Las Vegas Night Beat - February 2012

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Las Vegas Night Beat $ February 2012 $ 3

OUR COVER – The Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be hosting “Project Red Dress, Saturday, Feb 26 at the World Trade Center. Their major fundraier of the year benefits the Sisters’ AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Fof tickets, visit www.SinSitySisters.org. Get all the details on page 10.

Merging AFAN with Community Counseling Ron Lawrence Wed ., Feb. 8th Community Counseling Center ’s Executive Director will explain why AFAN is being merged with CCC and the intended transformation that will occur in the hybrid agency.

11:30 am to 12:45 pm / $15 price includes meeting, lunch, beverage, tax and tip. 85+ usually attend.

Call (702) 893-2088 for more details.

953 E Sahara Ave: Inside the Commercial Ctr / Far West Side

Online Business Directory: www.LambdaLV.org 4 $ February 2012 $ Las Vegas Night Beat

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Beyond Brokeback: A Staged Reading, Feb. 11 The Las Vegas-Clark County Library, Out West 2012, and the University of Nevada Theatre Department will be the first in Nevada to host the acclaimed Beyond Brokeback: A Staged Reading with Music. Inspired by the landmark film Brokeback Mountain, the program consists of staged reading of messages, essays, poetry, and music. The event is free and open to the public, to be held in the Main Theatre at the Las VegasClark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119 at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 11.

Beyond Brokeback: A Staged Reading with Music was conceived and adapted for the stage by Gregory Hinton from the 2007 book Beyond Brokeback: Impact of a Film written by Members of the Ultimate Brokeback Forum website, culled from over 500,000 posts. Excerpts of poignant and humorous messages, essays, and poetry – by writers young and old, male and female, gay and straight – will be interpreted by six reader/ musicians.

“Nevada has a rich countrywestern gay and lesbian history. Beyond Brokeback is a comprehensive oral history of the rural gay west,” said playwright Gregory Hinton. “Beyond Brokeback leads us out of our isolation and into the open – to welcoming communities many crave and all deserve.”

Members of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum are expected to descend on Las Vegas for the Nevada premiere of Beyond Brokeback. Devotees of Brokeback Mountain, they call themselves “Brokies,” (akin to the “Trekkie” fans of Star Trek) and travel to Brokeback events all over the world.

Original songs from the CD “Meet Me on the Mountain,” also inspired by the film and written by acclaimed Los Angeles Master Chorale composer/ singer/arranger Shawn Kirchner will be performed.

Beyond Brokeback was first developed and performed in 2010 at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles as part of its acclaimed Out West at the Autry series and in commemoration

of the 5th Anniversary of Brokeback Mountain. Beyond Brokeback has been performed to standing ovations by the Theatre and Dance Department of the University of Wyoming in Laramie for the Shepard Symposium on Social Justice in April 2011, the City of West Hollywood’s One City/One Pride Culture Series in June 2011, the Bozeman Public

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Library in Montana in October 2011 and Chicago’s Roosevelt University in its historic Auditorium Theatre in November 2011.

The production is sponsored by Las Vegas-Clark Country Library, HBO, the David Bohnett Foundation, Gill Foundation, and the Gay & Lesbian Rodeo Heritage Foundation.

Dinah Shore Weekend moves to Las Vegas for 2012 Girl Bar and The Truck Stop Girlz Pull into Sin City for annual women’s week In a move that has set the lesbian community abuzz with cheers from around the globe, Girl Bar Dinah Shore Weekend, in association with Fuse Events, announced that Dinah Shore Weekend 2012 will take place April 27 – 29 in Las Vegas.

Cindi Hall, president of Betty’s Outrageous Aventures here in Las Vegas, and Night Beat contributor told us, “I’m thrilled to see Girl Bar moving their Dinah Shore Weekend to Vegas.

I think it’s a natural fit … bringing the world’s biggest lesbian party to the world’s biggest party town! The only thing that’s ever been bad about Dinah is that every night the party had to end at 2 a.m. well … now it’s a 24/7 thing … I love it!”

Since last year, Girl Bar and Fuse Events have been working exclusively with Caesars Entertainment to create the ultimate women’s weekend experience

featuring all the best that Caesars Entertainment properties have to offer.

Official events and hotels for Dinah Shore Weekend will be situated walking distance, across a variety of Caesarsowned properties, including Planet Hollywood and Flamingo hotels. The later will have its “Go Pool” turned over exclusively to the ladies for ticket and pass holders.

“Our sophisticated ladies wanted ‘bigger, better and more’ in a city that never sleeps with the finest in entertainment and accommodations, with non-stop flights both domestically and internationally,” said Girl Bar producers Sandy Sachs and Dr. Robin Gans. Adding, “We listened and Caesars Entertainment delivered, recognizing our global potential and wooing us with full sponsorship and a 24/7 package of perks, food, beverages and entertainment where there are no ‘last calls!”

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“The LGBT market makes up such an important part of Caesars worldwide customer base,” said Richard Brower, Director of LGBT and Ethnic Marketing at Caesars Entertainment Corporation.

“Having this legendry weekend move to Vegas was an opportunity we could not afford to miss.”

“After conquering New York and California, The Truck Stop Girlz couldn’t be happier about pulling into Vegas,” said co-founders Linda Fusco and Michelle Agnew. “We are ready to throw down and have a good time!”

The full Dinah Shore Weekend 2012 schedule of events, performers, ticket and hotel information and VIP travel package options www.dinahshoreweekend.com.

FuseEvents FuseEvents was created by Linda Fusco and Michelle Agnew in 2001 to attract hot, young edgy, and very, very sexy girls who like to unwind from their professional lives by having fun and flirting. And, these regulars have more in common than just hipster clothing and party girl attitudes: FuseEvents caters to the lesbian crowd.

At its inception, FuseEvents’ Thursday night created an alternative to the cookie-cutter club crowd and offered a sophisticated one of a kind event that has now grown into several unique and wildly popular weekly events, two muchanticipated monthly Saturday promotions, and other special events that have the girls lining up, anxiously waiting to get past the velvet ropes.

Prior to FuseEvents, options for hip and trendy lesbians were few. Linda and Michelle saw the need for a place these girls could go to have a good time and have been providing the scene these girls needed ever since.

What is the Fuse crowd?

You won’t find any flannel on the dance floor on FuseEvents nights. No mullets, or custom pool cues either. You will find trendy, sophisticated women, with discerning tastes and a need to party in an atmosphere that reflects this new representation of the young Lesbian party girl.

FuseEvents provides venues that celebrate this new complex provocative group who repeatedly bring in an equally trendy gay male crowd as well as a consistent celebrity presence.

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Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence host Project Red Dress, Feb. 26 at World Market Center The Holy Order-Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence invite you to get out your best and most bodacious red dress for their annual benefit to fight HIV/AIDS. The event will be held at The World Market Center (495 S. Grand Central Parkway), on the 16th floor, on Saturday, Feb. 25. The VIP Party ($50), which includes admission to the Main Event, will start at 8 p.m. and the Main Event ($30) will start at 10 p.m.

The night will feature live entertainment, silent and live auctions, a costume contest, dancing, a cash bar and

“lots of debauchery and wickedness!” according to Mother Loosy Lust Bea Lady.

All attendees of the “The Project Red Dress” are required to wear a red dress to reflect the solidarity of the community in the fight against HIV/AIDS. What qualifies as a red dress? A dress can be made from cloth, mesh, ribbon, sheer, leather or latex, etc.

Sarongs, pareos, togas, kilts, skirts with tops, wrap dress, are also allowed. It is not mandatory that your chest be covered, only the nipples of females.

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It’s not drag (but it can be).

Attendees are not required to express themselves with make-up, heels or other feminine accessories, unless that is their desire. This is similar in mood to a school uniform … with a twist. It allows for personal expression, but creates a unity and breaks down social barriers that unconsciously exist between people.

The Red Dress is the major fundraiser for The Sisters AIDS Drug Assistance Program. This program is designed to assist individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada short-term acquisition of prescribed medications necessary for their continued physical health and mental well-being.

The program will allow these individuals to remain adherent to all their prescribed medications needs and will alleviate much of the emotional stress of monthly financial dilemmas. The Sisters have raised and distributed over $350,000 to acquire HIV medications in the past five years.

The Sisters exist as an order of 21st century nuns dedicated to the promulgation of universal joy and the expiation of stigmatic guilt. Their ministry is one of public manifestation and habitual perpetration. The Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were formed in Las Vegas in 2005. Mother Loosy Lust Bea Lady and some close friends, all with activist and volunteering backgrounds, went out into Las Vegas, and began the mission of love, no shame, no guilt and ultimately the Sisters AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The Sisters Red Dress Event has become one of the landmark and most highly anticipated events in the city. The Sisters attempt to bless, listen, reach out, and celebrate the fact that by being who we are, as nature made us, we gain grace and redemption. “We are proud to have become part of the fabric of fun and glitz that Las Vegas offers, as well as bringing a more thought provoking message of love, said Mother Loosy.

For more information about the Sisters, please contact Mother Loosy at (702) 591-6969, Sister Sioux at (702) 205-7794 or Sister Hope at (702) 3241271 or visit thier website at www.

Sinsitysisters.org The Project Red Dress Event is a non-smoking and 21+ event.

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Prime Timers 5th annual Western Regional Gathering Alexis Park to host 200 men May 6 – 10 with scheduled events and free time The Las Vegas Prime Timers, a social organization for gay adult men and their admirers will be holding their 5th annual Western Regional Gathering May 6 through10. This year’s event at the Alexis Park Resort Hotel, 375 E. Harmon (across from the Hardrock Hotel) expects to attract 200 men from all over the country.

