Two months worth of everything worth doing! See "Calendar", page 7
CHALLENGE The Newsletter of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County – Serving New Jersey’s GLBTI Communities Since 1972
Volume 37, Issue 6, Summer 2011
Courageous Leaders by Mickey Suiter
Lately I’ve been feeling more than a bit impatient and frustrated with our political leaders. I keep reading polls that show more and more Americans are supporting our rights on various issues, yet we don’t seem to be attaining many legislative victories. In my early years as an activist I prided myself on my patience and ‘maturity’ in acknowledging that gaining our rights would not happen overnight, but it’s beginning to seem a ridiculously long time to me. Growing up in the turmoil of the sixties, I admired politicians of both parties who took courageous stands on controversial civil rights issues. I’ve sometimes wondered where their counterparts are today. So, in comparing those times with today, I did a little research into public opinion polls taken then and now. The results surprised me. In 1954, when the Supreme Court issued its landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling ordering the end of segregation in schools, a Gallup poll showed the public approved of the decision by a 55-40 percent margin. Ten years later, when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, public approval was 62 percent. In spite of a majority of Americans supporting these decisions, they were still very controversial and politicians who supported them were considered courageous. Compare that with today’s Gallup polls on LGBT issues. In 2008, the public approved equal employment rights for gays by an 89-8 margin. And yet ENDA, the bill that would make that federal law, has been stalled in Congress since then. In December 2010, the month that legislation repealing "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" was passed by Congress, a Gallup poll showed that Americans favored the right for gays to serve openly in the military by a 67-28 margin. Yet the Republican majority in the House is still trying to slow down repeal. And in May 2011, a Gallup poll showed that for the first time a majority of Americans supported (53-45) gay marriage equality. But we all know that a repeal of DOMA is going nowhere in Congress. So it looks like our so-called leaders have almost always been followers. Why is it so hard for politicians to support an idea that already has the support of the public? Part of it, in the case of LGBT rights, is age. Polls show that younger people are far more likely to support our cause than older people. And most political leaders are older. But another reason is that those who oppose civil rights, now and in the past, are more vocal and vehement about it than those who support equality, hiding the reality of majority support.
Many Republican Congressmen, including Morris County’s own Rodney Frelinghuysen, have expressed support for ENDA in the past, yet they are not pressing their party leadership on the issue. And that’s as much our fault as theirs. We haven’t been pushing them on our issues. We haven’t been showing them that supporting us would not be a risky act of political courage, but one of common sense and doing what their constituents want. And some Democrats are just as bad, giving lip service to our cause while actually doing nothing to change the status quo. We have to tell them that words are not enough, that only action on our behalf will earn our gratitude and support. Politicians want to be safe while appearing courageous. It’s up to us to show them they can do both while supporting our goals. There are always going to be those who oppose us on philosophical, moral or religious grounds. We have little hope in changing their minds. But there are others who are just afraid to stick their necks out and support us. They are the ones who we have to convince that being courageous won’t end their careers.
Inside Challenge Challenge Information.... ................................ page 2 GAAMC Events.............................................. page 2 The Bulletin Board......................................... page 3 This Month's Contributors................................ page 3 Getting Personal............................................ page 3 Gleanings: Queer news from around the world .... page 4 Dancing to Architecture music reviews............... page 5 Poetry: Three Days in July............................... page 6 Calendar ..................................................... page 7 Activism Update .......................................... page 10 My 2011 AIDS Walkathon Reflections................. page 10 10 Anti-Gay Myths Debunked, part 2................. page 12 Telling Our Stories........................................ page 12 Dylan, at the 11th Hour .................................. page 14 Good Eats! recipes....................................... page 15 GAAMC Information...................................... page 16
Page 2 CHALLENGE Summer 2011 CHALLENGE Volume 37, Number 6 Summer 2011 ISSN 0277-1675 Staff Editor .....................Allen Neuner Assistant Editor ............. Bill Stella Advertising Manager ............. open Circulation Manager ............. open List Manager ................ Sue Harris Submissions The deadline for all articles, inserts, and advertisements is the fifteenth of the previous month. All submissions must be provided as electronic files. E-mail 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 at Challenge @ GAAMC.org. GAAMC members may place one free classified ad per month, of no more than 200 characters in length. Change of Address Please let us know your new address! All address changes should be sent to the List Manager at ChangeAddress @ GAAMC.org. Challenge is © 2011-2012 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.
GAAMC Events Every Monday OpenTalk Discussion Group: A regular weekly discussion group, open to all. Moderators: Elias (July 4, 25; August 1, 22, 29); Kerry (July 11; August 15); Sherri (July 18); Gordon (August 8). 7:00, Library Main Events July 4: What could be better than joining your GAAMC friends on a hot day for something cool? Our Ice Cream Social is a real treat! Plan to join us for some cool summer sweetness! July 11: It's a special presentation by New Jersey director Sean Pollock of a new dance performance. 10 dancers and you in the Terrace Room – don’t miss it! July 18 & 25 – Marriage equality is all over the news and GAAMC presents a two-part talk-back for a brand new play, Welcome to Canada! Canada has had marriage equality for some time and sets the tone for less forward-looking nations. July 18 will be a reading of Act 1; July 25 will do the same for Act 2. Playwright Grace Wessbecher has put her work into our hands – come forward and help make great New Jersey theatre! August 1 – The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Next Stage Ensemble's annual GAAMC performance will be Moliere’s Tartuffe! If you don’t know Moliere, his writings of the foibles of his fellow man are just as fresh now as they were when the ink was still wet more than 350 years ago. Make your reservations now – tickets are only $10 for everyone to see tomorrow’s theatre stars today! August 8 – GAAMC’s Film Festival brings one of the freshest films for summer, even 20 years after its initial release – join us for Fannie Flagg’s mistress-piece, Fried Green Tomatoes! Discussion to be held after the film. August 15 – Martin Foster Swinger Live! Martin is a gifted singer-songwriter whose songs will pierce your heart and leave you begging for more. This special engagement is first come first served, so don’t be locked out! Martin will have copies of his new CD, M O O N, available for purchase and autographing. August 22 – Former Petty Officer Phillip Zimmerman recounts his memories, fears, and experiences, from a painfully lonely life as a teenager in Philadelphia to his meteoric rise as one of the most competent and capable Arabic and Farsi crypto-linguists in the Naval Security Group and the destructive end of a promising career due to "don't ask, don't tell". This is one man's story about proudly serving his nation while coming to terms with a deep secret about who and what he really is. August 29 – Computers Made Easy: Andy Skurna, proprietor and principle of F1 Experts, provides knowledge and a depth of experience in computer and web knowledge that sheds light on the most complex issues. Learn what you need, and what you don’t need, as you consider sourcing your next computer. Coming This Fall! September 5 – Labor Day Cookout! GAAMC’s cherished tradition of end-of-summer cookouts continues! We provide hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers and the like; you bring what you’re most famous for at your family BBQs! Let our Social Committee know what you have in store, by dropping them a line at Socials @ GAAMC.org or see Charlie Murphy on Monday nights. September 12 – GAAMC celebrates 39 years of activism! We’ve come a long way, baby, and we’ve still got miles to go before LGBTI people are fully equal. GAAMC celebrates its “Jack Benny Birthday” with a presentation by our Archive Committee – wow, did we really look like that? You bet! And our work goes on! [Note: All programs and discussion groups are subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, go to GAAMC.org]
Summer 2011 CHALLENGE Page 3
The Bulletin Board The Theater Project, the company that entertained GAAMC regulars with a sample of their talents in May, has to find a new venue in which to perform. To that end, they will be hosting Sing for Your Supper, a fundraiser for their relocation, at the Garlic Rose Bistro in Cranford, June 28th at 6:30. The Theater Project has been entertaining playgoers in northern New Jersey for the past 17 years, and now they need your help. Dinner, cash bar, and songs and stories from the company's roster of singers and actors make for an evening you won't want to miss! For reservations, contact BrownPaperTickets.com, or call 800-838-3006. RU Pride, the GLBT group at Rutgers-Newark, announces a course that is of interest to all members of the GLBT community! This three-credit course, entitled Gay and Lesbian History, investigates the historical development and formation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and transsexual communities, stretching from their origins in urban enclaves of "vice" at the end of the nineteenth century to the present movement for marriage equality and the increased acceptance of LGBT people today. The course runs Mondays through Thursdays, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, starting July 11th. For more information, check out summer.newark.rutgers.edu. GAAMC invites you to join us and our friends from Alternate Thursdays, Morris County NOW, NAACP Morris C o u n t y Branch, RU Pride, the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, and many others for two nights of extreme WNBA action at the Prudential Center in Newark! On Saturday, July 30th, cheer on the NY Liberty as they take on the Phoenix Mercury. Then on Sunday, September 4th, the Liberty face off against the Minnesota Lynx. Tickets are FREE, but you must reserve your seats by using the form on GAAMC.org's Upcoming Programs page: www.gaamc.org/programs.html. Hudson Pride Connections Center reminds you all to save the date — August 27th — for this year's Hudson Pride LGBT Festival and Parade, with the theme "Do Ask! Do Tell!" They're back at their usual location at Exchange Place, on the Jersey City waterfront, with convenient access to PATH and the HudsonBergen Light Rail line. As usual, there'll be plenty of food, entertainment, and marketplace vendors! The event runs from noon until 7 pm. Mark your calendars now! Gayoutdoors.org (GO) has several special events planned for the summer. At this time they are as follows: in July, a tour of Craftsman Farms and the Gastuv Stickley Museum in Morris Plains, NJ, followed by lunch at a local restaurant; in August, wet, wet, wet water tubing on the Delaware River in Pt. Pleasant, PA, followed by dinner in the New Hope area; and in September, a hike and picnic at Spruce Run Park in Clinton, NJ. Dates and details will be posted at gayoutdoors.org. Be sure to sign up online with
GO — a membership to get invitations and sign up for events is free. So come on, join in, meet new guys from the tri-state area, make new friends, and enjoy the lazy hazy days of summer with us all. You can also contact Ed Schell, who has been planning and hosting the New Jersey GO events, at Ed @ sche357@aol.com.
