The Best Damn Newsletter in New Jersey!TM November 24th: Gobble, gobble, gobble as GAAMC Gives Thanks!
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 9, No v e m be r 2 0 14
The Season of Thanks by Sherri Rase GAAMC is all about connection. From the moment of birth more than 42 years ago to the present day, we’ve existed to create a better world where all people are equal. This past year or so there have been many events that we may remember this month both at GAAMC Gives Thanks, our annual pre-Thanksgiving social, as well as traditional American Thanksgiving later this month. We spend so much time dwelling on the things we don’t have that we forget the blessings we enjoy every day. If you’ve ever struggled with mobility or health, you have a very different understanding of the pleasure of a beautiful day – one that might be free from struggle, stiffness, or pain. If your struggle has been with depression, being happy is a tremendous thing. If you’ve seen friends through difficult times with challenges like these, you have a different appreciation as well. By my reckoning, this is a passive gratitude. What would active gratitude look like? Active gratitude is giving back to your community. When you see something that needs to be done, just do it without caring who’s watching. We’re always being observed even when we don’t realize it, so consider the effect you have on someone who sees you pick up a piece of trash and put it in an outdoor wastebasket even though you didn’t throw it on the ground. The example you set when you open a door for someone, or offer help to a friend or family member not only helps the recipient. Observers see the modeling of good behavior and
soon the butterfly effect will magnify your efforts and reflect them in others’ good actions. Humans are programmed to reflect what we receive. Give this a try next time you’re in a crowd: Make eye contact and smile at the other person. 9 times out of 10, you’ll get a smile back. This is limbic brain stuff, and the smile you give that costs you nothing could make a life and death difference for the recipient. There’s a final type of thankfulness I’ll discuss and that’s retro gratitude. It can take two forms: one is “I’m thankful I know that NOW so I can avoid making that mistake again”; the other is “I’m thankful that XYZ awful event happened because it put me on the path where I am now, fulfilled and happy.” Often, we don’t see a crisis as an opportunity, but the Chinese character for both of those words is the same. Back to the personal for a moment… GAAMC Gives Thanks is our greatest event of the year. Those of us who have loving family get to start celebrating on Monday and continue through Turkey Day as a continuous moveable feast. Those of us who have family obligations that are more challenging get a chance to enjoy our GAAMC family in a convivial environment where everyone contributes a dish that is made with love and enjoyed by all. What will you bring for the feast? What will you celebrate? Welcome to GAAMC!
Inside Challenge
Challenge Information .................................... page GAAMC Events.............................................. page What's happening at our Monday meetings Bulletin Board.............................................. page Getting Personal........................................... page Good Eats! recipes........................................ page This Month's Contributors ............................... page Gleanings.................................................... page
2 2 3 3 3 3 4
My Turn: an editorial.................................... page 6 Q-munity Calendar........................................ page 7 Giving Thanks? Why so few "Thank You"s?........... page 9 Board Minutes for August 2014....................... page 11 Marriage Equality: What Just Happened?.......... page 12 Dancing To Architecture................................ page 13 Music news and reviews with a queer ear GAAMC Information ...................................... page 14
Challenge is in color online, with more content at issuu.com/gaamc/docs!
Page 2 CHALLENGE Volume 40, Number 9 November 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 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. GAAMC members may place one free classified ad per month, of no more than 200 characters in length. Change of Address Please let us know your new address! All address changes should be sent to the Editor at Challenge @ 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.
CH AL L ENG E No v e m be r 2 0 1 4
GAAMC Events for November 2014 Discussion Groups
OpenTalk: A weekly discussion group, open to all. 7:00, in the Library. Moderators: Elias ; Gordon (Nov 17); Kerry (Nov 10); Liz (Nov 17); Mickey; Sherri. NOTE: Discussion group does not meet on Film Festival nights. NEW! 20-Somethings: A monthly discussion group for those in their twenties. Held on the last Monday of the month. Moderator: Joe (Nov 24). NEW! Current Affairs: A monthly discussion group focused on current events. Held on the first Monday of the month. Moderator: Frank (Nov 3).
Main Events
All start at 8:00 unless otherwise noted. November 3: The GAAMC Film Festival presents Dallas Buyers Club. Ron Woodroof (Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey) discovers he's got HIV/AIDS during the mid-80's and is given 30 days to live due to his perilously low T-cell count. However, Ron's a charming redneck rascal who's not yet ready to end his life. This film, which also won Oscars for supporting actor Jared Leto and for makeup and hairstyling, tells the story of how Ron refused to accept a death sentence and helped others get the treatment they needed. NOTE: movie starts at 7:00. November 10: Cooking with Pride! Join GAAMC Trustee Joe and GAAMC regular Martin as they show off their culinary skills...and share their secret tips, tricks and recipes. Tonight, the gents will teach us how to make chicken Francaise, a traditional favorite at fancy catered affairs that features batter-fried chicken cutlets topped with a delicate lemon-garlic sauce. November 17: Extended Open Talk So much to say and so little time to say it, especially so soon after elections and right before the holidays. Join GAAMC’s members and guests as we speak our minds and you speak yours, in GAAMC XLT — Extended-Length Open Talk! November 24: GAAMC Gives Thanks! Many people’s favorite event of the GAAMC program year is GAAMC Gives Thanks! This event is always the Monday before American Thanksgiving. The Board members make turkeys; you provide a side dish or dessert that will accommodate 6-8 people. Past contributions from GAAMC members have included lasagna, mashed potatoes, candied yams, sweet potato pie, fruit pies, pumpkin pies, home-made cranberry sauce, fresh bread and butter — well, you get the idea. Let the Social Committee know which of your specialties you want to bring. Can’t decide? Ask them what they need! See you there!
Coming next month! December 1: Information for tonight's event was not available as we went to press. Check our newly designed website at GAAMC.org for information about this and other GAAMC events! NOTE: All events are subject to change without notice. Check out GAAMC.org for up-to-date information on all upcoming events!
