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SEPTEMBER 3-16, 2009 VOLUME EIGHT, ISSUE 18 SERVINGGay GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANSGENDERED City • WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM ■ LEGAL ■ REMEMBRANCE NY High Court Passionate Gay Revisiting Rights Voice Co-Parent Stilled Custody BY PAUL SCHINDLER BY ARTHUR S. LEONARD n July 12, 1996, the US House of Representatives, caught up The New York Court of Appeals, the O in a sudden nationwide frenzy state’s highest bench, announced on about the prospect that the Hawaii state September 1 that it was granting Lamb- courts might be moving toward legaliza- da Legal’s petition to challenge the deni- tion of marriage by same-sex couples, al of a lesbian co-parent’s right to bring passed the Defense of Marriage Act in a a suit seeking joint custody or visitation 342-67 vote. On September 10, the Sen- with a child she had been raising with ate followed suit, in an 85-14 vote, and her former Vermont civil union partner. eleven days later, President Bill Clinton The action, regarding a ruling ear- signed the measure into law. lier this year by the state Appellate Divi- Among the 14 senators, all Demo- sion in Manhattan, gives the LGBT legal crats, who stood against the prevailing advocacy group the opportunity to try to political gale was an old Massachusetts persuade the high court to overrule its sailing aficionado, Ted Kennedy, the controversial 1991 decision in a similar state’s senior senator. case, also brought by Lambda. On October 3, the Empire State Pride In the case now headed to the Court Agenda (ESPA), New York’s LGBT lob- GAY CITY NEWS CITY GAY of Appeals, titled Debra H. v. Janice R., MARIA PASSANNANTE-DERR, YETTA KURLAND AT AUGUST 28 FIERCE FRIDAY FORUM bying organization, held its fifth annual the plaintiff co-parent claims that the fall dinner at Manhattan’s Grand Hyatt couple planned together to have a child, Hotel. The scheduled speakers were who was born about a month after they Mayor Rudy Giuliani and George Steph- entered into a civil union in Vermont Council Candidates anopoulos, who was then the president’s and two months after they registered communications director. as domestic partners in . KENNEDY P. 26 Debra “served as a loving and caring Get FIERCE parental figure during the first 2-1/2 years of the child’s life,” according to the BY PAUL SCHINDLER attend, citing a scheduling conflict. CO-PARENT P. 9 FIERCE, the Fabulous Independent n an August 28 Friday Forum Educated Radicals for Community In this issue: hosted by FIERCE, a Chelsea- Empowerment, focused the discus- ■ ENDORSEMENTS I based advocacy group for LGBTQ sion on its ongoing efforts to preserve City Council, Manhattan youth of color, District 3 City Coun- and enhance the West Village and the cil candidate Yetta Kurland repeat- Hudson River piers in Lower Manhat- DA, Comptroller, Public edly signaled her personal identifica- tan as safe havens for LGBTQ youth, Advocate tion with the struggles those young many of whom travel from other parts ■ 12 people face. One of her opponents, of the city and region to socialize open- ————————————————— Maria Passannante-Derr, who has at ly with their peers. The questions, ■ times clashed with the group in her posed by FIERCE members Elegost BACKSTAGE AT EDEN role on Community Board 2, voiced Rosado and Chris Baez, probed the In “Big Gay Musical,” 2 gays her respect for FIERCE’s goals, even candidates’ views on tensions between as she challenged them to aggressively youth, on one side, and neighborhood play 2 gays playing 2 gays seize opportunities already available residents and police, on the other, and ■ 16 to impact policy debates. on recurring debates about expanding ————————————————— The third candidate in the race, City the hours, access, and services avail- ■ CAN ON THE RUN Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who able for young people on the piers. has served the district, which runs An out lesbian who mentioned she is Just what incarnation is from the West Village north to Chelsea 41, Kurland, a civil rights attorney, estab- this for Tom Judson? HUBBY NOT CHUBBY and Hell’s Kitchen, since 1999, did not ■ 21 4 FIERCE P. 28 © GAY CITY NEWS 2009 • COMMUNITY MEDIA, LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3 - 16 SEP 2009 2/ History When the Clothes Came Off Jeffrey Escoffier looks at beefcake, porn, and society’s changing homo-sex mores

BY DOUG IRELAND BIGGER THAN LIFE The History of the Gay Porn Industry hy would a noted gay from Beefcake to Hardcore intellectual devote By Jeffrey Escoffier W his time to a history Perseus Books/Running Press of the queer porn industry? $24.95; 367 pages Because, as Jeffrey Escoffier demonstrates in his fascinat- ing account of this billion dollar 1977, he helped to found the business, same-sex pornogra- San Francisco Lesbian and Gay phy has not only been a win- History Project, and during the dow on changing sexual styles ’80s he was the executive edi- and identities but has helped to tor of Socialist Review, a smart, shape them. non-sectarian New Left journal, As Escoffier writes in “Bigger run by a San Francisco-based Than Life,” just published, “The collective, that first brought to sexual revolution of the sixties national prominence a raff of and seventies would never have notable queer writers and artists taken place without a series of like the historian Alan Berube extended legal and political bat- (author of the groundbreaking tles over obscenity and pornog- “Coming Out Under Fire: The raphy.” Escoffier chronicles how History of Gay Men and Women a series of “struggles over free in World War II”), the lesbian speech and the First Amend- feminist Amber Hollibaugh (who ment that were also business went on to become senior strat- ventures… helped to create a egist at the National Gay and public space where it was per- Lesbian Task Force and is today missible not only to discuss a leading authority on the prob- patterns of sexual behavior but lems facing LGBT seniors), and also to portray sexuality honest- Debra Chasnoff (the Academy ly and bluntly in fiction, on the Award-winning filmmaker of Joe Dallasandro, in Paul Morrissey’s Warhol film “Flesh.” stage, and in movies.” “It’s Elementary” and other gay- Escoffier has been both a themed documentaries). which I regularly recommend to “education of desire.” We must gay films were the “beefcake” product of that sexual revolu- Escoffier went on to found budding gay activists, remains not forget that until 1962, as magazines and film loops pio- tion and a significant intellec- Out/Look, the national lesbian an important theoretical work Escoffier notes, “homosexual neered from the late ’40s on by tual force within it. As the first and gay quarterly, and while to this day. materials, even those without the likes of Bob Mizer and his president of Philadelphia’s Gay there he launched the Out- Now, with “Bigger Than Life,” any sexual content, were con- American Models Guild, whose Activists Alliance in 1970, he Write Lesbian and Gay Writers Escoffier shows how “pornogra- sidered obscene by definition. photographs showed well-oiled co-founded and edited The Gay Conferences, held throughout phy created space for increased The emergence of gay hardcore muscular youths wearing dis- Alternative, a pioneering jour- the ‘90s, which were undoubt- experimentation with a whole films provided explicit represen- creet posing straps over their nal of gay culture and politics edly the largest gatherings of range of sexualities not orga- tations of gay sexual behavior genitals in various homoerotic and one of the skein of influen- LGBT writers in history. Of his nized around procreation not otherwise available… and attitudes. (Thom Fitzgerald’s tial, early queer publications five previous books, his seminal and reproduction.” For gays, the availability of such images 1999 docudrama “Beefcake,” that helped mold and spread 1998 work “American Homo: film pornography contributed helped to affirm the nascent gay which airs regularly on the gay liberation’s first wave. When Community and Perversity” mightily to what the film critic identity.” he moved to San Francisco in (University of California Press), Richard Dyer has labeled the The precursors of hardcore ᭤ PORN, continued on p.3

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᭤ PORN, from p.2 panions reacted to the dreary, unerotic company, “Boys in the Sand” was pre- cal” movie exploring his fascination with plot by laughing or falling asleep as the viewed by Variety and became the first sadism and starring himself. Entitled Here! cable TV network, brings wit to the soundtrack blared an orchestrated ren- gay hardcore film permitted to advertise “L.A. Plays Itself,” Halsted’s film intro- story of Mizer and those not altogether dition of ‘June is Busting Out All Over’ in the New York Times. Poole’s film was duced “fisting” to the American public as innocent early days of male nudity.) from the musical ‘Carousel.’” a smash hit with critics and viewers, and a form of sexual play, was a huge com- When Clark Pollak, the editor of the Poole — a former dancer with the Bal- stayed on Variety’s list of the top 50 best- mercial and critical success, and was beefcake magazine Drum, was arrest- lets Russes who’d choreographed Broad- grossing films for three months, making selected by New York’s Museum of Mod- ed on an obscenity charge in 1966 for way musicals for the likes of Noel Cow- Donovan the first gay porn superstar. ern Art for its permanent film collection. having broken the code by publishing ard, Marlene Dietrich, Liza Minnelli, and His photo graced the cover of the clos- The Poole and Halsted films ushered full frontal male nude photographs in Stephen Sondheim — decided he could eted gay show biz magazine After Dark, in the era of “porn chic” a full year before a deliberate provocation, the American do better. The result was 1972’s “Boys in thus landing him a role in a straight film the hetero porn smash “Deep Throat” Civil Liberties Union took the case all the the Sand,” a tasteful gay hardcore film by noted sexploitation director Radley lent a new word to the political lexicon in way to the US Supreme Court — which set in Fire Island and starring an unem- Metzger. the Watergate scandal. eventually ruled that the nude male ployed Peekskill high school teacher, That same year, Fred Halsted, the By the 1980s, gay porn was big busi- body is not obscene. The world-famous waiter, and part-time hustler, Cal Culver, owner of a chain of wholesale nurseries ness. Chuck Holmes, the founder of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe drew who took the nom-de-porn Casey Dono- who’d never seen a gay pornographic his inspiration from beefcake photos. van. Distributed nationally by Sayles’ film, decided to make an “autobiographi- ᭤ PORN, continued on p.11 In 1963, Kenneth Anger’s homo- erotic classic “Scorpio Rising,” an hom- age to the macho rites of a motorcycle gang, and Jack Smith’s “Flaming Crea- tures,” a campy transvestite extrava- =?6:.?F 2920A6<; ² [email protected] @2=A2:/2? " & ganza, inspired a young Andy Warhol to begin making sexually charged films like “Kiss,” “Blowjob,” “My Hustler,” and eventually 1968’s “Flesh,” the first 2Z]V_R @aNaR =_VQR .TR[QN American film to feature full-frontal male nudity, starring former Mizer model Joe ]_\bQYf R[Q\_`R` 0U_V`aV[R >bV[[ Dallasandro. Well before the sexual revolution, the Supreme Court, in 1948, made another S\_ ;Rd F\_X 0Vaf 0\b[PVY 1V`a_VPa important contribution to the birth of gay film pornography, with a decision involv- ing Paramount that forced the Hollywood .` 0\b[PVYZRZOR_ N[Q @]RNXR_ 0U_V`aV[R >bV[[ UN` N `\YVQ studios to divest themselves of their the- ater chains. The fulgurant rise of televi- _RP\_Q \S YRNQR_`UV] N[Q Re]R_VR[PR `b]]\_aV[T aUR 94/A sion in the ’50s emptied the movie hous- P\ZZb[Vaf @UR UN`' es of their customers, and many of those theaters remained open only by showing soft-porn hetero “sexploitation” films. ‘ D\_XRQ `bPPR``SbYYf a\ ]N`` ‘ 3\bTUa aV_RYR``Yf S\_ ZN__VNTR But it wasn’t until the owners of the [bZR_\b` ]VRPR` \S ]_\94/A R^bNYVaf N[Q UN` aNXR[ aUR Rea_N Park Theater in Los Angeles, Shan Say- YRTV`YNaV\[ V[PYbQV[T OVYY` aUNa `aR] \S T\V[T a\ .YON[f N[Q aUR les and Monroe Boehler, decided in 1968 NQQ_R`` Q\ZR`aVP ]N_a[R_ OR[R¾a` U\ZR QV`a_VPa` \S 1RZ\P_NaVP N[Q that there was an untapped gay market a_N[`TR[QR_ _VTUa` N[Q `NSR_ `PU\\Y` ?R]bOYVPN[ @aNaR @R[Na\_` a\ `UN_R that a commercial movie house began S\_ 94/A f\baU UR_ ]R_`\[NY `a\_f NO\ba dUf regularly showing films to appeal to male ZN__VNTR ZNaaR_` queers. The paucity of available material, largely strung-together loops produced ‘ 0\ZONaRQ UNaR N[Q cV\YR[PR by beefcake photographers and filmmak- NTNV[`a 94/A ;Rd F\_XR_` `V[PR UR_ ers, led Sayles and Boehler to launch RN_YVR`a QNf` \[ aUR 0\b[PVY their own production company, Signa- ture Films, making Southern California the historic epicenter of the emerging gay C\aR S\_ 0U_V`aV[R >bV[[ N ]_\cR[ YRNQR_ \[ porn industry. @R]aRZOR_ " V[ aUR 1RZ\P_NaVP =_VZN_f The viewing public soon wearied of the soft-core Boehler-Sayles flix, like the vanilla romances directed by Pat Rocco, ddd]_VQRNTR[QN\_T and since there were already some 400 movie houses around the country show- ing hetero hardcore porn by 1969, Sig- nature Films made the move into gay hardcore. Boehler later split to form Jaguar Productions, which gave William Higgins, the legendary director of “surfer porn” featuring California blond boys, the chance to make his first hardcore film. One night in 1970, Broadway theater director and choreographer Wakefield Poole, his boyfriend, and the composer and lyricist of the show they were all working on decided to visit the Park- Miller, the New York outpost of Sayles’ chain of gay porn theaters. “Poole’s com- 3 - 16 SEP 2009 4/ Politics LGBT Vote Up for Grabs Deirdre Feerick takes the fight to out gay in 26th Council District