The Western Regional Gathering includes both scheduled events and free time. Hotel rooms are available at the Alexis Park Resort at discount $39 a night rates. Use code “Las Vegas Prime Timers – 2012”.

Attendees do not have to be a member of the Prime Timers. All adult men are welcome to register.

A registration/hospitality room will be available for information and socializing throughout the event. Guests are invited to drop in, obtain information on activities, and network with other men. Special activities will also be available.

Scheduled events begin on Sunday evening, May 6 with a continuous shuttle bus from the Alexis Park Resort Hotel to the Buffalo so participants can attend the events there. This will be a chance for

the attendees to meet men of Las Vegas as well as get to know each other.

The opening event will take place Monday evening, May 7, with a meet and

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greet Poolside Appetizer Reception and “first drink free” bar.

Tuesday, May 8, evening’s entertainment, after the food and “first drink free” bar reception, will be a show at the famed Las Vegas Comedy Showroom right at the Alexis Park Resort.

The big event on Wednesday evening, after the “first drink free” bar reception, will be an “all-you-can-eat buffet” Finale Banquet on the Alexis Park Convention Rooftop overlooking the famous strip lights. Special entertainment will be provided to enhance the evening’s experience.

Complete information is available on the Las Vegas Prime Timers website - www.

LasVegasPrimeTimers. com. The registration form information is available on the site. For more information email them at LVprimeTimers@cox.net, or call 702553-5713 and leave a message.

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Colorado’s Telluride Gay Ski Week Feb. 26 – March 3 ‘Ultimate Gay Ski Week Getaway’ Sweepstakes to include airfare six nights, ski rentals, lift tickets and VIP party passes for two Telluride Gay Ski Week is an annual week-long gay ski event and benefiting the Telluride AIDS Benefit. Ranked the Top Gay Ski Week in the U.S.A. by gay. com, TGSW is an alternative to other gay ski events and provides a unique vacation experience in a spirited and unpretentious ski town. Nestled in a box canyon surrounded by the majestic 13,000 ft peaks of the San Juan Mountains, Telluride Gay Ski Week brings the charm of Telluride together with the European-style town of Mountain Village. For more information, visit www. telluridegayskiweek. com.

The ninth annual Telluride Gay Ski Week is being held February 26 to March 3. TGSW is produced by StraightOut Media & Marketing with support from the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association Organizers of Telluride Gay Ski Week, have teamed with American Airlines to create the “Ultimate Gay Ski Week Getaway” sweepstakes for two lucky people who will enjoy an amazing luxury ski week experience at the 9th annual Telluride Gay Ski Week (“T-12”) being held February 26 to March 3.

The sweepstakes package includes first class airfare on American Airlines, airport transfers on Telluride Express, accommodations at the “Official Host Hotel” the Peaks Resort & Spa, 5-day lift tickets from Telluride Ski Resort, ski or snowboard rentals from Telluride Sports

and all access, VIP party passes to all “official” T-12 events for both the winner and their guest. Dates for the trip will be Sunday, February 26th through Saturday, March 3, 2012.

Ranked the “Top Gay Ski Week”

in the U.S.A. by Gay.com, Telluride Gay Ski Week brings together lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender skiers and snowboarders (as well as their straight friends and fans) from around the world.

Telluride Gay Ski Week has played host to thousands of guests from the local community to as far away as New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Hawaii, Australia and the United Kingdom in its nine year history. The popular annual winter event is now the third busiest winter week in Telluride after the Christmas and Presidents Day Weekend.

“Enabling our loyal LGBT customers to enjoy their vacation experience with family and friends is important to American Airlines,” said Cynthia Barnes, Director of Diversity Markets at American. “We have a long history of involvement in the community, and we are pleased to partner with StraightOut Media & Marketing, ensuring this year’s Telluride Gay Ski Week is the best event ever.”

Sweepstakes winner and guest will stay at the official host hotel, The Peaks Resort & Spa – home to this year’s daily Après’ Ski events, late night lounge parties and the White Night Party, the

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week’s most popular event attracting more than 500 guests; including scores of local residents. In addition to these events, new this year will be the inaugural Wig Run, an on-mountain fundraiser for the Telluride AIDS Benefit that encourages participants to ski for the day in their best hair creation; as well as a Fashion Night Stroll, Oscar Watching Bar Party and Simply Red dance party among other activities.

Participants can enter the sweepstakes by visiting www. aa.com/rainbow and clicking on the “Sweepstakes” tab where the official rules and eligibility requirements are detailed. No purchase is necessary to enter or claim the prize.

And for more information on American’s commitment to diversity, visit AA.com/diversity. Please feel welcome also to join the conversation with American’s LGBT community on www.facebook.com/aarainbowteam or sign up for American’s LGBT newsletter at www.aa.com/rainbow and selecting LGBT travel as a travel interest in your travel profile.

Telluride Gay Ski Week 2012 When: Saturday, February 25, through Saturday, March 3 Where: Towns of Mountain Village and Telluride, CO and Telluride Ski Resort Info: Event schedule and ticket information available at www. telluridegayskiweek.com.

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ACLU, NAACP call for Metro investigation

Complaint: ‘LVMPD is beset with serious systemic and training problems’ Requests a ‘patterns and practices’ investigation of Metropolitan Police Department The American Civil Liberties Union International Association of Chiefs of of Nevada and the NAACP of Las Vegas Police….” on January 13 submitted a petition to • “And any, and all, other remedies the U.S. Department of Justice calling the DOJ deems appropriate to reform the for the federal department to conduct a practices of the LVMPD.” “patterns and practices” investigation of the Metropolitan Las Vegas Police The petition’s overall complaint, Department.

“LVMPD is beset with serious systemic The petition requests that the U.S. and training problems,” is detailed Department of Justice, after conducting with specific allegations, its investigation, establish for Metro an independent monitor, who would write periodic reports that would “generate actual modifications and increase public confidence that real change has been effected.” The petition also requests that the Department of Justice work with Metro to: • “develop and implement a new policy on the use of deadly force, modeled after polices in place in Portland, Los Angeles and New York City.”

• “require the Use of Force Board [Metro’s] to permit the participation of the independent monitor….”

• “Require that the District Attorney conduct a thorough independent criminal review and investigation of any officerinvolved shooting….”

• “Require that LVMPD collect, track, and publicly & regularly disclose statistical data breaking which are in turn down of officer-involved supported by substantial evidence in shootings….” court records and rulings, LVMPD • “Require rigorous cultural and policies, ACLU of Nevada files, a racial awareness training for officers, so Nevada Attorney General opinion, a that they may better address situations Nevada Law Review article, news media where an individual’s erratic behavior coverage, and other sources. The specific is attributable to his or her mental allegations are: health challenges, and respond with de• “recurring, documented instances escalation techniques….” of violent and often fatal treatment of • “Require that LVMPD implement a people who come in contact with the mandatory foot pursuit policy that limits police, through both the intentional use foot pursuit to the standards set by the of deadly force, excessive force and/or 16 $ February 2012 $ Las Vegas Night Beat

through negligent actions; • “false arrests and stops made without reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, much less probable cause, along with improper searches, malicious prosecutions, and other corrupt practices; • “an ineffective process for identifying and deterring such conduct; • “insufficient processes for receiving, handling, adjudicating, and announcing the disposition of complaints alleging misconduct or violation of rules, or the excessive use of force; • “the failure to have a complete set of modern and meaningful polices, practices or training procedures that effectively prevent the excessive use of force; • “the failure to supervise and train officers in association with the use of deadly force; • “deliberate indifference to the Constitutional rights of persons with whom the police come into contact; • “costly litigation expenses including verdicts, arbitrations, and settlements, together with the expenses of defending these cases: since 1991, the Las Vegas police have paid $18 million to settle various property damage, excessive force and wrongful arrest claims (LVMPD fiscal affairs committee).

At the same time, lawsuits and citizen complaints reveal continuing patterns of misbehavior, as if nothing has been corrected in response to prior lawsuits or complaints.”

“We hope that the U.S. Department of Justice acts on this petition with all due haste, because the citizens of the Las Vegas metropolitan area have been Continued on next page

League Foundation to award college scholarships for 16th year The 2012 League Foundation scholarship program is now receiving

student applications until April 30 Applicants should graduate high

ACLU wants ‘a ‘a new policy on the use of deadly force’ Continued from previous page waiting, in vain, a long time for reform and accountability while Clark County police have killed 142 persons in 378 separate shootings since 1990,” said Dane S. Claussen, Executive Director of the ACLU of Nevada. “At the same time, the ACLU of Nevada is closely and continuously working with Metro and the NAACP of Las Vegas on seeing that necessary reforms are made by Metro and the District Attorney’s office before the U.S. Justice Department finishes any investigation.”

Staci Pratt, Legal Director of the ACLU of Nevada, said, “What our petition makes clear is that Metro has not been held accountable, nor made sufficient reforms, because every party

that could have made a difference has dropped the ball: Metro itself, its Use of Force Board, the Clark County Citizen Review Board, the Clark County Coroner’s inquest process, the Clark County District Attorney’s office, the Sheriff’s Multicultural Advisory Committee, the Nevada State Legislature, the Nevada Attorney General’s office, Nevada courts, even the news media .

It’s way past time for the U.S. Department of Justice to step in and help fix Metro.” The ACLU of Nevada and the NAACP of Las Vegas separately and independently announced on Dec. 14, 2011, that each organization would call for a U.S. Department of Justice investigation.

