IT'S SEX MONTH at GAAMC! Many sexy GAAMC Events for you on Page 2. Gleanings begins below! Now with more, Gayer states than before! Count them all!
CHALLENGE T he New sl etter of the Gay Act iv is t Allian ce in Morris Cou n t y S e r v i ng New Jer sey’ s G LBTI Commu n it ies Con t in u ou s ly S in c e 1 9 7 2 V o lu m e 40 , I ssu e 2 , March 2 0 14
Different Drummers by Sherri Rase
March is a time of great change. Spring happens in March, sometimes Easter and Passover happen as well, and change is being wrought all around us. We are fresh from the glory of the Sochi Olympic Games and the flip side of that glory is the gut-wrenching treatment of everyone and everything in the streets there from the stray animals rounded up and killed to the potential for ugly treatment and possible arrests of LGBT people for spreading “propaganda” to popularize the “lifestyle”. As if living as our true and authentic selves is something we choose like fashion. It’s not just Russia, friends. Here at home, there is still unequal treatment under the law based on skin color, gender, economic status, and social position. Locally, Congressman Rush Holt, who has long been an ally of equal rights under the law, has decided not to run for re-election.
Failed US Senate candidate Steve Lonegan is packing his carpetbag and moving to South Jersey to run for Congressman Jon Runyan’s seat since Runyan has decided his time in Congress is enough. What will you do about it? There is change happening everywhere, and March and “march” are homonyms – words that share spelling and pronunciations but mean something different. Are you going to “march” to the same-old-same-old this March? Will you take the path less-trod — or perhaps not-yet-made — and carry the strength of your convictions forward? Or will you “march” your fingers across a keyboard, merely “tweeting” change or “posting” what you’d like to see? Where is your will to action, GAAMC? Where is the hunger for change that made this 40+ year old organization possible? Time for this shoe leather to go on the march. Open those doors and windows — the winds of change are blowing. March is “in like a Lion and out like a Lamb” — and it’s time for that lamb to roar as well. See you Monday nights!
Gleanings
Queer news from around the world The New Jersey Democratic State Committee announced the formation of an LGBT Caucus to be incorporated into its party organization. "The LGBT community is integral to the Democratic Party just as its members are integral to families across the Garden State," said the committee's chairman, John Currie. The aim of the caucus will be to strengthen the voice of the LGBT community in the state Legislature and to perpetuate LGBT legal protections, the committee said. (PolitickerNJ.com) A bill introduced in the Senate would grant honorable discharges to gay and lesbian veterans who were expelled under the military’s “Don't ask, Don't tell" policy. About 114,000
service members were dishonorably discharged because of their sexual orientation prior to the reversal of DADT in 2011. "Many of these brave men and women that served our country are currently barred from benefits that they earned and are entitled to, and in the most egregious cases they are prevented from legally calling themselves a veteran," said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), who introduced the bill. The Pentagon is already carrying out processes included in the bill, a Pentagon spokesman said recently. "DADT-related applications are being processed effectively, under clear procedures … No new policy guidance or legislation is required at this time," Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Christensen said. (continued on page 4)
Inside Challenge Challenge Information .................................... page GAAMC Events.............................................. page What's happening at our Monday meetings Bulletin Board.............................................. page This Month's Contributors............................... page
2 2 3 3
Introducing GAAMC's New Meetup Group!............ page 3 Gleanings .........................continues on pages 4, 7 & 8 Q-munity Calendar........................................ page 5 Board Minutes for January 2014....................... page 9 GAAMC Information ...................................... page 10
In Challenge Online Dancing to Architecture™ Media Outage™ The Little Box of Concerts™ Challenge Online & In Color! @ issuu.com/gaamc/docs *Click!*
Page 2 CHALLENGE Volume 40, Number 2 March 2014 ISSN 0277-1675 Staff Editor .....................Allen Neuner Assistant Editor ............. Bill Stella Advertising Manager ............. open Circulation Manager ............. open List Manager ............ Allen Neuner Submissions The deadline for all articles, inserts, and advertisements is the fifteenth of the previous month. All submissions must be provided as electronic files. Email submi ssions to Challenge @ GAAMC.org. Ad Rates
CH AL L ENG E Ma r ch 2 0 1 4
GAAMC Events for March 2014 Discussion Groups
OpenTalk: A regular weekly discussion group, open to all. 7:00, in the Library. Moderators: Elias (Mar 31); Gordon (Mar 10); Kerry (Mar 24); Liz (Mar 17); Sherri. Discussion group does not meet on Film Festival nights.
Main Events
All start at 8:00 unless otherwise noted. March 3: The GAAMC Film Festival presents the star-studded sexual farce Victor/Victoria, starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, and Robert Preston, with Alex Karras and Leslie Ann Warren! The story concerns a soprano stranded in Paris who finds fame by pretending to be a man - who is pretending to be a woman! Toss in a terrific supporting cast, the atmosphere of Paris between the wars, and a sparkling Henry Mancini score, and you have the recipe for a farcical souffle that will leave you walking on air! NOTE: The movie starts at 7:00 tonight; there will be no Open Talk discussion. March 10: Hot Open Mic Night Poetry and music, sassy stories and brassy jazz — bring it, sing it, and swign it at our first ever Sex Month Open Mic! Let us know what you're going to do! Message us at Programs@GAAMC.org — Or, is that ... massage us?!