BY PAUL SCHINDLER endorsers reinforce that per- spective. To be sure, some of ’m running against an Van Bramer’s problems with openly gay man,” City other LGBT activists reflect “I Council candidate Deir- internecine battles within the dre Feerick said in a recent Queens queer community. A interview in her campaign YouTube video of his endorse- headquarters at the Anoroc ment pitch to the borough’s gay Democratic Club in Sunnyside. Democratic club makes clear “You have to know that that members were unhap- when I go to the [Queens] Les- py that just a year after win- bian and Gay Democratic ning their endorsement in his Club and I stand up and seek unsuccessful 2001 bid for the their endorsement, or when I neighboring 25th Council Dis- go to Stonewall and seek their trict seat centered on Jackson endorsement — do I feel con- Heights, Van Bramer helped fident that I am going to take found a rival local LGBT group, that? Absolutely not.” the Guillermo Vazquez Inde- The gay man is Jimmy Van pendent Democratic Club. And Bramer, who worked most some members of the now- recently as head of government Council candidate Deirdre Feerick (center) with Charles Ober and Pauline Park. defunct Guillermo Vazquez affairs for the Queens Pub- Club, such as Park and Ober, lic Library system. The Coun- club, the Jim Owles Liberal ful bid for an open Council seat ning over” LGBT activists, the were taken aback by what they cil District is the 26th, which Democratic Club, went with in the adjacent 30th District; candidate wasted no time grab- see as Van Bramer’s disavowal encompasses Sunnyside, Long Feerick, who faces Van Bramer Pauline Park, founder of the bing the floor. of that effort in this year’s cam- Island City, Woodside, a portion and Brent O’Leary in the Sep- New York Association for Gender “I’m going to dispute that paign. of Astoria, and a sliver of Mas- tember 15 Democratic primary. Rights Advocacy; and Melissa assessment,” she said. “All of But Sklarz, a longtime trans- peth. And Feerick, an attorney Separate from the club Sklarz, the first transgendered those people that you mentioned gender activist who moved to who has worked in investigative endorsements, Feerick has Democrat to win election at aren’t people that I’ve known as Woodside from Manhattan and other policy posts for many picked up support from other the polls to a party post in New a candidate. They’re people I’ve about four years ago, has had years at the City Council, was prominent LGBT figures in the York and a leader in the National known before, on a number of no role in those intramural half-right in being apprehensive borough, including Brendan Fay, Stonewall Democrats. different issues. I don’t know skirmishes. about her visits to the Queens the longtime gay and AIDS activ- During a one-hour interview that ‘win them over’ is quite right. “I’ve worked with both of gay club and to Stonewall. ist who founded the inclusive with Gay City News, Feerick They’re individuals that I greatly them,” Sklarz said of the two She snagged the endorse- Queens St. Pat’s For All Parade; was often understated in talk- respect, who are active in LGBT rivals. “I like Jimmy. I just think ment of the Queens club, by a Charles Ober, a Ridgewood civic ing about her experience and issues, and I was lucky to work the world of Deirdre. If I were to unanimous vote. Van Bramer, activist and former president of accomplishments, but when with them and learn from them, run for the City Council, I’d like on the other hand, picked up the Queens Pride House, who this reporter suggested that she and I was able to be helpful.” Stonewall’s nod. A third LGBT last year waged an unsuccess- had enjoyed success in “win- Interviews with several of her ᭤ FEERICK, continued on p.26

NEWS BRIEFS By PAUL SCHINDLER AND PATRICK HEDLUND

After surviving what he termed managed to paralyze Albany, send- onism toward Governor David Pat- the activist community, people about fellow Democrat Hiram Hubby Not a “despicable” summer in Albany, ing both of the controversial issues erson, the marriage bill would not are thinking that [late September] Monserrate of Queens, who is fac- Chubby, In State Senator Thomas Duane, to the backburner, he explained. make it the floor on September 10 is the better time because there’s ing three felony counts of assault Vermont, In an out gay Chelsea Democrat, “I think we have the votes when the Senate first convenes for a better chance to win, because in connection with an alleged September expressed confidence that a vote — I know we have the votes,” a special session, largely to take it would be too difficult to rev domestic violence incident against Ben & Jerry’s, which has been on same-sex marriage was pos- Duane said of the marriage bill. up nominations requiring approval everybody up again” after that, he his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, last something of an icon for progres- sible by the end of September, “There are enough votes to pass by that chamber. said, adding that the marriage bill, December, came as something of sive corporate behavior, is honoring despite the likely political wran- marriage in the Senate, if people Paterson, he said, “has made the Gender Expression Non-Dis- a surprise. the start of marriages by same-sex gling that will occur when lawmak- can vote their conscience, if peo- this a signature issue, and I think crimination Act (GENDA), and the “Of course, everyone is inno- couples in Vermont this month by ers return to session. ple can vote the way they told on September 10, they’re not going LGBT-inclusive, anti-bullying Dig- cent until proven guilty, and I also renaming its Chubby Hubby flavor Speaking at a town hall meet- me they’re going to vote. In poli- to want to give him, some of them nity For All Students Act (DASA) think that—from what I’ve read Hubby Hubby. The effort is being ing on September 1 in Times tics, we may be the exception, would not want to give him a vic- “were literally in the pipeline to be in the papers, from what I know made in partnership with Free- Square, Duane spent the initial but generally when someone tory.” brought to he floor and be voted on of the case—it seems to me like dom to Marry, a group that plays part of the public Q & A apologiz- says you have my vote, you can But the full Legislature is also positively.” a classic case of domestic violence the leading role in mobilizing pub- ing for the “inexcusable” actions of take it to the bank — because expected to be called into session “The end of September is now where the victim changes their lic support for marriage equality senators on both sides of the aisle. that’s really the only thing we later in the months, and Duane the time that we’re working to rev story after the fact,” Duane told nationwide. The name change will Legislation Duane has advo- have with each other.” argued that the marriage issue everyone back up again, get it on the town hall gathering. “While effect only Vermont Scoop Shops cated most vocally for — gay mar- Duane added, however, that remains ripe enough for advocates the floor and get it passed,” Duane everyone is innocent until proven throughout the month of Septem- riage and rent regulations — had due to rifts caused by the shakeup to resume their lobbying following added. guilty, I would be surprised if there ber. Chubby Hubby lovers in other certainly been pressing for a place — including those that bitterly strides they made in winning sup- Given his aim of corralling 32 wasn’t a plea to something, and states will be able to honor bulging in the queue before a Republican divided members of the Democrat- porters earlier this year. votes to win passage of the mar- hopefully a felony, but maybe not.” coup, which lasted only weeks but ic caucus — and continued antag- “At the moment, generally in riage measure, Duane’s comments — PH ᭤ BRIEFS, continued on p.11 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 3 – 16 SEP 2009 5 3 - 16 SEP 2009 6/ Politics A Second Time at Bat Leslie Crocker Snyder, former prosecutor, judge hopes to be Manhattan’s next DA

BY PAUL SCHINDLER

eslie Crocker Snyder recalls the incident from L the early 1970s, not long after she began her nine years as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan. A defense attorney arrived in court with a well-dressed client who had a good job at a top New York bank. The man, married with children, had been arrest- ed in a public bathroom while engaged in sex with another man. His attorney told Snyder, “Now that I see I have a woman prosecutor, I’m sure you won’t be sympathetic.” Snyder is uncertain what the defense attorney meant; perhaps he assumed she would instinctively side with a wronged wife whose husband was leading a double life. But Snyder had a very different view. The episode was, “I think, the most poignant experience I had as a young ADA,” she said Leslie Crocker Snyder, with Assemblyman Micah Kellner to the right, marched with the Stonewall Democrats in the June 28 LGBT Pride March in Manhattan. during a recent interview with Gay City News. Snyder met with “I didn’t have the author- 1980 challenge to the sodomy Snyder wrote, “One evening, we McCarthy Era. As a 2002 HBO the newspaper to discuss her ity to dismiss them all the time, law at the state’s highest bench, had tickets for the Broadway miniseries, “Angels” won an candidacy to succeed longtime so I would give it as disorderly the Court of Appeals. play ‘Angels in America,’ and the Emmy. The late closeted right- Manhattan District Attorney conduct,” she said of how she In February of this year, after police ‘detail’ had to accompany wing McCarthy ally Roy Cohn, Robert Morgenthau. often handled such cases in Gay City News ran a series us inside the theater. They were who was mercilessly indicted in “The poor man, struggling for the courtroom. “Nobody would of stories reporting a pattern looking forward to a Broadway the play, might have labeled it his own sexual identity, doing know what it was.” of false arrests of gay men on show; but, to their dismay and anti-American, but that was in absolutely nothing wrong, and During those same years in trumped-up prostitution charg- ours, the play included very no way a conventional critical now he’s here on a criminal the DA’s office, Snyder, a gradu- es, Snyder was among the earli- realistic acts of anal sodomy on response to “Angels,” nor was charge, so basically I dismissed ate of Harvard’s Radcliffe College a very brief scene of late-night the case,” she explained. “I did and the Case Western Reserve sex in Central Park — the sort dismiss the case. I dismissed School of Law, founded and led Snyder was “well known as an of conduct Snyder said she was the case. I always felt good what she said was the nation’s loathe to prosecute 20 years about that.” first Sex Crimes Prosecution assistant DA who refused to earlier — viewed as gratuitous; The defendant, she said, “was Bureau. From that vantage prosecute sex charges involving in fact, it was a moment of pro- in very bad shape emotionally, point, she worked to reform found dramatic import. you could just tell. He was prac- state laws to afford rape victims consenting adults.” Asked about that passage in tically crying with relief when he better protections and confiden- her book, Snyder struggled to was released.” tiality in the prosecution of such put it in context. William Hibsher, an attor- crimes. est public figures to speak out, stage as well as anti-American “I apologize for the wording,” ney with Bryan Cave LLP, a She was less successful in penning an op-ed for the New sentiments. The detectives were she said. “The words ‘we were board member at Manhattan’s advocating for repeal of New York Blade. appalled: What sort of weird, dismayed’ related to the secu- LGBT Congregation Beth Sim- York’s sodomy statute, which Given that record, a passage ultra-liberal perverts were they rity team’s feelings, it was my chat Torah, and a former board criminalized consensual same- from “25 to Life,” Snyder’s 2002 protecting?” projection of their feelings. I member at Lambda Legal, said sex conduct and was often the memoir of her career as a pros- Tony Kushner’s two-part should not have been snide in Snyder was “well known as an basis for prosecution of gay men ecutor and later a Manhattan “Angels in America,” which writing about it.” About “Angels assistant DA who refused to ensnared in public settings. State Supreme Court judge, is opened on Broadway in 1993 in America,” she added, “I felt prosecute sex charges involving Hibsher, in an email response puzzling, even jarring. Describ- and won the Tony for Best Play it was an extraordinarily impor- consenting same-sex couples.” to Gay City News, recalled not ing a period when law enforce- in two consecutive years and tant play and moment in the Snyder acknowledged that only her stymied efforts in Alba- ment officials insisted that she also a Pulitzer Prize, was a sear- gay rights movement.” did not mean she was able to ny but also her later advocacy, and her family accept a security ing indictment of the Reagan “25 to Life” was widely pro- make criminal charges go away on the City Bar Association’s detail because of evidence that administration’s deadly inac- moted by Snyder on cable news altogether in every case she was Sex and Law Committee, of a violent gang whose criminal tion on AIDS and a critique of programs, and it seems doubt- assigned involving lewdness several amicus briefs support- trial she was presiding over had homophobia and the closet and sodomy arrests. ing Lambda Legal’s successful made death threats against her, going all the way back to the ᭤ SNYDER, continued on p.30 3 - 16 SEP 2009 Politics /7 Winning Preferred to Fighting Melinda Katz, Assembly, City Council veteran, aims at citywide comptroller post

