Where to go if it’s not Monday? See our NEW monthly “Outings” section, page 2!
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The Newsletter of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County Serving New Jersey’s GLBTI Communities Since 1972 Volume 42, Issue 3, April 2016
Out and About by Mickey Suiter When most of us think of GAAMC, we probably think of Monday nights and the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship. After all, since 1972 we have held over 2100 weekly meetings there. But right from the early days, GAAMC has been about more than our Monday night meetings. We had outings such as road rallies, picnics, movie nights and theater parties starting way back in the ‘70s. Over the years we have continued having activities outside of MUF on nights (and days) other than Monday.
outing, see Jay or any Board member. To keep some organizational control over events that are sponsored by GAAMC, each outing must have a Board member as a leader, but we are eager to have all members make suggestions and help organize outings. All of these events will be announced on Monday nights but the best way to keep informed about upcoming events is through Facebook or Meetup. Facebook is actually the best way to keep up with our Monday night events as well. If you are not on Facebook, you should consider joining. You don’t have to ‘friend’ everyone you’ve ever known or spend your days and nights posting. You don’t even have to ‘like’ any of the things you see posted. But just by being on Facebook and joining GAAMC’s group, you can be sure of getting the most up-to-date info on what we are doing.
GAAMC is a community, and our community has varied needs and interests. In recent years we have had trips to museums and theaters (from local to Broadway). We have gone hiking and bowling and attended a minor league baseball game as well as a couple of NY Liberty basketball games. This year, for the first time, we took part in the Morris County St. PatInside Challenge rick’s Day Parade, both as Challenge Information .......................... page 2 marchers and spectators. GAAMC Events for April ....................... page 2 Gleanings -- Queer news from The Board of Trustees has around the world ................................. page 3 now formally organized Growing GAAMC ................................... page 4 So Long, Farewell? ................................ page 4 our outside activities by April Q-munity Calendar ....................... page 5 forming an Outings GAAMC Marches at Mo’town’s committee (we’re open St. Paddy’s Day Parade ........................ page 7 to suggestions for a betRe-Introducing Pride Guide! ................ page 8 ter name) headed by Jay. GAAMC Board Meeting Minutes .......... page 8 If you have an idea for an GAAMC Information ............................. page 9 And only at issuu.com/GAAMC: Where Do the Candidates Stand? .......... page 9
Those of us on the Board are continually working to make GAAMC a more interesting and exciting organization. With your ideas and participation, we can be more of what our community wants and needs.
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Volume 42, Number 3 April 2016 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 Š 2016 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 GAAMC Executive Board.
GAAMC Events for April 2016 Open Talk Discussion Group Weekly discussion group, open to all. Every Monday, in the Library. Moderators: Gordon (Apr 25); Liz (Apr 18); Sherri (Apr 11). NOTE: Open Talk does not meet on Film Festival nights.
Weekly Programs Main meetings start at 8:00 unless otherwise stated. Discussion groups start at 7:00. April 4: GAAMC Film Festival presents The Girl King, based on the life of Queen Kristina of Sweden. The movie paints a portrait of the brilliant, extravagant Kristina, who fights the conservative forces that are against her ideas to modernize Renaissance Sweden and who have no tolerance for her awakening sexuality. Winner of two awards at the Montreal World Film Festival, this film may well become one of your favorites. NOTE: This event starts promptly at 7:00. Current Events Discussion Group meets tonight. Moderator: Gordon. Topic TBA. April 11: On Forgiveness Have a grudge that just won't die? Feeling angry, frustrated, hurt, betrayed, or resentful at someone and unable to forgive and move forward in your life? Dorie Bisanz, a forgiveness expert, will share some insights on how to let go of these toxic feelings and how we can strengthen our forgiveness muscle. April 18: Tantric Buddhist Chakra Meditation Denise Aiello is a practitioner of Tantric Buddhist Chakra Meditation for 24 years. She has taught this method for 10 years, and has benefited in countless ways. TBCM improves concentration, reduces stress, and enhances happiness! Denise will provide CDs for students, and together we'll meditate to music designed for navel center, heart chakra, and the third eye. This practice brings peace and inner joy! April 25: Pastabilities! Join us for our annual Pastabilities fundraising dinner! That's right -- for just $10, in addition to helping your organization, you will be able to enjoy many Italian delicacies. Since this is not a potluck dinner like most of our socials, all of the dishes will be prepared by your Board members. Look for more info, such as the menu, on Facebook and Meetup as we get closer to the event. So, join us for a great night of fun and delicious food prepared by your Board members while helping your organization at the same time. See you then! Mangia! 20-Somethings Group meets tonight. Moderator: Nick. Topic: Who Was Your Favorite Backstreet Boy? 20-Somethings Discuss Millennials and Nostalgia!