This Month's Contributors Dustin Lance Black is the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Milk. (pg. 12) Paul Greenberg is a member of GAAMC. (pg. 10) Charlie Murphy is chairman of the Social Committee. (pg. 15) Tammy Probst-Smith is Foster Coordinator for Eleventh Hour Rescue, a not for profit 501(c)3 that rescues dogs at the “eleventh hour”—when they are set to be put to sleep by shelters who can no longer care for them. Eleventh Hour Rescue’s mission is to save the lives of homeless dogs and giving them a second chance at the life they deserve. We have a strict no-kill policy. We are thankful for the compassion and generosity of others. We encourage like minded individuals to join us. Donate to help us continue our mission. Get active. Save a life. Volunteer. www.ehrdogs.org (pg.14) Tony Puma: A career in sales/marketing/advertising and public relations influences his poetry style: less abstract and more to-the-point. Degrees from New York University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. A member of various poetry groups including Italian-American Writers Association, Red Wheel Barrow Poets, Paulinskill Poetry Project, Poets House (NYC), South Mountain Poets, and Hudson Valley Poets-on- the-Loose. A view of life through the prism of poetry; seeing, hearing, and feeling, trying to capture emotions and relate them via words. (pg. 6) Evelyn Schlatter and Robert Steinback are researchers and authors in the field of sexuality and civil rights whose articles have frequently appeared in Intelligence Report, the newsletter of the Sothern Poverty Law Center. (pg. 12) Bill Realman Stella writes Dancing to Architecture because writing about music is like that. He hosted the eclectic pop music show Highest Common Denominator in his mind for twenty years before getting it on the radio for six, and will host it again. Bill has been collecting music since age 4, when for each song he'd hear on the radio, he'd ask his mom, "Do they have a record?" Making a record good enough to play on the radio remains a small miracle after all these years. If you'd like Bill to write, DJ, or promote for you, get in touch. Comments and suggestions also welcome. Visit http://HowToFindTheBestMusic.blogspot.com or write bearealman @ gmail.com. (pg. 5)
Getting Personal Seeking employment in the field of development/fund-raising, emphasis on event planning. Experienced professional looking for work in New Jersey or Manhattan. Contact Allen at 908-252-9303. To rent: First floor of furnished Dover house: bedroom, living room, kitchen, bath, laundry. Driveway. $1200/month +utilities. Call Sue at 908-581-0098.
Page 4 CHALLENGE Summer 2011
Gleanings
Queer news from around the world The New York State Senate voted to pass a marriage equality bill, by a vote of 33 to 29. Before that, the Senate passed an amendment to the bill expanding exemptions for religion-owned corporations by a vote of 36 to 26. The bill was almost immediately signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) and will take effect in 30 days. This makes New York the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriages, and the second to do so without being ordered by the courts. (Chicago Tribune) New Jersey State Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D), the state's only openly gay legislator, has introduced a bill that would establish legal marriage for same-sex couples, but some believe the state's courts are a better bet to win marriage equality. Even if it made it through the state Legislature, critics contend a marriage equality bill would likely be blocked by Gov. Chris Christie's veto. (The StarLedger, Newark) New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) said that his failure to support a marriage equality bill in 2009 was the single biggest mistake of his legislative career, and vowed never to repeat it. "I made a decision based purely on political calculations ... I failed in my responsibility as majority leader of this house of government to actually lead," Sweeney said. (Philly.com) The US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California issued an opinion stating the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates a legally married California gay couple's constitutional rights of equal protection under the law. The opinion was applied to a case involving two men whose joint bankruptcy filing was rejected by the federal government because they were not considered married under federal law. (Metro Weekly, Washington DC) Chief Judge James Ware, of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California, this week rejected a challenge to a judge's decision to strike down Proposition 8. Judge Ware asserted that Judge Vaughn Walker’s 10year relationship with another man did not disqualify him from deciding the case, since there was no evidence that Judge Vaughn Walker intended to marry his longtime partner. Ware called the case the first in which a judge’s same-sex relationship led to an effort to disqualify him. However, he cited other decisions that allowed female judges to rule on gender discrimination cases. (The New York Times) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will add questions to federal health surveys that will enable the department to collect health data on LGBT Americans, according to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Right now we are looking at developing a slew of questions, market-
testing them, coming back and making sure we have the right way to solicit the information that we need," Sebelius said. (Washington Blade) Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) has introduced a bill in Congress that would erase the tax penalty for couples who take advantage of employer-provided health benefits for their same-sex partners. McDermott said the measure, which has both Democratic and Republican sponsors, could be considered as part of a larger tax bill. (Washington Blade) House Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) insistence on defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court is busting his budget, according to a complaint filed by a government watchdog group. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics alleges that Boehner directed payment of $500,000 to the law firm selected to defend DOMA. (Advocate.com) The Obama administration issued new Medicaid policy guidelines informing states that they can offer their own protections to prevent same-sex couples from losing their homes when one partner needs to use Medicaid services. While the protections are not required, the guidelines open the door for states — particularly those who recognize same-sex unions — to have a policy or rule not to pursue liens when the same-sex spouse or domestic partner of the Medicaid beneficiary continues to lawfully reside in the home. (ThinkProgress.org) Recent U.S. Census data show that about a quarter of gay and lesbian couples are raising children -- a much higher number than many realize, according to LGBT advocates. "This is the first time [census data] accurately reflects families that have always been there," said Stuart Gaffney of Marriage Equality USA. (ABC News) U.S. District Judge John Coughenour ruled this week that the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance has a First Amendment right to limit the number of heterosexual players on a team. Three men claimed in a lawsuit that their team’s second-place finish in the 2008 tournament in Washington state was nullified because they are bisexual, not gay, and thus their team exceeded the limit of two non-gay players. The judge did say that questions remain about the way the softball association applied its rule, and so the case can proceed. (The Washington Post) (continued on page 11)
Summer 2011 CHALLENGE Page 5
Dancing To Architecture™
Music Reviews & News with a Queer Ear by Bill Realman Stella
You hold in your hands or have on screen the Summer Issue of GAMMC's Challenge and Dancing To Architecture's Guide to the Best of the Year-So-Far 2011 Edition (First Annual) Years after deciding to produce an annual year-end issue (and after working to produce the ultimate Best of the Year wrap-up for a few years now but falling short of my own expectations), it's time to spread the wealth around and make a mid-year, noncomprehensive overview of some of the best music of 2011 so far. Due to limited print space, only a relative few albums will be described; most albums will only be listed. Some albums reviewed in Dancing To Architecture in recent issues of Challenge will note this, for example: "See DTA Jan". Every album will be linked to places to sample songs online. Look at 'm all: It's a lot of albums, right? All cream.
