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 4, September 2015
The Invisible Knapsack by Sherri Rase Whether we’re discussing the 1% or Black Lives Matter, it all comes down to one thing: Privilege. Every day we carry around an invisible knapsack that has some plain old dead weight as well as some useful tools. How did we come by this? Education? Experience? Happenstance, like the hero in a video game who stumbles across something she/he might find useful later? Nope – it’s Privilege! Things that you have no control over – where you’re born, when, to whom, etc. -- all have an effect on what advantages and disadvantages will encourage you or hamper you in accomplishing your life’s work. How can we level the playing field?
got work to do to assure equal access to health care, jobs, and yes! even bathrooms for my brothers and sisters of color, my brothers and sisters who are gender nonconforming (GNC), my transwomen and transmen family who do not have what I have. I’m reaching out; here’s my hand. Join me! Join GAAMC! Be part of something you can share for a lifetime.
In Memoriam In the recent past, Dolores and Claire donated $40 to GAAMC in memory of Dina's mother, Mary Ellen Romano. A recent email from a friend of Gordon's, Anne Hartman, asked me about making a donation in memory of William Sauer, who embodied community activity. He was active with many community organizations over and above his paid employment, treating that involvement as his life's work after he retired. His son Gordon inherited that community building gene, using it to help GAAMC as well as other institutions. Anne’s contribution will help make GAAMC’s capital "C" Community building continue.
The first aspect to creating a plan is understanding what privileges you have and haven’t enjoyed. A Privilege Walk will be scheduled for the fall so you experience this first hand. It will open your eyes. When I discovered some of the ways I was affected by my upbringing and opportunities, it was enervating and enlightening at the same time. My first thought was, “What would I give up so that others will be able to receive this benefit?” I realized shortly thereafter that my thought process was flawed. Rather, the questions should start with, “What do I have that I can share with others?” That is a much Whom would you like to commemorate with a donation to more productive avenue and comes less from the we/they GAAMC? In whose name would you like to help GAAMC's perspective that created the Haves and the Have-Nots. community to grow? Contact Sherri Rase, President, or When we come from a place Andy Skurna, Treasurer to of collaboration, much more discuss how one-time or Inside Challenge is not only possible – it’s ongoing gifts can create the Challenge Information ........................... page 2 likely! opportunity for others that GAAMC Events for September............... page 2 many of us have enjoyed. What do I have to share with Gleanings -- Queer news from around GAAMC has been here for you? GAAMC is the longest the world ................................................. page 3 nearly 43 years. Help us continually running activist keep growing with a September Q-munity Calendar – LGBT organization in New Jersey commemorative gift! events in and around New Jersey ......... page 5 and among the longest running in the country. I’ve The Soapbox: Treasury Notes ................ page 7
Bulletin Board ......................................... page 7 Police Harrassment, Back Then ............ page 8 GAAMC Board Meeting Minutes............ page9 Stonewall: Reality vs Fiction ................ page 10 Windows Panes ..................................... page 11 GAAMC Information ............................ page 12 More content can be found at www.issuu.com/GAAMC
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Volume 41, Number 4 June 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 GAAMC Executive Board.
September 2015 : GAAMC Events for September 2015 .
Open Talk Discussion Group Weekly discussion group, open to all. Every Monday, 7:00, in the Library. Moderators: Liz (Sep 21); Kerry (Sep 14); Gordon (Sep 7, 28); Sherri (Sep 28). 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. September 7: – Labor Day Cookout GAAMC marks the end of the summer season with its extremely popular cookout. We provide the grill, the meats, the buns, and the drinks. We invite you to bring one of your summer side dishes or desserts, enough to be shared by six to eight people. Come mark the end of summer with friends old and new! 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. September 14: GAAMC’s 43rd Anniversary Forty-three years ago, four young people created the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County. Today, New Jersey’s longest continuously-running LGBT organization is still here, a safe space to meet, interesting programs and popular social events, and a wide range of information on the gay scene in the Garden State. Join us to celebrate our storied past and our bright future! September 21: The $1.98 Beauty Pageant Which contestant will get to wear the tiara this year? Who will wear the mink? Who will walk home with the big cash prize of one whole dollar and ninety-eight cents? It could be YOU! Come find out at GAAMC’s affectionate tribute/parody of beauty contests! Contestants are always welcome, so if this is your year to show off your sense of style in casual and evening wear, or if you want to match your talent (or lack thereof) against other contestants, contact Sherri Rase at Programs@GAAMC.org! Don’t delay – the pageant will be here sooner than you think! September 28: Men’s and Women’s Extended Discussion Groups While it’s good to express your opinions in a mixed group at our weekly Open Talk discussion group, there are times when an all-male or all-female group allows you to bring up topics you don’t feel comfortable raising with members of the opposite sex. Tonight, Gordon leads the men and Sherri leads the women in two expanded discussion groups. These groups will both start at the usual time, 7:00 pm, but will last until we close (or when the group decides to end). 20-Something: Monthly group for young members of the queer communities. 7:00, in the Dining Room. Moderator: Nick. Topic: To be announced. October 5: Vote Your Issues! GAAMC has invited local candidates from all parties to give you an idea of their positions on issues of the day and answer your questions. While you may not think this year’s election is not worth taking part in, these candidates will be the major candidates of the future. Come out and meet tomorrow’s political leaders, today! 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: We did not receive information about tonight’s meeting at press time. Please check at www.GAAMC.org for up-to-date information!