Single issue: Full page, $125.00; Half page, $85.00; Quarter page, $45.00; Business card, $25.00. For multi-issue rates, contact the Editor at Challenge @ GAAMC.org.
March 17: St. Patrick's Day Social The wearin' of the green could well become the wearin' of the grin when you visit GAAMC's St. Paddy's Day event! Since March is Sex Month, a little green here and a little green there goes a very long way! Watch the Events posted at GAAMC's Facebook page for ways you can participate!
GAAMC members may place one free classified ad per month, of no more than 200 characters in length.
March 24: Hyacinth Game Show Night So you think you know all there is about AIDS and HIV, safe sex and risky business? You think as a gay man you've heard it all a dozen years ago? You think as a lesbian this doesn't apply to you? Think again as you match wits with the experts from the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation! You'll learn a little something while having a playful time!
Change of Address Please let us know your new address! All address changes should be sent to the List Manager at ChangeAddress@GAAMC.org. Challenge is © 2014 by the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County, a 501(c)3 taxexempt not-for-profit corporation. All rights reserved. All articles reflect the views of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of GAAMC, its officers, or executive board. All copyrights revert to the original contributors upon publication. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the contributor. All articles, contributions, and advertisements are printed at the discretion of the Editor and/or GAAMC Executive Board.
March 31: Revolution and Evolution GAAMC hosts NJ's Leather Family in a program licensed to thrill! Leather has been around for a long time as a fetish and is closely tied in with desire and kink. This community is like any other — it changes and evolves. NJ's Leather Family facilitates a panel discussion of long-term members who weigh in on the history and evolution of the community with a special emphasis on Queer kink. This is a must-attend event for everyone who understands that the largest and most powerful sexual organ is the brain. (pictured left: Mr. NJ Leather 2014 and Ms. NJ Leather 2014) April 7: An Introduction to Induction Cooking It's claimed to be faster and more energy-efficient than traditional modes of cooking, with less chance of burn injuries. But how does it work? And how do you convert your traditional cooking style to the brave new world of induction cooking? GAAMC chef Andy Skurna will take you through the A-B-C's of this new way to prepare the dishes you love! April 14: Extended Women's/Men's Only Discussion Groups GAAMC Open Talk groups are regularly women and men mixed, sharing thoughts, points of view and more. Now and then there are separate common languages women share only with women and men only with men. This special evening is when GAAMC women and GAAMC men will each have a discussion group. Each gender can discuss issues and questions that pertain to health, philosophy, and life. NOTE: This event starts at 7 pm. NOTE: All events are subject to change without notice. Check at GAAMC.org for up-to-date information on all upcoming events!
March 2014
CHALLENGE
Bulletin Board GAAMC's Board of Trustees invites all members to look behind-the-scenes of our organization by attending the next Board meeting on Thursday, March 20th! GAAMC members are invited to participate in all discussions. Understand that when items come up for a vote Board members only can vote. Board meetings are held the third Thursday of every month at 7 pm in the MUF Dining Room. Living Out Women and Trueselves invite everyone to attend The Butch Event, a day-long conference and evening of entertainment on Saturday, March 29th, at the Pride Center of New Jersey in Highland Park. The conference aims to cover all things butch: the meaning of "butch"; the differences between trans men and butch women; butch perspectives on femmes; and presenting as butch in public and in private, among many other topics. The conference runs from 1 pm to 6:15 pm, followed by dinner from 6:15 pm to 8 pm, including an open mic from 7:00 to 8:00. The evening is capped by comedic performances from Kelli Dunham and Joanne Filan. Write pandora@pandorascooter.com f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n . To o r d e r t i c k e t s , g o t o www.pridecenter.org/the-butch-event/. Join The Center in Asbury Park for an evening under the stars at their signature event of the year, Center a la Carte! May 16th is the date and 7 pm is the time to attend The Center's signature event of the year, with over 25 food vendors and beverage establishments, a fantastic gift auction, and DJ and dancing, held under their fabulous tent. Tickets are $125 per person, of $1000 for a table of ten, with all proceeds going to The Center's ongoing efforts to provide housing and other services to people with AIDS. For more information or to purchse tickets, go to thecenterinap.org.
This Month's Contributors Andy Skurna is the Webmaster of GAAMC. He has formerly been GAAMC's President and Treasurer, and currently is also the chairman of the Pride Guide Committee. (page 3) Bill Realman Stella writes Dancing To Architecture because writing about music is like that. He hosted the eclectic pop music show Highest Common Denominator on the radio for six years, a twenty year vision come true, and will host it again. Bill has collected music since age 4, when for each song he'd hear on the radio, he'd ask his mom "Do they have a record?" Making a record good enough to share is still a small miracle. If you'd like Bill to write, DJ, or promote for you, get in touch. Comments and suggestions also welcome. Write bearealman at gmail and visit Bill's online 'zines and blogsite http://HowToFindTheBestMusic.blogspot.com
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Introducing GAAMC's New Meetup Group! by Andy Skurna
GAAMC’s Board of Trustees recently announced that we will begin organizing “GAAMC Outings” for events that take place outside of our regular Monday evening schedule. In concert with “GAAMC Outings” we now introduce our Meetup Group as a means of inviting other local LGBTI’s to join us at GAAMC for our regular and outside events.