Outings Thursday, April 22: 20-Somethings’ Dinner Winberie's, located right outside the main strip of Summit, has a vast array of American dishes. It is a delicious restaurant with a dress code on the nicer side of casual. This will provide a great atmosphere for the 20-Somethings to chat amongst ourselves while enjoying great food at a reasonable price. This event is for GAAMC members and their friends who are under 30 years old. Winberie's has an affordable menu, so our organizers believe you can be fully satisfied for about $15 to $20. Please RSVP as soon as possible, so we may reserve our table. For more information please contact Nick at 20-Somethings@GAAMC.org or reach him through our Facebook or Meetup groups.
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Gleanings Queer News from across the nation and around the world The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a woman who lost her rights to her adoptive children when she and her same-sex partner split. Last year, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled the woman, known only as V.L., should lose her parental adoptive rights because Georgia, where the couple first resided, had no right to grant them in the first place. V.L. and her same-sex partner, E.L., who never married, split; E.L. won the Alabama Supreme Court case denying V.L. parental rights as the adoptive mother. In December, the Supreme Court stayed the Alabama Supreme Court's decision and temporarily restored V.L.'s parental rights while it took time to decide whether or not to hear the case. “The Georgia judgment appears on its face to have been issued by a court with jurisdiction, and there is no established Georgia law to the contrary. It follows that the Alabama Supreme Court erred in refusing to grant that judgment full faith and credit,” reads the ruling. (KPIX, San Francisco) The Alabama Supreme Court refused to defy the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, cutting off a conservative bid to prevent gay weddings in the state. The court issued a one-sentence order dismissing a challenge by a probate judge and a conservative policy group that wanted the state to bar gay marriage despite the landmark federal decision. In one of several written opinions accompanying the order, Justice Greg Shaw called the decision a "clear refusal" to ignore the Supreme Court ruling last June. Several other state justices railed against the high court's ruling while noting they can't overturn it. Chief Justice Roy Moore, a Christian conservative who has repeatedly spoken out against same-sex unions, wrote that previous state orders barring gay marriage in Alabama remain. Most probate judges already are ignoring that directive, however, and hundreds of same-sex couples already have wed in Alabama. (NBCNews) Georgia Governor Nathan Deal (R) has spoken out forcefully against the “religious liberty” bill pending in the state legislature, a bill that would allow businesses and individuals to cite religious beliefs about marriage as justification for discrimination. Deal, who has largely stayed out of the debate over the so-called First Amendment Defense Act, made clear that he wouldn’t be disappointed if even a variation of that measure fails to pass the Legislature when the session ends in late March. He said religious freedom could be protected without encouraging or enabling discrimination. “We do not have a belief in my way of looking at religion that says we have to discriminate against anybody,” he said, noting that Jesus Christ reached out to the social outcasts of his time. “If you were to apply those standards to the teaching of Jesus, I don’t think they fit.” Matt McTighe, executive director of Freedom for All Americans, said Deal's words “… send a message to lawmakers that Georgia doesn’t need a divisive bill that does nothing to advance religious free-
dom, but does allow for discrimination against LGBT people and that does hurt the state’s economy.” Georgia has no statewide law prohibiting anti-LGBT discrimination, but some cities in the state do, including Atlanta. In recent days many large businesses have spoken out against the bill, among them Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, UPS, and Cox Enterprises, all of which have headquarters in Atlanta. (Advocate.com) In Kansas, two new bills introduced during the legislation session aim to ban transgender students from using restrooms that match their gender, and to pay other students $2,500 if they encounter someone transgender in their school’s restroom. The Student Physical Privacy Act requires students of all public schools and universities to use the restroom corresponding to their assigned-at-birth sex, and not the gender they identify with. The bills claim that the goal is to “maintain order and dignity in restrooms, locker rooms, showers, and other facilities where students may be in various states of undress in the presence of other students.” If the bills were accepted, every time a student sees someone “of the opposite sex” in the restroom, he or she could sue the school for $2,500, as well as additional compensations for any “psychological, emotional and physical harm suffered as a result.” (GayStarNews) Republicans in Missouri’s State Senate broke a 39-hour Democratic filibuster against a bill