September 2015
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Gleanings Queer News from across the nation and around the world New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) vetoed S1195, a bill that would have supported transgender people while bringing New Jersey birth certificate policy in line with federal and state identity document standards. Under current law, transgender people can only change their birth certificate gender markers upon a showing that they have had surgery. S1195 would have allowed transgender people to change the gender marker on their birth certificates upon appropriate filing of a statement from a medical professional that a person has transitioned gender. “Governor Christie’s veto means that transgender people will have to undergo unnecessary surgery just to change the M or F on their birth certificate,” said Andrea Bowen, Executive Director of Garden State Equality. “That’s not only absurd and gruesome, but it’s out of line with what the federal government does for Passports and Social Security records, and what New Jersey already does for its drivers’ licenses. What the Governor has done here is nonsensical, cruel, and — if you care at all about good government processes — illogical.” (GardenStateEquality.org) Protesters gathered outside Assemblyman Scott Garrett’s (R-Wantage) district office to rally against his reported opposition to a Republican Party fund that supports gay candidates and his sponsorship of a bill that would protect people and tax-exempt organizations that object to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. Garrett is a co-sponsor, along with Assemblyman Chris Smith (RMercer), of the First Amendment Defense Act which would offer protections to people and groups who cite their religious beliefs when declining services to same-sex couples seeking to marry. (NorthJersey.com) Top officials from the Pentagon will meet to begin the process of ending the military's ban on transgender service members. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter sent a memo detailing his plan, which begins with protecting current transgender members of the military, currently estimated to be 15,000, from being discharged. The memo "directs officials to develop a plan within six months to incorporate those troops into the ranks." Carter's memo is clear on his intent: "The working group will start with the assumption that transgender persons can serve openly without adverse impact on military effectiveness and readiness unless and except where objective, practical impediments are identified, and shall present its recommendations to me within 180 days." Since (approved personally by the Pentagon's top official for personnel, Brad Carson. (TheNewCivilRightsMovement.com) The Department of Justice announced that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will apply the U.S. Supreme Court's recent landmark marriage ruling retroactively and process pending spousal benefits claims for same-sex couples who lived in states that did not previously recognize their marriages. The new policy will apply to previ-
ously filed claims still pending in the administrative process or litigation. The expected policy change follows the Supreme Court’s June decision striking down marriage bans across the country. SSA has not announced when this policy change will be posted and implemented. (LambdaLegal.org) Kim Davis petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to allow her to continue withholding marriage licenses as litigation against her proceeds on appeal, returning the issue of same-sex marriage to the Justices just months after their decision in favor of nationwide gay nuptials. After the Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide, Davis, the County Clerk in Rowan County, Kentucky, shut down marriage operations in her office, citing religious objections as an Apostolic Christian. U.S. District Judge David Bunning issued a preliminary injunction against Davis’ actions, although Davis continues to resist giving marriage licenses at her office. Bunning refused to extend a temporary stay on his injunction, set to expire on August 31st, while a three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals also rejected Davis’ plea to extend the stay. Rowan County Attorney Cecil Watkins recently referred a charge of official misconduct to state officials. U.S. Associate Justice Elena Kagan, responsible for stay requests in the Sixth Circuit, could choose to decide the appeal herself, or pass it along to the full Supreme Court. (Washington Blade) U.S. District Judge Dee Benson ruled that Utah must treat a same-sex couple the same way it would treat a different-sex couple who are adopting. Angie Roe and Kami Roe were legally married in Utah, but the state is requiring them to jump through hoops because it refused to automatically add Kami to their newborn daughter's birth certificate. Judge Benson issued a preliminary injunction that forces Utah to issue a birth certificate recognizing both women as Lucy's parents and to change its policies for all other married lesbian couples. The ACLU, representing