Door Donations Increase! See “The Soapbox”, page 7!
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The Newsletter of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County Serving New Jersey’s GLBTI Communities Since 1972 Volume 41, Issue 5, October 2015
Staying Above the Fray by Sherri Rase When I sat down to write this President’s Letter, I had the experience of instant autumn – just add water! A temperate, humid morning gave way to an overcast afternoon. Mother Nature wove a little magic and after a brief rain, the winds of change literally brought the look and smell off fall to my patch of Heaven. Fall means back to school for some, new jobs for others, and the political process for all.
October at GAAMC is especially cherished as it holds our Vote Your Issues meeting. Traditionally held on the eve of the last day to mail in a voter registration, we invite candidates from all sides of the aisle to tell us how they’re going to change our world, if we vote them into or re-elect them for office. Other world changing October events include a visit mid-month by Jane Clementi to discuss the work of the Tyler Clementi Foundation; and the end of the month brings our annual version of don’t-dream-it-be-it, the Halloween Social.
It’s difficult, but very important, to keep political discussions grounded in issues. GAAMC is a charitable organization, so we practice ardent non-partisanship. Keeping our interest in issues that affect us as individuals and as a movement helps keep emotion out of Be passionate in your beliefs and moderate in discussions as much as possible. Passionate your speech. Other people have opinions and discourse is great but it beliefs too, and it’s Inside Challenge is critical to keep the our differences that Challenge Information ........................... page 2 flames of emotion away make us most interGAAMC Events for October ................... page 2 from the paper of our Gleanings -- Queer news from around esting, rather than arguments. Issues go up the ways we are the the world ............................................ page 3 like tissues with inflam- October Q-munity Calendar – LGBT same. Explore our events in and around New Jersey .... page 5 matory rhetoric and differences by makArts Reviews ............................................ page 7 quickly we devolve to ing GAAMC a regular Bulletin Board ......................................... page 7 schoolyard taunts rather part of your calenGAAMC Board Meeting Minutes........... page 8 than the rational exdar. GAAMC Information .............................. page 9 change of thoughts. More content can be found at www.issuu.com/GAAMC
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Volume 41, Number 5 October 2015 ISSN 0277-1675 Editor: Allen Neuner Assistant Editor Bill Stella Submissions The deadline for all articles, inserts, and advertisements is the 15th of the previous month. The staff requests that all submissions be provided as electronic files. E-mail all submissions 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. GAAMC members may place one free classified ad per month, of no more than 200 characters in length. Challenge is © 2015 by the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt 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 public ation. 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 the Board
October 2015
GAAMC Events for October 2015 .
Open Talk Discussion Group Weekly discussion group, open to all. Every Monday, 7:00, in the Library. Moderators: Liz (Oct 5, 26); Kerry (Oct 12); Gordon (Oct 19). NOTE: Open Talk does not meet on Film Festival nights.
Weekly Programs NOTE: Main meetings start at 8:00 unless otherwise stated. Discussion groups start at 7:00. October 5: – Vote Your Issues! GAAMC presents its annual evening of political questions and answers as we get up close and personal with the people who want to decide the future of your city, town, county, and state. Remember that many Senators and Representatives seated now began as freeholders and members of their town councils and boards of education. This is your chance to make your voice heard to candidates! Current Events: Discussion of topics in the news. Topics are not chosen until the night the group meets. 7:00, in the Terrace Room. Moderator: Frank. October 12: Elizabeth Nuss from the NJ Division of Child Protection and Permanency joins us this evening to discuss options for adoption and fostering the many children in New Jersey who need YOU! People like all of us are needed to care for children of all ages in the system who need loving parents who care about them. Ms. Nuss will let us know what’s involved. Tonight’s meeting might just change your life. October 19: Jane Clementi will be our featured speaker tonight. The death of Tyler Clementi in 2010 became a global news story, highlighting the consequences of bullying and sparking dialogues across the country. Since that tragic event, the Clementi family has worked to promote inclusion, dignity, and acceptance for LGBT youth as a way to honor Tyler’s memory. Come hear Jane Clementi speak about her son and the Tyler Clementi Foundation’s vision, programs, and goals. To support the Foundation, GAAMC will accept donations of $20.10, all of which will go towards the Foundation’s work. October26: GAAMC’s Hallowe’en Social! Time to get your scare on! Are you a thriller? A chiller? Someone who loves a good thing that goes bump in the night? Be creative and comfortable (we’ll help you with that) and show us the inner you! This is one of our most fun events, so be on hand and join us for good frights and good fun! 20-Something: Monthly group for young members of the queer communities. 7:00, in the Dining Room. Moderator: Nick. Topic: To be announced. November 2: Extended Discussion Group Tonight is the night for those of us who love the Open Talk Discussion but feel constrained at having only one hour to talk! The entire evening allows a longer and deeper discussion of topics of interest to many. Current Events: Discussion of topics in the news. Topics are not chosen until the night the group meets. 7:00, in the Terrace Room. Moderator: Frank. November 9: GAAMC Film Festival We did not receive information about tonight’s movie meeting at press time. Please check at www.GAAMC.org for up-to-date information!