November 2014
CHALLENGE
Page 3
Bulletin Board
This Month's Contributors
Mark your calendars! November 15th is the date, and Jersey City is the place for The Masquerade Ball — A Carnivale Affair! The Imperial Court of New York presents this gala fundraiser for the benefit of the Hudson Pride Connections Center. A VIP cocktail reception kicks off the evening at 6 pm, followed by the general admission party from 7 pm to midnight! For more information or to reserve your tickets, visit www.icny.org.
The Easton Farmers' Market is America's oldest stilloperating farmers market, founded in 1752. The Market is unique in that all vendors are required to make or grow their wares themselves. Along with fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meats, and baked goods, you can find housewares, candles, soaps, wines, candies, and dog cookies! The Market is open Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May through November, and Wednesday evenings from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. June through September, at Centre Square in the heart of Easton, Pennsylvania.
Getting Personal Move To Somerville, NJ! Fine houses for sale, within easy walking distance to train station, vibrant downtown, near Gay neighbors. I can volunteer leads. (Not an agent.) Contact Bill: bearealman at gmail.com
Good Eats!
Recipes from the Easton Farmers' Market Scalloped Potatoes
A delicious side dish for your Thanksgiving table Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs. potatoes 6 tbsp. butter 3 tbsp. brown rice or whole wheat flour ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. pepper 1 ½ cups raw milk 1 cup grated chedder cheese 4 scallions, thinly sliced ¾ cup hearty thick crispbread (or any whole grain cracker)
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place potatoes in 2 quart saucepan. Add enough water to cover. Bring to boil over high heat. Cook uncovered until partially done with a firm center (about 10 minutes). Rinse and drain in cold water until cool. Set aside. Melt 4 tbsp. butter in medium saucepan. Add flour, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth, gradually adding milk and stirring constantly until the sauce is thickened. Add the cheese, stirring until melted. Cut potatoes crosswise into ¼-inch thick slices. Layer 1/3 of the potatoes in a lightly greased 1-quart casserole dish. Top with 1/3 of the scallions and 1/3 of the cheese sauce. Repeat layers twice, ending with sauce. Melt the remaining butter. Combine cracker crumbs and butter in small bowl. Sprinkle over the casserole. Bake, uncovered, until hot and bubbly and potatoes are tender (about 30-40 minutes).
Buddy, can you spare an ad?
Allen Neuner is the Editor of Challenge, "The Best Damn Newsletter in New Jersey!"®, and the friendly face at the front desk on Monday nights. While he tries to keep his personal feelings out of Challenge, there are times when events affect him so strongly that he has to write an editorial. As always, Allen welcomes all contributions to Challenge: columns, opinions, recipes, poetry, prose, visual art, advertisements, and letters of praise or complaint. You can contact Allen at Challenge@gaamc.org. (pages 6, 12) Bill Realman Stella writes Dancing To Architecture because writing about music is dancing to architecture. Bill hosted the eclectic pop music radio show Highest Common Denominator, and seeks sponsors to revive it. To have Bill write, DJ, or promote for you, contact bearealman at gmail, and visit Bill's online 'zines, latest column, and blogsite. Comments, suggestions, and fan mail are also welcome. (pages 9, 13)
KEVIN P. SUSZKO, PC Certified Public Accountant
T AX PLANNING & PREPARATION F INANCIAL P LANNING A C COUN TIN G SERV IC ES D AY & EV ENI NG AP POI N TM EN T S O FFICES IN NEW JERSEY & NYC Phone: 973–376–4121 P. O. Box 701 Short Hills, NJ 07078 Email: KPSCPA@GMAIL.COM
Business card ads start at just $25. Discounts for repeat appearances. Contact Ye Editor at Challenge @GAAMC.org
Page 4
CH AL L ENG E No v e m be r 2 0 1 4
Gleanings
Queer news from around the world The Supreme Court denied review of seven petitions chal- (USA Today; The Denver Post; KCUR-FM, Kansas City, MO; The lenging same-sex marriage bans, a move that has led, as of Charlotte Observer, NC; The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC; The press time, to marriage equality in Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Washington Post; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Metro Weekly, DC) North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, and promises marriage equality A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals eventually for Kansas and South Carolina. Court observers struck down marriage bans in Nevada and Idaho, a move had predicted that the justices would take up at least one that clears the way for pro-marriage equality rulings in Alaska, Arizona, and Montana. A federal judge struck down of the cases. In Colorado, Attorney General John Suthers (R) said that Alaska's ban on marriage equality, prompting state officials to announce their intent to appeal all 64 county clerks in the state are the ruling. "Although the district obligated to issue same-sex marriage Marriage Equality Statuses court today may have been bound by licenses, after a federal appeals court the recent 9th Circuit panel opinion, lifted the stay on same-sex marriage it Full marriage equality the status of that opinion and the law had imposed after striking down neigh(32 states, 1 territory): in general in this area is in flux. I will boring Utah's ban, paving the way for Alaska * Arizona * California defend our constitution," said Govermarriages to begin in Colorado. Colorado * Connecticut * Delaware nor Sean Parnell (R). Arizona AttorThe Kansas Supreme Court placed a District of Columbia * Hawaii * Idaho ney General Tom Horne (R) antemporary hold on the issuance of marnounced that his office will not apIllinois * Indiana * Iowa * Maine riage licenses to same-sex couples in peal a ruling against the state's marJohnson County. Kansas Attorney GenMaryland * Massachusetts * Minnesota riage equality ban, leading a number eral Derek Schmidt (R) had requested Nevada * New Hampshire of same-sex couples in the state to the stay. The Kansas Supreme Court New Jersey * New Mexico * New York seek marriage licenses. Horne said in will hear oral arguments on the issue North Carolina * Oklahoma * Oregon a press conference that both he and on November 6th. Pennsylvania * Rhode Island * Utah Governor Jan Brewer (R) agreed that In North Carolina, Federal Judge Max Vermont * Virginia * Washington appealing the decision would be a Cogburn affirmed that the state's ban West Virginia * Wisconsin * Wyoming waste of state resources. "I have deon same-sex marriage is unconstitucided not to appeal today's decision, tional. "It is a legal issue and it is clear Ban struck down, appeal pending which would be an exercise in futilas a matter of what is now settled law (9 states): ity," Horne said. Idaho officials rein the Fourth Circuit that North Caroacted by asking the Supreme Court to Arkansas * Florida * Kansas * Kentucky lina laws prohibiting same sex marissue a stay on the ruling. Supreme riage, refusing to recognize