the couple, argued that a same-sex spouse and a different-sex spouse whose wife conceives through donor insemination are similarly situated in all relevant aspects. (TheNewCivilRightsMovement.com) D.C. Superior Court Judge Kimberley Knowles denied a motion by the estate of the deceased partner of a gay man to dismiss a petition by the gay man to have his and his partner’s relationship affirmed by the court as a common law marriage. In a two-page ruling and order, Judge Knowles said she found that “a genuine issue exists regarding a material fact” over whether the relationship between D.C. resident Enrique Mendez and his partner of more than four years, Miles Eric Lease, constituted a common law marriage. Mendez filed the petition last December with the court’s Domestic Relations Branch as part of an estate dispute with Lease’s family, which is being represented by his niece, Virginia resident Jennifer Lynn McKelvey. At stake is Mendez’s contention that as
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(continued on next page) Lease’s legal spouse, he is entitled to his deceased partner’s assets. Through her attorney, McKelvey contends that Mendez’s petition fails to provide sufficient evidence that he and Lease were in a relationship equivalent to marriage under D.C. law. Knowles noted that each side has presented conflicting facts over whether the two men exchanged “marriage vows” and informed others of those vows, two steps that are required under D.C. law to establish a common law marriage. In denying the estate’s motion for summary judgment to dismiss the case, the judge said the conflicting facts would have to be hashed out at a trial-like evidentiary hearing she scheduled for November 10th. (Washington Blade) Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner (R) signed legislation banning therapists from trying to change a young person's sexuality. Under the new law, those under 18 years old can get counseling to discuss concerns or thoughts about their sexuality, but professionals licensed by the state may not try to change the minor's orientation. "These so-called 'therapies' treat homosexuality as a disease," Evanston Democratic Senator Daniel Biss said in a statement after Rauner signed the bill Biss sponsored with state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat. "They're out of date and can be deeply destructive to youth. Outlawing these practices is a small step in our pursuit for LGBT rights, but it's an extremely important step in protecting young people in Illinois." (DailyJournal.net) A judge in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, issued a ruling, thought to be the first decision of its kind in the nation, allowing retroactive recognition of a same-sex common-law marriage. The decision came in the case of Doylestown resident Dr. Sabrina Maurer, who filed a petition for a retroactive declaration of a common-law marriage after she was forced to pay inheritance tax and was denied other spousal benefits following the 2013 death of her partner, Dr. Kimberly Underwood. The couple had been together since 1996, and was joined in a religious ceremony in 2001, before any state legalized same-sex marriage. Although the state abolished common-law marriages in 2005, it does recognize such unions formed prior to that year. In his ruling, Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Theodore Fritsch, Jr., wrote that the couple’s “marriage is valid and enforceable, and they are entitled to all the rights and privileges of validly licensed, married spouses in all respects under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” (Philadelphia Gay News) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson was ordered to pay more than $135,000 in legal fees for a couple who challenged the state ban on same-sex marriage. Wilson must reimburse seven attorneys a total of $130,600 for 390 hours of work, or nearly 90 percent of what they requested. Judge Richard Gergel also awarded them the full $4,700 they sought in other court costs and fees, according to court documents. Colleen Condon and her partner, Nichols Bleckley, sued last October to get a marriage license. At the time the case was filed, South Carolina was the only state in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to still enforce its gay marriage ban after the court found a similar ban in Virginia unconstitutional. (LGBTQNation.com) Texas couple Jim Cato and Joe Stapleton have settled their federal lawsuit against Hood County Clerk Katie Lang.