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Gleanings Queer News from across the nation and around the world Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop announced that Jersey City would be expanding the health care it offers city employees to include coverage for transgender medical care and related procedures, such as gender affirmation surgery. Jersey City will become the first large city in the state to offer such coverage. “Government has a responsibility to be a legitimizing force, to pull people in the direction of what is right, especially on LGBT issues” said Mayor Steven Fulop, “Today, we’re doing that in Jersey City: We’re making sure that our transgender neighbors get the care they need.” Jersey City joins a small but growing list of American cities – including San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Austin – to ensure transgender employees have equal access to care. (Garden State Equality) Garden State Equality has reluctantly accepted the resignation of Executive Director Andrea Bowen. Andrea is leaving GSE amicably to pursue economic justice policy work at United Neighborhood Houses, closer to her home in Brooklyn, New York. Bowen is now working with the GSE board to find a successor who can build on the organization’s strong foundation. “I’m really proud of my time at Garden State Equality,” said Bowen, “where we’ve been able to make headway on ending discrimination against transgender people in health care, while addressing bullying, fair treatment of LGBT older adults, and the lack of resources for LGBT homeless youth.” With Bowen’s departure GSE’s Bullying Resource Center Organizer, Aaron Potenza, has been promoted to Director of Programs. He will continue to oversee GSE’s acclaimed Teach and Affirm anti-bullying work. (Garden State Equality) President Obama nominated Eric K. Fanning, a close civilian adviser to Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, to be the Secretary of the Army. The appointment would make Fanning the first openly gay secretary of a military branch. He has served as chief of staff to Mr. Carter, and has been the acting under secretary of the Army as the current secretary, John McHugh, prepares to leave his post. Mr. Fanning’s Defense Department jobs have spanned the services, serving as Air Force under secretary, deputy under secretary of the Navy, and deputy chief management officer of the Navy. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Fanning will help guide the country’s largest military service as it undertakes a sweeping integration of gay soldiers. While the Pentagon lifted a prohibition on openly gay service members in 2011, it continues to struggle with integrating them. Mr. Fanning’s appointment demonstrates that Mr. Obama and Mr. Carter want to keep pushing the military toward more openness toward gay men and lesbians, said an administration official. Mr. Fanning, 47, a graduate of Dartmouth, is well liked at the Pentagon, and his appointment was widely expected. As Army secretary, Mr. Fanning would exert influence over the selection of generals and over Army policy, including the integration of women into combat
roles, training of combat forces, and purchase of weapons. (New York Times) The Pentagon officially swore in Amanda Simpson as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for operational energy. Simpson, who had previously been the executive director of the U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives, is now the highest-ranking openly transgender official in the Obama administration. “With her extraordinary experience and talent, there is no doubt that Deputy Assistant Secretary Simpson will excel in this important position of leadership within the Department of Defense,” said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin in a statement. “As an openly transgender American, her visibility and leadership is also incredibly important, especially as the Department moves to update the outdated regulations that continue to prevent transgender service members from serving openly and honestly. We congratulate her as she takes on this important role serving our great nation.” (Washington Blade) The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found that conditions for transgender women in Mexico are so dire that they may qualify for protection in the US under the international Convention Against Torture (CAT) based on the likelihood transwomen Edin Carey Avendano-Hernandez, Fidel Mondragon-Alday, and Daniel Godoy-Ramirez would face abuse amounting to torture if they were sent back. In opinions written by Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen and joined by Judges Harry Pregerson and Barrington D. Parker, Jr., the Avendano-Hernandez case presented the most complicated factual issues and was the one where the panel spelled out its analysis in greatest detail. Even though the Immigration Judge (IJ) who first heard the Avendano-Hernandez case accepted her testimony about what she had suffered in Mexico as credible, both that court and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) ruled against her claims. Instead of returning the case to the BIA for further proceedings, the appeals panel took the very unusual step of ordering immigration officials to grant Avendano-Hernandez CAT deferral relief “because the record compels the conclusion that she will likely face torture if removed to Mexico.” The Ninth Circuit’s conclusions in the other two cases followed from its analysis regarding Avendano-Hernandez. These three opinions make a strong case for assuming that virtually any Mexican transgender woman whose gender expression and appearance were likely to make her a target of the police and military should be entitled to find refuge in the US. (Gay City News, NY) Bisexual advocates met at the White House to discuss policy issues and disparities that uniquely affect that segment of the LGBT community. Faith Cheltenham, president of BiNetUSA, said the most important takeaway was the need for awareness of issues facing the community. “There is a bisexual public policy created by the bisexual community to enlighten the lives of bisexual people, to
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create safety in their lives and stop this kind of wholesale discrimination that bi people report consistently,” Cheltenham said. A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said “As a follow up to the first bisexual community issues roundtable in 2013, the White House Office of Public Engagement will convene a bisexual community issues briefing with key policy advocates, health experts, activists, and administration officials, to discuss the unique disparities the bisexual community faces around health, intimate partner violence, and erasure in mainstream LGBT discourse.” (Washington Blade) A measure that would have changed federal law to reflect that gay, lesbian and bisexual veterans are entitled to spousal benefits narrowly failed in a House committee. The House Committee on Veterans Affairs rejected the amendment by a vote of 10-12. The measure would have changed the definition of “spouse” under Title 38 to clarify that not all spouses are persons of a different sex. Representative Dina TItus (D-NV), who sponsors the standalone bill and introduced the measure, called the vote “a slap in the face” to gay and lesbian service members who’ve served the country and to their spouses. Eight Democrats and two Republicans (Representatives Mike Coffman (CO) and Ryan Costello (PA)) voted “yes,” but 12 Republicans voted “no.” Representative Corrine Brown (FL), the top Democrat on the committee, voted “present” on the amendment. In a statement, she said she didn’t support the measure to protect the integrity of the base legislation. (Washington Blade) The White House invited a number of LGBT people to attend an event with President Obama and Pope Francis. Family Equality Council board member Frank Bua, Diverse Elders Coalition National Managing Coordinator Ben de Guzman, and Garden Grove, California Mayor Bao Nguyen attended what the White House described as an “arrival ceremony” that took place at the Executive Mansion. Harry Knox, president of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, received an invitation for the event. Frank DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, a Maryland-based group that ministers to LGBT Catholics, and Sister Jeannine Gramick, executive coordinator of the National Coalition of American Nuns who has publicly supported marriage rights for same-sex couples and other LGBT-specific issues, were also expected to attend. LGBT Catholic organizations and their allies have welcomed the Vatican’s more moderate tone towards homosexuality, marriage rights for same-sex couples and other social issues since Francis became pope in 2013, but are quick to note that church doctrine on these issues has not changed. “This pope’s tone is different, but behind this tone is still condemnation,” Knox said. DeBernardo said that the Obama administration is “building a bridge between” LGBT people and the Vatican hierarchy. (Washington Blade) A transgender woman from Vinemont, Alabama, who was fired on her first day of work after being asked “what are you?”, has won her subsequent workplace discrimination case. Jessi Dye began her employment with Summerford Nursing Home in November 2014. Dye says that she