The group was created on February 1st and announced to the area's LGBTI communities on February 7th. As of this writing, just 10 days later, 35 people have joined our group, most new to GAAMC. Anyone can create a free account on Meetup. Once your profile is created you may join groups such as GAAMC, along with many others based on your interests: LGBT, Professionals, Board Games, Hiking, etc. When joining, you are not required to use your full name, or even your real name. When we announce an event, it gets publicized to all our members, and others in the area who have asked to receive invites. If you RSVP to an event, a notice is sent to the organizer. There are also smartphone and tablet apps for Meetup that make it an absolute snap to add the events to your personal calendar (using the iCalendar standard), complete with date, time, description, and even an address for simple GPS navigation. If you have any questions, please send an email to Webmaster@GAAMC.org. To create your free Meetup account, visit Meetup.com. To join our group, please visit http://www.meetup.com/GAAMC-Meetup-Group/
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Gleanings
(continued from page 1) Service members have complained that the Pentagon has been slow to process DADT-related complaints. (Washington Blade) Attorney General Eric Holder announced sweeping expansions of equal recognition of same-sex marriages federally, designed to ensure equal treatment for legally married same-sex couples. The changes encompass survivor benefits, prison visits, courtroom testimony, and bankruptcies. "It is the [Justice Department's] policy to recognize lawful samesex marriages as broadly as possible, to ensure equal treatment for all members of society regardless of sexual orientation," Holder said in a memo to employees. (CNN) The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's ban on marriage equality. Filed on behalf of same-sex couples who married in other states, the suit seeks to overturn the 2006 voter-approved ban that prevents them from accessing various state benefits. "The unmarried Plaintiffs are forced to choose between the risk of prosecution and foregoing access to any federal spousal protections," the lawsuit reads. "Once again, Wisconsin has no justification for this treatment other than Plaintiffs' sexual orientation and sex." (Washington Blade) Maine's Supreme Court ruled that the school district of Orono violated state law by prohibiting a transgender student from using the girls' bathroom at a public elementary school in 2009. The ruling is reportedly the first time an American court has deemed it unlawful to bar transgender students from using facilities that align with their gender identity. "This is a momentous decision that marks a huge breakthrough for transgender young people," Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD Transgender Rights Project, said. (Bangor Daily News) A federal judge in Texas heard arguments in a case challenging the state's ban on marriage equality, but declined to issue a ruling. "Counselors have made some excellent arguments on both sides," U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia said, noting that he expects the case or one similar to it to reach the Supreme Court. (U.S. News & World Report) A federal judge ruled that Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, marking the first time that a marriage ban has been struck down in the South. "We have arrived upon another moment in history when We the People becomes more inclusive, and our freedom more perfect," Judge Arenda Wright Allen wrote in her decision. The ruling comes less than a month after Attorney General Mark Herring announced the state would no longer defend the ban in court. In a related story, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) indicated that he will not appoint outside counsel to defend the state's marriage equality ban, which is being challenged by two same-sex couples in federal court. The governor this week also touted the economic benefits of allowing same-sex marriage. “I've got to grow and diversify this economy," he said. "That is what voters elected me to do." (CNN, The Washington Post)
A federal judge struck down a portion of Kentucky's marriage equality ban, ordering the state to recognize legal same-sex marriages performed in other states. "It is clear that Kentucky's laws treat gay and lesbian persons differently in a way that demeans them," Judge John Heyburn wrote in the ruling, which cited June's Supreme Court decision against the Defense of Marriage Act. Although Heyburn clearly declared the law unconstitutional, he stopped short of immediately invalidating the state's ban on same-sex marriages, scheduling a hearing "in the near future" to discuss the timing of such an action. (The New York Times) A federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling requiring the Massachusetts Department of Corrections to provide gender reassignment surgery for a transgender inmate convicted of murder in 1992. The three-judge panel said the inmate's severe gender identity disorder makes the treatment medically necessary. All people are afforded the right to necessary medical treatment, "even if that treatment strikes some as odd or unorthodox," the court said. (The Boston Globe) A federal appeals court indicated that it will fast-track Oklahoma officials' appeal of a ruling against the state’s marriage equality ban. The case will be heard by a threejudge panel that is set to hear arguments over a similar appeal out of Utah. The court didn't set a date for oral arguments, but briefs are expected to be filed by early April. (The Denver Post) A married same-sex couple in Ohio filed a federal lawsuit after the state's refusal to recognize their marriage prevented them from obtaining family coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Al Cowger and Tony Wesley, who married in New York two years ago but live in a suburb of Cleveland with their daughter, filed the suit after their health insurance was terminated in December 2013. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said they were aware of these issues and were looking into ways to resolve them. (WKYC-TV, Cleveland) The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will allow same-sex couples to undergo pre-flight security screenings together. The decision comes in response to recent incidents with American Airlines personnel at a Colombian airport. An email from Alec Bramlett, senior litigation attorney for the airline, stated, "TSA has communicated to our Corporate Security folks that they are working on a technical change to its directive, and that pending that change, we can immediately begin screening same-sex spouses together. We are working on communicating this change in procedures to our stations ASAP.” A TSA spokesperson said, “TSA policy is for every attempt to be made to accommodate all families traveling together.” (Washington Blade) President Barack Obama is considering an executive order that would ban LGBT discrimination by federal contractors, said White House counselor John Podesta in an interview. Obama previously opposed using executive orders to enact parts of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act without congressional approval. (Washington Blade) (continued on page 7)
March 2014
CHALLENGE
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M a r c h 2 0 1 4 Q- m u n i t y C a l e n d a r Recurri n g Con t act I n form at i on
* Hackensack Peer Support Groups: 800-508-7577; www.njbuddies.org † Pride Center, Highland Park: 732-846-2232; www.pridecenter.org ‡ Hudson Pride Connections Center: 201-963-4779; HudsonPride.org λ LGBT Center Rainbow Lounge, Princeton: www.princeton.edu/lgbt ♦ North Jersey PrimeTimers: www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers Every Sunday 10:45 am - MCC of Christ the Liberator, Highland Park; tombohache10 @ gmail.com Noon - St. Francis of Assisi Church, Glen Ridge; 973-731-7765; stfrancisnj.org 2:30 pm - Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church, Newark; 973-621-2100 5:30 pm - Central Jersey Rainbows Bowling League, Bradley Beach; CJRBowling @ gmail.com 7:00 pm - Chapter 9 - Couples in Recovery, Highland Park † Every Monday 10:30 am - The Wellness Community, Newark; 973-565-0300; info @ hyacinth.org 7:00 pm - GAAMC, Morris Township (see page 2) 7:00 pm - Bowling, Union; merenl @ comcast.net 7:00 pm - S.E.L.F. HIV Men’s support group, Hackensack * 7:30 pm - New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus choir practice, Princeton; 609-396-7774; www.njgmc.org 7:30 pm - Overeaters Anonymous, Highland Park † 8:00 pm - Bowling, Green Brook; qcrollers @ aol.com Every Tuesday 12:30 pm - The Wellness Community, Newark; 973-565-0300; info @hyacinth.org 4:00 pm - Treatment Adherence Support Group, Jersey City; 201-432-1134; info @hyacinth.org 6:30 pm - TransView, Jersey City ‡ 7:00 pm - NA Group, Jersey City ‡ 7:30 pm - Tuesday Night Lesbian Connection, Bound Brook; 908-791-3764 7:30 pm - Men’s HIV support group, Asbury Park; 732-7755084; apstillpoz @ yahoo.com 7:30 pm - Positive Yoga, Oradell * 8:45 pm - Bowling, Belleville; 973-256-5936; NJGLB @ aol.com 9:00 pm - Bowling, Jersey City; 201-933-6028; JoeyNJ @ aol.com 9:15 pm - Bowling, Edison; 732-548-4550; cnjgbl @ yahoo.com
Every Wednesday 10:30 am - The Wellness Community, Jersey City; 201-432-1134; info @hyacinth.org 2:30 pm - RU Pride, Newark; 973-353-5716 6:00 pm - Positive People peer support group, Hackensack * 6:00 pm - SAGE, Jersey City ‡ 7:30 pm - Men’s Living Out group, Highland Park; njwarrior @ aol.com † 7:30 pm - Gay Men’s Coming Out group, Highland Park; njwarrior@aol.com † Every Thursday 6:00 pm - Our Youth weekly support group, Jersey City; www.myspacenj.org 6:30 pm - Ties Like Mine, Jersey City ‡ 6:30 pm - Double Jeopardy peer support group, Hackensack * 6:30 pm - Hudson Men of Pride, Jersey City ‡ 7:00 pm - Sexual Assault Survivor Support, Princeton; www.hitops.org 7:30 pm - Rainbows on Cleveland Street, Orange; 973-256-5936; rbowsoncleveland @ aol.com 7:30 pm - Writers group, Highland Park † Every Friday 3:00 pm - Youth Connect, Jersey City ‡ Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm - HIV testing, Morristown; 973-889-6802 9:00 am to 1:00 pm - HIV testing, Asbury Park; 800-947-0020 10:00 am to 5:00 pm - HiTOPS Health Center, Princeton; www.hitops.org; 609-683-5155 x 211
01 Sat 1:00 pm - Women of Pride, Jersey City ‡ 1:00 pm - Indian buffet, Morris Plains ♦ 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 5:00 pm - Women's Arts & Music Performance Series, Highland Park † 8:00 pm - Rent, Princeton λ
7:30 pm - LGBT Fellowship, Belleville; 973-751-0616 7:30 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park † 7:30 pm - NJ Women Coming Out Support, Highland Park †
02 Sun 2:00 pm - 42nd Street, Montclair ♦ 4:00 pm - Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-509-0118; Dignitymetronj @ msn.com 5:00 pm - Post-play dinner, Little Falls ♦ 6:30 pm - Gay Men’s Opera Club; 732-249-9034; hagol @ msn.com
06 Thu 5:30 pm - Breast Cancer Education, Jersey City ‡ 7:00 pm - Coffee Night, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com
03 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 7:00 pm - Lesbian Hot Topics, Ocean; schiffman @ rocketmail.com 04 Tue 5:00 pm - Out on the Town, Princeton λ 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, New Brunswick; www.GPBN.net
05 Wed 6:30 pm - Prince Igor, Rockaway ♦ 7:30 pm - Gay Dad’s discussion group, Highland Park † 7:30 pm - Jersey Boys of Leather, Highland Park †