BY PAUL SCHINDLER brothers, all older, have followed in their parents’ footsteps — two y opponents talk of them leading performing arts about fighting all programs, the third designing “M the time,” Melinda women’s haute couture. Katz said of her three rivals in Katz noted that, of ten Demo- the September 15 Democratic crats running in the Septem- primary for city comptroller. ber 15 primary for the three “I’m not afraid to fight. I like a citywide offices, she is the only good fight. But I like winning my woman, yet acknowledged she point of view better. And build- is not blazing any brand new ing a consensus and getting to a trail. Public Advocate Betsy Got- good result.” baum, former Comptroller Eliz- At another point in a recent abeth Holtzman, and Carol Bel- one-hour interview with Gay lamy, who held the now-defunct City News, the eight-year City post of City Council president, Council incumbent from Forest all preceded her as female city Hills said, “Once in a while you officials elected by voters across gotta win. Once in a while.” all five boroughs. Katz — who worked for several Still, one of the main sec- years as a corporate mergers and tions of her campaign website is acquisitions attorney after com- titled “Women for Katz,” and she pleting law school at St. John’s boasts endorsements by Ger- but before her election at 28 to aldine Ferraro, another Forest the State Assembly — wants vot- City Councilwoman Melinda Katz marching in the June 28 LGBT Pride March on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. Hills Democrat who was the first ers to know that she’s tough and woman nominated for vice pres- that she’s results-oriented. ral and several measures aimed ernment, she argued, pointing ways we’re using it,” Katz contin- ident by a major party, Brooklyn Talking about her responsi- at strengthening the ability to to the recent half-cent increase ued. “In other words, could there Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, bilities since her election to the prosecute child abusers, includ- in the sales tax; Katz noted she be a better system in place? I and no less than seven of her Council in 2001, she said, “As ing Catholic priests and the dio- is the only comptroller candi- want to put my audit depart- female colleagues on the City chair of the Land Use Committee ceses that employed them. date who opposed that hike. ment out of business, that’s what Council. and on the Education Commit- Asked why after serving in She emphasized that the comp- I want to do. I want to spend “I know that I have done things tee, I have fought the adminis- Albany for five years, giving troller’s office, by ensuring that money in the audit department in the Legislature that may not tration very, very hard, and won. up her seat in a failed 1998 money is well spent, the pro- so that they continue to find the have happened if I were not a I sat toe to toe with the adminis- bid to replace Senator Charles grams it funds are well managed, inefficiencies of each of the agen- woman,” she explained. tration to create more affordable Schumer in the congressional and the results are transparent, cies, so that the next year there’s Katz said that she was “for housing and to create jobs.” district Anthony Weiner now can restore confidence in govern- less inefficiencies, and the next gay marriage before it was cool She also said of her record represents, and serving eight ment. year it keeps getting less and to be for gay marriage,” and she since entering public life, “I have years in the Council, she is aim- Regarding the office’s core less.” co-sponsored both the gay rights been a tough fighter — in Albany ing to be city comptroller, she responsibility of auditing city Katz speaks about auditing, and the hate crimes laws in the against huge organizations and said, “My skill set is best suited agencies, she said, “Many people negotiating, going toe to toe, Assembly. Incumbent Comptrol- huge affiliations like HMOs. And for comptroller… This is where I find it unexciting. I think it’s one reaching consensus and better ler William Thompson’s strong in Albany and here in the city, want to be. This is an important of the most exciting functions of results with an enthusiasm prob- record of shareholder activism when it came to creating his- job.” the comptroller’s office, because ably more often found among on behalf of LGBT employees of toric districts, when it came to Turning back to her achieve- think of what you can find.” M&A lawyers than City Coun- companies held in the city pen- landmarking, when it came to ments on the Land Use Com- The recent reauthorization of cil members, but she brings the sion funds’ portfolio is some- protecting communities, when it mittee, Katz added, “I have mayoral control over the city’s same positive energy to talking thing Katz told Gay City News came to rezoning, I sat toe to toe done everything I can to not public schools by the State Leg- about herself, her upbringing, she plans to build on. And she is with developers. And the admin- only monetize one of the [city’s] islature, she said, opened up and her family. cross-endorsing with Jimmy Van istration.” assets — which is land use — the Department of Education to Born and raised in New York, Bramer, an out gay candidate for Katz’s campaign website is but also squeeze all the social “complete audit” by the comp- she is a single mom raising her the 26th City Council District in specific in pointing to results — value I could out of it. I squeezed troller’s office. 14-month-old son, Carter, in Sunnyside and Long Island, the almost 90,000 units of afford- the amount of affordable hous- “How many millions of dol- the same house in Forest Hills seat being vacated by Eric Gioia. able housing funded or pre- ing I could out of every project lars are wasted at Tweed?” she where she grew up, which she Yet Katz has not enjoyed the served under her watch as City that came through my district. asked, referring to the schools bought after the death of her traction among LGBT political Council Land Use chair, and I made sure the prevailing wage headquarters on Chambers father 22 years ago. Her father groups achieved by several of more than 6,000 blocks down- was used wherever it was actu- Street just north of City Hall. founded the Queens Symphony her rivals. Councilman John zoned, across all five boroughs, ally appropriate. In 2009, we “How much money is going into Orchestra, whose maestro he Liu, also from Queens, has been to protect the historic charac- are facing an economic — and, I schools? How much to bus five- served as, and her mother, who endorsed by five of the city’s ter of neighborhoods; in her would venture to say, political — year-olds across their boroughs died in an auto accident when six gay political clubs. Brook- years in Albany, authorship of I guess that turmoil is the word I rather than sending them to Katz was just three, started the lyn Councilman David Yassky the nation’s first law requiring use, and we need to make sure their local school?” Queens Council on the Arts — snared the sixth, and also HMOs to give women access to that the city keeps running and “The main job of the comp- there was, apparently some level recently won the endorsement OB/GYN services without first creates jobs.” troller is to find inefficient use of of creative competition in the of State Senator Tom Duane, the obtaining a primary care refer- People have lost faith in gov- money, but also the inefficient family from the get-go. Her three out gay Chelsea Democrat.

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS MEDIA PARTNERS 3 - 16 SEP 2009 Legal /9 One DOMA Suit Gone, For Now Justice Department succeeds in jurisdictional challenge to married California gay couple’s claim

BY ARTHUR S. LEONARD Smelt and Christopher Hammer, a gay would remain valid. court would have jurisdiction over a case couple who married last year in Califor- The new suit, however, was filed in state filed directly in that court. Gilbert also S District Judge David O. Carter nia, are free to re-file the case in federal court because the couple, disabled and has the chance to remedy a fault the Jus- has granted the Obama adminis- court. Their attorney, Richard Gilbert, with limited resources, did not want to pay tice Department identified in the lawsuit U tration’s motion to dismiss a law- announced he would do just that. the federal court fees, and the US court just dismissed — the failure to allege with suit challenging the Defense of Marriage Gilbert began representing the couple was unwilling to waive them. But one won- any particularity that Smelt and Ham- Act on the ground that the court lacks five years ago, and the original federal ders what Gilbert was thinking. Under mer had actually been adversely affected jurisdiction to hear the case. suit they filed was knocked down by the the doctrine of sovereign immunity, state by DOMA. Now that Smelt and Hammer The lawsuit, Smelt v. United States, US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, courts do not have jurisdiction over claims are legally married in California, their suit claims that DOMA is unconstitutional, which ruled they lacked standing to chal- against the federal government. should be able to make the case that they but Carter never got to the consideration lenge DOMA because they were not mar- Why the Justice Department didn’t are deprived of rights because of the fed- of the underlying arguments. Instead, on ried when that suit was undertaken. To promptly move in state court to have the eral government’s refusal to recognize their case dismissed based on this jurisdic- marriage. tional ground is unclear. Instead, once Challenging the other major compo- Unfortunately, the Obama administration it succeeded in having the case removed nent of DOMA — the right of other states to federal court, Justice moved for dis- to refuse recognition of their marriage — made the unnecessary argument missal there. Unfortunately, and quite might prove more difficult since that sec- provocatively, the Obama administra- tion is, in my view, purely symbolic. States that DOMA is constitutional. tion also made the unnecessary argu- have always had the right to refuse to rec- ment that DOMA is constitutional. Not ognize marriages that violate their public only were their arguments, in my view, policy, so if Smelt and Hammer were to August 24, he accepted the government’s have standing, a plaintiff must present a wrong, but a June brief filed by the Jus- travel to another state and demand some contention that because the case was “real case or controversy,” not a hypotheti- tice Department included a defense of form of recognition, no state would have to originally filed in California state court it cal case. DOMA so far-reaching that many gay rely on DOMA in order to defend its policy. must be dismissed, since the state court Since then, Smelt and Hammer mar- supporters of the president reacted with has no jurisdiction to hear suits against ried, during the six-month window when it anger. Obama rushed to staunch the Arthur S. Leonard is a professor at the federal government that challenge the was legal in California. In December 2008, damage at an LGBT Pride reception at New York Law School and the editor of constitutionality of a federal statute. The the couple filed a new lawsuit, claiming the White House, and when the Justice Lesbian/ Gay Law Notes. Leonard ear- case was in front of Carter’s court because that as a married couple they were entitled Department filed a follow-up reply brief lier wrote about the June brief filed by the the federal government’s response to the to challenge DOMA’s constitutionality. on August 17, the White House issued Justice Department in Smelt v. US. Dun- filing of the state court suit was to petition Even though Proposition 8 was upheld by a statement reiterating the president’s can Osborne recently profiled the plaintiffs’ a US court to have it moved there. the California Supreme Court this May, commitment to DOMA’s repeal. attorney, Richard Gilbert. The online version Carter dismissed the case without prej- that bench also ruled that marriages that The dismissal of Smelt is likely a mere of the story, at gaycitynews.com, includes udice, meaning that the plaintiffs, Arthur took place prior to the November election speed bump, since the federal district links to both.