to give some of the nation’s broadest legal protections to opponents of samesex marriage. The Missouri bill, a proposed amendment to the state constitution, would go beyond any law now in place, prompting challenges that could keep the issue before the courts for years .The bill would shield religious groups and businesses from having to facilitate same-sex weddings. Opponents contended that the bill was probably unconstitutional, and that the wording could lead to much broader consequences, like denying social services, education, employment, or housing to married gay people. When the filibuster was broken, a vote on the bill was called, and the bill passed, 23 to 9. The Senate must pass the bill again before sending it to the House, which is also controlled by Republicans. If both chambers approve it, the measure will go on the ballot this year. (The New York Times) North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory (R) signed an antiLGBT bill that was first debated just hours before becoming a law. The legislation, a sweepingly broad bill that voids all local LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances statewide, is the direct response from Tar Heel State Republicans to an ordinance passed by the Charlotte City Council that expanded protections to LGBT citizens. State lawmakers agreed to hold a one-day special session to pass the legislation, which will cost taxpayers $42,000. Democratic Senators staged a walkout, angered their attempts to debate the legislation and perhaps even re-
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shape it were rebuffed by Republicans eager to pass it. The bill not only voids LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances throughout the state, it attacks transgender citizens by revoking their right to use public restrooms based on gender identity. It also mandates that only state lawmakers can pass laws regulating employment discrimination, the use of public accommodations, and minimum wages. Governor McCrory had called for the anti-LGBT bill, and even threatened Charlotte before the City Council passed their ordinance. Lawmakers were literally given five minutes to review the bill before debate began. There was no call for public comment, although lawmakers acquiesced, allowing 30 minutes in a House committee, and little more than an hour in a Senate committee. (TheNewCivilRightsMovement.com) South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) vetoed a controversial bill that would have marginalized and targeted transgender students across the state. Announcing the veto, Daugaard told lawmakers the bill "does not address any pressing issue concerning the school districts of South Dakota." The bill would have become the first law in the nation banning transgender students in public schools from using restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. It passed the South Dakota Senate by a vote of 20-15. Daugaard waited until the last day to veto the bill before it would have passed into law. After the bill passed the state Senate, Daugaard met with a group of transgender constituents; at that time he refused to announce his intentions. "Local school districts can, and have, made necessary restroom and locker room accommodations that serve the best interests of all students, regardless of biological sex or gender identity," Daugaard said in a statement after his veto Tuesday evening, noting that the bill "removes the ability of local school districts to determine the most appropriate accommodations for their individual students and replaces that flexibility with a state mandate." (TheNewCivilRightsMovement.com)
the world that Mountaineers do not tolerate discrimination. This action proves once again that bipartisan support for nondiscrimination principles is a guiding force in our state.” (TheNewCivilRightsMovement.com) Voters in Switzerland voted by a slim majority against whether married couples should be taxed the same as people in unregistered relationships. LGBTI rights advocates warned that the referendum was just a back door attempt by opponents of gay marriage to pass a Constitutional ban on marriage equality since the referendum, had it passed, would have defined marriage in Switzerland’s Constitution as only being between a man and a woman”. Switzerland has been slower to embrace the equality of LGBTI people than many of its neighbors despite homosexuality being legal in some parts of the country since 1798, and nationwide since 1942. However under Swiss law the majority of the citizens in a majority of its cantons must vote in favor of the proposal before it can become law. (GayStarNews.com; SwissInfo.ch)
GROWING GAAMC What we’ve accomplished How we’re moving forward A report by Gordon Sauer 1. Under Jay’s leadership, we successfully organized and marched in Morris County’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Nick led a successful outing to the Leslie-Lohman Gallery in NYC and a bowling event. A number of outings are being planned for the future. 2. As chair of the Public Relations Committee, Dev has been reaching out to a younger, more diverse audience. 3. Committees have been presenting at OpenTalk what they do and what they need. Dave is training to become an OpenTalk facilitator and will join the team in May.