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Scholarships currently open for applications are: • Matthew Shepard Memorial Scholarship • Laurel Hester Memorial Scholarship • League Foundation Scholarship Information including: organization background, history, scholarship descriptions, previous winners, student resources, scholarship application, donation information, and news articles can be found on the foundation’s website www.LeagueFoundation.org

Las Vegas Night Beat $ February 2012 $ 17

Interview:

AFAN’s new Executive Director Antioco Carillo Night Beat Exclusive

by Bill Schafer Night Beat Publisher

some transition. I need to know where everything is, and I don’t have anybody else I can rely on. I need to know what’s going on in this organization.

NB: How long will she be here?

AC: I don’t know – until I stop using her. I’ve been here three weeks. I need to make sure I don’t come into a dark place.

It would be horrible if she had completely disappeared, because it would be horrible for me to try to find my way around this organization. So, good or bad, I have to rely on someone for the continuity of this organization.

NB: Are we talking about six months, a year, indefinite, forever?

AC: No, probably six months, I don’t know, it depends on how difficult …

You have to look at the other part. This organization is much more involved than CCC because the fundraisers are bigger.

The connections with the supporters within the community are bigger also – many more; and she has continued those connections. I have to be introduced to all of them. I have to be able to continue that before she steps down.

I said she will go out. And she is out, essentially as of when she resigned.

The only reason she’s a subcontractor is because there needed to be some continuity with me, some transition.

I was not willing to step into the darkness with anybody. How do I take over this organization when I have tons of supporters, tons of people that come here and do fundraising and major fundraisers that we have in the community. I can’t just step in, not knowing what happens.

I’m still learning my way around.

Antioco Carrillo assumed the reigns of Aid For AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) on January 1. The Night Beat interviewed him about three weeks after he became Executive Director. He was still learning his way around, but we discussed his background, his qualifications for assuming this position and his plans for the organization. We also touched on some issues with AFAN from before the start of his tenure.

AFAN and Community Counseling Center (CCC) are planning to merge later this year. Carillo has been employed

by CCC since 1994 and he currently is charged with supervision of interns, management of the building, and staff development and supervision at CCC. He has worked with CCC’s Executive Director Ron Lawrence all that time.

Carillo was born and raised in Mexico – he claims when he moved here 25 years ago he couldn’t speak a word of English, so he went to school. He then attended UNLV and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree (2003) in social work.

He is currently a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. ——— Night Beat: Is former Executive Director Jennifer Morss still employed at AFAN? Antioco Carrillo: She’s not an employee of AFAN. She has a contract, she’s a subcontractor.

NB: So she’s still here.

The main focus, which I’m doing AC: No. not as an employee. As a right now, is I’m looking at client care. subcontractor because I need to have I want to be able to make sure that we 18 $ February 2012 $ Las Vegas Night Beat

improve those services and after this I’ll look at the rest of the elements.

NB: Speaking of fundraisers, does AFAN have policies or procedures for handling cash at fundraising events.

There’ve been rumors of Jennifer’s mother, step father, brother and his partner in a trailer counting the cash receipts at the Black and White Party.

AC: I will be happy to give you what I have. I haven’t looked into that because it’s a monster to take on.

What I think is important for the community to know is with me, this is a new chapter. And I’m hoping to be able to let the community know that things are being taken care of. And if you’re not aware of some of those things right now, because it’s only three weeks, I will be happy to show you whatever it is we have and if there is nothing in terms of policy, and procedures it is my responsibility to create them.

I will not run an organization that is questionable. My answers will be open to you regardless of how much money you gave us as an agency. That has to be addressed. We have run this organization – CCC – I was running the organization with Ron for many, many years. And we have always been transparent. That’s how I learned to be. I worked with Ron for 19 years. I don’t know how to be any other than how I am, and how I learned from Ron. So I have to do the same thing here.

And if I don’t know something, if I don’t have anything in place, I certainly will put it in place.

NB: AFAN had a Zero Tolerance Policy. Do they still have it?

AC: All agencies have a code of conduct. Because I am not going to sit here and have people acting up at Continued on next page

Carillo’s first priority: Zero Tolerance Policy Continued from previous page the front, or do whatever they want to do. But if you come and access client services, you will be treated with respect and dignity. And I expect the same thing from any of the clients that come in here.

Here is what we’re looking at. I am not having a Zero Tolerance Policy.

That’s not what it’s called.

I’m changing it. I’m rewording it. I can show you some of the drafts I have right now.

First of all there’s a lot of waste and repetition forms. The repetition of forms is just horrendous. But it’s because all the grantors they give us these regulations that we have to adhere by and then two years later you go back to them and say, “Are we still supposed to be adhering to this regulation?” And they say “I don’t know” because they don’t even know themselves.

First thing I questioned when I walked in here: tell me about this – patient rights and responsibilities.

Everybody says you have to have one of these. You know, everybody has the right to confidentiality and all this stuff, but they also have to have responsibilities. You know, you can’t just come in drunk and expect to be served. You can’t just come in and throw objects at the front.

I’m re-doing the HIPAA regulations, the consumer rights and responsibilities, with everyone. Those two, I’m making up new ones with the grievance procedure that adheres to everything.

NB: We had a situation here recently where someone had a complaint against [former executive director] Jennifer [Morss]. And who responds to that complaint?

AC: The Board.

NB: No, Jennifer … something like “We have investigated your complaint against me and have found nothing substantial.”

AC: No, No, No. No, because if there is a problem – and I don’t know where that was --but the policies and procedures that the county has given in the past was very clear. If you have a problem with this organization, then you go up to client services under Ryan White Part A.

NB: The Zero Tolerance Policy …

It was extremely intimidating and that’s what got me interested in what’s going on at AFAN. AC: It was poorly written. But you know all the doctors’ offices they all have those policies.

NB: But they need to be written correctly and they don’t need to intimidate.

AC: As opposed to saying – do you remember what they used to say?

Now it says something like this. “AFAN clients are expected to act in a manner that is respectful to other clients and their needs, as well as the agency

staff and agency property. Understand that providing falsified or fraudulent information in order to obtain services is against the law and will not be tolerated.” Those are the same things. I reworded everything: threats or incidents of assault or theft or abusive behavior towards staff, volunteers or other clients are not tolerated. So we’re looking at those policies and it’s important to know they’re being rewritten.

Because you know we have people who come here and try to sell drugs.

Here. They come here in possession or they come in with alcohol, with pot, with all kinds of drugs, and they try to sell them to the other clients.

So when we’re looking at a zero tolerance policy it has to be named something else and it has to contain some of the same elements because I can not just be here letting people be doing what they want to do because I’m afraid I’m going to post a zero tolerance policy and nobody’s going to like it.

No. I’m willing to answer any questions for the community. I can rewrite it to make it more respectful, you know, for people to come here and feel more comfortable, but I’m not willing to be a doormat.

Because they burned our building, for God sakes. And nothing will stop anybody from doing anything else – tag this building or doing anything. So some sense of order has got to be there at some level.

This is part of what I’ve done.

I knew that was the very first thing I needed to change. Now the other thing that I discovered, and this is not about AFAN, this is about the impositions that AFAN has had from funding sources.

There are a lot of repetitive activities here. And that has been imposed by grant funding.

How many consent of release of information forms do we need to have? One from the state, one from the city, one from the …?

Really? Why can’t I create my own that adheres to all of them and expedite the process, save a couple of trees, and make sure that [the clients] only sign one piece of paper as opposed to four?

I’ve gone through this at Community Counseling. We went to battle with everybody. This is exactly what I did four years ago. I consolidated all the same repetitive forms that the clients have to sign and I put it all together, and the transition from clients getting services went much smoother.

Instead of having to look at over 16 to 20 pages, of paperwork, they went through eight.

This is the first thing I started looking at. When I first came here I posed as a client, I went around, I started looking at the services, I started asking the questions that any client will ask (and God knows I’ve had many clients), and I met with the social worker and with the case manager, and it was taking me Continued on next page

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Goal: Improving quality of client services Continued from previous page too long and I said to them, “Doesn’t this take too long? Why does it take too long?” And the answer was “I was told to do it this way.” So I go up the ladder, right, who decided it was going to be this way? Everybody, the answer I get here is “I don’t know, we’ve always done it this way.”

The second week I was here I called the county. And I said ‘tell me about these forms. My employees are spending two hours with the clients pushing these forms, making sure that they sign them … Why are they doing that?”

What do you think was the answer? “I don’t know. I thought that was your idea.” So I come here and I look to the people who have been here the longest and I talked to Jenn and she has all the history: No, it was imposed by this person before that person left it was imposed by this person and you know there is a stack of paperwork that has been given to clients as if it was all they do is sit here, instead of looking at the ability to have services, they have to go through these regulations which are absurd.

I told the staff when I met with them, I need to make sure the community knows that we’re improving the services here. But we have to improve it not because they have been wrong, or they don’t have any regulations. We have to improve it because of all this shit. Look at this. (Points to a stack of paperwork) In the last three weeks I’ve gone through all of this, I’ve consolidated all of these forms, and I still have more to go. I have to go to the county and to the city and the state, and to all of the people who give us funds to make sure that they’re okay with it.

Client services are really the priority that I have. Then it’s going to be continuing to make sure the community begins to trust us again. Because I had nothing to do with anything that happened prior to January first.

I have to be able to take this organization into the next level of functioning, where the community will continue to trust us and we will be able to provide the services that we can in a more expedited manner. And the best part, I’m hoping to speak with any of the clients that are having a difficult time.

So all those policies have to change.

They have changed, I have to meet with them to make sure that everybody agrees with what we’re doing.