October 2015 spent her first half day on new employee training and completing appropriate paperwork. She also underwent vaccinations, as is routine for all the nursing home staff. Halfway through the day, she was called in to the office of senior manager Robert Summerford, who questioned Dye about the discrepancy between her appearance and the gender marker on her driving license. When he asked, “What are you?”, Dye explained that she was undergoing transition, to which Summerford reportedly replied, “What am I supposed to do with you?”, then terminated her employment and told her to collect her things and leave the building. The Southern Poverty Law Center filed a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March, and have now announced that Dye had won her case. The nursing home has agreed to an undisclosed financial settlement and to implement policies prohibiting sexual orientation and gender discrimination. Staff will also undergo LGBT diversity training. (Gay Star News) South Dakota agreed to pay $242,000 to attorneys who challenged the state’s ban on same-sex marriages last year prior to the US Supreme Court decision which allows same-sex couples to marry nationwide. Attorney Josh Newville of Minneapolis-based firm Madia Law sued the state on behalf of six same-sex couples, challenging the state’s gay marriage ban and its refusal to recognize marriages of same-sex couples who had legally married in other states. US District Court Judge Karen Schreier ruled in the couples’ favor in January, but put her decision on hold pending appeals. A federal appeals court affirmed the court’s ruling in August which allowed attorneys to proceed with their plan to seek legal fees from the state. Under federal law, attorneys in federal civil rights cases can petition a court to award them legal fees if a court finds in their favor. About $182,000 will go to Madia Law and about $59,000 to the National Center for Lesbian Rights which provided additional legal counsel in the case. (Gay Star News) More than 1,000 people involved in efforts to fight the AIDS epidemic, including leaders of community-based organizations and government officials, convened in Washington for the 19th Annual United States Conference on AIDS. Among the many notable presentations was “I Can’t Help You if I Don’t Know What I’m Talking About (It’s Time to Improve HIV Science and Treatment Literacy Amongst HIV Workers)”. (Washington Blade) An Irish law that allows transgender people to legally change their gender without medical intervention took effect in September. The Gender Recognition Act 2015 took effect four days after Deputy Prime Minister Joan Burton, who is also Ireland’s minister for social protection, signed it. “The wait for legal recognition is finally over,” said Broden Giambrone, chief executive of the Transgender Equality Network Ireland, an Irish trans advocacy group, in a statement after the signing. “The practical and symbolic importance of being recognized in the eyes of the state cannot be underestimated. This is a turning point for trans rights in Ireland.” Irish lawmakers (continued on page 8)
October 2015
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October 2015 Q-munity Calendar Recurring Contact Information *Hackensack Peer Support Groups: 800-508-7577; njbuddies@aol.com †Pride Center Highland Park: 732-846-2232; www.pridecenter.org ‡Hudson Pride Connections Center: 201-963-4779; HudsonPride.org #Princeton University LGBT Center: www.princeton.edu/lgbt/programs 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 12:30 pm – SOS group, Ocean Grove; Qspot.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 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 6:00 pm - SAGE, Jersey City ‡ 6:00 pm - TransView, Jersey City ‡ 01 Thu 7:00 pm –Coffee social, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 7:30 pm – NJ Women Coming Out, Highland Park† 02 Fri 7:00 pm – Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 8:30 pm - Karaoke, Highland Park;† 03 Sat 11:00 am – Beyond Gay & Lesbian: Diving into the Alphabet Soup, Highland Park† 2:30 pm – First & Third for GLBTI Youth, Princeton; 609-6835155; www.HiTOPS.org 5:30 pm – Hudson County HIV/AIDS Services Planning Council, Jersey City ‡ 7:30 pm –WAMP!, Highland Park†
