June 05, 2009 | Volume VII, Issue 10 | LGBT Life in Maryland Lesbian Police Warn Bars on Actress to Outdoor Smoking By Steve Charing Receive ‘Out Only a handful of patrons were seat- ed around the oval-shaped bar in Leon’s, the venerable Mount Vernon tavern, at 7:30 p.m. on the balmy for Equality Saturday night of May 30. But the two people who next entered the bar were not regular customers. They were uniformed police officers who Award’ sought out the manager and issued a warning that beginning 4:00 a.m. on May 31, any individual hanging out within 100 feet of the bar’s out- In recognition of her dedication to full lgbt door entrance will be subject to a equality, award-winning actress Cynthia citation. Nixon will be the special guest of Equal- “It’s the law,” one of the of- ity Maryland and will receive the “Out ficers told Vernon Brewer, a long- for Equality Award” at the organization’s time Leon’s bartender and now the Night Out for Equality Gala on June 7. manager. “We are cracking down on The event will take place at the Grand area prostitutes and drug dealers in Ballroom of the Marriott Bethesda North the area,” one of the policemen said. Hotel and Conference Center in Bethes- Indeed, management at The Drink- da. Ms. Nixon will be honored along with ery and Jays on Read were also in- other allies and elected officials, who have formed that night. helped advance the cause for equality in “Our customers are not pros- Maryland. titutes or drug dealers,” Brewer There will also be several individu- protested. “They only go out for a als who will receive the “Ally for Equality smoke. They have a drink waiting Award” including former Congressman inside.” But the police insisted that Wayne Gilchrist, and the ‘Advocate for these unsavory characters tend to Equality’ award will be presented to Del- mingle with the customers inside, egate Joseline Pena-Melnyk (District 21, and therefore, they are cracking Anne Arundel and Prince George’s). down on those congregating outside “Equality Maryland continues to pur- the bar’s entrance. sue equality under the law for all mem- “This doesn’t make any sense,” bers of the lgbt community,” said Board Brewer told OUTloud. “Where are President Scott Davenport. “Events like they supposed to go? If they have -- continued on page 44 Photo: Steven Sebring to smoke by walking down Tyson Street, that’s not good. It’s dimly lit Dance Artist Amber to Headline Pride Block Party » page 3 -- continued on page 44 2 q BALTIMORE OUTLOUD June 05, 2009 | baltimoreoutloud.com OUTSPOKEN Publisher California Quake Mike Chase [email protected] The court decision was a setback, but it will make Executive Editor Jim Becker us focus on a better strategy. [email protected] Sales Mary Taylor, Director By Steve Charing were permitted to retain their status, [email protected] the disappointing, but not necessarily Managing Editor As recently as 10 surprising court decision, prompted an Steve Charing years ago, few angry backlash from marriage equality Leather Editor thought that “gay advocates. Rodney Burger marriage” would ever The ruling highlighted the fact that Writers be at the forefront of the judicial system, while helpful in many campaign strategist for none other than Jeffrey Clagett Josh Aterovis a national dialogue. cases, cannot totally be counted on to John McCain, comes to mind. His sister Chuck Duncan Rickie Green At the time, the lgbt community and al- make same-sex marriage a reality. This is a lesbian. Eva Hersh MD Marty Hoegg lies were reeling from the failed effort to energy generated from the decision will This would be a violation of the apho- Doug Ireland Jay Loane allow openly gay and lesbians to serve be channeled in California to appeal to rism, don’t let the rights of a minority be P.S. Lorio Jim Lucio Meredith Moise Sandy Rawls in the Armed Forces. We were trying to the voters again and essentially reverse put up for a popular vote. But that may Ben Ryland MIA - Alexander St. John nudge a bill through Congress that would the outcome of Prop 8. be the best route to take in the long run. Nate Sweeney Larry Walker provide anti-discrimination protections in That’s the correct strategy. In California, for example, we cannot Graphics the workplace for gays and lesbians. And Hopefully with better leadership of this change the minds of the justices, but we Hannah-Love Shibley, Director we were attempting to enact legislation at effort it will be successful. A new coalition can change the voters’ minds if an effec- [email protected] the state and local levels to protect the needs to come in and work with clergy of tive strategy is crafted and executed. And Carol Baker gay and lesbian community from discrimi- all religions to alleviate concerns and to that could reverse