We have to improve the services, the quality of services, by decreasing the amount of time they spend with the social worker signing documents that are on some level obsolete. Because a very, very low percentage of clients really need to have what used to be called the Zero Tolerance Policy. Very low percentage of clients.

It is [now] blended between client’s rights and responsibilities. It is one document. We don’t have to have the other one.

And it’s that simple: you have the right to access services, to be confidential, to make sure we protect you, take care of you, but you also have the responsibility to make sure that you don’t threaten my staff. So it’s something that’s very simple, you just get it, get rid of it, and blend it into the client rights.

NB: What’s the term of The Board of Trustees. If you’re on the Board, how long is your term?

AC: I haven’t checked that. But I

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can tell you it’s very simple. Whatever the Board exists right now they’re talking with the board of Community Counseling Center.

We’re moving towards an integration. We’re moving combining the services in a merger. And in the process, some of the Board members are happy about it and some are not – in both places. Both here and there.

I would expect that some are going from that organization and some are going to go from here.

So my job is going to be to combine one Board and to give them the opportunity to stay or to leave. I don’t want people to stay here if they’re not feeling this is a place they need to go. I already have people in mind, people who have contacted me that want to join the Board once the merger takes place.

As we’re going through this process, I’m not paying a lot of attention to them.

Because I know, at the most, at the end of the year the Board is going to be transformed. It’s going to be made up of whatever is left of both Boards. And I’m going to have to bring it from there.

NB: What has been done or will be done to restore AFAN’s good name in respect to client privacy? Videos of the clients in the waiting room were posted on the Internet, Morss sent client records to the Clark County Commission, posted them on the Internet, and claimed she had the right to do that.

AC: I can only tell you as of January first I have to adhere to HIPAA regulations and I have to adhere to confidentiality laws and regulations we have for the state. And not only because the agency has to adhere to them, but because my license requires me to do that. The other part is that we have excessive training, coming up with all the employees. About confidentiality, about HIPAA regulations, and about making sure they understand what they’re doing with the client. In terms of treatment, in terms of providing services, and all of that.

The other level is that every single person that works under that roof has to report to a specific board. The Board of MFT – Marriage and Family Therapists -- or the Board of Social Workers. And they have strict rules of confidentiality and conduct. Well, that applies here.

[Staff who are not Marriage and Family Therapists or Social Workers] are Continued on next page

Client restraining orders; mending fences Continued from previous page going to be held to the same standard as social workers and MFTs.

By HIPAA regulations they have to go through training on HIPAA and confidentiality on an annual basis.

Just caring about HIV doesn’t make you a good candidate to be working here.

You have to be able to have some formal training. And so I still have to look at who was hired here, how long have they been hired, I kind of have an idea, but I have to have a look at their personnel files to see who’s got the education and who doesn’t have the education.

And whoever has the education, we’re going to encourage them to improve themselves and their lives with training and development and whoever doesn’t have an education we’ll encourage them to go get an education.

If that was done for me by Ron [Lawrence], Why can’t I do that here?

And so hopefully with that, we’re going to be able to increase the quality of services we’re providing.

NB: Is AFAN doing anything to mend fences with other organizations?

AC: Of course. I am now the face of AFAN. I have to get to know what we do so that I can go and be with the other organizations and talk to them, because I never had any problems with any other organization. And the idea is, “Look, you can agree or disagree, but we still have to provide services to clients.”

I have already talked to several people.

We know this can only be bad for so long. You can’t just continue running an organization that’s just having the most horrible experience because the clients don’t want to come to an organization like this when they hear all this shit in the press. They don’t want to come here.

NB: Will anybody here be taking legal action against clients?

I don’t know.

NB: Restraining orders?

It depends. I don’t think I need to get to that level.

But if I have somebody that’s coming chasing me with a gun because they think the changes haven’t improved or the changes haven’t taken place when they want to you know, it’s been three months and nothing has changed so I’m going to change it with a gun, yeah, really, that’s not a nice question.

I don’t have the intention of doing that. Let’s make it very clear, I don’t have

the intention of creating this adversarial relationship with the community. My intention is to preserve the services that we have and to increase the quality and so, no, to me that’s not what I do. Is that off the table? I don’t know, I never encountered it in the other building.

The Community Counseling Center offices at 1120 Almond Tree Lane were ravaged by an arson fire a year ago. CCC has moved into another building at 714 E. Sahara Ave. and their old building, which they still own, has been renovated.

Aid for AIDS of Nevada is now renting that building, and saving thousands of dollars each month due to lower rent.

NB: Is any settlement with Lane Olson in sight?

AC: I have no idea. I’m going to meet with the board to talk about that.

I don’t know how that’s going to be. I don’t know where the process is. I know they were talking about a settlement but I have no idea where the process is. It’s legal and we can’t talk about anything about that. I know there is still some process going on with him.

NB: I understand he’s planning to file a counter-suit or an amendment to his counter-suit next week.

AC: I’m going to let the Board address some of those. I need to be in with them. I need to know what’s going

on. But that’s not the way I operate. My focus has really been about this. About the quality of services.

NB: The Lane Olson thing leaves a lot of people wondering what AFAN is doing. They’re suing a former employee.

And they tried to prevent him from getting his COBRA insurance, It just leaves people with w bad taste for AFAN and the sooner that gets resolved, the better.

You have to know there’s two sides to the story.

NB: I know that, but even Jerry Cade wrote a public letter AC: I know. I read the letter and I know about that. And what I can tell you is that it didn’t have to get to that level.

And I don’t know the details because I have not asked for those details because that’s not something I’m interested in doing right now. I will get to it. Because I will be pulled into it. I know that … when the time comes. And then I’ll have to read all of that, all the details.

But what I can tell you is that by looking at quality, by looking at policies and procedures, if I find somebody stealing money, I don’t care if they’ve been here for nine years … I don’t care if I go to war. You will be gone if you steal money from here.

I don’t know the details and I haven’t gotten involved in all that.

Lawrence to speak at Lambda Lunch, Wednesday, Feb. 8 Ron Lawrence, Executive Director of Community Counseling Center is the scheduled speaker at the Lambda Lunch on Wednesday, Feb. 8. He will be talking about the intended merger with AFAN, the reasons why such merghers are very important in the current healthcare reform climate, and the intended transformations that will occur in the hybrid agency according to the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act legislation.

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Annual CAPI conference comes to Las Vegas Over 40 LGBT organizations to attend Southern Nevada Association of Pride, Inc. has announced they will host the 2012 Annual CAPI Conference “This is It”.

The four day conference is scheduled to take place at the Tropicana Hotel March 22 - 25, 2012. The event is to feature local and regional speakers, along with discussion panels, workshops, and training sessions aimed at helping Pride organizations and other nonprofits across the western United States enhance their annual celebrations.

Ernie Yuen, President of Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc. said, “This is a great opportunity for our city and community to show off all Las Vegas has to offer. We are lucky to live in such an amazing city, with all the glitz and glam of our beautiful casinos, one-of-a-kind restaurants, seemingly endless shopping and gaming all contained on the strip. I am very proud of our community, I want each and every conference attendee to return to their hometown and talk about the amazing time they 24 $ February 2012 $ Las Vegas Night Beat

had while at the CAPI conference here in Las Vegas. If all goes as planned they will be back for more!”

Discussions and forums will cover such topics as creating community partnerships, volunteerism, marriage equality, parade and festival production, developing creative activist events and more. Roughly 40 Pride organizations across the western United States and Mexico are scheduled to take part in the conference.

CAPI is The Consolidated Association of Pride, Inc. (CAPI) is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation made up of GLBT Pride coordinators in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah and the country of Mexico.

Encompassing a full range of membership, member committees range from some of the largest in the world (San Francisco and Christopher Street West), to some of the smallest, with midsize events well represented in the rank-and-file.

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Las Vegas Night Beat $ February 2012 $ 25

Las Vegas sports roundup: Sin City Shootout The Sin City Shootout was held over Martin Luther King weekend on January 14th and 15th. It was the largest GLBT sports festival ever held in Las Vegas.

Teams and contestants came from all over to compete in softball, basketball, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling. Our local gay softball league had five teams that entered into the Softball Tournament.

The Grease Monkeys, sponsored by The Garage played in the C Division and went 3-2-1. Also in the C Division were Big Slick and Rat Pack 2.0. Big Slick went 5-3-1 and tied Palm Springs Double As for fifth place and Rat Pack went 10-2 overall and took fourth place in C Division. Had Big Slick won their last game, they would have played team Rat Pack to see who would advance farther into the tournament. C Division had 54 teams overall and were split into two divisions.

The D Division was represented by three Las Vegas teams, Charlie’s, Fun Hog and Piranha. The D Division was broken up into a D-1 and D-2 Division.

The boys of Fun Hog Ranch went 23 overall giving the team who made it to the Championship a run for their money. Team Charlie’s had their best performance in a tournament and finished 3-3 and eighth place overall. The amazing outcome of these two teams is that both teams that beat them made it to the D-1 Championship and they did not win by much.

Team Piranha was in the D-2 Division and went 8-3 overall and took third place in the D-2 Division. It was an amazing weekend and congratulations to all the Las Vegas teams.

For more information on who finished first, second and third in the tournament and all the other festival categories, visit www.sincityshootout. com The next tournament that all these teams will be traveling to will be the Palm Springs Tournament, Feb. 11 and 12. Good Luck!!

will need to attend at least one clinic to be assessed by the ratings committee so you can be placed in the proper division based on your skills. The Spring League will begin on March 4 at Lorenzi Park and games will begin at 10 a.m. and go through 3 p.m.. This will be the third year for the local teams to compete for a chance to go to the Gay World Series of Softball and represent our local league. This year’s tournament is being held in Minneapolis MN. This year, we will be able to send two D teams and two C teams.