same sex Michigan * Ohio * South Carolina Court Justice Anthony Kennedy ormarriages originating elsewhere, and/ Tennessee * Texas dered the stay, but the stay was reor threatening to penalize those who scinded by the full Supreme Court. would solemnize such marriages, are Ban currently challenged in court Nevada officials announced they unconstitutional," Judge Cogburn wrote (9 states, 1 territory): would no longer defend the state's in his three-page decision. Alabama * Georgia * Louisiana marriage ban. (Advocate.com; Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on beMississippi * Missouri * Montana MSNBC; Washington Blade) half of Charleston, SC City CouncilNebraska * North Dakota * Puerto Rico woman Colleen Condon and her partA Missouri judge ruled that the South Dakota ner, Nichols Bleckley. The South Carostate's ban on recognizing same-sex lina couple successfully applied for a marriage violates the constitutional Ban in place, no action marriage license last week, but shortly right to equal protection. State offithereafter the state Supreme Court (4 territories): cials haven't indicated whether they complied with a request by Attorney American Samoa * Guam plan to appeal the ruling. (St. Louis General Alan Wilson (R) to put marriage Northern Mariana Islands Post-Dispatch) equality on hold. Virgin Islands West Virginia Attorney General PatLouisiana Attorney General Buddy rick Morrisey (R) issued a statement Caldwell (R) filed an appeal with the that his office will no longer defend the state’s ban on mar- state Supreme Court asking it to reverse a pro-marriage riage equality. equality ruling issued by parish judge Edward Rubin. Mike Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) directed state agen- Johnson, an attorney working to help the state defend its cies to recognize as valid the marriages of approximately marriage laws at both the federal and state levels, said the 500 same-sex couples who wed in June after a federal court ruling was a piece of advocacy rather than on objective deruling struck down the state’s ban on marriage equality. Ac- cision, and that the court exceeded its jurisdiction by decording to the state Department of Revenue, married same- claring the state law unconstitutional. Attorney L. Harvard sex couples in Wisconsin will be able to amend tax returns Scott III, one of the plaintiffs in the federal case, said that from 2013 and previous years where applicable. even though it's rarely done, Judge Rubin had the authority Wyoming Governor Matt Mead (R) announced the state to declare a state law unconstitutional. (The Shreveport would not appeal a federal judge's ruling that state officials Times) in Wyoming cannot block same-sex marriages. (continued on next page)
November 2014 Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) asked the Florida Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the state’s marriage equality ban. Bondi’s office filed a request with a state appeals court in Miami asking it to send two marriage equality cases to the state Supreme Court. (Tallahassee Democrat) In Puerto Rico, US District Judge Juan Perez-Giminez ruled the commonwealth's ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional. "Because no right to same-gender marriage emanates from the Constitution, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico should not be compelled to recognize such unions," U.S. District Judge Juan Perez-Gimenez wrote. In response, Pedro Julio Serrano of LGBT rights group Puerto Rico Para Tod@s said, "We will win in appeal. Equality is inevitable and unstoppable. Puerto Rico will be for everyone." (Washington Blade) Two men and a teenage boy have been arraigned on multiple charges including hate crime charges in connection with an anti-LGBT shooting attack in Bushwick, Brooklyn, in late September. In criminal complaints, prosecutors accused the three suspects, Matthew Smith, 21, Tavon Johnson, 17, and Cody Sigue, 22, of following the shooting victim and two other men, all of whom were wearing women’s clothing, and shouting anti-LGBT slurs at them such as “Y’all faggots” and “men dressing like women” and “tranny” among others. Then, according to the documents, Smith allegedly opened fire on them as they tried to get away, shooting the victim, a 22year-old man who has not been identified. The victim was taken to Brookdale University Hospital and treated for nonlife-threatening injuries. (DNAinfo.com) The New York City Council and the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio are advancing proposed policy changes that would allow individuals with referrals from health care professionals to change the gender on their birth certificates. Current policy requires proof of gender-reassignment surgery before birth certificates can be altered. (The New York Times) New York state Senator Brad Hoylman (D) introduced legislation that would expand designations on birth certificate forms to be more inclusive of LGBT families. "[W]e need to make sure [LGBT families] have the same rights as anyone else, including the right to have their families acknowledged accurately on birth certificates," Hoylman, who is openly gay, said. The legislation would recognize the intended parents on children's birth certificates in cases of adoptive parents. (NYSenate.gov) California officials in charge of completing death certificates will be responsible for ensuring that the documents reflect individuals' expressed gender identities under legislation recently signed by Governor Jerry Brown (D). The bill was authored by out California Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D). Governor Brown also signed legislation outlawing the "gay panic" and "trans panic" defenses that have been used in LGBT hate crimes. The law is the first of its kind in the U.S. (Advocate.com) Maryland enacted a law that bans transgender discrimination in employment and other matters. The law was introduced by out state Senator Rich Madeleno (D) earlier this year and was signed into law by Governor Martin O'Malley (D) in May. (Washington Blade)
CHALLENGE
Page 5
Vatican officials released a document indicating that Pope Francis and many bishops would like the Catholic Church to become more LGBT-inclusive. The document noted that "homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer the Christian community." However, in the face of strong criticism from conservative bishops, Vatican leaders revised the final document, removing phrases such as "welcoming homosexual persons" as well as the above-quoted statement on "gifts and qualities." (The New York Times; The Washington Blade) Estonia's Parliament, in an extremely close vote, passed the Cohabitation Act, which fueled debate and dominated domestic political news for much of the late summer and early autumn. The 40-38 result (with 10 abstentions and 13 absent MPs) was the closest of the various votes on the challenge-ridden path the bill took to become law. Signed into law by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the Cohabitation Act should be in force in 2016, allowing cohabiting couples, regardless of the gender of either partner, the right to register their relationship at a notary and enjoy the kinds of financial benefits conferred by