September 2015 Lang had repeatedly refused to issue a marriage license to the couple, then tried to obstruct their efforts to obtain one through her office. As a result of the lawsuit, Cato and Stapleton will receive almost $44,000, the cost of their attorneys’ fees, from Hood County taxpayers since the settlement was reached by county attorneys and not private counsel. (TheNewCivilRightsMovement.com) The Mexican Supreme Court ruled a law in the state of Campeche that bans same-sex couples from adopting children is unconstitutional. The 9-1 decision comes against the backdrop of the debate over marriage rights for same-sex couples that continues to gain momentum in the country. (Washington Blade) Shira Banki, a 16 year old Israeli teenager who was stabbed by a crazed Jewish religious extremist at Jerusalem’s gay pride parade, died from her wounds just hours after thousands of Israelis held anti-violence rallies across the country protesting attacks by Israeli assailants against gays and Palestinians. Yishai Schlissel, an ultra-orthodox Jewish man who had been recently freed from prison after wielding a knife at Jerusalem’s 2005 gay pride parade, stabbed six attendees at this year’s pride parade before he was apprehended. Schlissel has been indicted for Banki’s murder. (ABC News) Costa Rica’s Casa Presidencial (presidential office) has introduced a bill to legalize same-sex common-law marriages. Common-law marriage grants all the benefits of a traditional marriage, including inheritance rights, social security and public insurance benefits, and hospital visitation rights, but requires the approval of a judge after a couple has been together for at least three years. Bill 18.483 would amend several articles of the family code to formally recognize ‘stable’ relationships of more than three years between two people, regardless of their ‘sex, identity, sexual orientation or choice” with all the personal and property protections of legal marriage.’ A same-sex couple who fulfills the criteria could meet with a lawyer or appear before a civil judge to codify their relationship. (GayStarNews.com)
The American Foundation for Equal Rights has announced that it is shutting down. The announcement came Six weeks after the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in the United States. The organization, which formed almost six years ago to wage war against Proposition 8 and tirelessly fought for nationwide marriage equality, was founded by Chad Griffin, now Executive Director of the Human Rights Campaign. (LGBTQNation) The Boy Scouts of America relented to unprecedented pressure on Monday and lifted its national ban on gay adult leaders, paving the way for historic change and debate within the organization. The historic vote shifts the specter of discrimination onto local scout groups and those sponsored by religious organizations, which retain the right to set their own policies on whether they'll allow gay men to lead scouts. The vote by the group's 71-member board followed an impassioned plea in May by Boy Scouts President Robert Gates, a former U.S. defense secretary. "We must deal with the world as it is, not as we might wish it to be," Gates, an Eagle Scout, told leaders. "The status quo in our movement's membership standards cannot be sustained." (USA Today)
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September 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 2:00 pm – The Daily Grind, Princeton# Project Access syringe exchange program, Newark; variable hours; njcri.org; 973-558-5054 Project Access 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 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 - SAGE, Jersey City ‡ 6:00 pm - "With These Hands" crochet and kitting circle, Newark; 973-424-9555; NewarkLGBTQCenter.org 6:00 pm - My Brother's Keeper game night, Newark; www,njcri.org 7:30 pm - Men’s Living Out group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Gay Men’s Coming Out group, Highland Park; njwarrior@aol.com †
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 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 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 6:30 pm - TransView, Jersey City ‡ 7:30 pm - Tuesday Night Lesbian Connection, Bound Brook;
Every Friday 3:00 pm - Youth Connect, Jersey City ‡ 3:00 pm - WAVE Youth, Ocean Grove; 732-455-3373; qspot.org 6:15 pm - Gay Men's AA, Ocean Grove; 732-455-3373; qspot.org
01 Tue 7:30 pm – LGBT Fellowship, Belleville; 973-751-0616 7:30 pm – Come OUT & Play, Highland Park†
05 Sat 2:30 pm – First & Third for GLBTI Youth, Princeton; 609-6835155; www.HiTOPS.org 8:00 pm – Mix Tape Time Machine Dance, Ocean Grove; Qspot.org 8:30 pm – Selichot, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com
Every Saturday 7:00 - Project Wow! Kiki Function, Newark; www.njcri.org
02 Wed 6:30 pm - Positive People peer support group, Hackensack * 7:30 pm – Jersey Boys of Leather, Highland Park
06 Sun 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
03 Thu 5:30 pm – Hudson County HIV/AIDS Services Planning Council, Jersey City ‡ 7:00 pm –Coffee social, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 7:30 pm – NJ Women Coming Out, Highland Park† 04 Fri 7:00 pm – Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 8:30 pm - Karaoke, Highland Park;†
07 Mon 10:00 am -- Something Positive treatment adherence workshop, Newark; www.njcri.org 07 Mon