We are also looking for more

LVGSL Spring Softball Attention all softball players in our community. The Las Vegas Gay Softball League will be holding softball clinics from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting Feb. 5 at Lorenzi Park on Washington, just west of Rancho Drive. On Feb. 12, clinics will be at Doc Romeo, off West Cheyenne Ave. and I-95, then back to Lorenzi on Feb. 19 and 26. All players who wish to participate 26 $ February 2012 $ Las Vegas Night Beat

ladies to come out and help us build out Women’s Division. We currently have two teams and two more in the works.

We would love to see more ladies get involved and participate in this division.

It is a lot of fun. For more information, contact Hope Nulf, Women’s Division Commissioner. For more information on joining a softball team, please visit www. lvga3softball.com and contact Larry O’Holleran, League Commissioner.

For more information on other LVGA3 Sports such as basketball, tennis, volleyball and football, visit www.lvga3.com.

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‘12 Inches of Sin’: international juried erotic art exhibition “12 Inches of Sin … It’s Not The Size, It’s What You Do With It…” will feature 25 examples of the most sophisticated, intelligent and clever erotic art from around the world. The dimensions of each of the all-original works are at most 12 inches in any given direction. This design competition, which is the first international juried erotic art exhibition in Las Vegas, compresses the exhibition boundaries while expanding artistic challenge. The juried exhibition will run from Feb. 2 to 26 at the Sin City Art Gallery in downtown Las Vegas, with an opening reception on the first day from 7 – 10 p.m.

Two announcements will be made at the reception. One will be Best of Show from the 25 finalists (listed below). The winner of the exhibition competition will be flown to Las Vegas for their own one-person show next year. The other will be Sin City Gallery’s first Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented to a pioneering figure from the art industry. The signature Lifetime Achievement Award is being designed by Domsky Glass of Nevada and embodies the artistry, imagination and passion of the recipient who has undeniably impacted arts and culture. The nominees are Helen Gurley Brown, Kenneth Anger, Yoshitaka Amano and Benedikt Taschen.

A “12 Inches Party in the Afterglow,”

which will include burlesque and other performance artists will follow the opening reception on Feb. 2 and be held at Artifice, located at 1025 First Street, Suite A from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. “‘12 Inches of Sin’ is a truly international show hosting an international jury with contributing artists from nine countries: Lebanon, Israel,

Poland, Germany, England, Canada, Uruguay and the United States,” said Dr. Laura Henkel, owner and curator of the Sin City Gallery. “The winner of ’12 Inches of Sin’ will have their works featured in a solo exhibition at Sin City Gallery the following year, while a traveling version of the exhibition is in

the planning stages.”

“We aim to confront viewers with art that celebrates erotic acts as a whole-person expression, which also contemplates form, color and structure.

Sin City Gallery is known for presenting art experiences that cause the viewers to think with their senses and feel with their minds,” said Debbe Sussman, Sin City Gallerist. She added, “ ‘12 Inches of Sin’ is a commitment by Sin City Gallery owners to promote sophisticated, visceral and thought-provoking artists who challenge and inspire the viewer to confront established norms morally, artistically and spiritually, while never losing the fun inherent in the subject matter.”

A portion of the proceeds from art sales will be donated to the nonprofit organization The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and its Sisters AIDS Drug and Assistance Program.

Sin City Gallery is located off the Strip in the famous Arts Factory, situated in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas’ thriving arts community, at 107 E. Charleston Boulevard, Suite 100. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 1 to 7 p.m. For information, updates and exhibition calendar, call 702-608-2461 or visit www.sincitygallery.com.

12” of Sin: The selected artists and their works include: Edmond Bouciaous, Beirut, Lebonan “The Brazilian” CACOC,Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada “Feme No. 8” Erik Christiansen, Warsaw “Infidel 2″ Ankha Desh, California, USA “Day at the Beach” Larry Domsky/KD Matheson, Nevada, USA “12 Gun Salute” Kai Eckhardt, Nortorf, Germany “Tasty” Nicola Fillipo, Nevada, USA “Coquette” Susanne Forestieri, Nevada, USA “Gigi”

Natasha Gornik, Califoronia, USA “Devon, New York″ Doug Johns, California, USA “Galactic Transengenital” Sharon Leong, Califoronia, USA “Geisha” Teresa Maharaj, Nevada, USA “Thinking of You” Daniel Martinez, Montevideo, Uruguay “Forbidden Collection 2″ Mark Mellon, Nevada, USA “Aphrodite 2″ Gary Mitchell, Ohio, USA “Symmetry” Daniel Olek, New York, USA “Field of Wheat” Debi Oulu, Yehud, Israel

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“It’s an Acquired Taste” JP Rakehorn, Essex, England “Untitled” Patricia Pastore, London, England “Shadows On My Skin” Bradley C. Rader, California, USA “Vampire Penis 1″ JK Russ, Auckland, New Zealand “Laviscious Landscape 1″ H. Samarel, Raanana, Israel “Enter My Mind” Scott Sandoval, Nevada, USA “Aroused” Tiffany Selig, Nevada, USA “My Party”

information.

Karaoke 9 pm to 1 am at the Eagle

Night Planner

Wednesdays:

Shows, Events, Happenings

Slot Tournament at Eagle, Noon.

Wise Womyn meet at The Center, noon to 1 pm. For more information call 733-9800.

Wednesday Karaoke with Wil 9 pm till 1 am at Goodtimes.

Underwear Night at Eagle 10 pm to 3 am.

Thursdays: Fridays: Lunch Bunch at Eagle at noon with Andy.

The L Group – Lesbian night at The Center, 7 p.m. Lesbian Movie Nights, Wine Tasting Nights, Game Nights, Potlucks, Guest Speakers.

Trans.lation, a social group for transgender people and their loved ones, meets at The Center at 5:30 pm.

Men’s Naked Yoga at 7:30 pm at Erotic Heritage Museum. Visit MensNakedYoga.com for more information.

Underwear Night at Eagle 10 pm to 3 am.

Friday, MEN of Escape, 10 pm till 2 am at Escape.

Friday Vaquero Night 10 pm till 2 am at Goodtimes.

Underwear Night at Spotlight, midnight to 3 am.

“Naked Boys Singing” the Off-Broadway sensation, live at Onyx Theatre. 10 pm. OnyxTheatre.com for details and reservations.

“Flaunt Friday” amateur go-go contest (every 1st Friday) hosted by Ginger Grant, Midnight till 2 am at Escape.

Compete for $500 in cash and prizes.

Saturdays: Underwear Night at Spotlight, Midnight to 3 am.

“Naked Boys Singing” the Off-Broadway sensation, live at Onyx Theatre. 10 pm. OnyxTheatre.com for details and reservations.

Saturday Men of Escape, 10 pm till 2 am at Escape.

Saturday Noches Caliente. Drag show, 10 pm till 3am at Goodtimes.

Towel Night at Eagle.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Onyx Theatre 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 11 pm. Presented by Divine Decadence.

Visit www.OnyxTheatre.com for more information.

Midnight Pool Tournament at Eagle.

Sundays: Lunch Bunch at Eagle at noon with Andy.

Eagle’s free slot tournament at noon Men’s Naked Yoga at 11:30 am at Erotic Heritage Museum. Visit MensNakedYoga.com for more information.

Alcoholics Anonymous - Stag Meeting at The Center, Sundays @ 11 am also Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays @ 6:30 pm.

Naked Boys Singing! at 2 pm at Onyx Theatre.

Miss Kitty’s T-Dance at Fun Hog Ranch, 5 pm.

Dart Tournament at the Eagle w/ Brett, 7 pm “Miss Frankie Unplugged!” show at Badlands, 9 pm.

Sunday, Karaoke with Shelia 9 pm till 1am at Escape.

Mondays: Free HIV Testing at The Center, 1 to 6 pm.

Free Hepatitis A & B immunizations at The Center, 1 to 6 pm Young Lesbians meet at The Center, 5 pm.

“Pigs on Broadway” shows at Fun Hog Ranch, 8 pm.

Dart Tournament at Snick’s Place. $6 buyin, winner take all.

Free slot tournament at Eagle, 8 pm.

Improv Vegas Sketch Comedy every Monday at 8 pm at Onyx Theatre.

Monday “Top Drag” contest at Goodtimes. Compete for $300 in cash and prizes, weekly winners move on to battle it out for $750 every 5th week.

Tuesdays: ‘Rent’ at Green Valley Ranch to benefit Golden Rainbow. 702-384-2899 for tickets. 8 pm.

Bisexual Women’s Chat, 6 pm at The Center.

Karaoke at the LV Eagle, 10 pm.

Trendy Tuesday by Sin City Q Socials, visit SinCityQSocials.com for more

Free HIV Testing at The Center, 1 to 6 pm.

Free Hepatitis A & B immunizations at The Center, 1 to 6 pm Shuffleboard Tournament at Snick’s Place, 7 pm.

Karaoke at Eagle, 10 pm.

MEN of Escape, 10 pm till 2 am; flamBOYance (show) 11 pm. at Escape.

Wednesday, February 1 Prime Timers’ Fiesta Rancho Casino Buffet, 11:30 am.

February 2 through 26 12 Inches of Sin art exhibit at Sin City Galleries, 107 E. Chareleston Blvd., #100.

Friday, February 3 Royal Court presents “The King and Queen of Broken Hearts Pageant at Flex, 10 pm.