᭤ CO-PARENT, from p.1 courts had allowed non-parents to use remained governed by Alison D. v. Vir- non-biological co-parent. It is hard to “equitable estoppel” arguments in cus- ginia M., and discounting the other predict what the Court of Appeals will Appellate Division’s April 9 ruling, but tody disputes, by which a plaintiff co- cases that Beeler relied on. “Our reading do in this case, or why it granted review. she never legally adopted the youngster. parent could make the case that they of precedent is such that the doctrine of One possibility is that the court is ready After the women ended their relation- had reasonably relied on the expec- equitable estoppel may not be invoked to rethink the issue and catch up with ship, Debra sought a court order grant- tations created by their ex-partner’s where a party lacks standing to assert other states where such custody and ing her joint legal custody and visitation actions and words about the intended at least a right to visitation,” the Appel- visitation claims can be heard. A less rights when Janice cut off her access to family arrangement. Beeler dismissed late panel ruled. optimistic possibility is that the court, the child. Janice presented a different mindful of the continued attempts by account to the trial court, claiming that lower court judges to get around the there was no intent for Debra to be a 1991 precedent, might want to reiter- parent of the child. Her attorney moved One possiblity is that the court is ate that those judges are bound to fol- to dismiss the case, arguing that Debra low it until the Legislature amends the lacked standing to sue. ready to rethink the issue and custody laws to explicitly authorize co- Janice’s dismissal motion depended catch up with other states. parents to bring such claims. on the 1991 ruling in Alison D. v. Vir- Although second-parent adoption ginia M., in which the Court of Appeals has become available in New York since ruled that a lesbian co-parent, as a the Alison D. case was decided, many “legal stranger” to the child, could not Janice’s motion, reasoning that Debra In granting Lambda Legal’s petition, same-sex couples have children togeth- seek custody or visitation, because New should be allowed the opportunity to the Court of Appeals renewed Debra’s er without setting up the necessary legal York law only authorizes a “parent” to prove the necessary facts. He also con- right to visitation until resolution of the framework through adoption to ensure seek custody. The high court acknowl- cluded that that the women’s civil union case. that both the biological parent and the edged that the statute did not define tended to support Debra’s claim that Several other New York trial judges partner co-parent have clear standing to the term “parent,” but it was unwilling they intended to raise the child together have expressed unhappiness with the have their custody and visitation claims to give it an expansive meaning beyond as a family. Beeler ordered that, while Alison D. precedent in recent years, heard in court should their relationship its traditional legal sense. the case proceeded, Debra be allowed frustrated that it bars them from getting falter. Justice Harold Beeler, the trial judge visitation with the child on Sundays. to the important question of whether These issues could be resolved much hearing Debra H. v. Janice R., found The Appellate Division reversed Beel- the best interest of the child is served more simply, of course, if same-sex mar- that in some later cases the New York er’s determination, ruling that the case by preserving their relationship with a riage were available in New York. 3 - 16 SEP 2009 10/ Legal Protecting HIV Confidentiality NY appeals panel limits scope of patient data doctor under misconduct probe must disclose

BY ARTHUR S. LEONARD the court cites no prior rulings, reaching its Board’s request did not fall within any of history should be disclosed,” the court conclusion by reference solely to statutory the exceptions specified in the confidenti- added. unanimous five-judge panel of the language and the legislative intent found in ality law. The court noted that an “anomaly” in Manhattan-based First Depart- the records of the relevant laws’ passage. The trial judge, New York County Justice the confidentiality statute made it unclear A ment of the New York Appellate The court’s opinion is not attributed to Nicholas Figueroa, ruled in favor of BPMC, whether a subpoena might not complete- Division has ruled that a subpoena seek- any one member of the panel, comprised taking the position that “a physician may ly override the protections it confers, but ing the full medical records of nine patients of Presiding Justice Angela Mazzarelli and not invoke patient privacy rights to shield was unwilling to adopt that view. Instead, of a doctor under investigation for miscon- Justices John Sweeny, Eugene Nardelli, himself from a misconduct investigation.” the appeals panel gave each of the nine duct must, with some qualification, be David Freedman, and Rosalyn Richter. The Appellate Division agreed that the patients the opportunity to offer objec- complied with, despite the doctor’s claim The opinion states that BPMC received Board has a right to subpoena evidence tions in court to the release of any specific that the nine, all of whom are HIV-positive, complaints about the doctor, who special- relevant to its investigation, but also found information in their records before they refuse to give written consent for disclosing izes in treating HIV-positive patients, suf- that the doctor should not be required to are turned over to BPMC. their information. ficient to merit investigation. When the release the records without taking steps Given the confidentiality concerns of the The August 25 ruling, on a subpoena Board requested the medical and billing to protect his patients’ privacy. case, the court offered no specifics about from the State Board for Professional records of the nine patients, the doctor’s The appellate ruling warned that the the charges against the doctor, and also Medical Conduct (BPMC), stipulated that lawyer responded with a letter raising con- confidentiality guaranteed initially might granted a motion to alter the name of the the records must be redacted to mask the fidentiality concerns and seeking guidance not be maintained throughout the case. case to protect the doctor’s “anonymity,” identity of the patients, anyone else men- “to assure that he did not act in violation “We caution, however, that the redac- something the state did not oppose. tioned in the records, and any descriptions of the Public Health Law,” which affords tion of the names at this stage of the Attorneys Robert L. Schonfeld and Ben- of their sexual practices. In this way, the confidentiality protections to HIV-positive investigation should not be construed to jamin Giezhals of the Garden City firm of court found, the privacy rights of patients patients. mean the names are to be permanently Moritt Hock Hamroff & Horowitz LLP rep- protected under the state’s HIV confiden- The doctor also contacted his patients, redacted,” the court wrote. “There may be resent the doctor, and the state is repre- tiality law can be balanced with BPMC’s asking if they would authorize release of a point in the future when the needs, or sented by the New York State Law Depart- legitimate investigative needs. the records, but none consented. the results, of the investigation warrant ment’s Richard Owen Jackson. Lambda This decision is apparently a ruling of BPMC responded with a subpoena, disclosure of certain identities.” Legal’s Thomas W. Ude, Jr. filed an amicus first impression — one on which there is demanding all the records. The doctor BPMC had established “no reason curiae arguing that the patients’ confiden- not yet any binding legal precedent — since countered with a suit arguing that the why personal information such as sexual tiality be protected.

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Homeless Youth Services Social A church of lesbian, and Sylvia Rivera gay, bisexual Food Pantry Spiritual and transgender Service people. Open to all. Home Advocating Marriage Equality and Transgender Rights The Reverend Pat Bumgardner, Pastor Weekly Sunday Services: 9 am (Traditional), 11 am (Celebration) 3 pm (Mandarin) and 7 pm (Praise & Worship) 11 am features ASL interpreter (1st, 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month) 446 West 36th St. bet. 9th & 10th Ave. NY, NY 10018 212-629-7440 website: www.mccny.org email: [email protected] gaycity news.com WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 3 – 16 SEP 2009 11

