STEVE CHARING DISCUSSES THE IMPACT OF THE SMOKING BAN Story on page 12 April 13, 2007 VOLUME IV, NUMBER 25 Iraq – Gay-related Murders Local Schools Participate on the Rise in Day of Silence By Doug Ireland By Kedrick Keys harassment, name-calling, and violence in our schools because of their presumed Iraqi LGBT - the London-based Jason, a 14 year old ninth grader, sexual identity. The National Day of group with a network of members and walks down a crowded high school Silence, observed on April 18, serves as supporters inside Iraq that documents corridor. He’s shy but wants friends a reminder that this type of discrimination anti-gay violence - two weeks ago desperately. He stops at a locker. After will not be tolerated in public or private released details on the latest series carefully turning the knob to the right, Junior High Schools, Senior High of murders of Iraqi gays by fanatical he stops on 21, the last number in the Schools, colleges, or Universities. All Islamist death squads. At the same combination to his locker. He then lifts across the United States events will be time, the group says lack of money his head turning ever so slightly to the organized commemorating the day when will force it to close two of the five safe left where his eyes connect with Blake’s. students take an active role in combating houses it maintains in Iraq for gay Blake is a tall handsome guy who seems hate by creating activities to voice their Iraqis who have been threatened with to have no problems finding people to truths and educate their peers on how to death and forced to flee their homes. follow his every footstep. Blake returns bring an end to this type of harassment. And the group’s coordinator has himself Jason’s glare, smiles and mouths, The main focus of the observance is been targeted for death by an anti-gay “faggot..” Silence befalls Jason although the silencing - like that experienced by fatwa. the halls are noisy. Jason is silent. lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender “I received a death fatwa sent to my Many students across America (lgbt) students and their allies. Students personal e-mail address last month,” Ali and abroad succumb to bullying, participate by being silent all day or Hili, the 33-year-old gay Iraqi exile who Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani part of the day, for instance during their is the full-time volunteer coordinator possible” in October 2005, inspiring the lunch period. This simply but powerful of Iraqi LGBT, told me by telephone deployment of anti-gay death squads protest brings about the much needed from London. “It came from the official by the Badr Corps, military arm of attention required for the transformation headquarters of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani the Supreme Council for the Islamic of attitudes against those that suffer in Qum, Iran, and was stamped with his Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), the most under the blows of discrimination. signature.” powerful political Shia group in Iraq and This student-led grassroots The 78-year-old Ayatollah Sistani, now the cornerstone of the current Iraqi movement, the largest of any kind, the Iranian born-and educated cleric government. began 10 years ago in 1996 on the who is the spiritual leader of all Iraqi The Badr Corps was integrated into campus of the University of Virginia, Shia Muslims, issued an infamous the Iraqi Interior Ministry last Fall, and although only 150 students participated. fatwa calling for death for all gays and its members now wear police uniforms Today the Day of Silence in its 11th year all lesbians in “the most severe way See Iraqi LGBT on page 22 See Day of Silence on page 11 Spring/Summer Getaways From Rehoboth’s sunny beaches to the lgbt-friendly streets of New Hope – there’s plenty to see and do just hours from the Inner Harbor. OUTloud’s special 12-page travel section can help you plan a great three-day weekend or an entire week of fun. 2 BALTIMORE OUTLOUD April 13, 2007 baltimoreoutloud.com THURSDAY APR 26, 2007 nefit of Be e th r o F When you dine at a participating restaurant on April 26, at least 20% of your check will be donated to Moveable Feast, the area’s sole provider of meals for people living with HIV/ AIDS and other life-challenging conditions, such as breast cancer. Now more than ever, your help is needed. Find a restaurant at www.mfeast.org For more info or to volunteer: 410-327-3420, x. 11 baltimoreoutloud.com April 13, 2007 BALTIMORE OUTLOUD 3 Damages in Discrimination Cases Equality Maryland Celebrates 2007 Legislation sponsored and passed by Del. Sandy Rosenberg (D-Baltimore City) and Sen. Jamie Raskin (D- Legislative Session Successes Montgomery County) marks a first Although the 2007 session of the MD Chapter of the National Association the bill. Equality Maryland proposed for gay and lesbian Marylanders who General Assembly failed to produce of Social Workers, and superstars like the legislation after hearing numerous