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The Best Damn Newsletter in New Jersey!
CHALLENGE
The Newsletter of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County Serving New Jersey’s GLBTI Communities Since 1972 Volume 42, Issue 8, October 2016
Gleanings Queer News from across the nation and around the world Former Neptune Mayor and Committeeman Randy Bishop (D) has resigned from the Jersey Shore Arts Center (JSAC) Board of Directors. Bishop notified Herb Herbst, President of JSAC, that he was resigning due to the handling of the QSpot LGBT Community Center's lease renewal. QSpot was recently told that their lease would not be renewed by the JSAC when it expires at the end of the year. Bishop, the only openly gay member of the JSAC board, said Herbst failed to follow through on items requested at a meeting Bishop moderated with JSAC and its attorney and that he had not been notified, or invited, to any JSAC board meetings where QSpot’s lease renewal was voted on. The board of directors of JSAC, a 501(c)3 tax exempt non-profit organization, is tasked by law with a primary role in the administration of the organization, including oversight of the organization's operations. The QSpot LGBT Center had a public meeting to discuss with the LGBT community what QSpot might be able to do to stop the eviction. Bishop's resignation and his claim that he was not included in the decision to evict QSpot seems to indicate some solid evidence of an antigay slant within the JSAC organization. (OutInJersey.net)
person in the Department of Defense as well as within the entire federal government. (NBCnews.com)
The New York State Court of Appeals ruled that nonbiological, nonadoptive parents can seek custody or visitation rights, expanding the definition of what it means to be a parent. New York’s highest court overturned a 1991 decision that defined a parent as a biological or adoptive relative, noting that relationship and family structures have changed dramatically in the 25 years since that ruling was handed down. Non-biological, nonadoptive parents, the ruling reads, can seek custody if “a partner shows by clear and convincing evidence that the parties agreed to conceive a child and to raise the child together.” The case marks a major victory for people, including many in same-sex relationships, who have elected to raise children they are not biologically related to. “In light of more recently delineated legal principles, the definition of ‘parent’ established by this Court 25 years ago...has become unworkable when applied to increasingly varied familial relationships,” wrote Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam. The ruling came in response to two cases involving lesbian couples who had had a child together before At a ceremony at the Navy Memorial, openly transgender splitting up. The non-biological mothers in both cases were Navy Lieutenant Blake Dremann was promoted to the denied visitation rights, as they had no legal standing to rank of Lieutenant Colonel, becoming the first known claim parenthood under the 1991 ruling. Now, people in openly transgender service member promoted since the similar situations will be able to seek visitation or custody. repeal of the military ban on Whether they are granted Inside Challenge transgender troops. "I those rights will still be couldn't have asked for decided on a case-by-case Challenge Information .......................... page 2 better people, a better basis. (NBCNewYork.com) GAAMC Events for October .................. page 2 place, or a better person to President’s Letter .................................... page 3 swear me in. I wouldn't have North Carolina Governor Pat GAAMC Excursions ............................... page 4 changed a thing," Dremann McCrory (R) gave up on Bulletin Board ........................................ page 4 said. Dremann was appealing to the federal promoted by Deputy government to reinforce his Homelessness: An Ignored Assistant Secretary of controversial HB2 law, which Community Issue ................................. page 4 Defense for Operational limits bathroom rights of So Long, Farewell…? ............................ page 4 Energy Amanda Simpson, who trans citizens and has Q-munity Calendar for October ............. page 5 in 2010 became the first become exceedingly Introducing Jill Powell........................... page 7 transgender woman unpopular with many North appointee ever in the U.S. In Memoriam: Michael Cohen .............. page 7 Carolina citizens and government, and today is the lawmakers. McCrory wrote GAAMC Board Minutes......................... page 8 highest ranking transgender (continued on page 3) GAAMC Information ............................. page 9
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Volume 42, Number 8 October 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 © 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 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.
