-3000
Art Labs T |