᭤ BRIEFS, from p.4 the fifth state to allow same-sex the state’s LGBT rights lobby, on couples to marry. In November, vot- August 31, filed a complaint with spousal waistlines unabated. ers there will consider Measure 1, a the state Ethics and Campaign “At the core of Ben & Jerry’s Proposition 8-style effort sponsored Disclosure Board detailing what 5IPNBT%4IBOBIBO 1$ values, we believe that social by a group called Stand for Marriage they alleged are clear violations justice can and should be some- aimed at turning back the brand of Iowa campaign finance law thing that every human being is new right. Fighting back in defense by the National Organization for ±"UUPSOFZBU-BX± entitled to,” said Walt Freese, of lesbian and gay couples, Equality Marriage (NOM), a Washington- the CEO of Ben & Jerry’s. “From Maine, the state’s LGBT rights organi- based group fighting against the very beginning of our 30 year zation, has launched No on 1/ Protect marriage equality. NOM was history, we have supported equal Maine Equality. The group is hosting responsible for the infamous rights for all people.” a full-time volunteer drive during the “Gathering Storm” TV ads ear- “It’s not polite to talk with your month of October, at which point early lier this year. mouth full, but the most important voting begins in the state, to mobilize The complaint charges that thing that all us ice cream lovers allies of the community to make their $86,060 was spent by NOM to can do to support the freedom to voices heard. benefit Stephen Burgmeier, an marry is speak with the people we Volunteers are asked to commit anti-gay candidate running in a know about why marriage matters at least a week to the effort, with special election for a vacant Iowa and the need to end marriage dis- orientations set for each Sunday in House of Representatives seat. /FX:PSL&NQMPZNFOU crimination in every state,” Free- the month, followed by six days of “We reject the use of divi- -BXZFST"TTPDJBUJPO dom to Marry’s Evan Wolfson said. work. Those participating will iden- sive fear-based appeals to influ- In early April, the Vermont tify supporters of marriage equality, ence Iowa elections and believe Legislature overrode Republican help recruit other volunteers, and transparency is vital to a healthy Over A Decade of Experience Governor James Douglas’ veto of engage in a get-out-the-vote effort. democratic process,” said Connie the new marriage equality law by Those interested in volunteering Ryan Terrell, the Interfaith Alli- Litigating Employment and Civil Rights two-thirds margins in both hous- should visit protectmaineequality.org. ance’s executive director. Cases for our Community es. — PS Similar complaints have been Stand Up lodged against NOM in California Volunteer For Marriage and Maine. Vacations Equality in Iowa In April, the Iowa Supreme 2007 - 2009 Deputy Commissioner, In Maine The Interfaith Alliance of New York State Devision of Human Rights Earlier this year, Maine became Iowa Action Fund and One Iowa, ᭤ BRIEFS, continued on p.28 2006 Honoree: - ᭤ PORN, from p.3 more than 40 years the gay porn indus- try is in the midst of a major transfor- “Contributions and Service to New York City” Falcon Studios, made so much money mation — it lives almost entirely in from porn that he became a wealthy real cyberspace.” In recognition of this fact, 2003 Honoree: Common Cause estate mogul, a player in Democratic Escoffier — in partnership with the Party politics, and bought himself a seat Adult Entertainment Business Network, “Holding Power Accountable” on the board of the Human Rights Cam- the world’s largest supplier of adult Ethical New Yorker of the Year Award paign. At his death from AIDS in 2000, video on demand — has set up a web his will turned over Falcon Studios and site named after his book at biggerthan- all its income to a foundation named life-thebook.com/, where one can pur- after him which financed gay and politi- chase viewing time to see many of the cal causes. classic porn films he writes about in his Former Aide to Mayor David N Dinkins AIDS fueled a quantum leap in the book. and Public Advocate Mark Green profitability of hardcore gay porn, for, as When asked if he thought sex was Escoffier writes, “As the AIDS epidemic dirty, Woody Allen famously quipped, devastated the lives of gay men, more “Yes, if it’s done right!” Escoffier’s defini- gay men were choosing to stay at home tive social history of gay porn on film and watch pornography than go out to and video is not only absorbing, enter- EMPLOYMENT LAW / CIVIL RIGHTS cruise for sex.” taining, and gossipy, with just the right AIDS also generated controversy in the amount of dirt and dish, but analytical. ',6&5,0,1$7,21‡6(;8$/+$5$660(17 porn industry, especially about the use “Bigger Than Life” is thus a valuable 3$571(56+,3$*5((0(176',63,7(6‡&,9,//,7,*$7,21 of condoms on-screen. Some argued that contribution to our understanding of the illusion of bareback sex was neces- changing sexual mores and gay porn’s 0$75,021,$/&8672'<‡0(',&$/0$/35$&7,&( sary to keep customers satisfied and influence on them. away from promiscuity. Others, includ- It’s worth noting that a new survey 3(5621$/,1-85< ing many HIV-positive gay porn stars out just this week shows that a majority like Al Parker and Mike Henson, insisted of kids are now having sex by the age of that pornography had a mission to eroti- 13. With gay porn today so widely acces- cize condom use as an integral and nec- sible online to these kids, and with the Thomas D. Shanahan, P.C. essary part of sexual play, and became rampantly urgent demand for bareback crusaders for safe sex. Even AIDS-fight- porn and proliferation of bareback gay 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2010 ing groups like the Gay Men’s Health videos, the gay porn industry needs to Crisis made porn films to promote safe ask itself what kind of sexual practices sex. By the ’90s, Escoffier says, nearly all it is teaching these young people explor- New York, NY 10176 gay porn producers prescribed the use of ing their sexuality. HIV infection rates condoms. The portion of Escoffier’s book are again surging, especially among the devoted to porn in the age of AIDS is grip- young, but safe sex messages, once so ping and insightful — and the list of porn prevalent in gay porn videos, have all but tel (212) 867-1100 WWW.SHANAHANLAW.COM stars who died of AIDS is quite long. disappeared. Isn’t it time for the gay porn fax (212) 972-1787 [email protected] Today, Escoffier writes, “after slightly industry to bring them back? 3 - 16 SEP 2009 12/ Endorsements ■ SEPTEMBER 15 PRIMARY PUBLISHER & CO-FOUNDER JOHN W. SUTTER [email protected] The Stakes in the Third Council District ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & CO-FOUNDER TROY MASTERS [email protected] verything changed in more assertively liberal lead- We should also consider more port our work. She was criti- EDITOR IN-CHIEF & CO-FOUNDER PAUL SCHINDLER Christine Quinn’s polit- ership. It is clear to us, how- concretely the benefits our cal to our success and to our [email protected] E ical career in January ever, that Quinn’s reelection own community gains by hav- being able to sustain a cam- ASSOCIATE EDITOR 2006 when she was elected — and the potential that she ing Quinn in the position she paign for four years.” It is true Duncan Osborne speaker of the City Council. will serve another term as is. that the HIV Forum received CONTRIBUTING EDITORS She was no longer the repre- speaker — will, on balance, At the August 13 debate at city funds, but it is also a fact Christopher Byrne (Theater), Susie Day, sentative solely of the Third preserve a critical progressive NYU, she spoke in detail about that it is no longer asking for Doug Ireland (International), Brian McCormick Council District, arguably the voice on the Council and, cru- a meeting she had with Long money. Carlson’s testimony is (Dance), Dean P. Wrzeszcz heart of progressive thought cially from the standpoint of Island Republican Senator significant. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Betsy Andrews, Seth J. Bookey, and politics in New York. Nor our community, keep a proven John Flanagan on the pend- Kurland’s is a powerful Anthony M.Brown, Kelly Jean Cogswell, was her primary citywide LGBT advocate at the highest ing marriage equality legisla- new voice in the LGBT and Dean Daderko, Tate Dougherty, Andres Duque, identity limited to being the councils of city government. tion. Her opponents in this progressive communities, Michael Ehrhardt, Steve Erickson, Nick Feitel, Jim Fouratt, Joe Fyfe, Deborah Garwood, longest-serving LGBT Council These, too, are no small race, Maria Passannante-Derr but while she has identified Erasmo Guerra, Emily Harney, Andrey Henkin, member. things. and out lesbian Yetta Kurland, issues on which greater com- Frank Holiday, Andy Humm, James Jorden, Brendan As speaker, she’s had the The broad outlines of Keane, David Kennerley, Gary M. Kramer, Arthur S. Leonard, Rachael Liberman, authority and shown the polit- Quinn’s progressive bona Michael T. Luongo, Lawrence D. Mass, ical wiles to wield enormous fides should be familiar to Winnie McCroy, Eileen McDermott, influence over that body, even voters. Endorsed by Tenants Gregory Montreuil, Ioannis Mookas, Carrie Moyer, Quinn’s reelection will keep Stephen Mueller, Christopher Murray, as she has been chief sur- PAC, she has been a defender David Noh, Wayne Northcross, Lori Ortiz, rogate for the Council in its of city rent regulations vital Pauline Park, Sheila Pepe, John Reed, a proven LGBT advocate at the Nathan Riley, Andrew Robinson, Gerard Robinson, decidedly unequal relation- to the housing security of Chris Schmidt, Sarah D. Schulman, ship, under the City Charter, millions, and an outspoken highest councils of city government. Jason Victor Serinus, Linda Shapiro, with the mayor’s office. After advocate of home rule reform David Shengold, Gus Solomons Jr., David Spiher, Drew B. Straub, Stefen Styrsky, Jerry Tallmer, years as a respected leader to end the undue influence Stefanos Tsigrimanis, Kathleen Warnock, in LGBT and left-leaning cir- upstate Republicans have on Benjamin Weinthal, Lee Ann Westover, James Withers, Kai Wright, Susan Yung cles, Quinn has found there city affordable housing policy. said they too would lobby state munity input is appropriate, are now critics, even enemies Her efforts on ensuring a liv- senators to push the issue she has not yet articulated ART DIRECTOR Mark Hasselberger within those ranks. ing wage for home health care over the top. Neither, however, persuasively detailed solu- No action she has taken workers, a vital but woefully could convincingly assert that tions. We expect to hear more GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jamie Paakkonen has sparked more progres- marginalized segment of New they would bring nearly the from her in the future. Pas- sive backlash than her active York’s economy, are emblem- same prestige or influence to sannante-Derr comes from a SENIOR VP OF ADVERTISING/MARKETING FRANCESCO REGINI support last fall for Mayor atic of why she has the sup- such an effort. political family long allied with [email protected] Michael Bloomberg’s light- port of the Working Families When Gay City News the aspirations of LGBT New ning-fast dismantling of the Party. An advocate for wom- reported on an outrageous Yorkers, and she has strong ADVERTISING MANAGERS term limits that would have en’s rights and choice, Quinn pattern of false arrests of gay credentials as a West Village COLIN GREGORY [email protected] barred him and Quinn from has been endorsed by Planned men on trumped-up prostitu- community activist. Unfortu- reelection to their current Parenthood and NARAL Pro- tion charges, having a lesbian nately, her campaign has too ALLISON GREAKER [email protected] posts. Both went back on pre- Choice NYC. City Council speaker willing to often devolved into anger, and JASON SHERWOOD vious public commitments on Despite a “slush fund” stand up and able to get the some of her comments about [email protected] the issue, and the approach scandal early in 2008 that ear of the NYPD was invalu- the LGBT youth who frequent JULIO TUMBACO the speaker co-signed defied implicated the speaker’s office able. After a YouTube video the Hudson River piers down- [email protected] two voter referenda. Most dis- — about which, frankly, every- surfaced criticizing the speak- town raise concerns about DANI ZUPANOVICH turbing about the episode was body is awaiting final resolu- er for alleged indifference to whether she brings the requi- [email protected] that the mayor could have put tion of several pending inves- the issue, Robert Pinter, the site empathy to their claim to Please call (212) 229-1890 for the question in front of voters tigations — Citizens Union, courageous gay man who went a place at the table. advertising rates and availability. last November had he come the city’s most respected public with the story of his In the next four years, we ACCOUNTING forward earlier with a pro- good government group, has false arrest, stepped up to dis- would like to see more aggres- DAVID JAFFE [email protected] posal he clearly gave thought strongly praised the reforms pute that charge. He wrote, of sive leadership from Quinn. NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING to for some time. The courts Quinn initiated regarding the the police’s acknowledgment If she is reelected speaker, we Rivendell Media / 212.242.6863 have upheld the action by the Council “member item” pro- that the arrests should stop, hope she will work to resist the Web master Council and the mayor, but we cess, as well as other changes “Christine Quinn’s leadership encroaching privatization of Arturo Jimenez believe that it was wrong and in Council practice enacted provided a forum for this rare public space in New York. We [email protected] Gay City News, The Newspaper Serving Gay and Lesbian NYC, is corrosive of public trust in earlier. admission by the NYPD and urge her to revisit the urgent publishedby Community Media, LLC. Send all inquiries to: Gay City News, government. This is no small And Quinn has the sup- the genesis for the positive First Amendment question of 145 Sixth Ave., First Fl., NYC 10013 Phone: 646.452.2500 Written permission of the publisher must be obtained before any of the contents disagreement, and we make port of the Empire State Pride changes that followed.” whether police can reasonably of this paper, in part or whole, can be reproduced or redistributed. All contents (c) 2009 Gay City News. no effort to explain it away. Agenda and the Gay & Lesbian Pinter is no powerful inter- require a permit for crowds as That said, the September Victory Fund, a Washington- est group. small as 50. And we need to Gay City News is a registered trademark of Community Media, LLC. 15 Democratic primary for the based group working to elect Similarly, Dan Carlson, who see New York rededicate itself John W. Sutter, President Fax: 646.452.2501; District 3 seat Quinn has held LGBT candidates. co-founded the HIV Forum in to creative solutions to the E-mail: [email protected] since 1999 is about more than Voters, of course, often 2004 to battle the scourge of ongoing crisis of AIDS and HIV the term limits question. We cast a jaundiced eye toward crystal meth use among gay transmission in our city. Subscriptions: 26 issues, $90.00 wish the speaker had shown endorsements from orga- men, wrote of Quinn that she These are the expectations (c)2009 Gay City News. greater independence from the nized interest groups eager “worked lock-step with com- that we bring to our endorse- All rights reserved. mayor, and there are issues to enhance their influence munity groups to do all that ment of Christine Quinn for on which we would have liked with a powerful incumbent. government could do to sup- reelection. 3 - 16 SEP 2009 Endorsements / 13