7:30 pm - Tuesday Night Lesbian Connection, Bound Brook; 908-791-3764 7:30 pm - Men’s HIV support group, Asbury Park; 732-775-5084; apstillpoz@yahoo.com 7:30 pm - Positive Yoga, Oradell * 8:00 pm – Primary Purpose book group, Ocean Grove; Qspot.org 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 - "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† 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 - LGBT Fitness Explosion, Jersey City ‡ 6:30 pm - Double Jeopardy peer support group, Hackensack* 6:30 pm – Men of Hudson 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 - WAVE Youth, Ocean Grove; 732-455-3373; qspot.org 6:00 pm - Youth Connect, Jersey City ‡ 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 04 Sun Noon –Program Planning Brunch, Millstone Township; njlgh.onefireplace.com 2:00 pm – Central NJ Rope Share, Pride Center, Highland Park† 4:00 pm – Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-857-4040; Dignitymetronj@msn.com 6:30 pm – Gay Men’s Opera Club; 732-249-9034; hagol@msn.com 05 Mon 9:00 am – LGBTQA Awareness Week, Princeton#; equality@princeton.edu 10:00 am -- Something Positive treatment adherence workshop, Newark; www.njcri.org 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 – Raices Latinas LGBT, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park†
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06 Tue 7:30 pm – LGBT Fellowship, Belleville; 973-751-0616 7:30 pm – Come OUT & Play, Highland Park† 07 Wed 6:30 pm - Positive People peer support group, Hackensack * 7:30 pm – Jersey Boys of Leather, Highland Park 08 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 8:00 pm – Booked for Supper, Highland Park† 09 Fri 1:00 pm -- Women's support group, Newark; www.njcri.org 4:00 pm -- SPECTRUM youth drop-in, Newark; NewarkLGBTQCenter.org 7:30 pm – National Coming Out Day Party, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – In the Spirit, Highland Park; njlgh.onefireplace.com 10 Sat 1:00 pm – Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 1:00 pm – Women of Pride, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm – Men's Movie Night, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Sordid Lives Bingo Party, Ocean Grove; Qspot.org 7:30 pm – Dignity New Brunswick gay Catholic liturgy; 732-968-9263; dignitynb@earthlink.net 11 Sun 2:00 pm – Male Drawing Session, Highland Park† 6:00 pm – Gay Men’s Classical Song Club, Kingston; pbrown02@worldnet.att.net 12 Mon 7:30 pm – PFLAG of Morris County, Mendham; 973-543-7229; craig.bcc@verizon.net 7:30 pm – Young Men’s Social Network, HighlandPark† 7:30 pm – PFLAG, Princeton; 609-663-5155; www.pflagprinceton.org 13 Tue 7:30 pm – Pride Center Board Meeting, Highland Park† 14 Wed 7:00 pm – Book Club, Ocean Grove; Qspot.org 7:30 pm – Wednesday Night Women’s Hang Out, Highland Park† 8:00 pm – Movie, Happy Birthday, Marsha!, Princeton# 15 Thu 7:00 pm – GAAMC board meeting, Morristown; all GAAMC members members are invited to attend. 7:30 pm – Volunteer Group meeting, Jersey City ‡ 7:30 pm – NJ Women Coming Out Support Group, Highland Park† 16 Fri 7:00 pm – Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:00 pm – NJ Buddies 30th Anniversary, Hasbrouck Heights; ray@njbuddies.org * 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
October 2015
17 Sat 2:30 pm – First & Third for GLBTI Youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155;www.HiTOPS.org 8:00 pm – Motown Dance Party, Ocean Grove; Qspot.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 18 Sun 4:00 pm – Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-837-4040; Dignitymetronj@msn.com 4:00 pm – TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park† 19 Mon 4:30 pm – “Transitioning History”, talk with Susan Stryker, Princeton# 7:00 pm -- Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero@umdnj.edu 7:30 pm – Raices Latinas LGBT, Highland Park† 20 Tue 4;30 pm – Movie, Kate Bornstein Is a Queer and Pleasant Danger, Princeton# 7:30 pm – Caregivers Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Come OUT & Play, Highland Park† 21 Wed 7:00 pm – JCLGO monthly meeting, Jersey City; 201-333-5725; www.jclgo.org 7:30 pm – United in Grace discussion/support group, Jersey City; 201-946-0650; greg.perez@comcast.net 22 Thu 7:00 pm – Under the Rainbow, Highland Park† 7:00 pm – Talk with Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, Princeton# 23 Fri 4:00 pm - SPECTRUM youth drop-in, Newark; 973-424-9555; NewarkLGBTQCenter.org 7:30 pm – Living Soulfully, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – NJ Havurah Shabbat; njlgh.onefireplace.com 24 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 7:00 pm – The Art of Stan Cummings, Ocean Grove; Qspot.org 5:00 pm – Speaker Series, “From Hospital to Home”, Highland Park 26 Mon 2:00 pm – HPCC Bi-Lingual Spanish Group, Jersey City‡ 5:00 pm – Speaker Series, “Even Fabulous Gets Old”, Highland Park† 27 Tue 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 8:00 pm -- PFLAG of Bergen County, Paramus; 201-287-0318; www.bergenpflag.org