Tuesday, February 7 Prime Timers’ Dragon Buffet Restaurant - 230 N. Nellis, 6:30 pm.

IBL open pool tournament at the Garage, play begins at 8 pm.

Wednesday, February 8 Lambda Business Association Lunch with speaker Ron Lawrence on Merging AFAN with Community Counseling.

At Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant in Commercial Center. $15 inclusive, at 11:30 am.

Thursday, February 9 SNAPI presents “Nuts & Bolts” at The Garage, 9 pm to midnight Saturday, February 11 “Beyond Brokeback, A Staged Reading with Music at Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo, 2 pm.

Tuesday, February 14 IBL open pool tournament at Charlies, play begins at 8 pm.

Sunday, February 12 Desert Brotherhood MC run to Goodsprings, NV; Sandy Valley, CA; Jean, NV, returning by

Continued on next page Las Vegas Night Beat $ February 2012 $ 29

Night Planner Shows, Events, Happenings Old L.A. Highway. Meet at 9 am. For additional information: www.DBMC-LV.com, or email Desrtbrotherhood@aol.com.

Thursday, February 16 Prime Timers’ South Point Steak & Shake, 11:30 am.

Saturday, February 18 Prime Timers’ Monthly meeting & Potluck - LGBT Center, 4 pm.

Sunday, February 19 3rd Annual Meat Loaf Cook Off at Eagle.

Tuesday, February 21 Mardi Gras Party at The Garage, all day.

IBL open pool tournament at FreeZone, play begins at 8 pm.

Wednesday, February 22 Prime Timers at Fun Hog Ranch, 6 to 8 pm.

Saturday, February 25 Sin Sity Sisters’ Project Red Dress at world Market Center. See ad on page 19 or visit www.sinsitysisters.org for more information.

Saturday, February 25 Fun Hog Birthday Party for those born in February. Birthday Grab bag, 7 pm.

Sunday, February 26 Locker Room Lock Down (private party) at Eagle, 10 pm to 2 am.

February 26 through March 3 Telluride Gay Ski Week. Visit www.

TellurideGaySkiWeek.com for more information

Sunday, February 26.

Desert Brotherhood MC run to Red Rock National Park; Bonnie Springs, NV; Blue Diamond, NV. Meet at 9 am. For additional information: www.DBMC-LV.com, or email Desrtbrotherhood@aol.com.

Academy Awards Party at Eagle.

Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence “Project Red Dress” at World Market Center. Vip Party starts at 8 pm, Main Event starts at 10 pm. visit SinSitySisters.org for more information.

Tuesday, February 28 IBL open pool tournament at Flex, play begins at 8 pm.

30 $ February 2012 $ Las Vegas Night Beat

Wednesday, February 29 Prime Timers at Rio Casino World Buffet, 6:30 pm.

Sunday, March 4 Desert Brotherhood MC run to Boulder City, NV; Nelson’s Landing; Historic Techatticup Gold Mine. Meet at 9 am. For additional information: www.DBMC-LV.com, or email Desrtbrotherhood@aol.com.

Sunday, March 18 Desert Brotherhood MC run to Searchlight, NV. Meet at 9 am.

For additional information: www.DBMC-LV.com, or email Desrtbrotherhood@aol.com.

Saturday, April 7 Desert Brotherhood MC meet and ride with bikers and leathermen attending “Smokeout 2012”. Meet at 9 am. For additional information: www.DBMC-LV.com, or email Desrtbrotherhood@aol.com.

April 27 through 29 Dinah Shore weekend in Las Vegas. The full Dinah Shore Weekend 2012 schedule of events, performers, ticket and hotel information and VIP travel package options at www. dinahshoreweekend.com.

Saturday, April 28 Desert Brotherhood MC run to annual “Laughlin River Run”. Meet at 8 am. For additional information: www.DBMC-LV.com, or email Desrtbrotherhood@aol.com.

May 6 through 10 Prime Timers Wstern Regional Gathering.

Visit www.LasVegasPrimeTimers.com for details.

Sunday, May 6 Desert Brotherhood MC run to Dante’s View, Bad Water, Death Valley, CA. Meet at 9 am. For additional information: www.DBMC-LV.com, or email Desrtbrotherhood@aol.com.

Sunday, May 20 Desert Brotherhood MC run to Indian Springs, Lee Canyon, Mount Charleston. Meet at 9 am.

Romney’s tax returns reveal donations to anti-LGBT groups Romney gave to Massachusetts-based group advocating for ex-gay movement The tax returns for Mitt Romney’s charitable foundation reveal that the GOP presidential hopeful has given at least $35,000 in recent years to groups actively working to halt the spread of LGBT equality and, in some cases, intentionally demonize LGBT people.

The revelation comes two weeks after Romney said in New Hampshire that he opposed discrimination against LGBT Americans. But according to CNN, Romney donated to the extremist group Massachusetts Family Institute, as well as the Becket Fund. The Massachusetts Family Institute received $10,000 from Romney in 2006, while the Beckett Fund received $25,000 in 2009. The donations came from the Tyler Charitable Foundation, set up and funded by the Romneys.

“This is just another example of Mitt Romney saying one thing while doing the complete opposite. It’s crystal clear that while Governor Romney claims to oppose discrimination, he is beholden to groups who make it their mission to vilify LGBT people,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

“Romney’s financial support of extremist groups is indicative of a politician with rising national ambitions who knew he had to cozy up to those on the far-right in order to secure his party’s nomination.”

The Massachusetts Family Institute has long been a vocal opponent of marriage equality, and believes sexual orientation is a choice that can be cured.

From their website: “Our compassion is for those struggling with same-sex attraction and we encourage the healing of individuals who wish to change their choice of lifestyle…”

The group also is ruthless in its dedication to distorting programs intended to reduce bullying and make schools safer, more welcoming environments for all students. It says gay-straight alliances may violate the

Constitution and parental rights, and says associated programming pushes a radical, pro-homosexual agenda. The organization has said HRC’s Welcoming Schools initiative isn’t actually about addressing and preventing dangerous bullying, but instead is aimed at teaching “children at the youngest ages about homosexual relationships and same-sex parenting.”

Romney also gave a significant sum of money to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan,

interfaith group dedicated to protecting the expression of religious traditions.

The group is vehemently anti-marriage equality, and has argued that allowing committed same-sex couples to marry would trigger a wave of litigation for religious organizations objecting to performing or recognizing such ceremonies in states across the nation.

The organization also compared pro-equality demonstrations during the time when Proposition 8 was a hot-button issue in California to the actions of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.

Las Vegas Night Beat $ February 2012 $ 31

AAS celebrates Frank Kameny’s efforts for employment rights At its 219th semiannual meeting last month in Austin, Texas, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) presented a certificate of appreciation commemorating Dr. Frank Kameny’s

lifetime efforts to secure equal employment rights for all.

In 1957 Kameny, a Ph.D. astronomer and member of the AAS, was unjustly fired from his position with the U.S.

Testing is FREE! Mondays & Thursdays at the GLBT Center The Southern Nevada Health District has extended hours for free testing at the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada to include Mondays and Thursdays except holidays, The Health District Clinic will be open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The District offers rapid HIV testing (same day results), syphilis blood draws, urine-based gonorrhea and chlamydia screening and Twinrix (Hepatitis A and B) vaccinations.

The Center 953 E. Sahara Avenue, Suite B-25

(702) 733-9800

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government because he was gay. His subsequent efforts to advance the cause of gay rights included organizing some of the first public protests for homosexual rights in America, running as the first openly gay candidate for Congress, and writing the first petition to the Supreme Court to argue that discrimination based on sexual orientation violates constitutional civil-rights protections.

Dr. Kameny’s achievements included a successful campaign to remove homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association’s Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973 and the repeal of the District of Columbia’s law regulating private sexual matters between consenting adults. Dr. Kameny’s efforts on the national level to promote diversity and equality for all are in alignment with the mission of the AAS to promote diversity and equality within its membership and have enabled many AAS members to pursue their calling without the fear of the professional discrimination due to sexual orientation that Dr. Kameny suffered.

In 2009 the federal government issued a formal apology to Dr. Kameny for his firing solely on the basis of sexual orientation. Sadly, Dr. Kameny died in October 2011, before the AAS could honor him in person. At the Austin meeting Mr. Charles Francis, cofounder of the Kameny Papers Project, accepted the certificate of appreciation from AAS president Dr. Debra M. Elmegreen (Vassar College).

The following wording appears on the certificate: “The American Astronomical Society, in light of its commitment to diversity and equality, hereby honors the memory of the astronomer Dr. Franklin Edward Kameny for his exemplary lifelong commitment to promoting equal rights for homosexual men and women. Dr. Kameny’s activism removed discriminatory barriers that had cut short many careers.

Dr. Kameny tirelessly advocated against policies that banned gays from working for the federal government, holding security clearances, or serving openly in the military.”

“The presentation was an emotionally charged moment for our community,” says Elmegreen. “By honoring Dr. Kameny, the AAS has helped to right a previous national wrong.”

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

BUY # SELL # TRADE # RENT SERVICES & ANNOUNCEMENTS FORMER MORMONS: The Las Vegas Post-Mormon Community is a nonsectarian organization of former Mormons. The Las Vegas chapter meets for dinner and socializing the first Sunday of every month at 5 p.m. at a local restaurant. For more information, visit www.PostMormon.com/lasvegas or email Sin CityMormon@gmail.com.

GAY SQUARE DANCING.- The Reel Rebels welcomes all experienced dancers, locals or visitors, to join us on Wednesday nights at 7:30 for mainstream and plus square dancing.