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GAAMC Events for October 2016 Main meetings start at 8:15 unless otherwise stated. Discussion groups and Film Festival movies start at 7:00. October 3: GAAMC Film Festival presents HBO's stunning If These Walls Could Talk, 2. This film is a broad-ranging trilogy of vignettes about three generations of women who love one another and the trials and tribulations many sisters face in living their lives and following their hearts. The cast includes Vanessa Redgrave, Marian Seldes, Paul Giamatti, Michelle Williams, Chloë Sevigny, Sharon Stone, Ellen DeGeneres, Regina King, and Kathy Najimy. Though first aired in 2000, the points it makes are just as fresh today. Join us for a truly memorable evening. NOTE: there will be no Open Talk discussion group tonight. October 10: Election Discussion Gordon & Frank moderate GAAMC’s annual Vote Your Issues program! More important in this election than ever before YOUR vote! Make sure you learn as much as you can about the issues and remember that ALL elections affect ALL of our lives. ROCK THE VOTE! Open Talk discussion group: Tonight’s facilitator: Gordon October 17: As of press time, there is information about neither our program nor our Open Talk group facilitator. Go to GAAMC.org for the most recent information about tonight! October 24: Gays Against Guns – Join us for a discussion of gun violence prevention issues with Dwight Panozzo, a member of the Steering Committee of Gays Against Guns New Jersey (GAGNJ). In addition to cofounding GAGNJ, Dwight is a Board Member of the Bergen County chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and the cofounder of BecauseLifeIsSacred.org. You can get more information about the group and what they’ve been up to on their Facebook page. Open Talk discussion group: Tonight’s facilitator: Gordon. October 31: GAAMC’s Annual Halloween Social! What scares you? What makes you want to howl for your mummy ? What makes you the wolf in cheap clothing? Come as you are, or as you would *like* to be. This is a potluck dessert-oriented social so bring something to scare – uh – SHARE with 6 or so of your pack. Join the GAAMC gaggle of costumed friends and come see what we have up our sleeves! BONUS FEATURE: After Open Talk, during the social, the GAAMC Film Festival will present that classic holiday movie, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, starring Cassandra Peterson! Wander in and wander out as you please during the showing of this goofy comedy! Open Talk discussion group: Tonight’s facilitator: Sherri. 20-Somethings Group Tonight’s facilitator: Nick. Topic: “Happy Halloween! The 20-Somethings Discuss The Gayest Holiday in America”. Too old to go trick-or-treating? Come join the 20-Somethings as we discuss this haunted holiday and our favorite ways to celebrate it. We will also discuss why it is the gayest holiday there is!!
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President’s Letter
Gleanings
Love and Marriage
(continued from page 1)
By Mickey Suiter As many of you know, John and I were married a few months ago. Shortly before the wedding, a friend who was married told me that afterward, he was going to ask me if I felt different. My thought at that time was, ‘Why would I feel any different?’ After all, we’d been in a relationship for four years. We’d been living together for over two-and-a-half years and we were already totally committed to each other. Sure, the legal recognition and the rights that came with marriage would be great, but it wouldn’t make me feel any differently toward John or about our relationship. For most of the time our community was fighting for marriage equality, I was single. I understood the importance of legal recognition of same-sex relationships and the vast number of rights that came with it, but it was all theoretical to me. It didn’t directly affect my life. I could think back to relationships I had been in and wonder how they would have been different had marriage been an option at that time, but that was only speculative. Still, I fought for marriage equality on a purely rational basis because it was the right and just thing. Unlike many friends who have been in relationships much longer than ours, John and I did not go through the domestic partner-civil union path to marriage so I can’t speak to how those differ. But for those who wanted a separate but (not) equal system, reserving the institution of marriage to those relationships approved by certain religions, I can now say ”Words really do matter.” While I would like to be able to say that the opinions of others don’t matter to me, they do to an extent. People understand what marriage is, what that commitment is. Anyone who is in a relationship short of marriage, whether straight or gay, is not seen to be in the same kind of relationship. A boyfriend or partner is not the same as a husband. No matter how those in unmarried relationships feel about each other, others see them as less serious, less committed. When you say, ‘my husband’ or ‘my wife’ or ‘I’m married’ everyone knows what that means, everyone understands. And so, much to my own surprise, the answer to my friend’s question is, yes, I do feel different. John and I are married. Enough said.