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27 Tue 8:00 pm – NJ Women, Secaucus; info@njwomen.org 8:00 pm – Speaker Series, “From Hospital to Home”, Highland Park† 8:30 pm – Men’s Social Night, Highland Park†
29 Thu 7:30 pm – Volunteer Group Meeting, Jersey City‡ 7:30 pm – NJ Women Coming Out, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Northwest NJ, Sparta; 973-729-9909
28 Wed 6:30 pm - Positive People peer support group, Hackensack * 7:30 pm – NJ Havurah board meeting, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 7:30 pm - United in Grace discussion/support group, Jersey City; 201-946-0650; greg.perez @ comcast.net 7:30 pm – Wednesday Night Women’s Hang Out, Highland Park†
30 Fri 8:00 pm – Teen Night Halloween Party, Highland Park†
Arts Reviews by David McClure If most of you like a “good read”, filled with supernatural mystery and on the gay and somewhat younger side, the Archangel Academy trilogy by Michael Griffo is for you. The first book in the series, Unnatural, is a young adult novel that explores the relationship of two young outcasts who meet at an all boy's boarding school in north western England. Set against a backdrop of vampires and the supernatural, it is a coming of age story that young and old alike will be able to relate to. In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it's a place filled with secrets…just like its students. For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown where he felt trapped and alone and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he's ever come to a miracle. At Archangel Academy, Michael finds a place to belong; and in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran's enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he's ever known. If you’re looking for a wonderfully whimsical tale of a gay Christmas love and a corny Wisconsin family, then Make the Yuletide Gay is the film for you. Knowing that Christmas is just around the corner, this film is made for pure enjoyment. Make the Yuletide Gay, a 2009 American Christmasthemed romantic comedy written and directed by Rob Williams, is about a gay college student who is out at school but afraid to reveal his sexual orientation to his parents. The title of the film, which premiered at the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival, comes from the song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Keith Jordan stars as Gunn, the college student, with Adamo Ruggiero as Gunn's boyfriend and roommate, Nathan. Kelly Keaton and Derek Long are Anya and Sven,
31 Sat 6:00 pm – New Jersey Furries, Highland Park†
Gunn's parents, and Hallee Hirsh is Abby, Gunn's high school girlfriend. If this kind of film is your cup of tea, especially at the holiday season, beat the shopping rush and get a copy of the DVD of the delightful Make the Yuletide Gay!
Bulletin Board NJ Buddies celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year, and a huge celebration is scheduled for October 16th! Featuring dinner and dancing, the event will be held starting at 7:00 pm at the Hasbrouck Heights Hilton. Dining, dancing, plus a raffle and a 50/50! For more information, contact Ray Welsh at ray@njbuddies.org. Q-Spot invites you to an evening with actor/comedian Leslie Jordan on November 11th at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove! More details are coming, so watch this space for future announcements!
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October 2015
GAAMC Board Minutes
Gleanings
August 20, 2015
(continued from page 4)
Members: DeLeeuw, Dinkin, Gayle, Kennedy, Lucek, Rase, Schaublin, Skurna Non-Voting Attendees: Allen Neuner; Gordon Sauer; Mickey Suiter
in July approved the Gender Recognition Act 2015. Ireland is the fourth country to allow trans people to legally change their gender without surgery and other medical interventions. Advocates have criticized the Irish law because it does not include intersex people and those who are under the age of 18. (Washington Blade)
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 The minutes of the July meeting were approved (moved, Gayle; seconded, Dinkin). Old/Current Business: The Membership Committee was on hold until after the Development Committee meeting. The outing to the Miners’ baseball game was an enjoyable experience. Raising the door donation amount was discussed. New Business: Suggestions for future Outings sented. For those going to the Morristown Health Day were encouraged to wear their working with The Theatre Project to set up Night to see “For Whom the Southern Belle Christopher Durang.