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07 Mon 7:00 pm -- Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 7:00 pm - Lesbian Hot Topics, Ocean; schiffman @ rocketmail.com 7:30 pm – Raices Latinas LGBT, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park† 08 Tue 6:00 pm – Queering the Color Line, Princeton# 7:30 pm – Pride Center Board Meeting, Highland Park† 09 Wed 7:00 pm – Book Club, Ocean Grove; Qspot.org 7:30 pm – Wednesday Night Women’s Hang Out, Highland Park† 10 Thu 7:00 pm – Under the Rainbow, Highland Park† 7:30 pm -- PFLAG of North Jersey, South Orange; 908-789-7489; Pflagwaver @ aol.com 7:30 pm -- Alternate Thursdays, Montclair; kjdinkin @ comcast.net 7:30 pm – Kollege of Kink, Highland Park† 8:00 pm – Booked for Supper, Highland Park† 11 Fri 1:00 pm -- Women's support group, Newark; www.njcri.org 4:00 pm -- SPECTRUM youth drop-in, Newark; NewarkLGBTQCenter.org 12 Sat 1:00 pm – Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 1:00 pm – Women of Pride, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm – Men's Movie Social, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Dignity New Brunswick gay Catholic liturgy; 732-968-9263; dignitynb@earthlink.net 13 Sun 2:00 pm – Male Drawing Session, Highland Park† 5:30 pm – Raices Latinas Bingo Night, Highland Park† 6:00 pm – Gay Men’s Classical Song Club, Kingston; pbrown02@worldnet.att.net 14 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 15 Tue 7:30 pm – Caregivers Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm – Lesbian Alliance of Princeton; 609-924-8174; Loisj@msn.com 7:30 pm – Come OUT & Play, Highland Park† 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 8:00 pm – NJ Women, Secaucus; info@njwomen.org 16 Wed 6:30 pm - Positive People peer support group, Hackensack * 7:30 pm – NJ Havurah board meeting, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com
September 2015
7:30 pm - United in Grace discussion/support group, Jersey City; 201-946-0650; greg.perez @ comcast.net17 Thu 7:00 pm – GAAMC board meeting, Morristown; all GAAMC members are invited to attend. 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 18 Fri 7:00 pm – Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:30 pm – NJ Havurah Shabbat; njlgh.onefireplace.com 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 19 Sat 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 20 Sun 4:00 pm – Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-837-4040; Dignitymetronj@msn.com 4:00 pm – TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park† 21 Mon 7:00 pm -- Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New nswick; Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 7:30 pm – Raices Latinas LGBT, Highland Park† 22 Tue 3:30 pm – Sexual Health Drop-In, Princeton# 8:30 pm – Men’s Social Night, Highland Park† 23 Wed 7:00 pm – JCLGO monthly meeting, Jersey City; 201-333-5725; www.jclgo.org 7:00 pm – HIV Testing, Highland Park† 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† 24 Thu 7:00 pm – Under the Rainbow, Highland Park† 25 Fri Noon – Swing FORE Pride Golf Tournament, Annandale† 4:00 pm - SPECTRUM youth drop-in, Newark; 973-424-9555; NewarkLGBTQCenter.org 7:30 pm – Living Soulfully, Highland Park† 26 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 7:30 pm – Our Coming Out Party, Highland Park;† 28 Mon 2:00 pm – HPCC Bi-Lingual Spanish Group, Jersey City‡
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The Soapbox Treasury Notes by Andy Skurna GAAMC’s Board of Trustees has been working very hard for the past several years to find fun, gentle ways of raising funds in an effort to meet expenses. And we have been quite successful. Unlike some other non-profits, we do not receive grant money, and we do not seek out corporate sponsors. We are member-funded and guest-funded, almost exclusively. In a recent examination of our revenue stream, we confirmed that our nest-egg is shrinking, and that we would need to do something to increase our income. We considered several options for improving our solvency, none of which we liked. However, reality has reared its ugly head, and we had to choose an option. The bulk of our income is derived from our weekly, voluntary door donations. We didn’t want to raise these rates, but no one could really remember when they were last raised. Our Archivist, Mickey Suiter, ascended to the GAAMC belfry, rooting through old issues of Challenge and other files to find out that we haven’t increased our suggested door donation in nearly 22 years. That’s right folks -- we haven’t asked for a higher door donation since Bill Clinton first took office, back when GAAMC was still enjoying the afterglow of its twenty-first anniversary. Therefore, we are officially announcing that for the foreseeable future dues will remain unchanged, potluck “foody” socials will remain the same price as “regular” Monday events, and we will remain at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship for at least one more year. However, we will be increasing our voluntary, suggested door donations by one dollar for each type, immediately after our 43rd anniversary on September 11th of this year. Therefore, effective September 14th, 2015, we will begin suggesting door donations as follows: $5 for regular members; $7 for non-members; and $4 for members who are seniors or full-time students. On behalf of the Board of Trustees that serve you, and the community we serve, thank you for your understanding and your co-operation.