■ SEPTEMBER 15 PRIMARY Our Choices For Manhattan-wide, Citywide Races

MANHATTAN DISTRICT advocacy, dating to the 1970s, on the DA as manager of the and State Senator Eric Schnei- Gay City News interview. “It ATTORNEY for ending the criminal prosecu- city’s largest law firm and his derman. absolutely can be and should The hard-fought contest to tion of gay men for consensual close ties to Morgenthau, how- This country is weakened by be an office as agent of change.” succeed Robert Morgenthau, sex. As a judge, Snyder faced ever, raise questions about the fact that so many Ameri- That posture is what leads us the 34-year incumbent, as some of the most hardened, vio- how much a commitment to cans fill too many jails. Crimi- to endorse John Liu, who has chief prosecutor in Manhattan lent drug gangs from the bad creative criminal justice reform nal justice reform is an urgent amply demonstrated his follow- features three highly creden- old days here in New York, but animates Vance’s pursuit of the need, and as Manhattan dis- through in his eight years on the tialed criminal justice profes- the public posture she adopted office. trict attorney, Richard Aborn City Council. Last year, as the sionals. Former Judge Leslie in the immediate aftermath of Aborn is clearly the stand-out can play a singular role in that Council acquiesced to Mayor Crocker Snyder, Cyrus Vance, her time on the bench, perhaps reformer in this field. In a coun- effort. Michael Bloomberg’s request Jr., and Richard Aborn all best shorthanded by the title of try besotted with a love of guns, to extend term limits, Liu took worked for Morgenthau early in her memoir, “25 to Life,” was he headed up the Brady Cam- CITY COMPTROLLER a principled stand in opposi- their careers, and each prom- at odds with the crying need to paign to Prevent Gun Violence, Four members of the City tion. In a body where bucking ises changes in the DA’s office, create a public discourse con- where he was the chief strate- Council — David Yassky of the powerful office of speaker favors greater community ducive to meaningful criminal gist behind passage of three Brooklyn and David Weprin, carries political risks, he bit the input on criminal justice policy, justice reform. Of greatest con- major federal gun control laws. Melinda Katz, and John Liu of bullet, and says, “I haven’t felt understands the need to engage cern, though, is a derogatory When New York threatened to Queens — are vying to succeed any changes in my role in the young people in crime preven- mention of the play “Angels in fracture over the 1999 police William Thompson as the city’s budget process.” tion initiatives and to divert America” in her memoir that killing of Amadou Diallo, he led comptroller. The role of comp- “It would be fair to say that nonviolent offenders from incar- is hard to reconcile with her an investigation of the NYPD’s troller is critical — especially in my background is one of being ceration, and — critically — has professed commitment to free internal disciplinary proce- light of indictments during the excluded, whether blatantly or spoken out against the target- sexual expression by gay men. dures. He has also headed up past year over the use of City de facto,” he said of his child- ing of gay men, as was the case Even accepting Snyder’s expla- the Citizens Crime Commission Council “member item” money, hood in Flushing as an immi- in up to dozens of false prosti- nation that the reference did not of New York, a non-profit advo- ongoing investigations of the grant from Taiwan. The first tution arrests reported by Gay reflect her own squeamishness, cating for significant progressive role of placement agents in Asian American elected to any City News. its publication certainly played criminal justice goals. steering the investment of state legislative position in New York “I think our backgrounds to prejudices held by some of Even as he’s worked to — and perhaps city — monies, City, Liu has been a stalwart are massively different, mas- her readers. reform police departments, he’s and recent reports that the city friend and highly visible ally sively different, and I think that Vance has offered a spe- also earned their trust, having pension funds have been under- of the LGBT community. That our backgrounds would define cific plan for decentralizing his consulted for law enforcement performing the market. Each of record lends substantial cred- what we would do in the office,” office so that prosecutors get to agencies from Scotland Yard to the candidates has committed ibility to his pledge to “shatter Aborn observed in an inter- know the communities they are the Los Angeles Police Depart- to battle waste and inefficien- all the records” in using New view with Gay City News. We charged to protect. His oppo- ment, whose chief, Bill Brat- cies, make city budgeting more York City’s substantial pension agree, and that is our reason for nents have faulted him for the ton, who formerly headed up transparent, and be a watchdog investments as a tool to nudge endorsing Richard Aborn. 16 years he lived in Seattle, but the NYPD, has endorsed him. against fiscal impropriety. corporate America toward fair In her years at the DA’s office, New York has always drawn tal- Aborn has also won endorse- We are impressed by the workplace and marketplace Snyder did laudable, even pio- ent from afar, and while there ments from dozens of elected commitment of one candidate practices for the LGBT commu- neering work on the issue of he participated in a significant officials in Manhattan, includ- to go further. “I don’t see the nity. sexual assault against women, class-action gender discrimi- ing committed reformers like comptroller as a bureaucratic and gay activists recall her nation lawsuit. His emphasis Congressman Jerrold Nadler position,” Liu said in a recent ᭤ CITYWIDE, continued on p.15

■ SEPTEMBER 15 PRIMARY LGBT Council Contenders Who Deserve Support

n addition to the District tections, affordable housing, two more and lend an assist to tice Center. In Queens District 25, long- 3 contest that includes civil liberties, and LGBT rights yet another in neighboring Chi- Mendez has been a staunch time LGBT and Democratic I two out lesbians, there is — have remained at the cen- natown. She is an outspoken critic of the false arrests that Party activist an unusually strong field of ter of her work on the Council. critic of continued abusive evic- ensnared perhaps dozens of gay is taking on incumbent Helen City Council candidates run- men in Manhattan video stores Sears to represent Jackson ning competitively elsewhere on trumped-up prostitution Heights, Elmhurst, Woodside, in the city, surely a sign of the charges in the past year or so. and Corona. Dating back to the community’s growing political Zuckerman is clearly positioned to A regular speaker at protests early 1990s, when the anti-gay maturity. aimed at drawing attention to murder of Julio Rivera sparked In Manhattan’s District 2, win if supporters from the LGBT the arrests, she has called for outrage and a determination which runs from the Lower East community help make that happen. investigations by the Internal to speak up and be visible in Side north roughly to Gram- Affairs Bureau at the NYPD, Queens, he has played a criti- mercy Park, incumbent Rosie the Civilian Complaint Review cal leadership role in the bor- Mendez will probably not have Board, the district attorney’s ough’s LGBT community — in trouble in either the primary She has won three significant tions across the city, and has office, and perhaps the state its annual pride celebration, or the general election, but it rezonings in her district, aimed been ranked in the top five pro- attorney general. Still an activ- its community center, a gay should not go unmentioned that at protecting the residential ponents of civil liberties among ist after four years in office, Democratic club, and assist- the critical issues that brought character of neighborhoods she her 51 colleagues by the Human Rosie Mendez deserves strong her to public life — tenant pro- serves, and is working to effect Rights Project of the Urban Jus- support on September 15. ᭤ LGBT COUNCIL, continued on p.14 14 3 – 16 SEP 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

᭤ LGBT COUNCIL, from p.13 rently held by Eric Gioia. Van Bramer formerly worked as communications candidates. Zuckerman comes to the has been an activist dating back to his director at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, race with a very diverse résumé, having ing the victims of homophobic violence years as a student at St. John’s Univer- is making a spirited run against two for- also run the New York Nightlife Asso- and their families. During the educa- sity, and was among the founders of the mer elected officials — Karen Koslowitz, ciation, a trade organization, and the tion curriculum wars of the early ’90s, Queens Pride House nearly a decade who served the district on the Coun- Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Dromm, a school teacher, became the ago. One of the youngest board mem- cil until January 2002, and Michael L. Commerce, and owned a business that target of a vicious anti-gay propaganda bers at the Empire State Pride Agenda Cohen, who served in the State Assem- produced a Consumer Internet Expo at campaign waged by a local school board in the 1990s, he was also active in early bly until 2005. Schulman cut her teeth Madison Square Garden a decade ago. member, a challenge he surmounted election campaigns by Manhattan LGBT in politics in the late Congresswoman When the credibility of the Stonewall with considerable dignity. This year, an officials, such as Assemblywoman Deb- Bella Abzug’s 1976 run for the US Sen- Democrats was reeling in the late 1990s anonymous smear campaign, based on orah Glick and Senator Thomas Duane. ate, and three years later became district after the club backed Mayor Rudy Giu- a 38-year-old tale of his arrest as a teen- Glick, Duane, and out gay Assembly- liaison for West Village Assemblyman liani in his reelection bid, Zuckerman ager when police nabbed him necking in man Daniel O’Donnell have endorsed William Passannante, the first legislative arguably played the key role in reviv- a parked car, was launched against him, Van Bramer, as has the Washington- sponsor of New York State’s gay rights ing its fortunes and building it into the a reminder that gay sexuality will always based Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, bill. She has also worked for former city’s largest LGBT club. In Brooklyn, be an issue for some in politics. which works to elect viable LGBT candi- West Village City Councilwoman Carol he has been active in efforts to launch The dust-up this year is particularly dates nationwide. Greitzer and Brooklyn Councilwoman a community center to serve the bor- unfortunate given Sears’ good record on The Queens queer community is a Sara Gonzáles. With the endorsements ough’s diverse queer community. gay issues, which has attracted support contentious one, and the club where of four reform-minded councilmembers The 39th District race has taken on among several LGBT leaders in Queens. Dromm has long been a leader is not from three different boroughs, Schul- an unusually high profile for a Coun- Notwithstanding the incumbent’s supporting Van Bramer, and several man, who would represent Forest Hills, cil contest. One of Zuckerman’s oppo- embrace of our community’s agenda, she other LGBT leaders have also endorsed Kew Gardens, Rego Park, and Richmond nents, Josh Skaller, headed up Democ- has had eight years on the Council, and Van Bramer’s principal opponent, Deir- Hills, would have a running start on her racy for New York City, a grassroots Dromm would be a welcome gay voice dre Feerick, an attorney who works for pledge to bring critically needed new per- political reform advocacy group that from a district outside Manhattan. He the City Council. Feerick has a strong spectives to the Council. grew out of Howard Dean’s 2004 presi- is a dedicated activist and hard worker record on women’s issues and clearly dential campaign, and the former Ver- who has kept on his toes throughout a has friends who respect her in the LGBT n Brooklyn’s District 39, which mont governor has endorsed him. A long campaign season. Dromm deserves community, but we believe Van Bram- includes portions of Park Slope, more salient endorsement in the race, support from LGBT voters. er’s impressive history of activism as an I Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Wind- however, came when Brooklyn Con- out gay man would make him the more sor Terrace, Kensington, and Boro gressman Anthony Weiner threw his n neighboring District 26, which urgent voice on the Council for the needs Park, Bob Zuckerman, who most support to Zuckerman, offering telling encompasses Sunnyside, Long of our community. recently headed up the Gowanus Canal testimony from a hometown guy. IIsland City, and Woodside, Jimmy Community Development Corporation Zuckerman is clearly positioned to Van Bramer, a government affairs spe- n an open contest for Melinda Katz’s and its affiliate, the Gowanus Canal win this race if supporters from the cialist for the Queens Public Library 29th Council District seat, Lynn Conservancy, is in a very hard-fought LGBT community help make that hap- system, is contesting an open seat cur- I Schulman, a hospital executive who race against three other well-known pen on September 15.

>`]cRb]Ac^^]`b Richard 3_cOZ@WUVba ABORN for D.A. PROGRESSIVE AND EFFECTIVE

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/aaS[PZg[S[PS` /aaS[PZg[S[PS` 1Wbg1]c\QWZ[S[PS` 2SP]`OV5ZWQY 2O\WSZ=¸2]\\SZZ @]aWS;S\RSh 5OgO\R:SaPWO\2S[]Q`Oba =cb>S]^ZS]T1]Z]`>]ZWbWQOZ/QbW]\1ZcP >`]cRZg3\R]`aSRPg WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 3 – 16 SEP 2009 15 ■ PERSPECTIVE Two Cents on Health Care BY KELLY JEAN COGSWELL