07 Fri 1:30 pm - "Active Allyship: Disability, Ableism, and Access", Princeton λ 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack * 8:00 pm - Karaoke, Highland Park † 08 Sat 12:30 pm - IPG Gender Spectrum Support Group for Youth & Parents, Jersey City ‡ 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park † 4:00 pm - Breast Cancer Education, Jersey City ‡ 7:00 pm - Movie Social, Highland Park †
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08 Sat 7:30 pm - Dignity New Brunswick gay Catholic liturgy; 732-968-9263; dignitynb @ earthlink.net 7:30 pm - Havurah Anniversary Dinner, Metuchen; njlgh.onefireplace.com 09 Sun 4:00 pm - Out Pagans Discussion Group, Highland Park † 6:00 pm - Gay Men’s Classical Song Club, Kingston; pbrown02 @ worldnet.att.net 10 Mon 6:30 pm - HIV Testing, Highland Park † 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Morris County, Mendham; 973-727-5288; pflag.morris @ verizon.net 7:30 pm - PFLAG, Princeton; 609-663-5155; www.pflagprinceton.org 9:00 pm - Bowling, Rockaway ♦ 11 Tue 6:00 pm - Queering the Color Line, Princeton λ 7:30 pm - Pride Center Board Meeting, Highland Park † 12 Wed 7:30 am - Living Out Women, Highland Park † 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, Asbury Park; www. GPBN.net 6:30 pm - North Jersey Prime Timers' monthly meetup, Little Falls ♦ 13 Thu 9:30 am - "Supporting LGBT Students, Staff, and Faculty ", Princeton λ 2:00 pm - "Moving Beyond the Mythical Norm & Affirming the Intersections", Princeton λ 7:00 pm - Qspot Book Club, Point Pleasant; outdoorgirl @ optonline.net 7:00 pm - Under the Rainbow, Highland Park † 7:30 pm - PFLAG of North Jersey, South Orange; 908-789-7489; pflagwaver @ aol.com 7:30 pm - Alternate Thursdays, Montclair; kjdinkin @ comcast.net 7:30 pm - Kollege of Kink, Highland Park † 8:00 pm - Booked for Supper, Highland Park † 14 Fri 7:30 pm - Rock Band/Guitar Hero, Highland Park † 15 Sat 1:00 pm - Women of Pride, Jersey City ‡ 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 7:00 pm - Rainbow Bowling, Bradley Beach; 732-774-4540 7:00 pm - NJ Gay Film Society & Potluck Dinner Club, location TBA; gayfilms @ bigfoot.com 7:30 pm - LGBT Game Night, Highland Park †
Loisj @ msn.com 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Hunterdon County, Flemington; 908-752-1370; pflaghc @ yahoo.com 7:30 pm - Caregiver Support Group, Highland Park † 8:00 pm - PFLAG of Bergen County, Paramus; 201-287-0318; www.bergenpflag.org 8:00 pm - NJ Women, Secaucus; info @ njwomen.org 19 Wed 7:30 pm - United in Grace discussion/support group, Jersey City; 201-946-0650; greg.perez @ comcast.net 7:30 pm - Board Meeting, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 8:30 pm - Bowling, Boonton ♦ 20 Thu 6:00 pm - New Volunteer Orientation, Jersey City ‡ 7:00 pm - GAAMC board meeting, Morristown All GAAMC members are invited to attend. 7:00 pm - GLSEN Training, Highland Park † 7:00 pm - PCNJ HIV Planning Committee, Highland Park † 7:30 pm - NJ Women Coming Out Support Group, Highland Park † 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Northwest NJ, Sparta; 973-729-9909 7:30 pm - Volunteer Group Meeting, Jersey City ‡ 7:30 pm - NJ Women Coming Out Support, Highland Park † 21 Fri 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack * 7:30 pm - Dignity New Brunswick social; 732-968-9263; dignitynb @ earthlink.net 8:00 pm - Out of the Box open mic night, Highland Park (Sign-up begins 7:30); outoftheboxinfo @ mac.com 22 Sat 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park † 7:00 pm - Gay Bowling, Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park; 732-776-6160 23 Sun 3:00 pm - The Lavender Cinema Club, Highland Park † 24 Mon 4:00 pm - "RESISTERECTOMY", Princeton λ 25 Tue 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, Asbury Park; www. GPBN.net 6:30 pm - Dinner, Millburn ♦ 7:00 pm - Bisexual, Bi-curious and Allies Support Group, Highland Park † 7:00 pm - Stonewall Democrats, Highland Park † 7:00 pm - Film screening, "(Re)Presenting Trans", Princeton λ 8:30 pm - Men's Social, Highland Park † 26 Wed Noon - Out on the Job Search, Princeton λ 7:30 pm - Living Out Women, Highland Park † 27 Thu 5:30 pm - Breast Cancer: Mindfullness II, Jersey City ‡ 7:00 pm - Under the Rainbow, Highland Park †
16 Sun 4:00 pm - Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-509-0118; Dignitymetronj @ msn.com 4:00 pm - TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park †
28 Fri 10:30 am - LGBT Task Force of NJCBW, Highland Park † 7:30 pm - Living Soulfully, Highland Park † 8:00 pm - Shabbat Service, Highland Park; njlgh.onefireplace.com
17 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 7:00 pm - Lesbian Hot Topics, Ocean; schiffman @ rocketmail.com 7:30 pm - Young Men's Social Network, Highland Park †
29 Sat 1:00 pm - The Butch Event, Highland Park (see Bulletin Board, page 3) † 4:00 pm - Breast Cancer: Mindfullness II, Jersey City ‡ 8:00 pm - Disco Legends, New Hope, PA ♦
18 Tue 7:00 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park † 7:30 pm - Lesbian Alliance of Princeton; 609-924-8174;
30 Sun 2:00 pm - Paul Taylor Dance Company, New York, NY ♦ 31 Mon 6:30 pm - Dinner, Clifton ♦
March 2014
CHALLENGE
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Gleanings