in court documents that he was dropping his lawsuit due to “substantial costs to the State,” writing that the lawsuit was in opposition to the “interests of judicial economy and efficiency.” Moral outrage over HB2 has taken a toll on North Carolina’s economy: the NBA pulled its upcoming All-Star Game out of Charlotte; the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference have also moved their championship sporting events out of the state; and many celebrities and businesses have practiced boycotts in protest of HB2. When the federal government threatened to withdraw funds from North Carolina, McCrory attempted to sue them. The Department of Justice countersued, intending to keep HB2 from being enforced on account of it being, according to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, “impermissibly discriminatory.” While McCrory still supports HB2, he has since offered to repeal it on condition that the city of Charlotte repeals its local ordnance which protects the LGBT community from discrimination. The Charlotte City Council has refused to do so. (USUncut.com) The Savannah, GA performer Lady Chablis, who received national attention as a character in the true-crime title “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” has died. Club One in Savannah announced the sad news in a statement on September 8th saying Chablis, “who stole hearts – and the spotlight…passed this morning surrounded by friends and family.” Born Benjamin Knox in 1957 in rural Quincy, FL, Chablis, sometimes known by adoring fans as simply “the Doll,” was an activist as well as an entertainer. Throughout the 2000’s, she worked closely on various campaigns for the American Diabetes Association, donating thousands of dollars raised by her performances to the cause. She was the headlining entertainer for Savannah Pride’s inaugural celebration, and hosted their Miss Gay Pride Pageant. She would go on to perform, donate and contribute to many LGBT charities throughout her career. Chablis had apparently been ailing recently. Lady Chablis is survived by her sister, Cynthia. (AJC.com (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)).
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GAAMC Excursions GAAMC goes to the theatre! Crowns is a moving and celebratory musical play in which hats become a springboard for an exploration of black history and identity as seen through the eyes of a young black woman who has come down South to stay with her aunt after her brother is killed in Brooklyn. Hats are everywhere, in exquisite variety, and the characters use the hats to tell tales concerning everything from the etiquette of hats to their historical and contemporary social functioning. There is a hat for every occasion, from flirting to churchgoing to funerals to baptisms, and the tradition of hats is traced back to African rituals and slavery and forward to the New Testament and current fashion. This GAAMC Excursion is scheduled for one show only, the 2:00 PM matinee on Sunday, October 2, 2016, at The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood. Tickets will be distributed at the theater just before the show. To purchase tickets, go to https://mkt.com/gaamc/item/crowns-the-musical. GAAMC Experiences Nature Join GAAMC as we take a leisurely walk through one of New Jersey's beautiful botanical gardens. Located right outside our state's capital, the Sayen House and Gardens offers itself as "a welcome sanctuary for nature lovers, garden enthusiasts, and history buffs alike." Location: 155 Hughes Drive, Hamilton. Date & Time: Saturday, October 8, 2016; start time 1pm. Price: free. Celebrate coming out with GAAMC! Come join the 20Somethings as we go down to Philly for Outfest, a multiblock street fair to celebrate National Coming Out Day. Outfest takes place in the Gayborhood section of West Center City located between 12th/13th Streets, and Walnut/Pine Streets. There is no charge for this event. This is a 20-Somethings outing so only people age 18-30(ish) please. Date & Time: Sunday, October 9th, noon to 6 pm. Accio Hogsmeade! GAAMC's Spellbinding Adventure Late in October, the little town of Chestnut Hill, PA transforms its town center into Hogsmeade (the magical village near Hogwarts in the Harry Potter universe). GAAMC will be taking the Hogwarts Express from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station to experience all the whimsical fun to be had in this quaint little town. The nearby college also hosts a Quidditch tournament that day. Meeting Location: 30th St Station, 2955 Market Place, Philadelphia. Festival Location: near Germantown Avenue & West Chestnut Hill Avenue, Philadelphia. Date & Time: October 22, 2016; meeting time,TBA, but festival starts at 10 am. Price: Festival is free, but there will be items to purchase if you want. GAAMC Eats Spanish! Bring your empty stomach and join GAAMC as we meet for dinner at Xunta, an authentic Spanish tapas restaurant in Northern New Jersey. We will try a variety of Spanish tapas (small dishes meant to be
October 2016
shared with friends) as we enjoy an evening with our GAAMC family. Location: 392 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell. Date & Time: Saturday, November 5th, 2016, from 6pm-8pm. Price: Dishes cost between $7 and $25, but are meant to be shared.