The West Virginia Senate killed an anti-gay "religious freedom" bill that, like many so-called “Religious Free- 4. Nick and Dave have managed a GAAMC table at Raritan dom Restoration Acts” across the nation's legislatures, Valley Community College. would have made discriminating against LGBT people – especially same-sex couples – legal, by letting anyone or 5. The Board and committee chairs continue to have more any company, corporation, or organization claim to have talk and action about mentoring rather than having a a "sincerely held religious or moral belief" against same- small group of people complete the lion’s share of GAAMC sex marriage or even LGBT people in general. Senators tasks. defeated the newly-renamed “Religious Freedom Protection Act”, by a vote of 27-7. The Senate version of the 6. Our programs have become more varied and of interest bill, which had passed in the House by a 72-26 vote, had to a wider audience. been amended to add So Long, Farewell…? 7. At the Board Retreat, some protections for Board members and LGBT people, but even According to our records, the following members committee chairs then, at that point, it will see their memberships lapse this month. agreed to take on indihad become toxic. AnIf you feel your name is here in error, vidual projects to move drew Schneider, Execuplease contact our Webmaster, Andy Skurna. GAAMC forward. Gordon tive Diretor of Fairness will be contacting Board West Virginia, said, Antonio W., Hackettstown members about their “The WV Senate’s rejecprogress on their pertion of House Bill 4012 … You can renew by going to GAAMC.org, sonal projects. sent a clear message to or at any Monday night meeting of GAAMC.
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April 2016 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 #QSpot LGBT Community Center: 732-455-3373; info@jsqspot.org λNewark LGBTQ Center: 973-424-9555; info@NewarkLGBTQCenter.org 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 Noon - Library Lounge, Ocean Grove# 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Internet Café, Newark λ Syringe exchange program, Newark; variable hours; njcri.org; 973-558-5054 Adult 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 meeting, Ocean Grove# 1:30 pm – Library Lounge, Ocean Grove# 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 Noon – QSpot Job Resource Center, Ocean Grove# 7:00 pm - GAAMC, Morris Township (see page 2) 7:00 pm - Bowling, Union; merenl@comcast.net 6:30 pm – Yoga, Newarkλ 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 – QSpot Job Resource Center, Ocean Grove# 12:30 pm - The Wellness Community, Newark; 973-565-0300; @hyacinth.org 4:00 pm - Treatment Adherence Support Group, Jersey City;
201-432-1134; info@hyacinth.org 6:00 pm - TransView, Jersey City ‡ 6:00 pm - SAGE, Jersey City ‡ 7:30 pm - Tuesday Night Lesbian Connection, Bound Brook; 908-791-3764 7:30 pm - Men’s HIV support group, Asbury Park; 732-7755084; apstillpoz@yahoo.com 7:30 pm - Positive Yoga, Oradell * 8:00 pm – Primary Purpose Group, Ocean Grove# 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; 201-4321134; info@hyacinth.org 2:30 pm - RU Pride, Newark; 973-353-5716 6:30 pm – Overeaters Anonymous, Ocean Grove# 6:30 pm – Craft/Crochet/Knitting Circle, Newarkλ 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 11:00 am – Meal distribution, Newarkλ 6:00 pm - Our Youth weekly support group, Jersey City; www.myspacenj.org 6:00 pm – Chill Night, Newarkλ 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 7:00 pm – Visions HIV Support Group, Ocean Grove# 7:30 pm - Rainbows on Cleveland Street, Orange; 973-2565936; rbowsoncleveland@aol.com 7:30 pm - Writers group, Highland Park † Every Friday 6:00 pm - Youth Connect, Jersey City ‡ Every Saturday Noon – Library Lounge, Ocean Grove#