8in8: Amanda Palmer, Ben Folds, Neil Gaiman & Damian Kulash ~ Nighty Night Adele ~ 21 21 will probably stand as the most satisfying sophomore release of the year — or perhaps in years. "Rolling In The Deep" proves the "Chasing Pavements" was no fluke concordance of singer, producer and songwriter.
John Ageborn ~ Casablanca Nights
Superlative music for moving bodies, whether at the beach, in the club or in your undies. Infinitely danceable, with enough turns and transitions to spin in its entirety without giving away that it's all under Ageborn's name. And it engages the imagination, too, as much as it leaves one occasionally breathless with peerless soft/strong vocals and definitively in-the-pocket grooves.
Gregg Allman ~ Low Country Blues
Like Robert Plant and Eric Clapton, Allman is a Rock guitar god who has learned how to find new territory to explore, and create new music with grace as elders of the tribe.
Dave Alvin ~ Eleven Eleven
A vocal delivery that crosses Leonard Cohen's sophistication with Johnny Cash's American South, backed up by plenty of slide guitar and butt-shakin' Rockabilly, Bo Diddley and Two-Step rhythms.
The Antlers ~ Burst Apart The Aquabats! ~ Hi Five Soup! Q Architecture In Helsinki ~ Moment Bends Art Brut ~ Brilliant! Tragic! Richard Ashcroft ~ The United Nations of Sound Nicole Atkins ~ Mondo Amore Geoff Baker ~ Where Are You Now?
staunchly creative Bounce community. Proponents of the genre are an accurate representation of the diverse NOLA populace at large: rich, poor, famous, unheard of, stark and serious or tongue-incheek. New Orleans will be heard."
Spencer Bohren ~ Blackwater Music
From the amazing Threadhead Records label of New Orleans. Listen at ThreadheadRecords.bandcamp.com.
Q Justin Vivian Bond ~ Dendrophile
The Kiki half of the performance duo Kiki and Herb, Justin's relaunches his solo career with this fine album of originals and covers.
Q original cast ~ The Book of Mormon
An album I honestly believe it'd be better to listen to in its entirety only after seeing the show. But it's harmless to preview "Hello" and "I Believe" first.
Bright Eyes ~ The People's Key Kate Bush ~ Director's Cut Cage The Elephant ~ Thank You, Happy Birthday Laura Cantrell ~ Kitty Wells Dresses: Songs of the Queen of Country Music Hayes Carll ~ Kmag Yoyo (& Other American Stories) Dennis Coffey ~ Dennis Coffey
The producer/guitarist behind 70s hits like "Taurus" takes on CeeLo Green, plays host to the Bell Rays' great Lisa Kekaula and ties present-day Retro Funk to its roots.
Andrea Corr ~ Lifelines Cut Copy ~ Zonoscope Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr ~ It's A Corporate World Dananananaykroyd ~ There Is A Way Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi ~ Rome
The sound of the Spaghetti Western soundtrack revived, with Jack White and Norah Jones vocals. If you're too cool for school, this may be your fave set of the moment. If you're most people, then, Seriously: They went out and found the original Italian musicians from the film scores for these sessions.
Anthony David ~ As Above, So Below Dawes ~ Nothing Is Wrong Decemberists ~ The King Is Dead Q Deep Dark Robot ~ 8 Songs About A Girl
Linda Perry's gift for being open-hearted is an absolute favorite of 2011.
Deerhoof ~ Deerhoof Vs Evil Q Tim Dillinger ~ Gospel
Last year I repeatedly mentioned the forthcoming album by Soulkiss, the Out, R&B vocal trio. It is coming, I'm told, for real, but the trio has disbanded. Meanwhile, Tim Dillinger of Soulkiss is releasing — no, he's giving away — his older music on the web, including Gospel, an EP-length declaration of his love of God and the joy and peace that comes to him from knowing God loves him, Out Gay Man Former NJ urban Folk Rocker, current college professor and all. All that gets me to musing… and "California-based singer/songwriter Geoff Baker was You know that cliché "God loves those who help themborn in Los Angeles and raised all over the place. At the age of 14, selves"? I've been thinking a lot lately of all the utterly out of this he borrowed a guitar and never really gave it back. He likes his world, hard-working, self-sufficient, Out, Gay recording artists who dreams impossible, his drinks neat, his tunes a little bit catchy, don't make a living in music because of the scant size of a dedicated and his lyrics a little bit poisonous." His ReverbNation Profile is at : fan base. The list of Out musicians who've made superlative albums www.reverbnation.com/geoffbaker that were largely ignored is too long, and shameful. Here's just those Balkans ~ Balkans that first come to mind: Micah Barnes | Reuben Butchart | Tim Battles ~ Gloss Drop Dillinger / Soulkiss | Robert German | ing | Linda Lavner | Doria Beady Eye ~ Different Gear, Still Speeding Roberts | Romanovsky & Phillips | Sacha Sacket | Martin Swinger | Most of the British band Oasis (adored as if Mark Weigle | Y'all — every one a Q they were the Beatles of their time) split to LITTLE BOX OF CONCERTS™ To my mind, music as good as theirs deserves far become BDI, er, Beady Eye. They're in every far better. Most of these artists can't afford to way superior to Oasis. (Shut up, Oasis fans.) give even part-time attention to music careers. MARTIN SWINGER Except that they're older and wiser, which <sarThey either limit their music making to labors-ofSunday, August 14, 5-7PM casm> is of course a liability. love or have dropped out of making music altoCarmel Retreat, 1071 Ramapo Valley Rd gether. I urge you as strongly as I can to take a Bell X1 ~ Bloodless Coup Mahwah, NJ 201-327-7090 chunk out of your day and scour the web for Beyoncé ~ 4 $30 dinner & show or $15 show websites, for videos, for podcasts that include Compellingly human, large-scale anthems of love and fidelity. And girl power — plenty of girl "My first concert at Carmel Retreat, a non- anything that remains of the music these folks denominational spiritual Center, a beautiful, made. It's worth it. power. peaceful setting!" Q Beth Ditto ~ Beth Ditto EP
Q Big Freedia ~ Big Freedia EP
From her website: "Big Freedia, the reigning queen of the rich New Orleans Bounce music scene, is releasing her debut EP. [It] will mark a turning point in the relatively marginalized yet
Dolorean ~ The Unfazed
Monday, August 15, 8 PM, Drive-By Truckers ~ Go-Go Boots GAAMC's featured program The Dwarves ~ Are Born Again Morristown Unitarian Fellowship (continued on page 13) 21 Normandy Heights Rd Morristown NJ $6 for non-members, $4 for members. M O O N will be available for sale.
Page 6 CHALLENGE Summer 2011
THREE DAYS IN JULY by Tony Puma
JULY 3RD (DAY 1) I am Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Not really. My summer reading brought me to mid-nineteenth century America
REBELLION. Teenage testosterone and power personified. Rebelling against authority, just what this day is all about. How we rationalized this deadly firework.
I want to be Tom, with a pocket-ful of trinkets, hood-winking my friends into doing my chores.
But, oh man, the noise, the light, this singular event, this celebration.
I want to be Huck, and raft the Mississippi living one adventure after another.
I awaken to the “American Dream.” Up early, to go with my father to his fish store, a place where old-world Sicily and Russia meet on Amboy Street in Brooklyn.
So, in mid-twentieth century America, I set out on my own journey. Destination: Chinatown. Objective: Fireworks. My raft: The A-train. Walking aimlessly through the sweated streets of Canal, Elizabeth, the Bowery. Familiar sights and sounds and smells of Little Italy, mixed with the exotic air of Chinatown. Strangers and strange places encountered. But, I finally get what I came for: Fireworks. My friends ask, “Tom, where were you?” “Chinatown.” My parents ask, “Huck, Where have you been all day?” “Nowhere.” I go to bed, reliving the adventures of Tom and Huck. 4th OF JULY (DAY 2) Cherry Bombs laid fuse to orb in red box. Finger-losing faux-Cherries, whose singular blast reverberates through the physical and spiritual self. LAY ON GROUND. LIGHT FUSE. RUN. These simple instructions were rarely followed. These cherries were not sedentary objects. HOLD IN HAND. LIGHT FUSE. THROW. Thrown against a wall, into a garbage can, and, sometimes, down a gutter sewer.