KEVIN P. SUSZKO, PC Certified Public Accountant Tax Planning and Preparation Financial Planning Accounting Services Day and evening appointments Offices in New Jersey & NYC 973 – 376 – 4121 P. O. Box 701 Short Hills, NJ 07078 KPSCPA@gmail.com
Bulletin Board The NJ LGBT Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them at three events in September. On September 11 th, there will be a group trip to see the WNBA’s New York Liberty at Madison Square Garden at 7:30 pm. On September 17th, there will be a networking event from 6 to 9 pm at Porta in Asbury Park. Finally, another networking event will take place September 24th from 6 to 9 pm at the Pig and Prince in Princeton. For more information, or to RSVP, go to www.njlgbtchamber.org. 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 at the Hasbrouck Heights Hilton. For more information, go to www.njbuddies.org. Save the date! Gordon Sauer and Javier Montalvo will be hosting another of their renowned fundraising dinners at their home in East Hanover on October 24th! More details are coming, so watch this space for future announcements! 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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September 2015
Police Harrassment, Back Then by Kenn Jones Does anyone remember how the Jefferson police used to harass customers of the Yacht Club (off Rt. 15 in Jefferson)? Back in the 90s, I got pulled over after leaving the Yacht Club. One of the light bulbs in my front headlights went out earlier in the day. When I pulled into the club, the owner warned me about the police. Sure enough, on my way home, I was pulled over. The police spent more time asking where I was and what I was doing than anything else. I asked what that .had to do with my headlight being out and they were not amused. Yes, I got a ticket for "lamp maintenance". I explained that I only found out about the headlight a few hours earlier -- well after any repair shop would have closed. I asked if they would give me time to get the headlight repaired. None of that mattered; they happily gave me a ticket. Since the ticket was for lamp maintenance and I couldn't have fixed the light between the time I found out about it and getting the ticket, I contested the ticket. I sat through a whole night of traffic court. They didn't get to my case so I had to come back the following week. After another long night in court, I was the only one in the court room. My file got wedged between two others. The judge was apologetic and offered to drop my case...but...I wanted to be heard! Yeah, I know; being a militant young gay man, alone in Jefferson in the 90s probably wasn't the best idea. I nervously explained my case and my belief that the police were targeting me because I just came from a gay club. I also explained that it was impossible for me to maintain my headlight since I found out about the problem well after any store had closed. I also explained that I told this to the police and that I asked for time to get the headlight fixed. The judge was nice about it but explained why his hands were tied. Since I needed to be heard and contested the case, I lost and had to pay the $45.00 fine. On my way out, I stopped to pay the ticket. I could hear the cops yucking it up about the "fag" who complained that he was being targeted. Their rhetoric was getting increasing loud and angry. I'm sure it was designed to intimidate me. The reality of being alone in Jefferson with a anti-gay and clearly hostile police force finally sank in. I decided to leave. On my way out, I was involuntarily “escorted” to the town border by a cop car inches from my bumper. Imaes of Meryl Streep being driven off the road in Silkwood ran through my mind…Thankfully, I made it to the border safely but I often wonder what happened to those cops and if they ever repented…
Wondering just what you’ll find when you read Challenge online? Here are a couple of hints: Mark Stein, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News, remembers back to when he was a gay teenager in New York City during those heady times immediately after the Stonewall Riots, and compares some of it to the soon-to-be-released movie, Stonewall Andy Skurna has seen the future, and it is Windows 10. Like everything else new, it has its good points and its bad ones, and Andy’s here to help you steer a path through yet another smooth and easy Microsoft operating system Plus you get to see Challenge in living color (at least, those of its parts that are in color in the first place). How can you resist sneaking a peek? Challenge: The Best Damn Newsletter in New Jersey! ®
September 2015
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GAAMC Board Minutes
GAAMC Board Minutes
June 18, 2015
July 16, 2015
Members: DeLeeuw, Kennedy, Kohn, Lucek, Rase, Schaublin Non-Voting Attendees: Allen Neuner; Antonio; Gordon Sauer; Mickey Suiter
Members: DeLeeuw, Dinkin, Gayle, Kennedy, Kohn, Lucek, Rase, Schaublin, Skurna, Slicer Non-Voting Attendees: Allen Neuner; Gordon Sauer; Mickey Suiter
The meeting was called to order at 7:04
The meeting was called to order at 7:02
The minutes of the May meeting were approved (moved, Schaublin; seconded, Lucek).
The minutes of the June meeting were approved (moved, Dinkin; seconded, Gayle).
Old/Current Business: Details for the Ice Cream Social on July 6th were finalized and reviewed.
Old/Current Business: Membership Committee: Mickey Suiter was appointed Chairman with Kerry Dinkin and Ricky Schaublin as members. The committee’s goal is member renewal; to that end the committee will attempt to contact expired members one month after their expiration date. Board Service 2016: Sherri appealed to all Board members to learn each other’s duties.
New Business: Tee shirts have arrived. Options for lowering the cost of printing Challenge were discussed. The renewal of our lease with MUF will be reviewed by Mickey, John, and Sherri. Reports Treasurer (Andy Skurna): There is a need to tighten our belts in many areas. Challenge (Allen Neuner): The deadline for the Summer issue is June 21st; the deadline for the September issue is August 15th. Webmaster (Andy Skurna Programs (Sherri Rase) Socials (John DeLeeuw) Discussion Group Resources (Gordon Sauer) Development (Gordon Sauer) GAAMC Pride (Mickey Suiter) Ideas and Suggestions: Nick suggested a hiking event on Jul7 18th. A motion to approve passed (moved, Schaublin; seconded, Kennedy) A motion to adjourn was approved (moved, Schaublin; seconded, Kohn) The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.