(continued from page 4) Oregon voters will likely face not one, but two questions about gay marriage when they go to the ballot this year: whether to become the 18th state to let same-sex couples wed, and whether the state should be the first to allow services providers such as florists and bakers to refuse to participate in these weddings on religious grounds. The next frontier facing activists in the marriage debate comes from those who object on religious grounds and want a legal right to opt out. "This is not a sideshow issue," said James Esseks of the American Civil Liberties Union, referring to the Oregon ballot initiative and the coming debate over religious exemption. "This is going to be the issue that we fight about for the next ten years, at least, in the [LGBT civil] rights movement." In related news, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced that she will not defend her state’s marriage equality ban in court. The attorneys general of five other states have made similar announcements. "[Oregon’s law] cannot withstand a federal constitutional challenge under any standard of review," Rosenblum said in a court filing, adding that the state will continue to enforce the ban unless a court overturns it. (Reuters; KPTV-TV, Portland) Religious Exemptions Update: Kansas state Senator Tim Owens (R), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced a bill carving out a religious exemption for those claiming a "sincerely held religious belief" against same-sex relationships and allow them to refuse services would not advance. The Kansas House had previously approved the bill. Business leaders voiced strong opposition to the legislation. Equality Kansas Chair Sandra Meade issued a statement calling the bill “a blatant attempt to maintain second class citizen status for tax paying gay and lesbian Kansans.” The Maine Senate rejected a bill seeking to provide a religious exemption to the state's human rights bill, by a vote of 16 to 19. Tennessee state Senator Mike Bell (R) withdrew a bill which would have allowed wedding-industry businesses to refuse service to same-sex couples. Senator Bell said he withdrew the bill because he now believes current state law already protects business owners from "lawsuit harassment" by LGBT activists. The South Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee killed a bill that would allow religious entities to refuse to perform wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples, while another bill which would have allowed wedding vendors to refuse same-sex couples was withdrawn. (Keen News Service.com, The Kansas City Star) Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R) vetoed legislation that would allow individuals and businesses to cite religion when refusing services to people or groups based on sexual orientation. The veto, along with vetoes of four other bills, was made in the wake of Brewer's demand to the state legislature not to send any bills for signing until progress had been made on a state budget bill and the expansion of Medicaid. The governor saw the delivery of the bills to her as a test of her resolve on the part of state Senate President Andy Biggs (R). (KNXV-TV, Phoenix)
The Indiana House approved a bill that would place a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality before voters as early as 2016. The 57-40 vote, in which 11 Republicans broke ranks to join 29 Democrats in opposition, follows the chamber's decision to strike language that would have also banned civil unions. The bill must be passed by the Senate this year and again by both chambers in the next legislative session in order to appear on the ballot in 2016. (The Indianapolis Star) The Supreme Court of Idaho ruled that married same-sex couples are entitled to adopt children, siding with two Boise women who married last year. The court ruled unanimously that neither sexual orientation nor gender should affect an adult's ability to adopt. The ruling does not affect a pending lawsuit filed by four same-sex couples seeking to overturn the state's marriage-equality ban. (Reuters) Six same-sex couples in Florida filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state's ban on marriage equality, which was passed by Florida voters in 2008. "These harmful laws are outdated and out of step. It is time for all families in our state to have full equality under the law," Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith said after the filing. (Washington Blade) A gay rights group in Louisiana plans a legal challenge to the Louisiana Constitution's prohibition against recognizing samesex marriages performed legally in other states. The Forum for Equality Louisiana and four gay married couples have a draft of a lawsuit which attacks the marriage recognition ban on several fronts, including the state's refusal to recognize both members of a same-sex union as parents of a child born to them or adopted. Perhaps most creatively, the planned lawsuit says banning recognition violates free speech rights when state revenue department policy requires married same-sex couples who file joint federal tax returns to falsely claim they are single on state returns. (Talking Points Memo.com) West Virginia Senate President Jeff Kessler (D) introduced a bill that would prohibit employers and landlords from discriminating against people on the basis of sexual orientation. The bill, variants of which were introduced in 2008, 2009, and 2010, was scheduled to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "People should not be fearful of losing their job or being evicted from their house, not based on the quality of their work or if they pay their rent on time, but because of who they love at night," Kessler said. (Bloomberg Businessweek) Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced that the state will no longer defend the state's marriage equality ban in court, citing recent court decisions against such bans. "After thoughtful review and analysis, the State has determined that its arguments grounded upon equal protection and due process are no longer sustainable," Masto, a Democrat, said in a statement. Republican Governor Brian Sandoval has indicated that he agrees with the move. (Washington Blade) (continued on next page)