JULY 5TH (DAY 3)
The store with its saw-dust on the floor, absorbing light as a backdrop to the silvery reflections of fish on-ice and the odor of shredded wood and sea-water. Kosher butcher is on other side of the store. Live poultry in back storage area, wafting sounds and smells into the main store. Sons of the Fishman, and sons of the Butcher play and work in this house of lively creatures, alien to our everyday lives on Brooklyn streets. None would follow in their fathers’ ancient trade. ©T.Puma/MMXI
Summer 2011 CHALLENGE Page 7
July/August 2011 Calendar Recurring Contact Information
* Hackensack Peer Support Groups: 800-508-7577; www.njbuddies.org † Pride Center, Highland Park: 732-846-2232; www.pridecenter.org ‡ Hudson Pride Connections Center: 201-963-4779; HudsonPride.org λ LGBT Center Rainbow Lounge, Princeton: www.princeton.edu/lgbt ♦ Jersey Shore Q-Spot, Asbury Park: www.jsqspot.org Monday – Friday 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 Every Monday 10:30 am - The Wellness Community, Newark; 973-565-0300; info @ hyacinth.org 7:00 pm - GAAMC, Morristown (see page 2) 7:00 pm - Bowling, Union; merenl @ comcast.net 7:30 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 7:30 pm - Overeaters Anonymous, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Stitch n B*tch, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Bowling, Green Brook; 732-388-3548; qcrollers @ aol.com Every Tuesday 12:30 pm - The Wellness Community, Newark; 973-565-0300; info @ hyacinth.org 3:00 pm - Youth Connect, Jersey City‡ 4:00 pm - Treatment Adherence Support Group, Jersey City; 201-432-1134; info @ hyacinth.org 6:00 pm - Transview, Jersey City‡ 7:30 pm - Tuesday Night Lesbian Connection, Bound Brook; 908-791-3764 7:30 pm - Men’s HIV support group, Asbury Park; 732-775-5084; apstillpoz @ yahoo.com 7:30 pm - Positive Yoga, Hackensack* 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
July 01 Fri 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:00 pm - Under the Rainbow, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Karaoke Party, Highland Park† 02 Sat 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 03 Sun 1:00 pm - Rainbow Book Group, Jersey City‡ 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 04 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 8:00 pm - A Night Out, Highland Park†
Every Wednesday 10:30 am - The Wellness Community, Jersey City; 201-432-1134; info @ hyacinth.org 2:00 pm - "Generation Q", WRSU 88.7 FM; wrsu.org 3:00 pm - Youth Connect, Jersey City‡ 6:00 pm - Positive People peer support group, Hackensack* 7:30 pm - Men’s Living Out group, Highland Park; njwarrior @ aol.com† 7:30 pm - Gay Men’s Coming Out group, Highland Park; pdumpert @ gmail.com† Every Thursday 11:30 am - Living Beyond, Jersey City‡ 6:00 pm - Pride Thursdays, Hard Grove Cafe Bar, Jersey City; jclgo.org 6:00 pm - Our Youth weekly support group, Jersey City; www.myspace.com/our_youth 6:30 pm - Double Jeopardy peer support group, Hackensack* 6:30 pm - Living Beyond HIV Men's peer support groups, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - C.R.A.V.E., Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - Sexual Assault Survivor Support, Princeton; www.hitops.org 7:00 pm - Weigh-Lez, Asbury Park♦ 7:30 pm - Rainbows on Cleveland Street, Orange; 973-256-5936; rbowsoncleveland @ aol.com 7:30 pm - Writers group, Highland Park† Every Friday 3:00 pm - Youth Connect, Jersey City‡ Every Sunday 10:00 am - MCC of Christ the Liberator, Highland Park; mccliberator @ excite.com† Noon - St. Francis of Assisi Church, Glen Ridge; 973-731-7765; stfrancisnj.org 2:30 pm - Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church, Newark; 973-621-2100 05 Tue 4:00 pm - HIV Testing & Needle Exchange, Jersey City‡ 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, New Brunswick; www.gpbn.net 7:00 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - LGBT Fellowship, Belleville; 973-751-0616 06 Wed 7:00 pm - House party, Hazlet; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers 7:30 pm - Gay Dad’s discussion group, Highland Park† 07 Thu 7:30 pm - Coffee Night, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 08 Fri 7:30 pm - Dowsing for Expanded Awareness, Highland Park† 09 Sat 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Movie Social, Highland Park†
Page 8 CHALLENGE Summer 2011 09 Sat 7:30 pm - Dignity New Brunswick gay Catholic liturgy; 732968-9263; dignitynb @ earthlink.net 10 Sun 6:00 pm - Gay Men’s Classical Song Club, Kingston; pbrown02 @ worldnet.att.net 11 Mon 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Morris County, Mendham; 973-727-5288; pflag.morris @ verizon.net 7:30 pm - PFLAG, Princeton; 609-663-5155; www.pflagprinceton.org 12 Tue 7:30 pm - Bisexual Social Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PCNJ Board of Trustees meeting, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Yoga for Men, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Men's Social Night, Highland Park† 13 Wed 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, Asbury Park; www.gpbn.net 6:00 pm - North Jersey Prime Timers' monthly meetup, Little Falls; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers 7:30 pm - TGLCA monthly meeting, Trenton; 609-396-9788; tglca @ aol.com 9:00 pm - Dine with Pride, Metuchen ; jennifer.horsey @ cit.com 14 Thu Noon - Booked for Lunch, Highland Park† 6:30 pm - Volunteer orientation, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - Qspot Book Club, Point Pleasant♦ 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 - AVER-Veterans and Friends Group, Highland Park† 15 Fri 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:00 pm - NJ Furries Art Workshop, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Support Group for Parents of LGBTIQ Youth/Young Adults, Highland Park† 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 (sign-up begins 7:30); outoftheboxinfo @ mac.com 16 Sat 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; 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 7:00 pm - Games Night + Dessert, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - LGBTQ Youth Prom, Jersey City‡ 17 Sun 10:00 am - Family Beach Day, Asbury Park; www.rainbowfamiliesnj.org 11:00 am - Family Friendly Pool Party, Millstone; njlgh.onefireplace.com 1:00 pm - Barb-Qspot, Asbury Park♦ 4:00 pm - Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-837-4040; Dignitymetronj @ msn.com 4:00 pm - TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park† 4:30 pm - Torah Queeries, Highland Park† 18 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 8:00 pm - LGBT Activist Forum, Highland Park†
19 Tue 4:00 pm - HIV Testing & Needle Exchange, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Lesbian Alliance of Princeton; 609-924-8174; Loisj @ msn.com 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Hunterdon County, Flemington; 908-752-1370; pflaghc @ yahoo.com 8:00 pm - PFLAG of Bergen County, Paramus; 201-287-0318; www.bergenpflag.org 8:00 pm - NJ Women, Secaucus; info @ njwomen.org 20 Wed 7:30 pm - United in Grace discussion/support group, Jersey City; 201-946-0650; greg.perez @ comcast.net 7:30 pm - Chilltown open mic night, Jersey City‡ 8:00 pm - Havurah board meeting, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 21 Thu 7:00 pm - GAAMC board meeting, Morristown; All GAAMC members are invited to attend. 6:30 pm - Pride planning meeting, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - GLSEN Training, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - NJ Women Coming Out Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Northwest NJ, Sparta; 973-729-9909 22 Fri 11:00 am - Oneida campground, New Milford, PA; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers 1:00 pm - Women With Voices, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - Rock Hero, Highland Park† 23 Sat 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 2:00 pm - Youth Support Group, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Gay Bowling, Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park; 732-776-6160 7:00 pm - Games Night & Dessert Party, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Men's Potluck Dinner, Highland Park† 25 Mon 8:30 pm - Meditation Group, Highland Park† 26 Tue 7:30 pm - Yoga for Men, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Men's Social, Highland Park† 27 Wed 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, Asbury Park; www.gpbn.net 30 Sat 7:00 pm - NY Liberty basketball, Newark; www.gaamc.org (see Bulletin Board, pg. 3) August 01 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 8:00 pm - A Night Out, Highland Park† 02 Tue 4:00 pm - HIV Testing & Needle Exchange, Jersey City‡ 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, New Brunswick; www.gpbn.net 7:00 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - LGBT Fellowship, Belleville; 973-751-0616 03 Wed 7:30 pm - Gay Dad’s discussion group, Highland Park†
Summer 2011 CHALLENGE Page 9 04 Thu 7:30 pm - Coffee Night, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com
8:00 pm - NJ Women, Secaucus; info @ njwomen.org
05 Fri 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:00 pm - Under the Rainbow, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Karaoke Party, Highland Park†
17 Wed 7:30 pm - United in Grace discussion/support group, Jersey City; 201-946-0650; greg.perez @ comcast.net 7:30 pm - Chilltown open mic night, Jersey City‡ 8:00 pm - Havurah board meeting, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com