New Business: Anyone wanting to set up a Meetup that uses the GAAMC name to contact Sherri or Andy; for all Meetups, the Board should be the first point of contact. The door donation was increased $1 across the board (moved, Slicer; seconded Kennedy) effective September 14th (moved,Schaublin; seconded Gayle). Reports Treasurer (Andy Skurna): MUF will be approached to use their copier to produce Challenge. General contributions to GAAMC can now be made on Meetup. Challenge (Allen Neuner): Continuing complimentary subscriptions for organizations was discussed. Reminded the Board that new attendees and guests should be brought to the Front Desk first, and that the Desk can get crowded if people have conversations there after paying. Webmaster (Andy Skurna) Programs (Sherri Rase) Socials (John DeLeeuw): A discussion of food socials was tabled. Discussion Group Resources (Gordon Sauer) Development (Gordon Sauer) Social Action (Gordon Sauer) GAAMC Pride (Mickey Suiter) Save These Dates July 20 – Board Business July 27 – Next Stage Ensemble August 3 – Sing-along The Sound of Music Ideas and Suggestions: cussed.
A membership drive was dis-
A motion to adjourn was approved (moved, Schaublin; seconded, Dinkin) The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.
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Stonewall: Reality vs Fantasy by Mark Segal It’s been amusing and angering watching the debate and suggestion of a boycott over the forthcoming film Stonewall. The reality is that nearly all the people on both sides have one thing in common: They weren’t there. And they are speaking for those who were there, acting as if we are not alive and cannot speak for ourselves. This shows a lack of understanding of our own shared LGBT history.
Michael Lavery and I are the last two members of the Action Group. There are also six original members of Gay Youth New York. Then there are my brothers and sisters in Gay Liberation Front who participated in the riot or, as others in our group labeled it, rebellion. We are all able to speak to the truth or lack thereof of the actions and activism in the film, but as yet you have not heard our voices.
I was the founder of Gay Youth New York, and I was also a member of the Action Group started by Marty Robinson. We were the ones who wrote “Tomorrow Night Stonewall” in chalk on the walls and the street that infamous night. That, along with other factors in New York at the time, led to the formation of Gay Liberation Front, while Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson formed Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, the first trans organization in America. Stonewall's perceived lack of acknowledgment of Rivera's and Johnson's contributions seems to be the central reasoning for a boycott of the film.
Those of us involved at Stonewall, Gay Youth New York, or those first stormy three years of radical activism of Gay Liberation Front and then Gay Activists Alliance — which this film portrays — still debate what actually occurred. We all have our own perspectives. Until he died earlier this year, my close GLF friend Jerry Hoose and I debated it even as we cried on a Skype call moments after President Obama’s now-famous inauguration speech where he mentioned Selma, Seneca Falls, and Stonewall. Those of us in GLF continue to debate what exactly happened, and David Carter ,who wrote one of the most researched books on it, has had to debate his account.
Here’s the simple fact, so simple that it amazes me it has not been made crystal clear and not a point of debate: Once Stonewall was raided and the crowd became angry and it looked as though something might happen, only drag queens, homeless kids, people like me who thought they had no future, and a few activists stuck around. At that time, if you were employed or privileged in any way, you were in the closet — and didn’t want any trouble. So you high-tailed it out of there back to the anonymity of your home.
How radical were we? Harvey Milk was living in New York City at the time and he stayed clear of us. So we in GLF — youth, trans, people of all political spectrums — had a bond. We debated everything, including our identity, which meant a clear discussion of racism and sexism. The only exception was our mutual goal of creating a community. Which means that, even though at times our debate resulted in shouting matches, we still had a special bond.
Marty, of the Action Group, saw the rebellion as an opportunity to galvanize folks; the drag queens and street kids were fighting for their home; and, as for people like me, it made us realize the power of our community and provided a sense of pride that led me to GLF and to create Gay Youth NY. So that is our history, and it's better that you know it regardless of if you want to boycott the film or not. There was another fundamental at play here, and it was a social, economic, and political one. Gay Liberation Front was the first in-your-face LGBT organization, and in 1969 that meant that we were not conformist, and many people stood clear of us and wanted our history to die, especially that history of drag queens and street kids. We were not the image the conformist community wanted. It would take AIDS to get privileged gay white men into activism in large numbers. As for us in Gay Liberation Front, we created the first youth and trans organizations, the first health alerts, the first LGBT community center, and at the end of that first year, many of us worked with Craig Rodwell to create the first Gay Pride march, then called the Christopher Street Liberation Day March.
I understand the people calling for a boycott. They understand that after the demise of GLF and later GAA, trans people were minimized in our community, and they are concerned the film will repeat that. It is possible, but I don’t believe that anyone who does the simplest amount of research would change that part of our history. I’ve been a publisher chronicling our community for 40 years now and am wondering how you can boycott something you haven’t seen and that is a fictional movie based on a true story. If you want to know the facts rather than fiction, read David Carter's book Stonewall or any number of LGBT history books. That's where the truth is, not in your local multiplex.