marriage. The final version also provides for the possibility of adoption by unmarried cohabiting couples. There is some fine print, however: to be in force in 2016, some implementing acts will have to be passed first, each requiring 51 of 101 MPs to be in favor. (Estonian Public Broadcasting) Kyrgyzstan’s parliament approved a Russian-style “gay propaganda” ban in a 79-7 vote, bringing the bill one step closer to law in the Central Asian former Soviet republic. The ban proposes up to a year in prison for individuals, including journalists, found guilty of spreading “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.” The bill would also effectively ban LGBT advocacy organizations. Nika Yuryeva, an activist with the Kyrgyz LGBT organization Labrys, said in a statement that rather than protecting children, the bill would contribute to “growth of suicide rates among homosexual teenagers, who will be left without any access to information and right to support.” (Radio Free Europe) In Belgrade, Serbia, several hundred gay activists marched under the protection of riot police and armored vehicles. No large-scale violence occurred, although a few small fights were reported. Michael Davenport, a European Union official, said the rally sent a "very positive and strong message." (Reuters) The autonomous community of Catalonia has passed a law which will punish attacks against the LGBT community with fines of up to €14,000 (roughly $18,000), making it the first law of its kind in Spain. According to news sources, the divisive vote received the backing of left-wing groups but was opposed by Catalan nationalists and conservatives. (PinkNews.co.uk) The United Nations Human Rights Council approved a resolution that addresses anti-LGBT violence and discrimination. It urges that a U.N. report on LGBT human-rights violations be produced. The U.S. and dozens of other countries supported the resolution, which was formally proposed by Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Colombia. (GayPolitics.com) (continued on page 12)
Page 6
CH AL L ENG E No v e m be r 2 0 1 4
My Turn
An editorial by Allen Neuner What could be bad about having the LGBT community recognized, and its leading organizations honored with commemorative proclamations, by the legislature of New Jersey? Getting an organization's name wrong on their proclamation — twice. Failing to inform an organization's representatives when it's time to enter the Assembly chamber with other "champions of equality." Creating the impression that the organization's participation in the event is a mere afterthought. Which organization was that? The oldest continuously operating LGBT organization in New Jersey — GAAMC, the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County. A reception was held in Trenton on October 16th honoring the LGBT community and recognizing our history in New Jersey. Many organizations were recognized besides GAAMC: Garden State Equality; Jersey Pride; the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation; New Jersey Buddies; and the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey, to name a few. Individuals were also honored, among them Jane Clementi, mother of Tyler Clementi, and Marsha Shapiro and Louise Walpin, plaintiffs in Garden State Equality v Dow and the first same-sex couple legally married in New Jersey. All the proclamations read the same, with a short variation to mention the work that particular honoree was being recognized for. Five proclamations were reserved to be presented on the floor of the Assembly Chamber, with each recipient allowed to briefly address the Assembly. The rest were presented in a conference room in the State House Annex. The one given to GAAMC was in the latter group and was presented to Mickey Suiter, the only one of GAAMC's four founders still living in New Jersey. Without GAAMC leading the way all those years ago, it is doubtful that any of the other groups being honored would ever have existed. Without GAAMC, the newly-out of New Jersey would not know that they were not alone and that other resources were out there. After other organizations are only footnotes in history, GAAMC will still be in operation. We are still the safe space and the source for comprehensive statewide information that no other organization is or has ever been. Yet, after 42 years in operation, no one bothered to acknowledge GAAMC's status as the oldest continuously operating LGBT group in the state, the "grandparent" of all state LGBT groups that followed. No one bothered to mention GAAMC's reputation for being the place where one could find a safe space among welcoming people and accurate information about the wide array of services and organizations in this state. No one bothered to mention GAAMC's
spotless record of support, in word and deed, for other groups' events, rallies, protests and other political actions. And no one bothered to get our name right in our proclamation: We are the Gay Activist Alliance IN Morris County, not the Gay Activist Alliance OF Morris County. What could be bad about having the LGBT community recognized, and its leading organizations honored with commemorative proclamations, by the legislature of New Jersey? I believe it is when an organization with the long, honorable past of GAAMC is disrespected at an event where they are supposedly being honored. I believe it is when this disrespect is combined with a shocking ignorance about an organization which, due to its longevity and its continued service to the community, should have been recognized as the first among its peers. What a fitting legacy to create for the first official recognition of the historic work of state LGBT organizations by the legislature of New Jersey. Shame on those responsible. They may feel sorry about this act. They may feel guilty, or ashamed, or embarrassed. Yet that does not undo their apparent support of a status quo in which the true history of LGBT people in New Jersey is allowed to be incomplete. The enormous role GAAMC played was conveniently shunted into silence and shadows. The forefathers and foremothers of New Jersey's LGBT community have been dishonored. It may take a while until GAAMC's members start regaining trust in those responsible for this apparent act of dishonor. What can be done so that GAAMC's members can again fully feel the sense of family that has always been a hallmark of the New Jersey LGBT community? Were I in GAAMC's position, I would first want the organizers of this event — and those of other such events to come — to do their homework. You cannot honor someone's accomplishments without learning what those accomplishments are. I can think of no organization or person involved with the LGBT community who would not freely give that information. All that's needed is the asking. That's a partial solution to prevent this sort of incident from being repeated as we move forward as a community. For now, getting GAAMC's name right on its copy of the Legislature's proclamation would be a good first step. The opinion expressed in the above editorial is that of the Editor alone. It does not express the opinion of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County, its Board of Trustees, its officers, or its members.