have faced employment discrimination. anti-discrimination legislation to protect Kevin-Douglas Olive and Bernice Melov, stories from our organization’s Current Maryland law only allows transgendered individuals, for lgbt- who blew away legislators with their very members that their employers would workers to bring claims of employment equality activists there were victories personal testimony. offer domestic partner benefits but were discrimination to Federal courts, not nonetheless. Equality Maryland, Del. Dwyer’s amendment failed on unable to purchase a policy from their state courts. This effectively denies the state’s principal lgbt civil rights a vote of 12-8 in the House Judiciary insurance companies. The bill is the first access to the courts altogether for gay organization, spearheaded several Committee, with two Democrats joining step in reforming health care access and lesbian Marylanders, who are not successful initiatives affecting the lgbt the Republicans in voting for the legislation for fair-minded employers who want to protected from discrimination under community that are worth celebrating. -- Del. Kevin Kelley of Western Maryland offer extended family coverage. EQMD Federal law. This bill would remedy this Below is a summary. and Del. Gerron Levi of Bowie. hopes to extend this law in the future injustice by bringing Maryland in line Death of Constitutional Amend- Increased Health Care Access for to include the small group insurance with the vast majority of states, which ments to Ban Marriage Equality lgbt Marylanders market as well. allow employment discrimination claims Equality Maryland (EQMD) success- House Bill 1057, sponsored by Authorization of Life Insurance to be brought to local courts. fully killed anti-gay constitutional openly gay Del. Heather Mizeur (D- Companies to Cover Domestic “The 2007 legislative session amendments proposed by Sen. Larry Montgomery County) at the request Partners was another year forward for the lgbt Haines (R-Carroll County) and Del. Don of Equality Maryland, marked the only Another victory for lgbt Marylanders community of Maryland with a number Dwyer (R-Anne Arundel). In addition significant health care reform bill passed is the passage of SB 1022, sponsored by of important gains to make our lives to their years-long lobbying effort and in Annapolis this year. When enacted Sen. Mac Middleton (D-Charles County). better,” Equality Maryland’s Executive their outreach to new legislators in the into law in January 2008, the Family The bill authorizes insurers that issue Director Dan Furmansky told Baltimore 2006 election, the organization brought Coverage Expansion Act will require policies of group life insurance to extend OUTloud. “Despite our successes this together a stellar array of community health insurance companies to write coverage to the domestic partner of the year, the staff and board [of EQMD] are leaders to testify against the legislation, policies inclusive of domestic partners employee or member who is covered still mourning the loss of our transgender including Elbridge James of the state at the request of an employer, as well under a policy of group life insurance. civil rights bill and are crafting a plan for NAACP, Ricardo Flores of the Public as children up to the age of 25. This bill furthers our goal of full equality its passage in 2008.” Justice Center, Rev. John Crestwell of The legislation passed the House of for all gay and lesbian citizens in Davis Memorial Unitarian Univeralist Delegates with an impressive bipartisan employment and compensation. Visit Equality Maryland’s website Church, Colette Roberts of Howard vote of 122-18. The Senate vote was Allowing Gay & Lesbian at (www.EqualityMaryland.org), to see County PFLAG, Daphne McClellan of the 28-17, with only Democrats supporting Marylanders to Sue for Compensatory how you can help. 4 BALTIMORE OUTLOUD April 13, 2007 baltimoreoutloud.com Who Are the People in Your Gayborhood? By Nate Sweeney Politics Before People: Transgender Equality Denied In Annapolis Public Town Meeting April 24 at 7 p.m. Equality Maryland’s top 2007 legislative priority was adding protection for transgender Marylanders in the state’s anti-discrimination laws. Despite majority support in both Chris Eney the House and Senate the legislation was defeated by one vote in committee. Age Local broadcaster you have a secret 31 crush on? None that I’ll admit to in print. Join Equality Maryland to discuss what happened in Workplace Annapolis and where we go from here. We will be joined by Lambda Rising Movie you can recite as you watch? the bill’s sponsors, Delegate Adrienne Jones and Clue, Steal magnolias, and Senator Lisa Gladden. Best part about your job? anything Mel Brooks. Being able to keep in contact with Our special guest is Julie Nemecek, the Michigan college the gay and lesbian community Favorite local non-profit? without having to go out for a drink Chase Brexton professor who was recently fired when she came out as transgender.