Bulletin Board The New Jersey LGBT Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them at the LGBTQA Homecoming Day, at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, at noon on Saturday, October 15th! The Scarlet Knights are facing off against Illinois in what promises to be an exciting game! Your admission includes a discounted ticket to the game and a donation to support the RU LGBTQA Emergency Fund-New Brunswick. For more information, contact Brendan Gultz at bgultz@scarletknights.com. To purchase tickets, go to bit.ly/rulgbthomecoming. NOTE: The deadline to purchase tickets is October 2nd!
Homelessness : An Ignored Community Issue by Mark Segal This article is about a subject close to my heart: our homeless LGBT youth and homeless transgender people. It’s a subject I’ve been involved with since 1969 and my days in New York City with Gay Liberation Front. So why write about this now during a heated presidential race? Simple question, simple answer. Have you heard either presidential candidate speak about the homeless problems in our LGBT community? You might ask, “We have a big homeless problem in our community?” Yes, we do, and the two segments of our community to be most affected are youth and trans people. Both are the most endangered populations in our community, yet at times our own community doesn’t seem to care enough to do anything about it. We’re so fixated on middle-class issues. (continued on page 8)
So Long, Farewell…? According to our records, the following members will see their memberships lapse in October. If your name is here in error, please contact the Webmaster. Dev G., Morristown Elaine H., Somerset James Y., Bloomingdale Janet W., Somerset You can renew by going to GAAMC.org, or at any Monday night meeting of GAAMC.
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October 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 Ocean #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 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
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 AA 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
Tuesday - Saturday Project WOW! youth center, Newark; variable hours; njcri.org; 973-412-7080
Every Wednesday 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† 8:30 pm – Just for Today -- Narcotics Anonymous meeting, Ocean Grove#
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 AA meeting, Ocean Grove# 1:30 pm – Library Lounge, Ocean Grove# 2:00 pm – Gamblers Anonymous, 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 Noon - Library Lounge, Ocean Grove# 6:30 pm – As Bill Sees It -- Cocaine Anonymous meeting, 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 10:00 am - Library Lounge, Ocean Grove# 6:00 pm – TransView trans support, Jersey City ‡ 6:00 pm - SAGE, Jersey City ‡ 7:30 pm - Tuesday Night Lesbian Connection, Bound Brook; 01 Sat 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 – AMP! Concert series, Highland Park† 02 Sun 2:00 pm – Central Jersey Rope Share, Highland Park† 4:00 pm – Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-857-
Every Thursday 10:00 am - Library Lounge, Ocean Grove# 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# 7:00 pm – Yoga, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Rainbows on Cleveland Street, Orange; 973-2565936; rbowsoncleveland@aol.com 7:30 pm - Writers group, Highland Park † Every Friday Noon - Library Lounge, Ocean Grove# 6:00 pm - Youth Connect, Jersey City ‡ Every Saturday 10:00 am – Al-Anon, Ocean Grove# Noon – Library Lounge, Ocean Grove# 4040; Dignitymetronj@msn.com 6:30 pm – Gay Men’s Opera Club; 732-249-9034; hagol@msn.com 03 Mon 1:00 pm – LGBTQ of Somerset County of NJ, Somerville; 908237-3423; MatthewL@alum.fdu.edu 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