06 Sat 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 07 Sun 1:00 pm - Rainbow Book Group, Jersey City‡ 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 08 Mon 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Morris County, Mendham; 973-727-5288; pflag.morris @ verizon.net 7:30 pm - PFLAG, Princeton; 609-663-5155; www.pflagprinceton.org 09 Tue 7:30 pm - Bisexual Social Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PCNJ Board of Trustees meeting, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Yoga for Men, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - AVER-Veterans and Friends Group, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Men's Social Night, Highland Park† 10 Wed 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, Asbury Park; www.gpbn.net 7:30 pm - TGLCA monthly meeting, Trenton; 609-396-9788; tglca @ aol.com 9:00 pm - Dine with Pride, Metuchen ; jennifer.horsey @ cit.com 11 Thu Noon - Booked for Lunch, Highland Park† 6:30 pm - Volunteer orientation, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - Qspot Book Club, Point Pleasant♦ 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 - AVER-Veterans and Friends Group, Highland Park† 13 Sat 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Movie Social, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Dignity New Brunswick gay Catholic liturgy; 732-968-9263; dignitynb @ earthlink.net 14 Sun 6:00 pm - Gay Men’s Classical Song Club, Kingston; pbrown02 @ worldnet.att.net 15 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 8:00 pm - LGBT Activist Forum, Highland Park† 16 Tue 4:00 pm - HIV Testing & Needle Exchange, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Lesbian Alliance of Princeton; 609-924-8174; Loisj @ msn.com 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Hunterdon County, Flemington; 908-752-1370; pflaghc @ yahoo.com 8:00 pm - PFLAG of Bergen County, Paramus; 201-287-0318; www.bergenpflag.org
18 Thu 6:30 pm - Pride planning meeting, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - GAAMC board meeting, Morristown; All GAAMC members are invited to attend. 7:00 pm - GLSEN Training, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - NJ Women Coming Out Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Northwest NJ, Sparta; 973-729-9909 19 Fri 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:00 pm - NJ Furries Art Workshop, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Support Group for Parents of LGBTIQ Youth/Young Adults, Highland Park† 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 (sign-up begins 7:30); outoftheboxinfo @ mac.com 20 Sat 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 7:00 pm - Rainbow Bowling, Bradley Beach; 732-774-4540 7:00 pm - NJ Gay Film Society & Potluck Dinner Club; gayfilms @ bigfoot.com 7:00 pm - Games Night + Dessert, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - LGBTQ Youth Prom, Jersey City‡ 21 Sun 11:00 am - Family Picnic, Holmdel; www.rainbowfamiliesnj.org 4:00 pm - Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-837-4040; Dignitymetronj @ msn.com 4:00 pm - TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park† 4:30 pm - Torah Queeries, Highland Park† 23 Tue 7:30 pm - Yoga for Men, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Men's Social, Highland Park† 24 Wed 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, Asbury Park; www.gpbn.net 26 Fri 1:00 pm - Women With Voices, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - Rock Hero, Highland Park† 27 Sat 1:00 pm - 2011 Pride Festival and Parade, Jersey City‡ (see Bulletin Board, p. 3) 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 2:00 pm - Youth Support Group, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Gay Bowling, Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park; 732-776-6160 7:00 pm - Games Night & Dessert Party, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Men's Potluck Dinner, Highland Park† 28 Sun 11:00 am - Community Awareness Day, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Opera Appreciation 101, Highland Park† 29 Mon 8:30 pm - Meditation Group, Highland Park†
Page 10 CHALLENGE Summer 2011
Activism Update The following letter was sent to Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura by Activism Committee Chairman Andy Skurna on May 18th: Dear Sheriff Fontoura: After the high profile murder of the unarmed park visitor Mr. Defarra Ivan Gaymon last July, we in the LGBT community had expectations that our citizens would be treated more fairly. Unfortunately, we received another complaint of abuse. A gentleman driving through the park on Sunday, May 15th, came across an acquaintance he hadn’t seen in a few years. The driver pulled over to the side of the road and the two men began to converse. One gentleman was on foot chatting from outside the car to the driver, who remained in his vehicle. Patrolman Moe Tamimi allegedly pulled up behind the gentlemen, put on his lights and threatened to charge them with solicitation. From what we are told, there was no reason for Officer Tamimi to speak with these men. His unwarranted threats were abuse enough. But when a passing vehicle stopped and asked Officer Tamimi what was going on, he told the passerby something to the effect that “they are just a bunch of mucho patos.” The officer repeatedly told his victims that he didn’t care if they were homosexuals, “just keep that shit out of the park.” These men were talking on the side of the road, like hundreds of other park patrons. They had not posed a threat to anyone. To the best of our knowledge they had not broken any laws. Officer Tamimi’s actions and comments clearly illustrate a continued bias towards men perceived to be homosexual.
Please know that our Internal Affairs investigation into a complaint by a citizen regarding the actions of Officer Tamimi at Branch Brook Park on May 15, 2011, is ongoing and the complaint has not been dismissed as you state in your letter. Upon concluding our investigation the complainant will be contacted and advised of our findings. Thank you for your concern in this matter. Sheriff Fontoura's letter was copied to Captain Maria Mercadante, the Supervising Officer of the Internal Affairs Division.
My 2011 AIDS Walkathon Reflections by Paul Greenberg
On a misty overcast day in NYC on Sunday, May 15th, along with 45,000 other walkers, I started my three-hour, 6.2-mile walk.
KEVIN P. SUSZKO, PC Certified Public Accountant
-TAX PLANNING & PREPARATION -FINANCIAL PLANNING -ACCOUNTING SERVICES -DAY & EVENING APPOINTMENTS -OFFICES IN NEW JERSEY & NYC Phone: 973–376–4121 P. O. Box 701 Short Hills, NJ 07078 E-Mail: KPSCPA@GMAIL.COM
Please take immediate action to stop these abuses by your staff before another innocent, unarmed victim is shot to death by your officers. Put a stop to this behavior before more people are victimized by the fear and hatred your officers spread throughout the community they are paid to protect and serve. The victim’s complaints to your Internal Affairs office were dismissed, the complainant alleges. With this letter I am asking that you look into this incident and contact me by mail with your findings. I am quite curious to hear about what happened from the officer's perspective. It is my hope that through such investigations, problem officers can be identified and re-educated about how to handle such interactions. I appreciate your prompt attention to this important matter. Sheriff Fontoura's response was sent on June 2nd: Dear Mr. Skurna: We are in receipt of your letter dated May 18, 2011.
I started this journey back in February by getting signed up on line. I sent out my 18th annual letter for donations from my GAAMC family, my personal friends, and my family. I put my personal goal this year at $2,000. I joined up for my second year with Hyacinth in New Brunswick with the help from their director, Patrick Bocco. This made sure the money I raised came back to New Jersey to help out people with AIDS. I was walking with two of my friends who I got involved with the Walkathon and who have been doing it for many years with me. I created a domino effect with them, getting them involved with the Walkathon and raising money for people with AIDS. It was nice to be walking with caring and loving friends.
On the day of the Walkathon, I arrived about 8:30 am to turn previously-collected money in and go to several spots for breakfast. My first breakfast stop was the Starwalkers tent, where those who have raised $1000 or more are treated to a nice breakfast. My second stop was the Hyacinth table, to get breakfast and meet Patrick Bocco and the other walkers from the group. I started my walk along the route, which went in and out of Central Park, at my leisure, taking pictures along the way. Along the walk route there are three pit stops (tables with water and snacks), and people cheering you on. It makes you feel proud and happy walking with other people who are also raising money for people with AIDS. I was done in three hours and did over 30,000 steps. With sore feet and legs, it was good to know I was in good health and able to complete the walk. Once I was done I was walking proudly on cloud nine, knowing I completed the walk and passed my personal goal of raising money for people with AIDS. I have a matching gift fund with my employer, Macy's, so that whatever I make Macy's matches it. With that I managed to raise a grand total of $4,100. Once again, thanks for your support and hep in making my 2011 Walkathon a success. I will be back again next year for 2012, which will be my 19th AIDS Walkathon. I'd love to see if for next year we could put together a team from GAAMC.