the results; after all, we Bryan Sullivan nation in employment, housing and public emphasize that civil marriage is what is only lost by 4.5 points back in November. Photographers accommodations. being sought—not religious blessings. To underscore this strategy, a bunch Skip Koritzer That was our agenda a decade ago. These leaders should reach out more of lgbt advocacy groups including the Harry Lowinger It all changed on May 17, 2004, when aggressively to the African-American ACLU are urging others to refrain from fil- National Advertising the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachu- community to highlight the similarities be- ing federal lawsuits because as they see Rivendell Media 908-232-2021 setts ruled in Goodridge v. Department of tween the civil rights movement and what it, the Supreme Court does not have the Public Health that the state constitution gays and lesbians are seeking. make-up at this time to rule favorably on Web Services Drew Saine couldn’t limit marriage to heterosexual And why not take advantage of the a same-sex marriage case. [email protected] couples. The issue of same-sex marriage many PFLAG chapters in California to al- There are others, however, who be- was all-of-a-sudden thrust near the top of low representatives speak to senior citi- lieve that going to court is our best course Distribution/Circulation Jay Loane the national debate when conservative re- zen groups and educate them on the true of action. Lawyers Theodore Olson and [email protected] ligious groups and others went ballistic. meaning of family values? More than any David Boies—adversaries in the Bush v. Ballot initiatives in 11 states to ban other demographic, seniors accounted Gore case following the bungled 2000 Baltimore OUTloud gay marriage popped up like spring dan- for the largest percentage of those who Florida vote—are leading the way. P.O. Box 3640, Baltimore, MD 21214 delions. All passed. Many believe that supported Prop. 8. A blogger on LGBTRainbowLinks- 410-244-6780 the controversy generated enough evan- It’s far more expedient to file a suit in FOCUS.com supports this approach by www.baltimoreoutloud.com gelical voters in Ohio to tip the election to a court and hope that the judge or panel writing, “Either you go full steam ahead George W. Bush in 2004. of judges issues a favorable decision. in war or just sit on the sidelines and lick Additional Information Accordingly, gay activists were unpre- The judicial system is supposed to be your wounds. That’s the trouble with ‘our Baltimore OUTloud is published every other Friday by Pride pared for this war compared to the more our safety net. But what if that fails, then society’ when it comes to the ‘LGBT lead- Media, Ltd. in Baltimore, Maryland. Readers’ comments organized and better funded religious what? ers’ and time to put up or shut up, they fall and unsolicited materials are welcomed and may be sent to: [email protected]. | Pride Media offices right. Our side depended largely—but We need to go back to the funda- to the wayside like a bunch of weak little are located at 1120 N. Charles Street, 4R, Baltimore, 21201. not entirely—on having the courts rem- mental process of building grass-root mice.” | All materials appearing in this newspaper are the property edy what has been seen as violation of support and having dialogues with key But he adds, “You want gay marriage, of Pride Media, Ltd. and may not be reproduced without the equal protection clause in many of the groups that are persuadable. Let’s take you want equal rights, then be prepared the written permission of the editor. states’ constitutions as well as the 14th that approach, even if it requires a few to get down in the trenches and get dirty. Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. years, and allow the issue to be decided Take the battle where it should have gone Fast-forward to the recent California by the legislatures, if not the voters, per before.” Supreme Court ruling by a 6-1 vote that se. Elected officials, more often than not, And that battle is taking it to the peo- disheartened the lgbt community and follow the will of the people. ple, which is the best strategy. File the supporters by upholding the iniquitous The work is made easier when more suits in the courts anyway, but win the Proposition 8 outcome that resulted from and more gay folks come out. You would people over, too. ©2009 - All Rights Reserved Chairman of the Board Jim Becker the November 2008 ballot measure. Al- be surprised as to how many people sup- President Jim Williams though the approximate 18,000 couples port our efforts who would ordinarily not Steve Charing’s OUTspoken blog is at Vice President Lee Mooney who married prior to the election result side with us.