November 2014
CHALLENGE
Page 7
N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 4 Q- m u n it 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, Jersey City: 201-963-4779; HudsonPride.org λ LGBT Center Rainbow Lounge, Princeton: www.princeton.edu/lgbt 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 Project Access syringe exchange program, Newark; variable hours; njcri.org; 973-558-5054 Project Access drop-in center, Newark; variable hours; njcri.org Tuesday - Saturday Project WOW! youth center, Newark; variable hours; njcri.org; 973-412-7080 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 Every Monday 10:30 am - The Wellness Community, Newark; 973-565-0300; info @ hyacinth.org 5:00 pm - CSA produce pickup, Jersey City ‡ 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 8:00 pm - Bowling, Green Brook; qcrollers @ aol.com Every Tuesday Noon - Men's support group, Newark; www.njcri.org 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 01 Sat 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 7:30 pm - WAMP, Highland Park† 02 Sun 4:00 pm - Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-509-0118; Dignitymetronj @ msn.com 6:30 pm - Gay Men’s Opera Club; 732-249-9034; hagol @ msn.com 03 Mon 10:00 am - Something Positive treatment adherence workshop, Newark; www.njcri.org 12:30 pm - Intro to Asexuality, Princeton λ 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu
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 ‡ 6:00 pm - "With These Hands" crochet and kitting circle, Newark; 973-424-9555; NewarkLGBTQCenter.org 6:00 pm - My Brother's Keeper game night, Newark; www.njcri.org 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 4:00 pm - True Colors drop-in center, Newark; 973-424-9555; newarklgbtqcenter.org 6:00 pm - Our Youth weekly support group, Jersey City; www.myspacenj.org 6:00 pm - Ties Like Mine, Jersey City ‡ 6:00 pm - LGBT Fitness Explosion, 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 ‡ 3:00 pm - WAVE Youth, Ocean Grove; 732-455-3373; qspot.org 6:15 pm - Gay Men's AA, Ocean Grove; 732-455-3373; qspot.org
Every Saturday 7:00 - Project Wow! Kiki Function, Newark; www.njcri.org 7:00 pm - Lesbian Hot Topics, Ocean; schiffman @ rocketmail.com 7:30 pm - Raices Latinas social/support group, Highland Park† 04 Tue 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 † 05 Wed 7:30 pm - Gay Dad’s discussion group, Highland Park † 7:30 pm - Jersey Boys of Leather, Highland Park † 06 Thu 6:00 pm - GLBT of Hunterdon County, Clifton; www.glbtofhunterdoncountyofnj.com 7:00 pm - Coffee Night, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com
Page 8
CH AL L ENG E No v e m be r 2 0 1 4
07 Fri 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack * 9:00 pm - Karaoke, Highland Park † 08 Sat 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 6:00 pm 7:30 pm
-
Youth Drop-In, Highland Park † Women of Pride, Jersey City ‡ Men's Potluck Dinner & Movie, Highland Park† Dignity New Brunswick gay Catholic liturgy; 732-968-9263; dignitynb @ earthlink.net
09 Sun 6:00 pm - Gay Men’s Classical Song Club, Kingston; pbrown02 @ worldnet.att.net 10 Mon 2:00 pm - Bi-Lingual Spanish Group, Jersey City ‡ 5:30 pm - GSE Youth Caucus, Montclair; 973-509-5428 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 7:30 pm - Young Men's Social Network, Highland Park† 11 Tue 7:30 pm - Pride Center Board Meeting, Highland Park † 12 Wed 4:30 pm - GSE Youth Caucus, Newark; 973-424-9555 7:30 pm - Women's Hang Out, Highland Park † 13 Thu 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 1:00 pm - Women's support group, Newark; www.njcri.org 4:00 pm - SPECTRUM youth drop-in, Newark; NewarkLGBTQCenter.org 6:00 pm - Justin Torres, author, Princeton λ 7:30 pm - COP After Dark, Highland Park † 15 Sat 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 5:00 pm - Central NJ Rope Share, Highland Park † 6:00 pm - The Masquerade Ball, Jersey City ‡ (see Bulletin Board, page 3) 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 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 † 17 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu
7:30 pm - Raices Latinas social/support group, Highland Park† 18 Tue 7:30 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park † 7:30 pm - Lesbian Alliance of Princeton; 609-924-8174; Loisj @ msn.com 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Hunterdon County, Flemington; 908-752-1370; pflaghc @ yahoo.com 7:30 pm - Caregivers 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 5:30 pm - "The Criminalization of Identity", Princeton λ 7:30 pm - United in Grace discussion/support group, Jersey City; 201-946-0650; greg.perez @ comcast.net 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 † 7:30 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 ‡ 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,Highland Park (Sign-up begins 7:30); outoftheboxinfo @ mac.com † 8:00 pm - Shabbat Service, Metuchen; njlgh.onefireplace.com 22 Sat 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park † 1:00 pm - Women of Pride, Jersey City ‡ 7:00 pm - Gay Bowling, Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park; 732-776-6160 23 Sun 1:30 pm - NJ Statewide Trans Day of Remembrance Service, Princeton λ 6:00 pm - The Lavender Cinema Club, Highland Park † 24 Mon 2:00 pm - Bi-Lingual Spanish Group, Jersey City ‡ 7:00 pm - Open Mic, Newark; rupridenewark@gmail.com 25 Tue 7:30 pm - Donald's Events, Highland Park † 8:30 pm - Men's Social, Highland Park † 26 Wed 7:30 pm - Women's Hang Out, Highland Park † 27 Thu 7:00 pm - Under the Rainbow, Highland Park † 28 Fri 10:30 am - LGBT Task Force, Highland Park † 4:00 pm - SPECTRUM youth drop-in, Newark; 973-424-9555; NewarkLGBTQCenter.org 7:30 pm - Living Soulfully, Highland Park †
November 2014
CHALLENGE
Page 9
Giving Thanks? Why so few "Thank You"s, then? by Bill Realman Stella The ads hawking seasonal foods and drinks for family Thanksgiving feasts are everywhere now. You can read self-important pundits urging you to give thanks by giving money to "x" or spending time on "y" — because it's the season. People make things so much more difficult than they need to be. If we just gave a simple "Thank you" more generously than we do, I believe we'd be better served. Maybe that's all most of us really want, for a job well done, for any job someone did for you. Amazingly, a plain "Thank you" is rare. It drives me to distraction how devoid of "Thank you" our lives are. Just say it. "Thank you." What is so hard about that? Looking at what people do, and write, and say, I look for it, but notice "Thank you" so rarely. (But "Fuck you"? Well…)
I'm just fed up to here with a society like ours that thinks we're so righteous and great but can't be bothered to say "Thank you". Do people say "Thank you" to the volunteers that work at Jersey Pride, or at any volunteer-run event? Ever commit yourself to notice who's doing all that unpaid work you benefit from? Ever thank the authors of Wikipedia pages you use? The person whose post you Liked on Facebook? People's commitment to ignorance is staggering! Rare to hear a service worker get thanked for what they do. Do people say "Thank you" to ticket takers? To librarians? To the author of that book you bought or that song you heard that you love? (I know that far less than half the people I help as a poll worker on Election Day will thank any of the team of us for doing our jobs.) Standing in the checkout line at the supermarket, it's rare to hear anyone thank the cashier when the sale is done. Nor the guy pumping your gas. And I guess that's the silent message. That silence says: It's your jobs. Whaddaya expect? You're getting paid. I guess the "other side" has won. We have come "to monetize" even the "Thank you". OK, I'll be less pessimistic: They haven't won. But that side is winning. Follow the money. Yes, do that. Speak with your dollars. Money is free speech, they say. But to let money speak in a vacuum without the human element, without touch, without communication, to replace human contact? We have quietly wrought a societal wrong if you think we can say thank you just with money, especially among our family and friends. They're neither if money is what you count on to tell them you're grateful.