hen I drop in on the Ameri- World Health Organization as well as might spend a morning in a slum with Which is not to say they don’t pre- can health care debate, my the Commonwealth Fund rank France, a recent hospital discharge, and the scribe the expensive procedures and W only response is “Freaks!” along with Switzerland, Britain, Can- afternoon visiting a patient whose pos- tests. The problem is that the staff just Seriously. Universal health care = ada, and Japan, as having the best sible inheritors were squabbling in an don’t take the same care with some poor death panels? Communism? Arma- health care systems in the world, not adjoining room. schmuck as they would with the rich. geddon? On the other hand, who on just in access, but in having the best I got a chance to watch it myself last There was the time I was on Medicaid earth believes access and regulation outcomes in all age categories for can- year. In the waiting room at the public and having intestinal problems. They will fix it all? cer, heart disease, diabetes, and rates hospital, there’d be a student, a middle- recommended a colonoscopy, and I I’m an unexpected skeptic. I’m living of other chronic diseases. class matron, an au pair. The secretar- was right in the middle when the anes- in France where the value of universal For me the question is, even if the ies terrified rich and poor alike with the thesia wore off. They couldn’t give me coverage is self-evident. Despite their flying pig of universal health coverage same French bureaucratic chill. The more because my blood pressure had complaints about the high cost of care, manages to get past the increasingly doctors greeted everyone with the same dropped, which they hadn’t prepared middle-class French people pay very for, though apparently it’s a common little, poor people pay nothing, and even side effect. Despite the fact I was beg- outsiders like me benefit from govern- ging them to stop, these medical pro- ment regulation, subsidies, and a sys- The key to success of medical care fessionals just went straight on like I tem among the best in the world. is not just access, but access to wasn’t there begging them to please, oh To give you an idea of what it means my God, please stop. in financial terms, last year I had an one standard of care for everyone. No, access isn’t everything. I could ovarian cyst that involved a lot of doc- tell you a dozen stories like that. Only tor visits and eventually surgery. I paid a few of them mine. Should I be happy full price for everything before my insur- more people get access to that? ance returned the bulk of it. Sixty euros powerful lobbyists and their congres- face of professional interest, the same I think this two-tier system is also ($86) covered one visit to a private gyne- sional lackeys to give every Ameri- polite handshake. bad for the middle-class and rich. cologist, 28 euros for a visit to a public can insurance, can the United States Compare that mix of patients and the Aware of the differences in pocket clinic. A sonogram was 80 euros. An actually transform its medical culture imposition of the same social conven- books, the potential for patient lawsuits MRI ran 454 euros. Surgery with three enough to make universal health care tions to New York, where there’s clearly as much as the payoffs in lucrative whole nights in the hospital was 4,450 work? Access aside, America’s exist- a two-tier system of health. The poor tests and prescriptions, I doubt doctors euros ($6,367) including hospital bed, ing health care system stinks. You can are treated by specialists in the poor, give them the objective, thoughtful care surgeons’ fees, anesthesiologist, medi- pay a lot, or pay a little, but you’re still who rarely leave their medical ghettoes they should. They don’t hold back from cation, bedpan, coffee, and croissants. in a country rated a pathetic 37th on to treat the rich. In public clinics, nurs- offering useless treatments, and they And I waited less than a month for this results. es snicker at patients to their faces, don’t take chances when they ought non-emergency surgery to be sched- My theory is that the key to the suc- make fun of accents even if they have to. uled. cess of French medical care is not just one themselves. Doctors, usually paid Reform? Hell. Better burn down the The most important thing, though, is access, but access to one standard of less than their peers in private prac- house. that at every stage, the care was com- care for everyone. I’d heard about it tice, assume that the financial poverty petent and professional. Hell, it was the from one of my old neighbors, a medi- includes moral and intellectual lack, Check out Kelly Sans Culotte at http:// best I’ve ever had. Unsurprisingly, the cal social worker, who told me how he too, and treat you accordingly. kellyatlarge.blogspot.com/.

᭤ CITYWIDE, from p.13 2002. Siegel served admirably as head what they’re supposed to be doing, the of last year’s term limits extension. of the New York Civil Liberties Union public advocate is the watchdog,” de When discussing the recent false PUBLIC ADVOCATE and has been a dedicated marriage Blasio told Gay City News earlier this arrests of gay men on prostitution Former Public Advocate Mark Green, equality litigator. Gioia is an earnest summer. “But you don’t just stand up, charges, he tied them to a much civil liberties attorney Norman Siegel, and passionate advocate who has used you don’t just have a press conference, broader pattern of “concerns about and City Councilmen Eric Gioia and his role on the Council to bring needed you don’t just put out a press release, policing” — from the harsh crackdown are running for public attention to the issues of hunger and you go and organize communities to on protesters at the 2004 Republican advocate, an office with limited legal homelessness. achieve political change.” He has used National Convention to the harass- authority, but with staff resources and Amidst these strong candidates, our this approach to win tens of millions of ment of Critical Mass bike riders. His a bully pulpit suited to an aggressive choice is Bill de Blasio. As head of the dollars for children’s services, to block instinct to look at issues with that public servant eager to be a watch- City Council General Welfare Commit- closings of senior centers, and to bar sort of holistic perspective and then to dog and a proponent of change. Green tee, de Blasio mobilized voters to advo- landlords from discriminating against tackle them by awakening the voices made effective use of the office during cate for their own interests. “When the use of Section 8 vouchers. De Bla- of average New Yorkers will serve de his eight-year tenure that ended in the mayor or any agency is not doing sio was also outspoken in his criticism Blasio well as public advocate.

■ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

KURLAND VERSUS grown disenchanted with Quinn — her Quinn’s progressive bona fides are sands of New Yorkers by housing them Kurland supports HASA for All and QUINN abandonment of the fight against AIDS in largely based on the grassroots work before they get seriously ill, not after. has repeatedly said that funding for AIDS New York City. Quinn’s lack of leadership she did fighting for AIDS housing and Why doesn’t Quinn support it? Because services is one of her most important September 1, 2009 on AIDS — and the presence of another tenants’ rights. Since becoming speaker, the short-term costs might not sit well concerns. I sincerely hope that, come To the Editor: candidate who would provide it, Yetta Quinn has turned her back on efforts to with the middle-class voters she needs November, we have a new City Council Your article about the recent debate Kurland — has prompted me to publicly provide housing to poor New Yorkers to get elected mayor. member from District 3, one who will carry among candidates seeking to unseat endorse Kurland over Quinn. (Although living with HIV, primarily by blocking Quinn has also sold out the AIDS com- on the fight to end AIDS in New York City, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn I am president of the AIDS organization legislation known as HASA for All. Every munity to Mayor Bloomberg. For the last few no matter how high she rises. (“Passannante-Derr Comes Out Swing- Housing Works, I am endorsing Kurland major New York City AIDS organization years, Bloomberg has attempted to slash Charles King ing Against Quinn,” by Duncan Osborne, as an individual. This letter should not be endorses HASA for All. It would save mil- funding for critical AIDS services. Quinn left Manhattan posted online, Aug. 14) omitted one construed as an endorsement by Housing lions by reducing strain on city services. it to other City Council members to oppose major reason that her supporters have Works). It would save the lives of tens of thou- and forestall the worst of those cuts. ᭤ LETTERS, continued on p.28 3 - 16 SEP 2009 16/ Film Backstage at Eden Two gay actors play gay actors playing gay actors

BY GARY M. KRAMER THE BIG GAY MUSICAL never had any reservations Directed by Casper Andreas & about sexuality.” n “The Big Gay Musical,” Fred M. Caruso Yet the actor did have con- Paul (Daniel Robinson) Fred M. Caruso Productions cerns about the sex his char- Iand Eddie (Joey Dudding), Opening Sep. 11 acter engages in. In a dramatic two gay theater actors, star Chelsea Clearview Cinemas moment, Eddie has unprotect- in the Off-Broadway musical 260 W. 23rd St., ed sex with a man he meets clearviewcinemas.com “Adam and Steve: Just as God in a bar. The way this scene is Made Them.” The film depicts played caused Dudding anxi- the characters’ lives on stage however, the actor was soon ety. “It’s a serious scene, and and off as they grapple with faced with another. “Filming that was a big thing for me to issues of love and sex — and in simulated sex and pretend- [play] — being overcome in Eddie’s case, coming out. It is ing that you are enjoying it is the heat of the moment,” he an auspicious big screen debut hard,” Robinson insisted. He explained. He was relieved the for the queer actors, who have worried about the facial expres- scene didn’t feature nudity he until now performed mostly sions appropriate when he was might have considered gratu- on stage. Robinson appeared doing his love scene with adult itous, though like Robinson, in “Hairspray,” while Dudding film actor Brent Corrigan. Dudding appeared in “Broad- was cast in revivals of “A Cho- He admitted that when he way Bares” and showed it all rus Line” and “La Cage aux first read “The Big Gay Musi- off. “It indulges your inner Folles.” cal,” he turned it down. “It was stripper,” he joked about the If the story is typical back- a little too over the top for me. charity event. stage drama, and the musical I wasn’t comfortable with the If the actors were nervous within the film is an odd piece sex scenes and the nudity. It about making the leap from of theater — imagine a reli- was too nude and gay for me.” stage to screen, they both gious revival featuring semi- Robinson, who has stripped on handled it with considerable naked gay angels — “The Big stage for “Broadway Bares,” aplomb. They depended on each Gay Musical” offers its leads has never done a gay show other and boosted each other’s an excellent showcase for before, and this worried him. “A confidence during rehearsals. their talents. The men perform huge reason why I didn’t take “We were constantly coaching a pas de deux in one of the the film in the first place was each other on set,” Robinson film’s highlights, and Robin- that I didn’t want to be seen as explained. “We watched each son is sure to be remembered a gay actor,” he acknowledged. other and flagged things like for a show-stopper of a tune “‘Big Gay Musical’ was like put- the overuse of arms.” entitled, “I Want to Be a Slut.” ting a tattoo on my body. I’m “There is no rivalry between Paul, depressed after a break- committing to this.” us,” Dudding said with pride. “We have a real friendship off screen.” Now with the release of “The “I am not a boozy guy, but I Big Gay Musical,” both actors are hoping to launch film love show tunes — I play careers. them at the gym.” For all the challenges, Rob- inson admitted that mak- FRED M. CARUSO PRODUCTIONS ing the film paid dividends. Daniel Robinson as Paul and Joey Dudding as Eddie in “The Big Gay Musical,” which opens on “I didn’t want to do it at first, up, gets liquored up and per- Eventually, he decided the September 11. but I’m happy I did it because forms this number with gusto. film was a good opportunity. it put me as an actor and an “I am not a boozy guy, but Looking back on it, he said Dudding concurred, claiming — a gay virgin, and not out to artist at a completely differ- I love show tunes — I play that the sex scene “was harder he too had difficulty creating his parents. He is far removed ent level,” he said. “It made them at the gym,” Robinson to read than to do.” He added simultaneous character arcs from Dudding’s personal expe- me want to do more. I’m more explained in a recent phone that the film’s editing eased for Eddie and Adam. “I tried to rience growing up, despite the confident, and [willing] to try interview, adding that he some of his fears about having portray [Eddie] as honestly as fact that the actor’s hometown, more things. I put my balls to had real qualms about this his naked body exposed on film possible,” he explained. “I’m Lynchburg, Virginia, is the the wall. I danced, I sang, I did sequence. “That was the hard- forever. familiar with learning songs site of the late Jerry Falwell’s drama and comedy. This movie est day, my drunk scene,” he Robinson also found that and choreography in a short megachurch. Fortunately helped me find my passion and recalled. “I’ve [acted drunk] playing two characters — Paul period, but the off-stage scenes for him, his family was not in drive.” on stage a lot, but to do it on and Steve, his character in were new territory.” The actor lockstep with the zealotry of Dudding is equally inspired. film is completely different. On the musical within the film, thanks co-director Casper Lynchburg’s favorite son. “I do “My ideal life would continue stage, you play to an audience was complicated. “The stage Andreas for keeping on him on not come from a very religious to do theater and more film,” that’s farther away, and there’s [scenes] were more difficult track and helping him, during background, like Eddie does,” he said. “I’d like to do a roman- a comedic element to it. In the than I thought because you had the 17-day shoot, to make the Dudding said. “My parents are tic comedy and play someone film, it was sad, and I had to to pretend you were acting,” he right choices in approaching very accepting of my life. No funny. I keep getting cast as sing a song drunk.” said. “It was easier for me to his performance. major drama when I came out. serious. I’m not that serious!” After rising to that challenge, play the real world of Paul.” Eddie is a naïve character I can’t relate to his virginity. I Except, perhaps, about acting. 3 - 16 SEP 2009 Dance /17 Making Up Some More Dances Mark Morris, joined by Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax, shows his stuff at Mostly Mozart