Summer 2011 CHALLENGE Page 11
Gleanings
allow domestic partner benefits for some state employees starting in October. (The Republic, Columbus, OH)
The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution condemning anti-gay discrimination worldwide and establishing a panel that will study LGBT discrimination. Of the 47 council members, 23 voted in favor of the resolution, 19 opposed it, and 3 abstained. The U.S. backed the measure, which was introduced by South Africa. (UNHRC logo on right.) (Associated Press)
Marriage Equality Rhode Island says it opposes legislation to create civil unions because of a provision allowing religious groups to ignore the new law, urging lawmakers to revise the legislation. The provision would exempt religious organizations from having to perform civil union ceremonies or recognize the relationships, but MERI director Martha Holt says the exemption would also allow religious hospitals, cemeteries, and schools to ignore rights given to gay couples in a civil union. The House passed the bill last month; at press time, no vote has been scheduled in the Senate, although legislative leaders insist there will be enough time to pass the bill. (The Providence Journal; Boston Herald)
(continued from page 4)
The Connecticut Senate passed a bill that would ban discrimination against transgender individuals. Governor Dannel Malloy (D) has promised to sign the measure into law. State Senator Beth Bye (D), an out lesbian, told her colleagues the key to accepting transgender people is to take the opportunity to understand them. (CTNewsJunkie.com) Illinois government officials began issuing civil union licenses to same-sex couples, as couples cried, cheered and hugged. "I started crying, because the person behind the clerk's counter also started crying after the first license was processed. It's all very emotional," said Meta Kroker, who will enter in a union with her longtime partner, Joy Christopher. (Chicago Sun-Times) Former Iowa state Senator Jeff Angelo (R), who once opposed marriage equality, has established a group to increase conservative support for it. Iowa Republicans for Freedom will work to convince conservatives that allowing civil marriages for gays and lesbians comports with their values of freedom and limited government. (The Iowa Independent) Maine's state Senate voted to kill legislation addressing the use of public restrooms by transgender individuals, a bill that supporters said was meant to help businesses and schools in an untenable situation but that opponents said was fueled by bigotry and hatred. Following similar action by the House, senators voted 23-11 to kill a bill that said the state Human Rights Commission doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to find unlawful discrimination when transgender people are not allowed to use a bathroom, shower room, or other public accommodation based on their gender identity. (Bay Windows, Boston) Republicans in the Michigan Legislature may make another attempt to block the offering of taxpayer-paid health insurance to domestic partners or other unrelated adults living with public employees. The measures likely would be challenged by some public employees who say their rights to collectively bargain issues including domestic partner benefits are protected in the state constitution. The Michigan Civil Service Commission has voted to
Richland County, South Carolina unanimously passed a new, LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance on public accommodations and housing. The county, home of the state's capital city, Columbia, joins with the city of Charleston in offering non-discrimination protections to LGBT citizens and residents. (Q-Notes, Charlotte, NC) South Australia has become the final state in Australia to recognize non-biological same-sex parents on birth certificates of children born to same-sex couples. The Family Relationships (Parentage) Amendment Bill 2010 came out of a yearlong state Parliament Social Development Committee inquiry into laws covering same-sex parenting. Openly gay Labor Legislative Council Member (state Senator) Ian Hunter headed the committee. (Sydney Star Observer) Chile's President Sebastian Pinera will seek a national law establishing civil unions both for straight and gay couples, according to comments he made in a television interview. "We will provide a solution to the 2 million Chileans living as in couples but not married," he said. Gay rights activists had criticized the president for not mentioning civil unions in a recent high-profile speech. (The Santiago Times) France's lower house of parliament has rejected a measure proposed by the minority Socialist Party that sought to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, by a vote of 293 to 222. French LGBT activists, however, said that political support for marriage equality is growing, citing role models such as openly gay Paris Mayor Betrand Delanoe. (France24.com) Nepal's first public lesbian wedding was celebrated near Katmandu. According to openly gay Nepal Parliament member Sunilbabu Pant, the event was a step forward for the country, which recently began drafting LGBT-rights bills but currently does not recognize marriage equality. (The Denver Post)
Page 12 CHALLENGE Summer 2011
10 Anti-Gay Myths Debunked
By Evelyn Schlatter and Robert Steinback Myth #2: Gay Parents Harm Children (second in a series of ten)
Ever since born-again singer and orange juice pitchwoman Anita Bryant helped kick off the contemporary anti-gay movement more than 30 years ago, hard-line elements of the religious right have been searching for ways to demonize homosexuals — or, at a minimum, to find arguments that will prevent their normalization in society. For the former Florida beauty queen and her Save Our Children group, it was the alleged plans of gays and lesbians to “recruit” in schools that provided the fodder for their crusade. But in addition to hawking that myth, the legions of anti-gay activists who followed have added a panoply of others, ranging from the extremely doubtful claim that homosexuality is a choice, to unalloyed lies like the claims that gays molest children far more than heterosexuals or that hate crime laws will lead to the legalization of bestiality and necrophilia. These fairy tales are important to the anti-gay right because they form the basis of its claim that homosexuality is a social evil that must be suppressed — an opinion rejected by virtually all relevant medical and scientific authorities. They also almost certainly contribute to hate crime violence directed at homosexuals, who are more targeted for such attacks than any other minority in America. What follows [is one of] 10 key myths propagated by the anti-gay movement, along with the truth behind the propaganda.
MYTH #2: Same-sex parents harm children. THE ARGUMENT: Most hard-line anti-gay organizations are heavily invested, from both a religious and a political standpoint, in promoting the traditional nuclear family as the sole framework for the healthy upbringing of children. They maintain a reflexive belief that same-sex parenting must be harmful to children — although the exact nature of that supposed harm varies widely.
tioning as do children whose parents are heterosexual.” That policy statement was reaffirmed in 2009.
THE FACTS: No legitimate research has demonstrated that same-sex couples are any more or any less harmful to children than heterosexual couples.
Similarly, the Child Welfare League of America’s official position with regard to same-sex parents is that “lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents are as well-suited to raise children as their heterosexual counterparts.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics in a 2002 policy statement declared: “A growing body of scientific literature demonstrates that children who grow up with one or two gay and/or lesbian parents fare as well in emotional, cognitive, social, and sexual func-
The American Psychological Association found that “same-sex couples are remarkably similar to heterosexual couples, and that parenting effectiveness and the adjustment, development and psychological well-being of children is unrelated to parental sexual orientation.”
(Reprinted, with permission, from Intelligence Report, Winter 2010, produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center. www.splcenter.org)
Telling Our Stories by Dustin Lance Black
From Pedro Zamora to Harvey Milk and soon J. Edgar Hoover, so much of my work tells the stories of LGBTQ people because I believe sharing our stories is the most effective way to dispel the myths, lies and stereotypes that have been used to deny us our rights for generations. By sharing our stories, I believe we can win full equality nationwide. That's why I’m helping launch a new film project with Courage Campaign, called Testimony: Take a Stand. And this time, I’m turning the cameras on you in a national search to find the next great American LGBTQ stories. I’m asking for your stories now because I know DOMA repeal is possible in the U.S. Senate, and it is clear the federal case for equal marriage is soon destined for the U.S. Supreme Court. But these Justices and Senators don’t live in a vacuum. They watch the news, read their papers and pay attention to the daily narrative unfolding across this country. Our stories must be a part of that narrative. That’s why Courage Campaign needs you — on camera.
Over the next months, we will post and share all of your videos. And at the end of this search, my film crew will choose three, fly to your home town to film your story and share it with the country in a television ad campaign. I grew up in a conservative Mormon, military household in Texas, came out of the closet, and told my story. I know first hand how difficult it can be, but I can attest to the change it’s created in my family and the changes it’s helped start even within the Mormon Church. Our stories are powerful. Our stories change minds. Whether you are LGBTQ or a straight ally… please tell yours, at www.couragecampaign.org/DustinLanceBlack. Thank you for your testimony. [Editor's note: the deadline for receipt of stories is July 4th.]
Summer 2011 CHALLENGE Page 13
Dancing to Architecture™ (continued from page 5)
Steve Earle ~ I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive
Earle is a national treasure. Although he at first sounds like yet another country-folk rocker, there's something intangibly unique about how he sings a line, how he strums his guitar and how he builds a phrase. His entire catalog is worth dipping into.
Joe Ely ~ Satisfied At Last Brian Eno ~ Drums Between The Bells The Felice Brothers ~ Celebration Ambitious, and exceeds expectations.