Contact Ed for the location at 702-898-0922.

LAS VEGAS MEN’S CHORUS - Rehearsals 7 pm - 9 pm at Community Lutheran Church.

New members welcome. For Information, LVMensChorus.org or 594-3393.

GAY MEN’S OUTREACH GROUP Designed to promote self-discovery through personal exploration with other like-minded men, in a safe, informal environment. We meet in the library of the GLBT Center every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 PM. The group is open to all gay and bisexual men. For more information contact Nick at nicktanc@cox.net.

LAS VEGAS SUNRUNNERS. The only male nudist group in Las Vegas. We host several nudists events a month. To find out more, call Sunrunner at 363-6862.

ONYX THEATER – Las Vegas’ newest venue, a state-of-the-art, 96 seat facility is available for private parties, live performances. Call The Rack at 732-7225 for information.

SINCITYQSOCIALS --You are invited to join us for our Trendy Tuesdays Martini Mixers, a free event to meet other gay men in the community in a non-traditional social setting.

We meet weekly at a different ultra-lounge in the Valley. Check us out more on-line: www. sincityqsocials.com.

POR AMOUR COUPLES: Pot luck club, Last Saturday of the month. Call (702) 733-9990.

JEWISH GAY AND LESBIAN FRIENDSHIP GROUP -- The Jewish Community Center(JCC) of So.NV has formed a group for Jewish gays & lesbians to come together for socials, theater, happy hours, sporting events and more . We meet 6:30 p.m., second Thursday of each month at JCC 9001 Hillpointe Rd on the campus of Temple Sinai. 702-794-0090 ext.115, or Facebook group “Friends of Dorit”, or www.jccsn.org.

SPECIAL PORTRAITS & Photo novelties of you and yours in the privacy of your home . . .

Photography Plus, 646-1583.

WISE WOMYN Meet every Wednesday at noon at The Gay & Lesbian Community Center in Commercial Center. For more info call 369-4380.

TRANSITIONS - A support group for anyone experiencing changes due to the sexual orientation of spouse, partner, parent. Every Friday at 5:30 p.m. Community Counseling Center or call 369-8700.

GAY SCIENCE FICTION CLUB: CLUB: For information call (702) 733-9990. Leave message.

SENIOR GAY MEN - singles or couples. Prime Timers is an organization for gay senior men and their admirers. Weekly events plus an annual national gathering here in Las Vegas in May. Meets at Gay & Lesbian Community Center, #B31, Commercial Center, 953 E. Sahara Ave. (for activities schedule call 702553-5713, e-mail - LVjupiter@cox.net) LEATHER UNIFORM CLUB OF LAS VEGAS holds a general meeting at 8 p.m. at The GLBT Center in Commercial Center on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Anyone involved, interested in or just curious about leather, uniforms, rubber, or a fetish, are welcome to attend. We are a pan sexual group and welcome everyone no matter what level you think you are at. There is a monthly Fetish and Friendship Dinner held at the Black Bear Diner on Tropicana and Jones on the 1st Thursday of each month from 7 to 9 pm. For further information WWW.LUCofLV.COM or call 702558-2223 Leather Addictions, leave a message if closed or ask for a LUC of LV member SENIOR SOCIAL CONNECTION Meets at Gay & Lesbian Community Center, #B31, Commercial Center, 953 E. Sahara Ave. (for activities schedule call 702-553-5713, e-mail - LVjupiter@cox.net) HOW DO YOU MEET great people in Las Vegas? Nevada Outdoors. A great way to meet people outside of the bar area; hiking, camping, swimming, boating, jet skiing, snow skiing, 4x4-runs, volleyball games, holiday and theme parties and other fun events. Check the website at www.NevadaOutdoors.org, e-mail us at info@NevadaOutdoors.org or call Glenn at 702-860-7110 for more information.

GAY CLASSICAL MUSIC GROUP of Las Vegas. Serious listeners and enjoyers of classical music welcome. We meet in

an accessible by car only location. Call Mark at 702-255-3980.

VEGAS BISEXUALS is a small online community much like Facebook, yet private. To join (there is no cost), e-mail: vegasbisexuals@gmail.com. We also meet monthly for dinner at Winchell’s Pub & Grill at 199 E. Warm Springs, LV 89119 every 4th Thursday, 7 till 10 p.m. Bring a friend if you wish. We hope to see you there!

THE INDEPENDENT BILLIARD LEAGUE of Las Vegas is a new billiard league. During the regular playing season, league play will take place on Tuesday evenings at various bars. Visit www.IBL-LasVegas.com for more information.

EMPLOYMNENT HELP WANTED – clean appearance, good people skills. Pre-employment drug testing is mandatory. Hourly wage, generous benefits after 90 days, friendly working environment.

Apply in person at Hawks Gym & Spa, northeast corner of Commercial Center.

FOR SALE APPLIANCES FOR SALE: Gently used, stacked washer & dryer, $350; Electric stove, $200; Refrigerator, $250. All are white, all electric. Call (702) 501-7182.

BUSINESS SERVICES CHUCK VANAGE - HOME AND BUSINESS CLEANING - Commercial and Residential Maintenance and Cleaning. Licensed / Insured / Estimates - * * * 355-4887 * * *

FREE PETS BLACK CAT! So cute! Delicate, not very big and very friendly. Will be spayed. Lives outside.

Won’t you give her a good home? Free if you qualify. Call 501-7182.

ROOMMATES/RENTALS SE LUXURY, GATED RENTAL: 3 bdrm, 3 bath, 3 car garage, huge kitchen, pool, spa and covered patio with BBQ. This is an entertainer’s delight. 2506 sf, single story inside the luxurious Las Quintas (off Sandhill, near Russell) and can be yours for $1,995 per month which includes weekly pool and yard maintenance.

No smoking, no pets, 600 min. FICOO score.

Call Rob Schlegel, Realtor, Elite Realty, (702) 813-6214 or email JustPeople@cox.net.

2 BDRM FOR RENT: Available in March, similar to a garden home, has small, private backyard. Near Charleston and Maryland. $550 per month. Call (702) 501-7182.

NW GATED RENTAL: 3 bdrm, loft/den, 3 bath, 2 car garage, covered patio, 1621 sf, two-story home is located off W. Cheyenne, between Durango and El Capitan. Community features pool and park. $1,000 per month. No smoking, no pets, 600 min. FICOO score. Call Rob Schlegel, Realtor, Elite Realty, (702) 813-6214 or email JustPeople@cox.net.

Las Vegas Night Beat $ February 2012 $ 33

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL Continued from previous page

HOMES FOR SALE UPSIDE DOWN & UNDER WATER? I can do a short sale at little to no cost to the mortgage holder but don’t live in denial and wait too long as there is a Dec. 31, 2012 deadline for tax forgiveness on capital gains from short sales. Call me for the details. I’ll be happy to explain the process. Call Rob Schlegel, Realtor, Elite Realty, (702) 813-6214 or email JustPeople@cox.net.

PERSONALS – L.V. MEN SEEKING MEN

Classified Advertising Rates Personal and roommate ads are $12 for the first 20 words and 25¢ per word over 20. All other ads are $20 for the first 20 words and $1.00 per word over 20. E-mail ads to LVNightBeat@aol.com, or mail them to 1140 Almond Tree Lane, Suite 304; Las Vegas, NV 89104-3233.

WM, 55, 6’, 200 LBS., HIV neg. seeks GWM, top, 30 – 49, HIV neg, under 200 lbs., (height and weight proportionate). Tops only, please call. 702-558-8386.

FUN LOVING COOL WHITE MALE, 50s looking for Latin, Japanese, Asian, Black, Indian, under 45. Bi, closet, first time OK. Discreet. Let’s talk. 478-0803.

HIV POSITIVE NOT IN TREATMENT? If you are HIV positive and just moved into town or dropped out of treatment? I can help! All matters are kept confidential. Call Marco at Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada 702 369-8700 ext. 278.

VIH POSITIVO NO ESTAS EN TRATAMIENTO? Nuevo en Las Vegas?

Yo te puedo ayudar! Si estas VIH Positivo y no estas recibiendo trato medico?

Llamame! No estas solo! Marco Flores Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada 702 369-8700 278.

FREE TESTING Mondays & Thursdays at GLBT Center On Mondays and Thursdays from 1 to 6 pm, The Southern Nevada Health District offers rapid HIV testing (same day results), syphilis blood draws, urine-based gonorrhea and chlamydia screening and Twinrix (Hepatitis A and B) vaccinations.

The Center

953 E. Sahara Avenue # B-25 (702) 733-9800 34 $ February 2012 $ Las Vegas Night Beat

Sorry, we do not accept ads from incarcerated individuals.

Eagle underwear guys lookin’ good Another month, another dollar – they don’t pay much around here.

—•— Las Vegas is becoming a really hot gay & lesbian travel destination. Last month we had the Sin City Shootout, which brought hundreds of gay athletes to town. Now, it’s just been announced that the Dinah Shore weekend has relocated to Las Vegas.

It’ been a Palm Springs staple for many years – originated there, I believe.

Dinah was a singer during the big band era and later made television her home.

According to Wikipedia, “Shore, who played golf herself, was a longtime supporter of women’s professional golf.

In 1972, she helped found the Colgate Dinah Shore golf tournament, which today, now known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship, remains as one of the four major golf tournaments on the LPGA Tour. The tournament is held each spring near Shore’s former home in Rancho Mirage, California.” For those of you who don’t know, Rancho Mirage is in the Palm Springs area.