01 Fri 6:00 pm – QFest Film Festival, Ocean Grove# 7:00 pm – Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:00 pm – AIDS Walk Kick-Off Extravaganza, Fair Lawn* 7:30 pm - Karaoke, Highland Park;†
Dignitymetronj@msn.com 5:30 pm – Hudson County HIV/AIDS Services Planning Council, Jersey City ‡ 6:30 pm – Gay Men’s Opera Club; 732-249-9034; hagol@msn.com
02 Sat Noon – QFEST Film Festival, Ocean Grove# 2:30 pm – First & Third for GLBTI Youth, Princeton; 609-6835155; www.HiTOPS.org 7:30 pm – WAMP!, Highland Park†
04 Mon 6:30 pm – JSTSURF trans support group, Ocean Grove# 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† 7:30 pm – TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Anxiety Support Group, Highland Park†
03 Sun 2:00 pm – Central Jersey Rope Share, Highland Park† 4:00 pm – Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-857-4040;
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05 Tue 5:00 pm – Creative Expressions, Ocean Grove# 7:00 pm – Meditation AA Meeting, Ocean Grove# 7:30 pm – LGBT Fellowship, Belleville; 973-751-0616 7:30 pm – Come OUT and Play, Highland Park† 06 Wed 6:30 pm - Positive People peer support group, Hackensack * 7:30 pm – Jersey Boys of Leather, Highland Park† 07 Thu 7:00 pm –Coffee social, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 7:30 pm – NJ Women Coming Out, Highland Park† 09 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;† 7:00 pm – Night with the NJ Devils, Newark* 7:30 pm – Dignity New Brunswick gay Catholic liturgy; 732-9689263; dignitynb@earthlink.net 10 Sun 2:00 pm – Male Drawing Session, Highland Park† 6:00 pm – Gay Men’s Classical Song Club, Kingston; pbrown02@worldnet.att.net 6:00 pm – Bob Egan Open Mic Night, Ocean Grove# 11 Mon 7:30 pm – PFLAG of Morris County, Mendham; 973-543-7229; craig.bcc@verizon.net 7:30 pm – Young Men’s Social Network, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – PFLAG, Princeton; 609-663-5155; www.pflagprinceton.org 7:30 pm – Hot Topics 4 Lesbians, Ocean Grove# 12 Tue 7:30 pm – Pride Center Board Meeting, Highland Park† 13 Wed 7:00 pm – QSpot Book Club, Ocean Grove# 7:30 pm – Wednesday Night Women’s Hang Out, Highland Park† 14 Thu 7:00 pm – Under the Rainbow, Highland Park† 7:30 pm -- PFLAG of North Jersey, South Orange; 908-7897489; pflagwaver@aol.com 7:30 pm -- Alternate Thursdays, Montclair; kjdinkin@comcast.net 8:00 pm – Booked for Supper Highland Park† 15 Fri 7:00 pm – Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:30 pm – Dignity New Brunswick social; 732-968-9263; dignitynb@earthlink.net 7:30 pm – Movie Night Out, Ocean Grove# 7:45 pm – Out of the Box Open Mic, Highland Park† 16 Sat 2:00 pm – NJ Hypnokink, Highland Park;† 2:30 pm – First & Third for GLBTI Youth, Princeton; 609-6835155; www.HiTOPS.org 6:00 pm – NJ Rope Bite, Highland Park;† 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
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17 Sun 4:00 pm – Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-837-4040; Dignitymetronj@msn.com 4:00 pm – TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park† 18 Mon 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† 7:30 pm – Anxiety Support Group, Highland Park† 19 Tue 5:00 pm – Creative Expressions, Ocean Grove# 7:30 pm – LGBTQ for Social Justice, Highland Park† 20 Wed 6:30 pm - Positive People peer support group, Hackensack * 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 7:30 pm – Wednesday Night Women’s Hang Out, Highland Park† 21 Thu 7:00 pm – GAAMC board meeting, Morristown; all GAAMC members are invited to attend. 