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Gleanings
(continued from previous page) Nine same-sex couples in Colorado filed a lawsuit challenging the state's marriage equality ban, which prohibits the state from recognizing same-sex marriages. While the lawsuit names Governor John Hickenlooper and Denver Clerk Debra Johnson, both Democrats, as defendants, Republican Attorney General John Suthers has said he will defend the law in court should either of them refuse to do so. (The Denver Post) U.S. officials strongly criticized a speech by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh that included anti-LGBT rhetoric. Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. was "deeply troubled" by the speech, which likened the LGBT community to "vermin" and called for its eradication. "Human rights and fundamental freedoms belong to all individuals. The United States stands by you no matter where you are and no matter who you love," Kerry said after the speech. (Washington Blade) Scotland's Parliament voted 105-18 to legalize marriage equality, paving the way for same-sex couples there to begin marrying by the fall. Scotland joins England and Wales in the U.K. with marriage equality. "I believe this bill will have a hugely positive impact on our society and on the health and well-being of LGBT people in our country," Scottish lawmaker Jim Eadie said during the debate over the bill. (Advocate.com) Finland’s parliament will begin debating a bill to allow same-sex marriage. Under Finnish law, petitions can be started to force parliament to discuss bills that matter to petitioners. 50,000 names are required within six months; the marriage equality bill achieved nearly 100,000 signatories in 24 hours. The final tally reached 166,000. Polling conducted last year shows support for same-sex marriage at 58%. At present, same-sex couples can register their partnerships but have limited rights and cannot adopt their partner’s children. (Gay Star News.com) Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin admonished that homophobia is "insulting to God". In the wake of the so-called 'Pantigate' controversy over homophobia comments made on RTE [Irish public media] and a defamation settlement, Dr. Martin said: "God never created anybody that he doesn't love." In an interview, the senior cleric said this meant that "anybody who doesn't show love towards gay and lesbian people is insulting God. They are not just homophobic if they do that — they are actually Godophobic because God loves every one of those people". (The Independent, UK) Lawmakers in Bulgaria h a v e r ejected a proposal w h i c h would have banned any public discussion or
display of LGBTI identity. The proposal put forward by the Bulgarian nationalist Ataka party to amend the Bulgarian Criminal Code was even more extreme than Russia’s so-called gay propaganda ban. "[O]rganizing or participating in events, rallies, and parades, or through the media and the internet publicly manifest[ing] their own or of other persons’ homosexual orientation" would have become a crime punishable with 1 to 5 years in prison, and fines of around $2,500 — 5,000. (GayStarNews.com) Russian protest art group Pussy Riot, among the most vocal protestors of Russia's anti-gay law, have been beaten with whips by Cossacks who are helping patrol Sochi during the Winter Olympics. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina's years-long prison sentences over a protest in a church against President Putin were cut short before the Olympics. Video shot (left) shows band members being attacked as five of them tried to perform a song. Police questioned witnesses; however, no one was arrested. Footage of the incident is part of the new Pussy Riot video, "Putin Will Teach You How To Love" http://youtu.be /gjI0KYl9gWs/, a song with the translated lyric "The gay parade has been sent to the outhouse". Tolokonnikova also said on Twitter that the pair had been detained by authorities in Sochi on each of the prededing three days. (BBC, NPR) University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam came out as gay in an interview. If he is drafted in May as expected, he will become the National Football League's first active openly gay player. "I just want to make sure I could tell my story the way I want to tell it," said Sam, who came out to his teammates and coaches last summer. At least eight NFL executives and coaches have predicted that Sam's draft ranking will drop as a result of his coming out, but the NFL praised Sam for his "honesty and courage." (The New York Times)
March 2014
CHALLENGE
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Minutes of the GAAMC Board of Trustees Meeting, January 16, 2013 Attendance Voting Trustees: Cee, DeLeeuw, Grifone, Kennedy, Lucek, Rase, Sauer, Schaublin, Suiter Non-Voting Attendees: Allen Neuner, Andy Skurna The meeting began at 7:13 pm. I. Adoption of minutes: The minutes of the November meeting were approved unanimously. The minutes of the December meeting were amended and approved (Sauer abstaining). II.Old Business: None. III.New Business: Welcome to New Trustees: Sherri welcomed new Board members and set down her expectations for the Board for the coming year. Appointment of Committee Chairs: Challenge Editor, Allen Neuner; Discussion Group Resources, Gordon Sauer; Pride Events, Mickey Suiter; Pride Guide, Andy Skurna; Programs, Sherri Rase; Webmaster, Andy Skurna. Chair appointments for GAAMC Outings, Information, Membership, Socials, and Publicity postponed. Approval of Challenge Subscription List: It was decided to contact current organizations on the list to find out what they do with their issues. Board Retreat: Scheduled for January 26 at Gordon's home. A framework for the meeting was discussed.