Well, Dinah Shore Weekend is expected to attract many, many lesbians

to our fair city. Large events are always appreciated, but with the economic slump, this is a very welcome event.

—•— Thanks to Brett Franta, my favorite bartender (for this month) at the Eagle.

Brett has the really tough job of taking the pictures of the Eagle Centerfold winner during underwear night. It’s only a tough job because he’s got to pose those guys wearing only skimpy underwear.

I’m so sorry, Brett.

This month he sent over some extra photos, including the one here. I think the men who attend Underwear Night are getting better looking these days. I couldn’t resist printing this picture, just to prove the above statement.

This month’s winner was Paul Braxton, shown here (center) with a couple of other contestants. Brett didn’t share their names, but either one of them could be next month’s winner.

My skirt is rustling just thinking about the possibilities.

Thanks again, Brett. If you get tired of shooting those guys, call me. I’ll come running with my camera.

—•— Thomas Bogle has been reporting on LVGA3 sports for many months now, but he’s getting too busy, so he’s quitting the business. Thanks, Thomas, for your fine contributions.

The Chief Night Beater is looking for someone to take his place. If you’re interested, drop him a line at LVNightBeat@aol.com.

—•— The Fun Hog Ranch is still going strong on Monday nights. If you haven’t stopped in to see Miss Kitty Litter and her “Pigs on Broadway Musical” you need to put that in your scheduler. Miss Kitty has them rolling in the aisles with something different every week. The fun Continued on next page

Las Vegas Night Beat $ February 2012 $ 35

Pepsi, best wishes for a speedy recovery; Kyle’s at Goodtimes, Chris is at Crews ‘n Continued from previous page starts at 8 pm.

It’s always a good time when the Sin Sity Sisters or Perpetual Indulgence show up, and they’ll be at the Fun Hog on Saturday, Feb. 18 beginning at 10 p.m. with prizes and free HIV testing.

—•— That reminds me, buy your ticket early for the Sin Sity Sisters “Project Red Dress” on Saturday, Feb. 26. Wear your red dress to the event to demonstrate solidarity of the community in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Besides, you can’t get in without a red dress. That’s just the way it is.

No, you don’t have to do the drag think with hair and makeup. No high heels, either – unless you want to.

Just a red dress, over your 501s and cowboy boots, that’s all you really need to do.

The event benefits the Sisters AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which assures that no body falls through the cracks and doesn’t get their meds. It’s a program the good Sisters have made their mission, and what a noble mission it is.

I know times are hard, but a few dollars for this good cause isn’t asking too much.

Go to www.SinSitySisters.org to buy your tickets or just make a donation.

—•— Those zany Republicans! It’s going to be an exciting spring. We’ve got one presidential candidate who donated to rabidly anti-gay groups, while spouting off about supporting equal rights for GLBT people and another who wants to protect the sanctity of marriage. His only problem? His wife didn’t like the idea of him keeping a mistress.

With choices like that, what’s a good gay Republican to do?

—•— Hello to my favorite (active) bartender in Las Vegas. Kyle, formerly at the Spotlight, is working a couple of day shifts over at Goodtimes. He’s such a sweetie.

And best wishes to Goodtimes’ bartender Pepsi, who’s had some health issues. I hear he’s doing better these days.

—•— I ran into Chris Twist tending bar at Crews ‘n. Chris is multi-talented. He writes, he’s a contortionist, he tends bar, and I heard he did a piano recital at a downtown bar recently. Slow down, Chris. You don’t need to do everything before you’re 25.

—•—

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Happy birthday, John Eisele; did you celebrate in Pahrump?

And then I keep seeing my other future ex husband, appearing in those commercials for Prism TV. Larry Atello is multi-talented, also, but we won’t get into that here.

—•— Congratulations to Randy Lange and Michael Morse, owners of Hawks Gym, The Rack and Onyx Theatre. They’ve been working for years to get a Hawks Gym opened in Portland, and it’s finally happened. Go to www.hawkspdx.com before your next trip to Portland to find out what kinds of events are planned, and what specials are available.

—•— Belated birthday greetings to John Eisele. John’s the Case Manager at Las Vegas Defense Group and he appears in TV ads and on the back cover of every issue of the Night Beat as their nonattorney spokesperson.

I’m sure he celebrated on January 20 with his partner, Michael, at some exotic venue. Perhaps Pahrump? I heard they enjoyed themselves at Pahrump Pride last summer, but it may have been too cold in January to spend lots of time in the pool.

—•—

Finally, kudos to the ACLU and the NAACP on filing their request that the Department of Justice look at Metro’s long string of citizen shootings. I don’t know if the recent and past shootings are justified or not. I do know that some Metro officers didn’t learn anything from the settlement with the guy with the video camera. I do know that my most recent encounter with Metro officers left me feeling like I have no rights. I do know Metro doesn’t seem to answer to anyone, not the County Commissioners or City

Council.

Metro needs to be reined in and soon.

The feds may be the only ones who can do it.

—•— The boss says I need to get this column turned in, so until next month, remember (with apologies to Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Teddy Roosevelt’s eldest daughter), If you haven’t anything good to say about anyone, email me.

LVNightBeat@aol.com.

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First Mistress?

Opinion

By Wayne Besen

about America he will feel if elected president!)

In 2012, his second wife, Marianne, who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis, claimed that when she found out about the affair with Callista, Newt gave her an ultimatum that she must share him in an “open marriage.” When she declined, he divorced her.

The truth is, Newt Gingrich treats women like used cars, trading them in for newer models when something goes wrong under the hood or the new car smell dissipates. He is a totally despicable person who has poor character, is ethically challenged, and displays essentially no integrity or personal responsibility – yet hoards of born-again Christians seem to love him.

“I came at it completely believing

I agree with Focus on the Family cofounder James Dobson when he objects to Callista Gingrich becoming the First Lady because, “she was a mistress for eight years,” and share the view of right wing blowhard Jason Molotov Mitchell when he says that, “Newt and Callista are the last role models we want our sons and daughters looking up to.”

Both Dobson and Mitchell are odious human beings who peddle hate and traffic in lies – but at least they appear to be true social conservatives. The unassailable fact is that if you support or plan to vote for Newt Gingrich you do not stand for traditional family values. Indeed, the free-loving morality of Gingrich and his wife mirrors the distorted stereotypes they often unfairly project onto hippies and liberals.

‘Newt and Callista Will someone in the Republican Party please tell me how this scheming, seem more than cheating couple that made a mockery of willing to throw their family values is remotely conservative?

They had a secretive, sleazy affair that “loved ones” under they hid for years until they could no the bus to help his longer conceal it. The hanky-panky was occurring even as Gingrich boisterously political aspirations.’ and brazenly skewered President Bill Clinton over his affair with Monica that evangelical women would not even Lewisnsky. consider him,” Penn Nance of Concerned Thanks to Gingrich’s effective Women for America told The New dressing down of CNN’s John King Yorker. “I’ve been surprised by their and his general bludgeoning of the willingness to listen and forgive.” mainstream media, reporters have been It is time to drop all pretenses somewhat cowed and a tad reluctant to by pretending there is a pro-family say the obvious: Callista is a shameless movement in America. These two-faced home wrecker and Newt is a philandering scoundrels are not “pro-family” they hypocrite who talks like a preacher and are simply anti-gay. The only time these lives like a porn star. Here are a few holier-than-thou charlatans give a damn inconvenient facts: about family values is when they slam Newt fell in love with his high democrats like John Edwards or to bash school geometry teacher, Jackie, homosexuals. When Edwards cheated and married her. (If it had been a on his sick wife and lied about it he was gay relationship or a Democrat, no ruined and reduced to a pariah. Gingrich doubt Gingrich would have called the engaged in the exact same behavior and relationship pedophilia) instead of becoming a pariah he might Jackie, Gingrich’s first wife, claims become president. that while she was recovering from To cover their putrid past, the cancer surgery in 1980, Newt came to the couple is trying to hide behind religion hospital to discuss divorcing her so he with Callista claiming that “When could marry his mistress, Marianne.

Newt became a Catholic, it was one In 2011, Gingrich justified his affairs of the happiest moments of my life.” by claiming they were “partially driven However, there are many of us who have by how passionately I felt about this been around long enough to remember country.” (Just imagine how passionate Gingrich preaching and preening about 42 $ February 2012 $ Las Vegas Night Beat

Wayne Besen his Christian values back when he was Speaker of the House. His sense of piety was so grandiose that he once declared himself the “definer of civilization.”

Which civilization, the orgies of ancient Greece?

Generally, I tend to not give a damn about the personal lives of politicians, as long as they do their jobs. But it is galling and appalling that Gingrich would wife swap and bed hop while denying me the right to marry. In a recent New Hampshire presidential debate Gingrich said he opposed marriage equality for LGBT couples and justified his discriminatory position by invoking the “sacrament” of marriage.

This self-righteous hypocrite wouldn’t know a sacrament from Sacramento.

Even more disturbing, in The New Yorker we learn that Callista’s longtime friend, Karen Olson, is a lesbian. Newt’s sister, Candace, is also a lesbian. With normal people, learning that friends and family members are gay changes their hearts and inevitably leads them to support equal rights. However, Newt and Callista seem more than willing to throw their “loved ones” under the bus to help his political aspirations.

If social conservatives do not stand up and smack down Gingrich’s candidacy, it is fair to say that there is no such thing as the Religious Right — just a bunch of self-righteous scolds who don’t know the difference between right and wrong.

Wayne Besen is the author of Anything But Straight and the Founder of Truth Wins Out, an organization that counters anti-gay lies and the ex-gay myth. www.TruthWinsOut.org.

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