The Fire Apes ~ A Life In Letters Fleet Foxes ~ Helplessness Blues Flogging Molley ~ Speed of Darkness Foo Fighters ~ Wasting Light Foster The People ~ Torches Friendly Fires ~ Pala Q Galactic ~ The Other Side of Midnight Q Glasvegas ~ Euphoric Heartbreak Q Tom Goss ~ Turn It Around The Go! Team ~ Rolling Blackouts The Greencards ~ The Brick Album
Progressive Bluegrass and Americana with driven, contemporary female vocals, modern lyrical details, equal parts grit and whimsy, and guest vocalists Sam Bush and Vince Gill.
Ha Ha Tonka ~ Death Of A Decade Ben Harper ~ Give Till It's Gone Warren Haynes ~ Man In Motion Hot Tuna ~ Steady As She Goes Jennifer Hudson ~ I Remember Me Q ing ~ Dial See DTA Dec 2010 for a pre-release review. Ingram Hill ~ Blue Room Afternoon
Taut, minimalist Soft Rock, with the intimate aura of a living room concert. Infinitely preferable to the deadness at the heart of "Lite" radio.
Iron + Wine ~ Kiss Each Other Clean Garland Jeffries ~ The King of In Between Booker T. Jones ~ The Road From Memphis Q Jonsi ~ Go Out Talib Kwelli ~ Gutter Rainbows Q Lady Gaga ~ Born This Way Q Adam Lambert ~ Glam Nation Live Q Le Butcherettes ~ Sin Sin Sin Man Man ~ Life Fantastic Q Christine Martucci ~ Sin & Redemption Matt The Electrician ~ Accidental Thief The Melvins ~ Sugar Daddy Live Q MEN ~ Talk About Body Pat Metheny ~ What's It All About
A first for Metheny — an album of covers and standards.
Middle Brother ~ Middle Brother Mountain Goats ~ All Eternals Deck My Morning Jacket ~ Circuital Randy Newman ~ The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 2 No Surrender ~ Medicine Babies
Influenced by TV On The Radio's vocal style and their mitering of SynthPop and HipHop, one more fun Brooklyn band makes their mark.
Noise By Numbers ~ Over Leavitt Les Nubians ~ Nu Revolution OK Go ~ 180/365
Clever and complex, yet danceable with handcrafted touches, OK Go finally reveal how well they transform some of their best known and best as played in concert originals on this live album.
People Like Us ~ Welcome Aboard Priory ~ Priory
Another lovely Indie Rock album that flirts with characteristics from a multiple of the streams and trends of the last 20 years. Especially RIYL Ryan Adams and Arcade Fire, but also hear elements of Deerhunter, Sufjan Stevens, Edward Sharpe, and Jonsi.
Q R. E. M. ~ Collapse Into Now Q Toshi Reagon ~ There And Back Again Rebirth Brass Band ~ Rebirth of New Orleans
Q Sacha Sacket ~ The Viscera Project
...continues. No longer weekly, but reality is a bitch.
Robbie Robertson ~ How To Become Clairvoyant Raphael Saadiq ~ Stone Rollin' Screeching Weasel ~ First World Manifesto Ron Sexsmith ~ Long Player, Late Bloomer Paul Simon ~ So Beautiful Or So What
Manages to be both one of the year's best and this year's prime example of Don't Count Me Out Yet, Buddy: music by a senior hitmaking veteran not resting on his laurels.
The Smithereens ~ "2011"
Another great effort from another of New Jersey's great rock bands. You're welcome. (We could brag, but we don't have to.)
Q Jill Sobule + John Doe ~ A Day At The Pass - Live Social Distortion ~ Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes The Sounds ~ Something To Die For
These guys should be carried into the big time on the coattails of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Discover them for yourself.
J. D. Souther ~ Natural History
If that name rings a bell, the new album is welcome news.
Q Jay Spears ~ Luck (album to be released)
It ain't out yet. But some neat tracks from it are at JaySpears.com.
Stuyvesant ~ Fret Sounds
"Let's Talk Topography" is just one of ten smart Garage Rock songs to brighten the summer and guard against symptoms of fresh Green Day withdrawal.
Q Martin Swinger ~ M O O N
No one is writing songs like Martin these days. Swinger's songs are among the strongest released in 2011. Embrace M O O N and let M O O N touch you.
Tedeschi Trucks Band ~ Revelator
The core married couple, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, extends like family to a large band of burning hot guitar licks and meaty Country Rock, smokey Blues and heart-felt ballads.
They Might Be Giants ~ Join Us Mia Doi Todd ~ Cosmic Ocean Ship Q tUnE-yArDs ~ Whokill Twin Atlantic ~ Free TV On The Radio ~ Nine Types of Light
Dense, intriguing compositions blazing their own trail.
The Vaccines ~ What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? Eddie Vedder ~ Ukelele Songs
Didn't think I'd like it, but do. However, many fans thought they'd like anything from Eddie, but don't.
Viva Voce ~ The Future Will Destroy You
Portland OR's Folky psychedelia from Portland,OR.
Q The Voice ~ (individual tracks at iTunes)
The biggest surprise of the year so-far: A TV competition show that was actually good. Out Gay powerhouses Nakia and Beverly McClellan literally rocked my world
Abigail Washburn ~ City of Refuge
One of the most beautifully resonant albums of the year.
Mike Watt ~ hyphenated man Gillian Welch ~ The Harrow & The Harvest
Welch and creative partner David Rawlings return with their first album since 2003.
The Wilderness of Manitoba ~ When You Left The Fire
Runs rings around poseurs like Mumford & Sons. Pop has eaten itself. The Wilderness of Manitoba generate new energies.
Q Wild Flag ~ Wild Flag (album to be released) Their song "Romance" is at Soundcloud.com, tho'.
Lucinda Williams ~ Blessed Q World Inferno/Friendship Society ~ The Anarchy and The Ecstasy Weird Al Yankovic ~ Alpocalypse
"Perform This Way", the ribbing Lady Gaga deserves, could only come from as nice a guy as Al. Not to mention how he takes an entire "NOW That's What I Call Music"'s worth of hit-pablum and stuffs them in a medley called "Polka Face". Yes: P-O-L-K-A.
WU LYF ~ Go Tell Fire To The Mountain
Perhaps a sea-change, breakthrough moment for a superstar about to be born. Perhaps not quite all that. The anticipation is killing me.
Neil Young and the International Harvesters ~ A Treasure Emily Zuzik Band ~ The Wild Joys Of Living
An album title that tells you just what you need to know to introduce you to the band's sound. Oh, yeah: Brooklyn-based, again. Dancing To Architecture™ contents ©2011 Bill Stella. ©, ® & ™ items included in the column for review purposes are ©, ® & ™ their respective owners.
Page 14 CHALLENGE Summer 2011
Dylan, at the 11th Hour by Tammy Probst-Smith with Megan Byrne
There are thousands of dogs in rescue waiting for homes; literally, thousands. And thousands more die every day because there are simply not enough homes for them all. Here at 11th Hour Rescue, we have saved over 4,000 dogs to date. We literally never stop working, and we often function as a safety net for dogs that otherwise won’t be saved: dogs that require medical treatment, dogs who need some basic training, and dogs that “suffer from old age.” These are wonderful, highly adoptable dogs that have been discarded like yesterday’s trash. Now, if you’ve never been involved in dog rescue, there are a lot of things you’ll never see. You may never see the sad, pathetic face of a dog in a cage, with the “are you here for me?” look. You’ll never hear the desperate cry of a dog whose owner had to drop him off at a shelter because he couldn’t afford to care for him any longer. And you’ll never feel the heartbreak we feel when we see a beautiful and highly adoptable dog listed as “Gone, but never forgotten.” But you’ll also never see the update on the very first dog you fostered. And you’ll never see the happy look on a family’s face when they meet their new furry family member for the first time. You’ll never get messages from adopters, thanking you for changing their lives. And you’ll never see that dog who cowered in your presence, running around and smiling after he finally received the love and training he desperately desired. At any given time, 11th Hour rescue has over 60 dogs available for adoption. We have a lot of what people call “typical” dogs; they get along with other dogs and they love all people, adults and children alike. But because of who we are and what we do, we also have some dogs that require a more specific home: a home without small children, a home with other dogs, a home without men, and so on.