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Windows Pains by Andy Skurna For any diehard fan or power-user of Microsoft Windows, it is always a bit of a roller coaster ride when a new (significantly changed) operating system (OS) is revealed. In most cases, it includes changes that some of us love, but few of us like having forced on us. Also, if you’ve been around computers for 35 years, like I have (even though I am only 39), you have seen the patterns. Microsoft releases (unleashes) a new OS, and the whole world groans. You can also see how each significant change is really just a massive beta test for another massive redo. These redo’s have been called “Service Packs.” Sometimes the OS is met with such universal ire that the global community will not accept a service pack (patch) and Microsoft is forced to release the patched version of Windows as a new product. One example was Windows Vista. I thought it worked fabulously, and I never had an issue with it. But, the “experts” wouldn’t give it a break, and so when it was time to release the “patch,” it was sold as a brand new product, Windows 7. Like Vista, Windows 7 is extremely stable, and most people and corporate networks really liked it…and still do. Then came Windows 8. In an attempt to follow the examples of all-in-one operating systems that function more like a walled garden, where users give up control and choice for the privilege of not thinking about what they are doing. Windows 8 (Home, Pro and 8.1 for mobile devices) brought in great “live tiles” that filled your start menu will all kinds of useless dynamic content such as photo slideshows, notifications from your favorite social media outlets, news, weather from a crappy source, quick links to the handful of Windows 8 compatible games, etc. Early this year Microsoft announced they were releasing the “service pack” (or patch, a.k.a. first significant tweak) for Windows 8. The way they did it was quite sneaky. They sent out a simple, tiny little “recommended update” as part of their monthly Windows Updates. The update’s description was extremely vague. Most people simply installed it. OOPS! This update is known as “KB3035583.” Once installed, KB3035583 placed a small Windows icon in the notifications area of your taskbar. And every now and then a pop would say that Windows 10 was coming and that you could reserve your free upgrade, available 7/29/15. About a week and a half into the rollout, anyone who installed the update known as KB3035583, whether you reserved a copy of Windows 10 or not, had your machines taken over by Windows Update as it downloaded the new OS, then tried to automatically install itself, again and again and again. In the limited number of computers I’ve seen, it has yet to succeed at doing anything more than hogging resources and drive users to call me and ask if they have a virus, or if they need to buy a new system. The answer is “No.” You can regain control of your computing life. To stop the insanity takes a bit of doing. And, if you are not comfortable, please seek the help of a professional. But, if you know your way around, here are the steps.
1.
Go to your Start menu and scroll to or search for Windows Update 2. Open Windows Update 3. Click on Installed Updates (lower right corner under “See Also”) 4. After the list populates and the green progress bar stops 5. Search for kb3035583 (you may enter this in the search bar in the upper right side of Windows Update) 6. After the list is shown, click on that update (there should be only one) then, 7. Click Uninstall in the blue bar above the update (not “Uninstall a program” in the left navigation window) 8. Once completed, you will have to restart your computer several times to make the new Windows Upgrade icon (four little white squares) disappear from the notification area of the taskbar on the bottom 9. Once you have done this, and the icon is finally gone, go back to Windows Update and check for updates. If you see KB3035583 back on the list, right click on it and then left click “Hide update.” 10. Install all other critical updates, and any optional/recommended updates you choose. If you already had Windows 8 or 8.1, you may want to upgrade to Windows 10. The primary changes include: 1. Moving that horrible (IMHO) Start menu screen back nested within the Desktop, back where the Start menu used to be, and belongs. In Windows 10, you will have to completely redesign your Start menu and reorganize your live tiles, since Mr. Softie generously populates his live tiles with revenue generating links. 2. Internet Explorer has vanished, and has been replace with Edge, a completely Bing-centric (obsessed) browser that allows you to more easily share articles and posts, to annotate online documents and websites, to better organize bookmarks for future reading, etc. if any of that matters to you. 3. In Windows 10, Microsoft introduces Cortana, a virtual assistant that will learn and share every detail of your life with Microsoft. Sure, you can ask it anything. You may even converse with it. But, it only works if you give Microsoft (and Cortana) complete access to all your data: every file, contact, email, GPS coordinates, purchase history, photos, etc. 4. If you use a third-party security solution, there is a good chance Microsoft will shut it off and force Windows Defender on you. If you have a touchscreen computer and/or you have been using Windows 8, this upgrade makes sense for you. If you are happy with Windows 7, and/or don’t have a touchscreen, it doesn’t really improve anything, as far as I can tell. If you are a GAAMC member in good standing, you may ask for additional help or details by sending an email to Webmaster@GAAMC.org.
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September 2015
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