IV. Reports: President: Sherri Rase — Encouraged follow-through on committee interests. Treasurer: John DeLeeuw — Files being transitioned over by former Acting Treasurer Andy Skurna. The need to purchase a new edition of QuickBooks was discussed. Challenge: Allen Neuner — February 15th is the deadline for the March issue. Printing and stuffing would take place January 27. Programs: Sherri Rase — Karaoke night, January 20th; Games night, January 27th; Valentines social, February 17th; Game night, January 27th. March will be GAAMC's traditional Sex Month. AIDS Walk will be in May; we are considering honoring Paul Greenberg in some manner. June is Pride Month. Discussion Group Resources: Gordon Sauer — Written report on file. V. Save These Dates: January 20th, karaoke; January 26th, Board retreat; February 17th, Valentines social; February 20th, Board meeting VI. Ideas & Suggestions: Allen mentioned Troy Stevenson is resigning as executive director of Garden State Equality; a search is on for his replacement. Liz suggested that the Socials Committee consider a monthly food event since these seem to draw more attendees. Reviewing the current program schedule revealed GAAMC has nearly one food event a month, although not on the scale of Pastabilities or the International Food Night which are significant efforts and costly to arrange. Gordon announced that Info@GAAMC.org was up and running. VII. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn passed unanimously (moved, Schaublin; seconded, Cee) The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.
KEVIN P. SUSZKO, PC Certified Public Accountant
T AX PLANNING & PREPARATION F INANCIAL P LANNING A CCOUN TI N G SERVI C ES D AY & EVENING APPOINTM ENTS O FFICES IN NEW JERSEY & NYC Phone: 973–376–4121 P. O. Box 701 Short Hills, NJ 07078 Email: KPSCPA@GMAIL.COM
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GAY ACTIVIST ALLIANCE IN MORRIS COUNTY
Officers President (President@GAAMC.org) — Sherri Rase VP Community Services (Info@GAAMC.org) — Gordon Sauer VP Operations (Operations@GAAMC.org) — Mickey Suiter Secretary (Secretary@GAAMC.org) — Ron Kennedy Treasurer (Treasurer@GAAMC.org) — John DeLeeuw
GAAMC, the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County, has served New Jersey’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and intersexed communities since 1972. GAAMC is a notfor-profit volunteer-run organization that provides social, educational, and outreach programs. GAAMC also offers opportunities for individuals to become politically active on issues related to the GLBTI communities. Our intent is to maintain a positive, healthy, respectful, and supportive environment in a safe space. Meetings are held every Monday evening at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ (near the Morris Museum). Discussion groups usually meet from 7:00 to 8:00. The evening's program usually starts shortly after 8:00. Refreshments are available. For program information, check our homepage at www.GAAMC.org. Members and non-members are always welcome.
Trustees Kerry Dinkin, Marty Grifone, Joe Gygax, Frank Lucek, Rich Schaublin, Liz Slicer Committee Chairs & Functional Officers Challenge Editor — Allen Neuner (Challenge@GAAMC.org) Discussion Group Resources — Gordon Sauer (Discussions@GAAMC.org) GAAMC Outings — Open Information — Andy Skurna (FreeLibrary@GAAMC.org) Membership — Open Pride Events — Mickey Suiter Pride Guide — Andy Skurna (PrideGuide@GAAMC.org) Programs — Sherri Rase (Programs@GAAMC.org) Publicity — Open Socials — John DeLeeuw (Socials@GAAMC.org) Webmaster — Andy Skurna (Webmaster@GAAMC.org)
Annual membership dues are: Regular, $40/single, $70/couple; Students/Seniors, $30/single, $60/couple. Those looking to help out at GAAMC can contact Gordon Sauer at Info@GAAMC.org. How to reach GAAMC Mail: PO Box 137, Convent Station, NJ 07961 Telephone: 973-285-1595 Email: info@gaamc.org Home page: www.GAAMC.org Mail List: groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/gaamc Facebook: www.facebook.com/gaamc Challenge online edition: issuu.com/gaamc/docs
PREVIEWS OF COMING ATTRACTIONS! March 10th
March 17th
March 24th
Hot Open Mic
St. Patrick's Social
Hyacinth's Fun & Games
See "GAAMC Events", page 2, for more details!