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03 Mon 7:30 pm – TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Raices Latinas LGBT, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Anxiety Support Group, Highland Park† 04 Tue 7:30 pm – LGBT Fellowship, Belleville; 973-751-0616 7:30 pm – Come OUT and Play, Highland Park† 05 Wed 6:30 pm -- Positive People peer support group, Hackensack * 7:00 pm – G-Rope, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Jersey Boys of Leather, Highland Park† 06 Thu 6:30 pm – LGBTQ of Hunterdon County of NJ, Clinton; 908237-3423; MatthewL@alum.fdu.edu 7:00 pm – Coffee social, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 7:00 pm – Young Adult Social Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – NJ Women Coming Out, Highland Park† 07 Fri 6:00 pm – LGBT Parents to Be, Ocean Grove#
7:00 pm – Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 8:00 pm -- Karaoke, Highland Park;† 08 Sat 1:00 pm – Women of Pride, Jersey City‡ 1:00 pm – Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 1:00 pm – LGBTQ of Morris County of NJ, Morristown; 908237-3423; MatthewL@alum.fdu.edu 7:00 pm – Men’s Movie Night, Highland Park;† 7:30 pm – Dignity New Brunswick gay Catholic liturgy; 732968-9263; dignitynb@earthlink.net 09 Sun 2:00 pm – Male Drawing Session, Highland Park† 6:00 pm – Gay Men’s Classical Song Club, Kingston; pbrown02@worldnet.att.net 10 Mon 6:30 pm – Lesbian Moms Support Network, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – PFLAG of Morris County, Mendham; 973-5437229; craig.bcc@verizon.net 7:30 pm – PFLAG, Princeton; 609-663-5155; www.pflagprinceton.org 7:00 pm – Hot Topics 4 Lesbians, Ocean Grove#
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Fri 14 7:00 pm – Young Men’s Social Network, Highland Park† 15 Sat 1:00 pm – LGBTQ of Somerset County of NJ, Somerville; 908237-3423; MatthewL@alum.fdu.edu 2:00 pm – NJ Hypnokink, Highland Park;† 2:30 pm – First & Third for GLBTI Youth, Princeton; 609-6835155; www.HiTOPS.org 7:00 pm – Rainbow Bowling, Bradley Beach; 732-774-4540 7:00 pm – NJ Gay Film Society & Potluck Dinner Club, Location TBA; gayfilms@bigfoot.com 16 Sun 11:00 am – NJ Rope Bite, Highland Park† Noon – Program Planning Brunch, Millstone Township; njlgh.onefireplace.com 4:00 pm – Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-8374040; 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 7:00 pm – HIV testing, Highland Park† 7:00 pm – LGBT 50+ Social, Ocean Grove# 7:30 pm – Young Men’s Social Network, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Raices Latinas LGBT, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Anxiety Support Group, Highland Park† 18 Tue 7:30 pm – Come OUT and Play, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – LGBTQ for Social Justice, Highland Park† 19 Wed 6:30 pm - Positive People peer support group, Hackensack * 7:00 pm – JCLGO monthly meeting, Jersey City; 201-3335725; www.jclgo.org 7:30 pm – United in Grace discussion/support group, Jersey City; 201-946-0650; greg.perez@comcast.net 7:00 pm – Board meeting, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 20 Thu 7:00 pm – Young Adult Social Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – NJ Women Coming Out, Highland Park† 21 Fri 7:00 pm – Movie Night Out, Ocean Grove#
7:45 pm – Out of the Box open mic, Highland Park† 11 Tue 7:00 pm – HIV Testing, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Pride Center Board Meeting, Highland Park† 12 Wed 7:00 pm – QSpot Book Club, Ocean Grove# 7:30 pm – Wednesday Night Women’s Hang Out, Highland Park† 13 Thu 7:30 pm -- PFLAG of North Jersey, South Orange; 908-7897489; pflagwaver@aol.com 7:30 pm -- Alternate Thursdays, Montclair; sherrrase@gmail.com
22 Sat 1:00 pm – Women of Pride, Jersey City‡ 1:00 pm – Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 7:00 pm – Gay Bowling, Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park; 732776-6160 24 Mon 7:30 pm – NJ Rope Bite, Highland Park† 25 Tue 8:30 pm – Men’s Social Night, Highland Park†
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26 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†
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28 Fri 7:30 pm – Teen Night Halloween Party, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Shabbat Services, njlgh.onefireplace.com 29 Sat 7:00 pm – New Jersey Furs, Highland Park†