were preMemorial GAAMC is a GAAMC Tolls” by
Reports Treasurer (Andy Skurna): There is a need to tighten our belts in many areas. Challenge (Allen Neuner): Reducing the number of hard copies sent to LGBT groups was discussed. Webmaster (Andy Skurna) Programs (Sherri Rase) Socials (John DeLeeuw) Discussion Group Resources (Gordon Sauer) Development (Gordon Sauer) Social Action (Mickey Suiter) GAAMC Pride (Mickey Suiter) Ideas and Suggestions: Suggestions regarding a membership drive for GAAMC and ticket sales for Macy’s Shop for a Cause were made. A motion to adjourn was approved (moved, Kennedy; seconded, Rase) The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Lawmakers in Nepal have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that extends protections to the country’s LGBT citizens. Members of the country’s Constituent Assembly by a 507-25 vote margin backed the charter that contains several references to gender and “sexual minorities.” “All citizens shall be equal before the law,” reads Article 18, titled Right to Equality. “No person shall be denied the equal protection and benefit of the laws.” Article 42, titled Right to Social Justice, specifically includes “gender and sexual minorities.” President Ram Baran Yadav presided over a ceremony to celebrate the constitution’s approval. “It’s phenomenal that Nepal is embracing GSM (gender and sexual minority) citizens and started establishing our identity, rights and representations through the new constitution,” said Sunil Babu Pant, a gay lawmaker who founded the Blue Diamond Society, a Nepali LGBT advocacy group. (Washington Blade) Lawmakers in El Salvador have approved two proposals that would enhance penalties for hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Those convicted of killing someone because of their sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, or gender would face a sentence of between 30 and 60 years in prison. Those convicted of threatening a person because of their sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation or gender would face between 3 and 6 years in prison. Andrea Ayala, executive director of Espacio de Mujeres Lesbianas por la Diversidad, noted the passage of the proposed amendments is the first time that lawmakers in the Central American country have approved something that “expressly” extends protections to people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Anti-LGBT violence remains pervasive throughout El Salvador, which has one of Latin America’s highest murder rates. (Washington Blade) Apple is being sued in Russia for ‘gay propaganda’ for including the same-sex couple emoji in their most recent update. Officials in Russia’s Kirov region are launching an investigation after attorney Yaroslav Mikhailov complained the LGBTI friendly company is breaking the law, arguing that Apple is ‘promoting’ gay relationships to children. If found guilty, Apple could be fined up to one million rubles ($15,000) and could also be forced to suspend all activities across Russia for three months. (Gay Star News)
October 2015
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Challenge
Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County GAAMC Officers President (President@GAAMC.org) ............. Sherri Rase VP Community Services (Info@GAAMC.org) ...................................................... Kerry Dinkin VP Operations (Operations@GAAMC.org) ....................................................John DeLeeuw Secretary (Secretary@GAAMC.org) .......... Ron Kennedy Treasurer (Treasurer@GAAMC.org) ........... Andy Skurna
Trustees David Gayle, Jay Kohn, Frank Lucek, Richard Schaublin, Liz Slicer
Committee Chairs & Functional Officers Challenge Editor (Challenge@GAAMC.org) ..................................................... Allen Neuner Development (Discussions@GAAMC.org) ..................................................... Gordon Sauer Discussion Group Resources (Discussions@GAAMC.org) ..................................................... Gordon Sauer Information (FreeLibrary@GAAMC.org) ...... Andy Skurna Membership ...................................... Mickey Suiter Pride Events ..................................... Mickey Suiter Pride Guide (PrideGuide@GAAMC.org) ...... Andy Skurna Programs (Programs@GAAMC.org) .............. Sherri Rase Publicity .................................................... open Socials (Socials@GAAMC.org) ................John DeLeeuw Webmaster (Webmaster@GAAMC.org) ....... Andy Skurna
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 Rd., Morris Township, 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 (see below). Members and non-members are always welcome. Annual membership dues are: Regular, $40/single, $70/couple; Students/Seniors, $30/single, $60/couple. How to reach GAAMC Mail: PO Box 137, Convent Station, NJ 07961 Telephone: 973-285-1595 E-Mail: info@gaamc.org Home page: http://www.gaamc.org Mail List: http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/gaamc