Even when one interacts with "famous" people — as social media and modern attitudes give us many opportunities to do — you can read through hundreds of comments at the Facebook pages of famous musicians, and see "Love you" and "Great" and "Come to my town" over and over again and again. But a "Thank you" is hard to find. People meet a celebrity, be they an actor, a singer, a TV personality or a politician, and scores of interactions with them run along similar lines: "Aren't you whoever you are?" "Oh, I LOVE your work." "Can I get a picture?" Maybe then, and only then, post-selfie, might you hear a "Thank you" — for the selfie. Does the person who makes the work you avow to love not count? We all see plenty of evidence of how charitable and giving we are, too. But now we expect — no, we demand — to be entertained too, to be gamers and players. And we may have permanently confused gaming with being engaged. People will marathon, grow beards, and drop buckets of ice water on their heads to raise money to fight diseases, efforts which create laudable results. But for the people volunteering to spread the word and get the grunt work done, for the doctors who do the research and control the spread of disease and operate on your loved ones, for the people out of the public eye, why so few "Thank you"s? I've tried to lead by example, to be a witness for gratitude and appreciation. For example, to try to draw attention to people more deserving of it than the very little they've often gotten, the key word I use most-often in my reviews is "under-appreciated". I hope some people associate me and my writing with the idea that I am primarily about getting people to appreciate, even to be grateful, for the overlooked, ignored, or just overshadowed greatness around them in real life. Meet a musician? Remember to say "Thank you." (See my Lou Reed story from a year ago.) I don't know which is worse: Boo-hoo babies who complain that the world is turning to shit and they're burned out by caring too much, or people who are quick to give praise —so long as they conform to current in-causes, ostentatiously sucking attention jumping from crisis to trendy crisis. Each isn't real thanksgiving. This time, then, what do you say? Do different, make a difference! So much to be genuinely grateful for. So little thanks. Direct it at the people beside you, right next to you, around you, who make it happen. Notice someone doing a thankless job? Thank them. They're easy to find if you just look. Hard to believe that I have to spell it out to grown-up adults (but I do): Anyone who does their job and you benefit? Plain and simple, thank them. Take an interest in the people you aren't interested in. Break through your walls and prejudices. No need to "be nice" about it: Shut up with all your public gestures of gratitude and your self-pious works of thanksgiving. They ring false, they aren't what you really mean, and they do not impress. Don't expect to get even " Yo u ' r e welcome" in return. (It's not about you anyway.)
Just say Thank You.
Page 10
CH AL L ENG E No v e m be r 2 0 1 4
November 2014
GAAMC Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes, September 18, 2014 Attendance Voting Trustees: Dinkin, Grifone, Gygax, Kennedy, Lucek, Rase, Slicer Non-Voting Attendees: Allen Neuner The meeting began at 7:01 pm. I. Adoption of minutes: The minutes of the June meeting were approved. II.Old Business: 20-something Discussion Group: General discussion, including target age range and group intention. III.New Business: Facebook page: Discussion about the use of stereotyped pictures and quotes. Vote Your Issues: Reminder to be wary of favoring one group over another. Halloween Social: Prime Timers will not be combining their event with GAAMC's. Questions to ask potential attendees were discussed. GAAMC Outing to Mighty Real: Sylvester musical at Theatre at St. Clemons, NYC. Computer Skills Workshop: proposed by Martin; approved by voice vote. Suggested dates: 2 nd and 3 rd Mondays. MUF Summer 2015: Starts three months of renovations. Discussion of possible locations for temporary GAAMC meeting space. IV. Reports: President: Sherri Rase — Written report on file. Treasurer: John DeLeeuw — Written report on file. Challenge: Allen Neuner — Stuffing will be September 29; deadline for November issue is October 15. Programs: Sherri Rase — Written report on file. Discussion Group Resources: Gordon Sauer — Written report on file. Development Committee: Gordon Sauer — Written report on file. Socials: John DeLeeuw — no report. Pride Events: Mickey Suiter — no report. Webmaster: Andy Skurna — Written report on file. V. Save These Dates: September 22, Extended Open Talk September 29, College Night October 6, Vote Your Issues October 13, Open Mic October 20, $1.98 Beauty Pageant October 27, Hallowe'en Social VI. Ideas & Suggestions: Joe suggested a possible outing to Philly Outfest, the first week in October. VII.Adjournment: Motion to adjourn passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm.