Introducing Jill Powell Editor’s note: Actress and raconteur Jill Powell will be doing a presentation at GAAMC on November 7th. Board member Liz Slicer contacted Ms. Powell to get some biographical information for Challenge, which we present here. Our thanks to Liz and Jill. Jill Powell-Elliott is the proud lesbian mom of her 22 year old transgender son Ash; advocate and inspirer for LGBTQ youth; and overall lover of life! Prior to her advocacy work, Ms. Powell-Elliott had two very exciting careers: first, as an actress, singer, and dancer on Broadway and television; and second, as the founder and
director of an all-girls camp which used the arts as the avenue in which to take girls on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Jill began as a professional child performer at age 13. She continued in NYC with Broadway appearances, TV commercials, national tours, regional theatre, and as "full time bitch" Marcie Breen on As The World Turns. She made her Lincoln Center debut in 1988 at the New York City Opera playing Zaneeta Shinn in The Music Man, starring Bob Gunton. In 2014 Jill co-wrote and starred in a groundbreaking new musical about her life, Borderline, which ran at the Provincetown Playhouse in New York City’s Greenwich Village.
In Memoriam: Michael Cohen Michael Cohen, 50, of East Stroudsburg, PA, passed away at home, in his sleep on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, after a 10-year battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his beloved fur-babies, Leon and Red. Michael was born on April 21, 1966, in Manhattan, the son of Mel Cohen and the late Mary Cohen. He was a loving son, a beyond amazing brother, the greatest uncle, and the best friend. Michael was very family-oriented. His family meant the world to him and he could not have been more proud of them. Most recently, Michael volunteered at Pocono Medical Center, to whom he was a great service. Prior to his illness, Michael was employed by Prudential Insurance Agency in Morristown, NJ. He volunteered on the ambulance squad for many years, and he proudly volunteered for Jersey Pride, Inc, for 25 years. He came to his first GAAMC meeting on the evening of the Thanksgiving Dinner in 1987 and stayed to volunteer for GAAMC for 20 years, serving on many committees, including Helpline and Membership, and serving on the Board. He also volunteered with the New Jersey Lesbian & Gay Coalition and with the group Visibility in Pride. Michael was a sweet and gentle man who always put others before himself; his laugh was infectious and his smile was amazing. He was always there with a listening ear, no matter what time of day or night. Michael loved spending time with his family and many friends. He was a big kid at heart, with a unique sense of humor; he loved to joke around and make others laugh. Michael was beyond strong and never gave up hope. He truly appreciated all the beautiful things that life had to offer. Some of Michael's favorite things included going out to eat, playing vintage video games, and watching old sitcoms like “I Love Lucy" and “The Three Stooges." Michael was a bargain shopper who could not pass up a good deal. He was a roller coaster fanatic, who traveled all over the country with friends visiting many amusement parks for the thrill of the ride. His favorite place on Earth was Disney World; he loved anything Disney. Michael collected Mickey Mouse memorabilia and vintage Bell telephones, as well as Atari and Nintendo games. Another of his favorite things was creating random acts of chaos. Those left to cherish his memory include his father, Melvin Cohen; his sister, Kim Catalano and husband Glenn of Marshalls Creek, PA; his niece, Meghan Catalano, and her fiancé Tyler Reddick, also of Marshalls Creek; and his nephew, Joshua Catalano, and his partner Curtis Silverwood of West Chester, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Seer Farms, P.O. Box 91, Jackson, NJ 08527 - a nonprofit, people-centered animal sanctuary that keeps people and their animals together as a family during difficult times.