cower in their presence. He will occasionally bark at men when he’s scared, but he has never shown any aggression. He has been in a foster home for over 6 months with a man and a woman and their dogs, where he has discovered the good life. Dylan is very much ready to find a home of his own where he can relax and be the happy-go-lucky dog we know him to be. Dylan is approximately 50 pounds, and he gets along with other dogs of all shapes and sizes. He is currently being fostered with a 10-pound Pug mix, a 50-pound blind and deaf Husky mix, and a 90-pound Pit Bull mix. Dylan truly loves other dogs, and a forever home with a playful and confident dog will help him relax a considerable amount. He is fully house-trained and is not destructive. He has great house manners and his absolute favorite thing to do is play fetch. Dylan also knows some basic commands, and because he is very food-motivated, he is very easily trained as well. Dylan’s perfect forever home will have another dog, no men, and no small children. Dylan’s future family should also be aware that he may need some future treatment for his skin to ensure he stays healthy, and will need to be on a high-quality diet to make sure he stays well. Dylan has been waiting his whole life for his forever home, and now that we know more about him, we are hoping it is finally his turn to go home. Dylan, Milkbone, Two Socks, and Brownie are just four of the thousands of dogs looking for families to call their own. If you’re considering a furry family member and have a home that meets the needs of any of these dogs, please contact us and let us know whom you may be interested in meeting. And remember, we are looking for forever homes for these dogs, but we are also always looking for loving families to foster our dogs as well. If you think you’re up for the challenges and the rewards of saving a life, don’t hesitate to contact us. Keep in mind, these are dogs that wouldn’t have had a chance at life otherwise, and true to 11th Hour Rescue’s mission statement, we will continue to rescue until all the cages are empty.
Milkbone, a Pit Bull Terrier/St. Bernard mix, and Two Socks, a Hound mix, are just two of our dogs that are looking for homes without small children. Brownie, a Hound/Ridgeback mix, can go to a home with kids and adults, but he needs an understanding owner who will help train him to become the amazing dog we all know he has the potential to be. And Dylan… Dylan is a Hound mix who is looking for a very special home to call his own. Dylan came to 11th Hour Rescue after living his life in a hoarder’s house. Because he lived the first several months of his life in filth and solitude, he came to us fearful of everything he encountered. He also came in with a non-contagious skin condition that has since been treated. Poor Dylan spent half of his life in appalling conditions and the other half of his life learning how to be the puppy he never had a chance to be. Now that he is healthy and happy, Dylan is hopeful that his forever home will come along soon. The first several months of Dylan’s life were spent without much human contact, so Dylan is slow to warm up to new people. He needs a little bit of time to learn to trust, but once he does, he is an extremely affectionate and loving boy with a goofy, puppy-like personality. Dylan is a shy dog, and people that are loud, fast, and unpredictable are scary for him. Because of that, Dylan would prefer a home without any small children. Dylan is also very fearful of men. He will avoid men if it’s possible and will
Dylan
Summer 2011 CHALLENGE Page 15
Good Eats!
by Chef Charlie Murphy Braised Chicken Thighs and Legs with Tomatoes Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 45 min
4 tablespoons canola oil 6 chicken thighs 6 chicken legs Kosher salt 1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds 2 teaspoons chili flakes
1 large white onion, peeled, halved and thinly sliced 1 large ginger knob, peeled and grated 6 garlic cloves, peeled and halve lengthwise 1 can (28 oz.) whole, peeled tomatoes 2 cinnamon sticks 4 fresh or dried bay leaves Water, as needed
Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over high heat. Arrange the chicken thighs and legs on a tray in a single layer and season both sides with salt, to taste. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, carefully add the chicken to the oil. DO NOT overcrowd the pan. Allow them to brown on their first side, about 3-5 minutes. Use metal tongs to turn the chicken pieces to sear the second side, another 3-5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a tray and set it aside. In the same skillet, add the cumin seeds and chili flakes, stirring rapidly to give a quick toast, about 10-15 seconds. Add the onions, ginger, and garlic and stir. Season the ingredients with salt, to taste, then add the tomatoes, cinnamon, and bay leaves. Allow the mixture to cook and all the flavors to come together, about 10 minutes. Add the chicken back to the pan and continue cooking on low heat until the chicken is cooked through, 30-45 minutes. If the sauce becomes overly thick or begins to stick to the bottom of the skillet, feel free to add some water, about ½ cup at a time. When the chicken is cooked through, remove and discard the cinnamon sticks and bay leaves. Taste for seasoning and transfer to a serving bowl. Serves 6 to 10.
Braised Cabbage 2 2 2 2 2
tablespoons unsalted butter, plus ½ stick teaspoons whole cumin seeds teaspoons whole caraway seeds teaspoons whole coriander seeds small heads savoy cabbage, cored, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning 1 poblano pepper, washed and cut into small rounds, including seeds 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 4 oranges, juiced 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro leaves
In a large sauté pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the cumin, caraway, and coriander seeds and toast them slightly for 30 seconds. DO NOT let them brown. Immediately add half of the cabbage and season with salt. Toss and stir to wilt. Add the remaining cabbage and, if necessary, reseason with salt and allow it to continue wilting. Stir in the poblano; toss and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 10-15 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Stir in vinegar and orange juice and toss to blend. Taste for seasoning. Lower the heat and add the cilantro. Stir to combine and remove the pan from the heat. Arrange on a serving platter.
Page 16 CHALLENGE Summer 2011
GAY ACTIVIST ALLIANCE IN MORRIS COUNTY
Officers President (President @ GAAMC.org) — Mickey Suiter VP Community Services (Info @ GAAMC.org) — Open VP Operations — Open Secretary (Secretary @ GAAMC.org) — Gordon Sauer Treasurer (Treasurer @ GAAMC.org) — Andy Skurna Trustees Kerry Dinkin, Marty Grifone, Claire Pompei, Mitch Rubin, Ed Schell, Bill Realman Stella, Alexa Vasios Trustees Emeriti Sue Harris, Sherri Rase, Robin Schneider, Mark Wydner Committee Chairs Activism — Gordon Sauer (Activism @ GAAMC.org) Archives — Mickey Suiter (Archives @ GAAMC.org) Discussion Group Resources — Gordon Sauer (Discussions @ GAAMC.org) Fundraising — Andy Skurna (Fundraising @ GAAMC.org) Information — Mitch Rubin (FreeLibrary @ GAAMC.org) Member Services/Front Desk — Allen Neuner Membership — Andy Skurna (Memberships @ GAAMC.org) Pride Guide — Andy Skurna (PrideGuide @ GAAMC.org) Programs — Sherri Rase (Programs @ GAAMC.org) Public Relations — Sherri Rase (Info @ GAAMC.org) Socials — Charlie Murphy (Socials @ GAAMC.org) Speakers Bureau — Chris Selitto (SpeakersBureau @ GAAMC.org) Volunteerism — Sherri Rase (Volunteer @ GAAMC.org) Webmaster (inc. Facebook, Issuu, Yahoo!) — Andy Skurna (Webmaster @ GAAMC.org)
GAAMC, the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County, has served New Jersey’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and intersexed community since 1972. GAAMC is a not-forprofit 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 community. 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., Morristown, NJ (near the Morris Museum). Discussion groups usually meet from 7:00 to 8:00. The evening's program usually starts at 8:00 pm. Refreshments are available. For program information, call our information line or 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. Those looking to help out at GAAMC can contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Sherri Rase, at Volunteer @ GAAMC.org. 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 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gaamc Challenge online edition: issuu.com/gaamc
PREVIEWS OF COMING ATTRACTIONS! July 11th
July 18th & 25th
August 1st
Dance Recital
Play Reading
Tartuffe
See "GAAMC Events", page 2, for more details!
Summer 2011 CHALLENGE Page 17
Adver&sement
Building It All from Scraps by Beverly Ann Kessler To chase, to embrace, to savor the deepest passions of her heart, Jordan Mathews grows from a shy, repressed, working class girl to a confident, professional gay woman in this comical construc&on of life’s loves! Amid evolving personal rela&onships and myriad human strife, the author playfully portrays the issues of family love and hid-‐ den desire, the terror and the joys of com-‐ ing out, the happiness found in a soul mate, and the strength of life lived with Pride! The story forms an outline of the Gay Rights movement.
A GAY, SOCIAL WORK, LOVE STORY set at the 70’s and 80’s Jersey Shore, Building It All from Scraps is a solidifying tes&monial to gay people, a funny, informa&ve book for human service workers, and a great piece of philosophical entertainment for all readers! Reference ar&cles included. Order today!
www.buildingitallfromscraps.com