7:30 pm – NJ Women Coming Out, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Northwest NJ, Sparta; 973-729-9909 23 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 – 3rd Annual Dance-a-Thon, Newarkλ ΐ 24 Sun 4:00 pm – In the Spirit, Highland Park; njlgh.onefireplace.com 25 Mon 7:30 pm – NJ Rope Bite, Highland Park;† 26 Tue 7:30 pm – Lesbian Alliance of Princeton; 609-924-8174; Loisj@msn.com 7:30 pm -- PFLAG of Hunterdon County, Flemington; 908-7521370; pflaghc@yahoo.com 8:00 pm -- PFLAG of Bergen County, Paramus; 201-287-0318; www.bergenpflag.org 8:00 pm – NJ Women, Secaucus; info@njwomen.org 8:30 pm – Men’s Social Night, Highland Park† 27 Wed 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† 28 Thu 7:00 pm – Under the Rainbow, Highland Park† 29 Fri 7:30 pm – Seder at Doug’s† 30 Sat 7:00 pm – New Jersey Furries, Highland Park†
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GAAMC Marches in Mo’Town St. Paddy’s Parade Story and pictures by Sherri Rase What do the country’s first St. Paddy’s Parade and New Jersey’s longest continually active LGBTQ organization have in common? March 12, 2016 saw the two greats come together for the very first time!
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Despite the sometimes poor reception of lavender Hibernians in other places, notably New York City, GAAMC was met with warmth and a sense of community everywhere we went. Each of the Parade Marshals was kinder than the next and several places along the Parade route we even got applause! The loudest applause from both audience and our contingent was when the announcer at the reviewing stand paused and with pride in her voice said “…and THESE are MY PEOPLE – the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County”! A rolling wave of applause began making it difficult to hear what Andy Skurna had written for the reviewer – about our history, our passion for change and where to find us on Monday nights. We marched past the reviewing stand and waved at the people lining the streets on the way to the High School. Excited by the warm reception, the beautiful weather and surrounded by GAAMC Family, we’re already checking the calendar for when to sign up next year. Won’t you join us?
Hard to imagine, but GAAMC had never marched in the Morristown, New Jersey St. Paddy’s Day parade –not once – since it was founded in 1972. Not many are aware that after the long, hard winter of 1779-1780, George Washington gave everyone the day off in recognition and support of his Irish militiamen, according to the website ParadeDay.com. It was the very first celebration, and it happened right here in Morris County in Jockey Hollow. It was not until 200 years later, however, that the modernday version of the Morris County St. Patrick’s Day was born, the brainchild of the Irish American Association of Northwest Jersey (IAANJ). This parade was held in Wharton and ran for a single mile down Main Street there. This year, the Parade contained 124 contingents among 4 different divisions with more than 4000 marchers. Running from the Municipal Complex at 200 South Street all the way around to the Green to the High School, there were throngs of people and armies of folding chairs lining the route. GAAMC was a brand new contingent so we marched, a dozen strong, with GAAMC members among those on the Green cheering everyone on. GAAMC’s group stepped off fully an hour and a half after the first contingent, a tribute to the length and breadth of the Parade where Fire Companies, Fife and Drum Corps, Au Pairs, Families of Twins, Marching Bands, Flag and Baton experts and more entertained the crowd and the marchers alike. The Irish-themed bars were especially crowded but all of the restaurants and watering holes were wide open to the beautiful clear blue sky and the unseasonably warm preSpring weather. The clouds, when they were present, were pristine white and fluffy and seas of green with accents of the occasional white or orange were being worn and waved by the crowd.