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GAAMC Board Minutes
Homelessness
August 16, 2016
(continued from page 4)
Members: DeLeeuw, Gannon, Gayle, Kennedy, Kohn, Rase, Sauer, Schaublin, Skurna, Suiter
Let me use my own city as an example. In Philadelphia, there is a struggling home for our homeless called LGBT Home for Hope. The home was started last year by Sakina Dean, with programs run by Deja Lynn Alvarez, a local trans woman. Home for Hope was started from the pocket of Dean, and Alvarez is fighting to get funding; when that fails, it comes out of their own pockets. In short order, they rented a building, attempted to house and feed our homeless, and set up programs to help them with education, employment, and other social issues they face.
Non-Voting Attendees: Allen Neuner The meeting was called to order at 7:02. The minutes of the July meeting were approved (moved, Schaublin; seconded, Rase). Old/Current Business: GAAMC’s present and future plans were discussed. Main thoughts for the near future included streamlining operations, holding one big activity every month, and increasing our efforts in the areas of social and political activism. Some recommended ideas were: joining with other organizations on activist actions; midOctober programs featuring political candidates and a speaker from Gays Against Guns; and working with local school administrators on including LGBT curricula. New Business: A call for nominees for President and VicePresident of Operations will be made. A theatre outing to see Crowns in early October was approved (moved, Kohn; seconded, Schaublin). GAAMC will distribute copies of a letter regarding guidance about the state’s anti-bulling law at Community Health Day in Morristown. Moments of silence were observed in remembrance of Kerry Dinkin and Michael Cohen. Reports Treasurer (Andy Skurna): GAAMC should consult with .a CPA. Challenge/Front Desk (Allen Neuner): the front desk needs name tags. Webmaster (Andy Skurna): NationBuilder is active on a trial basis. MeetUp feeds need to be paid; funds will be appropriated for this (moved, Kohn; seconded, Sauer) Programs (Sherri Rase) Socials (John DeLeeuw) Discussion Group Resources (Gordon Sauer) Development (Gordon Sauer): the next meeting is scheduled or August 29th. Social Action (Gordon Sauer) GAAMC Pride (Mickey Suiter) Outings (Jay Kohn): the baseball game was great. The beach evet could have been better. Public Relations (Dev Gannon) A motion to adjourn was approved (moved, Schaublin; seconded, Sauer). The meeting was adjourned at 8:42.
The small project has grown to the point that Home for Hope now houses more than 30 individuals at any given time and it really needs more room. The building and services need upgrades, but it is a start, and you would think most caring people would pitch in to assist and make it better. But many in our community walk away, perhaps because they think the people who access services at Home for Hope do not portray the right image for our community. Upon hearing about the issue at a summit, I helped arrange for U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) to send a task force to see what can be done on a federal level. After hearing about the daily plight of the lack of funding, Philadelphia Sheriff Jewell Williams’ office put out a collection; representatives of the office brought bags and baskets of food and supplies to Home for Hope. Others from the state have also been attempting to get the gears moving. Here’s the simple point: City departments must pitch in and help Home for Hope. It needs funds, and the team needs a helping hand of volunteers and a system to get it on the right track to move forward. In 1969, as the 18-year-old president of Gay Youth New York, I often took in homeless to get them off the streets; so did Silvia Rivera when she had a place to stay. She, as you may know, started Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries, the nation’s first trans organization. Our fellow GLF members helped with funding out of their pockets. Wouldn’t you think that, 47 years later, we would have progressed a little further in caring for the most endangered in our community?
October 2016
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Challenge
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