CHALLENGE
Page 11
Gleanings
(continued from page 5) Federal contractors would be barred from LGBT discrimination under a rule that has gone to the Office of Management and Budget for review after being finalized by the Department of Labor. The rule stems from an executive order signed by President Barack Obama in July. Once reviewed by the OMB, the final text will be available in the Federal Register. (OutFrontOnline.com) A lawsuit seeking consistency between the Social Security benefits of married same-sex and married opposite-sex couples was filed by Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders. The federal lawsuit seeks Social Security benefits for a lesbian widow who lost her wife to cancer in 2011. (Deseret News, UT) The National Park Service has given a $25,000 grant to the LGBT Heritage of Kentucky Project, a group that supports adding Louisville’s Henry Clay Hotel and Whiskey Row Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places. The LGBT Sites in New York City Project, which seeks to survey and document “historic and cultural sites associated with LGBT heritage” in the five boroughs, received a $49,999 grant. Latino, Asian, African and Native American groups in Maryland, Virginia, California, Idaho, Massachusetts, Montana, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington also received matching grants from the National Park Service that total $500,000. (Washington Blade) Gloria Casarez, who was appointed Philadelphia's first director of the city's Office of LGBT Affairs, has died at the age of 42 after a long battle with breast cancer. Casarez, born in Philadelphia, was a founding member of housing rights organization Empty the Shelters before becoming a coordinator for the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania. She also served as executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative. Casarez was honored for her achievements with such awards as the NAACP's Community Service Award, the Philadelphia Bar Association's Cheryl Ingram Advocate for Justice Award, and AIDS organization Philadelphia FIGHT's Kiyoshi Kuromiya Award for Justice. Gloria Casarez (pictured below) is survived by her wife, Tricia Dressel, and her mother. (Advocate.com)
Page 12
CH AL L ENG E No v e m be r 2 0 1 4
Marriage Equality: What Just Happened? by Allen Neuner
Courts across the country have been striking down state bans on same-sex marriage at a near-dizzying pace. There's been a lot of commentary about this, and a fair piece of misunderstanding as well. Here's a brief guide to how the courts and their appeals systems operate, and how it applies to same-sex marriage. All cases start out in state district courts. The same-sex marriage cases were brought claiming that a particular state's ban on same-sex marriage, either by state law or in the state constitution, deny the plaintiffs due process and equal protection under the 14th Amendment to the federal Constitution. That claim "makes a federal case out of it" and opens the way to appealing in the federal judiciary, all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. Otherwise, it is purely a state matter and can only go as high as the state's highest court.
is not required at this stage. If the Supreme Court does not issue a writ of certiorari, the judgement of the Circuit Court stands. If certiorari is granted, the case is scheduled on the Court's docket for oral argument, and briefs from both the parties to the case and from amici curiae ("friends of the court") are filed with the Court. After oral argument, the Justices go into conference to decide the case and assign the writing of the majority opinion. The Court then schedules when its opinion will be delivered, which may be on the last day of the Court's current session even if arguments were heard months in advance. Decisions of the Supreme Court become part of federal law, setting binding precedents over all lower courts in the country, and are the only judicial rulings that cannot be appealed to another body.
How does this apply to same-sex marriage, especially the flurry of activity in October? Seven cases from Indiana, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Utah, and Virginia requested certiorari from the Supreme Court. Many observers of the Court expected that at least one of these would be granted, and that the Court would at At this point, the appeal can proceed in two ways. You can aplast issue a ruling on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage peal to the state's highest court. However, if the claim against bans in the entire country. To almost everyone's surprise, the the ban is based on ConstituSupreme Court refused to tional grounds, an appeal United States District Courts (numbered) grant certiorari in any of can be made directly to the United States Courts of Appeals (boundaries) the cases, letting stand the federal District Court for respective Circuit Court your district. There are a decisions declaring such total of 94 District Courts, bans unconstitutional. and while some large states The immediate result of have more than one district the Supreme Court's deci(New York, for example, has sion was that, in those five three), New Jersey's sole Disstates, same-sex marriage trict Court meets in Newark. became immediately legal. Regardless of whether the It also meant that for other case goes first to the state's states in those Circuits, if highest court (and then is there were cases making appealed to the federal Distheir way through the systrict Court) or goes directly tem, and if those cases had to the federal District Court, declared same-sex marthe appeal would next go to riage bans unconstituthe U.S. Circuit Court of aptional, and if stays on the peal which has jurisdiction decisions were put on over your district. There are those rulings pending apthirteen Circuits in total: Eleven covering the 50 states, Puerto peal, a simple act of the federal District Court lifting the stay Rico, and the Virgin Islands; one covering the District of Columwould mean those states, too, would have their same-sex bans bia; and one covering the entire country, which hears certain aplifted. This would affect (and in many cases, has already afpeals based on their subject matter. fected) the Virgin Islands and the states of Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wyoming. At the Circuit Court level, a case is first heard by a three-judge panel selected from the pool of active and retired Circuit Court Furthermore, the Supreme Court's refusal to grant certiorari in judges. The votes of a majority of the judges on the panel are these cases is seen as sending a message to cases in other Disnecessary to grant the appeal. The decision of the Circuit Court trict Courts and Circuit Courts that the Supreme Court would establishes binding precedents which must be applied by all be resistant to granting certiorari in their cases. lower courts within the Circuit, unless it is reversed on appeal. Already, the Supreme Court's actions have also affected cases An appeal from a Circuit Court panel can go in either of two in the Ninth Circuit involving Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, and Neways. An appeal can be made for what is called an en banc vada, and may also affect Montana in days to come. ruling, rendered by majority vote of all active Circuit Court However, one of the Supreme Court's major functions is resolvjudges sitting as one panel. En banc rulings can be appealed to ing conflicts in interpreting the law between Circuits. Therethe Supreme Court. Or the appeal is made to the U.S. Supreme fore, the Supreme Court would grant certiorari in cases in Court directly from the original panel's decision. which other Circuit Courts find same-sex marriage bans in conformance with the federal Constitution. Right now, Court Appeals from a Circuit Court to the Supreme Court appear as watchers are looking at cases in the Fifth Circuit (Louisiana, requests for certiorari, a writ that seeks judicial review. The Mississippi, and Texas), the Sixth Circuit (Kentucky. Michigan, Supreme Court receives over 7,000 requests for certiorari each Ohio, and Tennessee), and the Eleventh Circuit (Alabama, Floryear, of which 100 or fewer are accepted. It takes a vote of at ida, and Georgia) to see if one of those Circuits bucks the naleast four Justices to grant certiorari. A majority of five Justices tional trend. For purposes of this column, we will assume the losing party at each step decides to appeal the decision to the next highest level in order to obtain a reversal of the lower court's decision.