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Re-Introducing Pride Guide! Since 1986, the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County has published Pride Guide, the year-long resource directory for central and northern New Jersey’s LGBTI communities as a free public service. After several years of illnesses, family crises, and injuries, Pride Guide's editors and volunteers are back at work! We print 5,000 copies of our 100+ page, 6" x 9" digest, which is distributed at almost all Pride Events held in New Jersey, starting with Jersey Pride in Asbury Park on Sunday, June 5, 2016. Anyone listed in Pride Guide may request free copies to share in their business, organization, house of worship, or student organization. We also copies to local libraries. The new Pride Guide will be uploaded to our ISSUU.com account, to be shared with the world. We are also creating a new live, interactive section on our website. Listings and ads will remain active until the next edition is published. In this edition, we plan to add new sections of resources to help the more senior members of our community; a new transgender-specific list of resources; and a section containing everything we can find to help plan your same-sex wedding and honeymoon! GSA's and other student groups, LGBT centers, houses of worship, public libraries, HIV/AIDS services, and other public charities and non-profit organizations may submit a text listing at no charge. For-profit businesses and professionals may take out a text listing for as little as $25, make a huge splash by taking a cover color ad for $1,100, or take a space that’s just right for your budget! We are also accepting editorial content. If you wish to write an article about one of our categories, please reach out to us. If you can share your expertise about a subject, our readers love to learn!. The deadline for listings, display ads, and articles is April 30, 2016. For more information, including our full ad card, contact editor-in-chief Andy Skurna at PrideGuide@GAAMC.org.
GAAMC Board Minutes February 18, 2016 Members: DeLeeuw, Gannon, Gayle, Kennedy, Kohn, Rase, Sauer, Schaublin, Skurna, Slicer, Suiter Non-Voting Attendees: Denise Aiello, Allen Neuner The meeting was called to order at 7:01. The minutes of the January meeting were approved (moved, Rase; seconded by acclamation). Old/Current Business: The “Growing GAAMC” report from the board retreat was reviewed for progress made. New Business: The new Public Relations Committee was created, with Dev Gannon as its chairman (moved Kohn; seconded Slicer). Reports Treasurer (Andy Skurna): The conversion to QuickBooks 2016 was successful. Challenge/Front Desk (Allen Neuner): Allen called for reviews on the trip to the Leslie-Lohman Museum. Due to inclement weather, admission to the February 15th meeting was waived. Webmaster (Andy Skurna): Constant Comment is paid by the month. MeetUp is expensive for the low number of members on it. A motion was passed to evaluate GAAMC’s continued presence on MeetUp in six months. Programs (Sherri Rase): see written report. Socials (John DeLeeuw): St. Patrick’s Day is next. Discussion Group Resources (Gordon Sauer): see written report. Development (Gordon Sauer): see written report. Social Action (Gordon Sauer): see written report. GAAMC Pride (Mickey Suiter): NYC pride is now accepting registrations. Sherri will contact them about appearing earlier in the line of march. Outings (Jay Kohn): see written report. Ideas and Suggestions: Allen mentioned H&R Block had a special offer for non-profit organizations and that GAAMC take advantage of it. A motion was passed to have such an offer be accepted (moved Rase; seconded Kohn). The matching funds offer at the front desk has now ended. Denise suggested a program on meditation. A motion to adjourn was approved (moved, Kohn; seconded, Rase). The meeting was adjourned at 8:20.
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Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County GAAMC Officers President (President@GAAMC.org) .......... Mickey Suiter VP Community Services (Info@GAAMC.org) ..................................................... Gordon Sauer VP Operations (Operations@GAAMC.org) ....................................................John DeLeeuw Secretary (Secretary@GAAMC.org) .......... Ron Kennedy Treasurer (Treasurer@GAAMC.org) ........... Andy Skurna
Trustees Dev Gannon, David Gayle, Jay Kohn, Sherri Rase, Richard Schaublin, Liz Slicer
Committee Chairs & Functional Officers Challenge (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 Outings (Outings@GAAMC.org) .................... Jay Kohn Pride Events ..................................... Mickey Suiter Pride Guide (PrideGuide@GAAMC.org) ...... Andy Skurna Programs (Programs@GAAMC.org) .............. Sherri Rase Public Relations (PR@GAAMC.org) ............. Dev Gannon Social Action .................................... Gordon Sauer 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 home page (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