November 2014
Dancing To Architecture™
Music News & Reviews with a Queer Ear Q ◂ Sam
Smith ~ In The Lonely Hour
If you haven't heard Sam Smith already—Seriously, man, where have you been for the last 8 months? His success almost guaranteed that I wouldn't write about him. What difference could I make in my little corner of music fandom by piling on more accolades about the most beloved new performer of 2014? But from the start things got curious. My initial exposure to Smith was for me late in the game, considering I'd heard of his earlier appearances on British charts: I watched him debut in the U.S. on Saturday Night Live in late March. The first flush of his fandom in America came from those who saw him on SNL. I too was impressed. He surely was good. But unlike many, I didn't hear him as a buzz worthy greatest-singer-ever—or since Adele. Then in May he came out as Gay—just as In The Lonely Hour was first released in the U.K., before it arrived in the U.S. That caused a ripple, but wasn't a shock to anyone, which alone is noteworthy. After the album and "Stay With Me" from it became huge hits, I rewatched the SNL episode. Confirmed: He wasn't all that confident on SNL. And the distaste I had toward the shoehorned in, live Gospel choir hired for "Stay With Me" on SNL remained. When later I learned that the "choir" voices on the record are all Smith's voice multitracked, I felt both justified for sensing something was a little off, and amazed by the audio illusion. But it took me weeks to get over the "What's the big deal?" resistance I admit I'm far too easily inclined towards when it comes to hit makers. It was only because one Gay man told me "I think he has the voice of an angel" that I was motivated to listen intently to learn what if anything I was missing about Smith's singing. I missed having a great first impression, ruined by my own newer biases against musicians that major labels saturate the market with. The thing is, I think we can see Sam Smith as part of a pattern of renewed success for Adult Pop—more accurately, Pop music that adults are not embarrassed to enjoy, that is. Pop has gone through a long, nearly two-decades long stretch, dominated by juvenalia. From the revival of boy bands in the 1990s through the rise of American Idol and its imitators hawking ephemeral wannabe hits, alongside Eminem's largely teenaged boy targeted tracks (and all of his imitators), right up until the almost now of Katy Perry and her ilk trading in fakey-slutty sexual display pretending to be girl empowerment, the Pop charts have rarely been half-listenable, never mind worthy of remembering. (And yeah, I know there are good exceptions in each of the four areas I just slagged. And yeah, I know, music for teenagers has yielded hits at least since the word "teeny-bopper" was coined.) But I can trace a pattern of revived and growing quality amidst the crap back to (wait for it…) Lady Gaga. Yep. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am not one of Gaga's biggest fans, but… But she proved to me that she was much more than this decade's model of Madonna when, at the end of her HBO concert special, the end credits ran over her singing radiantly, and a cappella. Her first duet with Tony Bennett on "Lady Is a Tramp" proved that she has real chops — again, more than a Madonna-level skill at entertaining, more than a Las Vegas main room headliner level of belting, but real character in her delivery, the kind that didn't lean at all on costuming and effects. And just the other night, PBS ran a Live from Lincoln Center concert of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga performing over a dozen songs that were not just a fun night of classic American Standards, but brought about the additional revelation that another of Gaga's influences — templates, more like — is Barbra Streisand. (And anyone who knows me knows that it is rare and difficult for me to say anything nice about Streisand.) (Please don't kill me, Streisand fanatics.) Gaga often channeled aspects of Babs' delivery that night at Lincoln
CHALLENGE
Page 13
Center, especially on a fine solo rendition of the Billy Strayhorn / Duke Ellington classic "Lush Life". Ever since Lady Gaga stuck her neck out and committed not just to her multifaceted public image but also to both classic and contemporary songwriting in the classic vein, the charts have seen some amazing successes by songwriters who can reach a wide audience but also reveal their personalities in what their songs say. The most prominent (not exhaustive list) of those next songwriters: Adele. Lorde. And n o w, Sam S m i t h. All of which is to say, an audience is growing for this kind of thing. (A gain.) (A t l a s t.) Sam Smith's success is as much a result of his recent predecessors as it is his talents and the skills of his creative and marketing teams. And it's probably a harbinger of more, including, hopefully, a new revived respect for songcraft. Amidst the continuing, relentless pile of teenshit, Smith is also at the forefront of the first great year for Pop music in ages, a year with, among others, Ed Sheeran, U2, Future Islands, Foo Fighters, Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift, Sharon Jones, Sia, Mary Lambert, Prince, and Ryan Adams, all releasing accessible, melodic, and adult-friendly Top 40 hits. It's on the charts that Queer history was made. Sam Smith is the first Out artist ever to reach as high as he did with his debut album: Number Two on the Billboard 200. The shocker is, it's a non-story. Neither Out nor The Advocate mentions the milestone. The British website Digital Spy recently interviewed Sam Smith and asked whether he was apprehensive about coming out. Smith responded: “Equality is so far from where it should be, so I was worried. I didn't give the public enough credit. We were really panicky about it, but then as soon as we did it, I am just so proud of how people haven't reacted. People really just don't give a shit. The success in America is still happening even though I've talked about it. I feel like it's a step forward—we're in uncharted territory at the moment where you say it before an album and it's all natural and OK. It's great." Yes, Sam Smith's story is unfolding in uncharted territory. And it's happening in clear view, Out in the open, at the top of the charts. Gay people can be proud of how naturally his success has come, and how his being Gay has become unremarkable.
Dancing To Architecture and Media Outage ©2014 Bill Stella. All ©, ® & ™ items included for review purposes are ©, ® & ™ their respective owners. The stylized Q indicates albums by (or significantly contributed to by) Out Bisexuals, Gay Men, Lesbians and Transgendered persons. GAAMC is pronounced "GAY-mick". Did you enjoy Dancing? Or what? Tell me: bearealman AT gmail.com, also always found in the Contributors box on page 3.
Page 14
CH AL L ENG E No v e m be r 2 0 1 4
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 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)
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. 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! November 10th
November 17th
November 24th
Cooking Demonstration
Elongated Chat
EAT!
See "GAAMC Events", page 2, for more details!