BY GUS SOLOMONS JR The dancers toss phrases amongst themselves, enriching the contrapun- incoln Center’s popular Mostly tal texture — a sideways skip with arms Mozart Festival appropriately fea- circling; torsos bobbing and twisting L tures frequent appearances by the with hands wrapping the waist; a little Mark Morris Dance Group, since Morris hop with extended arms, like wings. The is arguably our most musically sophisti- motifs compound, creating complexity cated choreographer and hangs out with that, like the music, never loses clarity. the likes of Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax. Our visual and aural senses experience This season, Beethoven’s lyrical “Cello parallel delight. As the music ends, the Sonata No. 4 in C major” and Charles cast scatters like leaves blowing into the Ives’s thorny “Trio for Violin, Cello, and wings. Piano” have inspired him — the former Nicole Pierce lights the broad Rose by its beauty and the latter by its diffi- Theater stage with subtle mastery, bath- culty — to make up (his term) two new ing the dance in soft sunlight. Eliza- dances. beth Kurtzman’s coordinated rehearsal In the first of the two movements of clothes — loose pants and shirts in “Visitation,” four dancers, led by an odd muted tones of gray, rust, and pale aqua person out (Maile Okamura on August — are intended not to distract from the 21), meet and greet, then pair up, with lyricism of the motion, but they’re pretty Okamura surging across the space inde- bland. pendently. At the end of the first move- FESTIVAL MOZART LINCOLN CENTER MOSTLY However, Kurtzman’s bright faux uni- ment, the four tip her upside down. The Mark Morris Dance Group presented new works based on Beethoven, Ives and reprised Schumann-set “V.” forms, in reds, yellows, and blue-greens The second movement begins with with military stripes, diagonal sashes, Okamura still balanced on her shoul- bles to eight dancers, as if to amp up the The nine split into three trios, two carry- and sparkling buttons, transform the ders, while others do solos, ignoring her. kinetic volume. Motifs from the first part ing the third horizontal, like the shuttle- In this section, the original quartet dou- get repeated and spatially elaborated. cock of a loom. ᭤ MOSTLY MOZART, continued on p.20

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or visit www.nyhomes.org THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME 3 - 16 SEP 2009 18/ Film Lured Into the Crap Game Leslie Cockburn struggles to convey the sub-prime tragedy

BY STEVE ERICKSON first-rate documentary. Unfor- AMERICAN CASINO tunately, it never quite gels, Directed by Leslie Cockburn n the surface, “Ameri- playing like three episodes of Argot Pictures can Casino” might the PBS investigative journal- Opens Sep. 2 O seem like a rather ism series “Now” edited into a Film Forum straightforward documentary 90-minute film. 209 W. Houston St. about the sub-prime mortgage Told without narration –– but Filmforum.org loan crisis, but it contains sev- with extensive use of on-screen eral films within it. The first is text –– “American Casino” uses with many disciplines, econom- a rather dry overview of the gambling as a metaphor for the ics comes with its own vocabu- roots of the crisis, told mostly rise and fall of the sub-prime lary, and “American Casino” through talking-heads inter- mortgage industry. Cockburn treads a fine line between views. speaks to industry insiders who dumbing down complex issues The second is an examina- talk blithely about guessing the and explaining them in lan- tion of the crisis’ effects on its value of billion-dollar securities. guage that the average intelli- victims. As depicted by Leslie A mortgage salesman gent spectator can understand. Cockburn, they’re mostly mid- describes the routine practice Alas, the film never finds dle-class African-Americans; of fraud within his industry, the right tone for this difficult about half the film concentrates which often inflated homeown- engagement, relying heavily on Baltimore. This section plays ers’ incomes in order to justify on jargon. It doesn’t help that like a real-life equivalent of “The underwriting mortgages with Cockburn never achieves a Wire,” only without cops and monthly payments that would visual style fitting for the mate- criminals. likely in time become unafford- rial. Her juxtaposition of inter- PICTURES ARGOT Finally, the film takes on a able. In Baltimore, Cockburn views and exterior shots of Wall Patricia McNair is a Baltimore therapist fighting foreclosure on her home. post-apocalyptic sci-fi tinge depicts a schoolteacher, a min- Street office buildings feels pat when it ventures to suburban ister, and a therapist who’ve and glib. imagined that they’d risk home- crisis. Computer graphics show Stockton, California, and exam- been left homeless or are in the Only when it arrives in Bal- lessness. neighborhoods decimated by it, ines festering swimming pools, process of foreclosure. timore does “American Casino” She has chosen people where most of the homes are in now breeding grounds for mos- The first 15 minutes of take on real vitality. Rather who thought they were on the hock. quito larvae and deathtraps for “American Casino” are relative- than the abstractions of Wall proper side of America’s eco- Foreclosure Radar CEO Sean neighborhood rodents. ly dull. A procession of econo- Street bigwigs, it addresses nomic divide –– indeed, people O’Toole drives down a block If “American Casino” could mists and bankers explain the economics on the street level. who spend their days coun- with Cockburn, pointing out integrate all these segments complicated math behind the Cockburn’s subjects are all seling the even more desper- homes about to be foreclosed. into a whole, it would be a sub-prime mortgage crisis. As thoughtful people who never ate. Daniel Mitchell teaches While the street looks placid human rights at a high school. –– the signs of decay are fairly Minister Almalene Wade lives subtle, like an inattention to in a friend’s car when not cop- weeding –– only three of its ing with parishioners driven to homes are in the clear. depression or substance abuse “American Casino” empha- by losing their own homes. sizes the way minorities were Cockburn’s use of music also targeted by greedy, unethical becomes more expressive when bankers, but it also shows that she leaves Wall Street behind. the problem can affect anybody. In its opening reel, “American Next month, Michael Moore Casino” deploys music unob- will chime in on America’s trusively, but in Baltimore, she economic woes with “Capital- relies on a soundtrack of locally ism: A Love Story.” Is fiction or produced hip-hop. I’m not sure documentary the best way to if any of it was composed spe- depict an event like the sub- cifically for the film, but its lyr- prime mortgage crisis? A nar- ics address the same concerns, rative film like Kelly Reichardt’s speaking from the perspective of “Wendy and Lucy” deals well disenfranchised homeowners. with the consequences of our Cockburn also makes use financial collapse, but leaves of several mournful Bruce the underlying ideology in the Springsteen songs. In her most background. adventurous moment, she cuts “American Casino” is most between the soundtrack of a successful when it comes clos- Senate meeting on finance and est to a documentary version of a funk song with the chorus the kind of neo-realism exem- “Everyone’s broke.” plified by Reichardt. Cockburn In Baltimore, poverty is quite does well when she focuses visible. In Stockton, it’s far less on ordinary people but seems

ARGOT PICTURES ARGOT so. Nevertheless, it’s been hit shakier when she zooms out for A block of foreclosed row houses in Baltimore. just as hard by the mortgage the big picture. 3 - 16 SEP 2009 Film /19 Identical Differences French twins star in film exploring a sexuality divide

BY GARY M. KRAMER

he rakishly handsome Alexandre Carril and Victor Carril co-star T in “Give Me Your Hand,” openly gay director Pascal-Alex Vincent’s lyrical, hypnotic film that depicts a bond between twins. In his minimalist French drama, the pair —Alexandre plays Antoine and Victor is Quentin — travel across France to their estranged mother’s funeral. They fight, often physically, and after Antoine spies Quentin with a male lover, they split up, possibly never to reunite. Vincent directed Alexandre and Vic- tor before, in his fantastic short “Baby Shark.” And while he wanted to make a feature with them, he said he did not want to “do a psychological essay on twins. The film was inspired by their story.” His idea, he explained, was to investigate “what makes you different from your brother.” As an identical twin myself, I felt com- pelled to bring Henry, my straight twin, with me to interview Alexandre and Vic- Alexandre Carril, Henry Kramer, Victor Carril, and Gary Kramer compare notes on twindom. tor. The actors were both amused and impressed at seeing double. tor said, with a wry, devilish smile, and ing a common photo ID, driver’s license, GIVE ME YOUR HAND Speaking through an interpreter, they Directed by Pascal-Alex Vincent then director Vincent injected, “They and metro card, even though they don’t talked about why singletons are so fasci- Strand Releasing had very violent fights in real life. They live together. “Because we are twins, we nated by twins. Like my twin, Henry, who Opens Sep. 11 were famous for the fights on the street, are used to playing with that inherent is analytical, Alexandre considered the Quad Cinema which are more violent than the ones in schizophrenia that comes with it,” Victor question before answering. “People who 34 W. 13th St., quadcinema.com my film. So we used that. Their bodies are explained. “Perhaps we are more at ease aren’t twins have a fantasy about having full of scars. Alexandre uses his fists. Vic- at playing a role, and being an actor, tak- one—a desire,” he said. “Some civiliza- tor uses objects — pencils, or knives, or ing it further.” Alexandre finished his tions have a right of passage to adulthood The Carrils are deliberately cagey and things that can cut.” brother’s thought on this subject, saying where people go looking for their missing mysterious about their off-screen sexu- We compare other visible differences in of their casting in the film, “Once it was other half. That is something we are not ality. The interpreter explained only this our bodies. Where I am muscled, Henry determined who played which role, we comfortable with, because we are not so — that they would like to keep their sex is less defined. Where Alexandre has accepted our parts. In both characters, well divided. We are really about having lives separate, but it is not easy because chest hair, Vincent does not. “Careful! there were elements that corresponded all kinds of facets and dimensions inside they share a common taste. “We are often That could be the subject of fighting!,” to each of us.” us.” Henry concurred, observing, “Twins attracted to the same person,” admitted the filmmaker warned adding, “Fight- Vincent explained that after he cast are more integrated.” Alexandre. “It can cause problems.” ing is a way of saying that they love each the twins, there was some conflict. It was other.” not as he expected, about the film’s gay The love-hate bond between the boys is versus straight sexuality, but because never in doubt. In the film, they are often one twin had a week more of shooting “Because we are twins, we are used to seen walking or quietly sitting together. time than the other. playing with that inherent schizophrenia A train ride they share on their jour- Alexandre changed the subject. “We ney is especially poignant and beautiful. knew from each other to play these char- that comes with it.” Throughout the film what emerges is that acters, but in real life, there is no leader,” they each know what the other is think- he said. “There is no hierarchy between ing. This symbiosis is something Vincent us. There are multiple facets in both of Victor, like me, is more spontaneous. “Problems” suggests fights, and the presents with remarkable acuity. us, and we don’t want to consider that one He said, “It was really interesting — we fights between the twins are legendary. Such shared moments are common to is one side of something, and the other were in Paris, and after the screening of In examples of art imitating life, “Give Me all twins. Recently Henry and I connect- has the other side of it. We are not cut in the film, two young people came up to Your Hand” features three hand-to-hand ed over the same song we heard indepen- two. For example, in terms of sexuality, us and were actually really interested in battles between the brothers, the first dently. The Carril twins confirmed that one of us didn’t get everything feminine.” knowing if one brother was indeed gay, of which is animated. Alexandre sports they too bond using music. “We have As Henry and I suspected, the Carrils and if we had slept with each other.” I a scar over his left eye — emphasized in the same song in our heads, and real- fully complement each other, just as us nodded in agreement. People are always the film to distinguish the twins — which ize it when he’ll whistle it.” It is unclear Kramers do. “Give Me Your Hand” deftly curious about twins — especially the sex- he got when Victor hit him with a skate- from the overlapping voices which twin and accurately illustrates this balance. It ual proclivities of gay/straight twins. This board. My Henry shows off a scar over his said that. Alexandre offered this: “I read provides an engaging portrait of two lives interest is addressed in the film; many of left eye he got from being hit by a boomer- books about twins, but that didn’t help shared but separate. It is something sin- the folks Antoine and Quentin encounter ang. The twins gasped in awe at the simi- me develop magical powers.” gletons may begin to understand better inquire about the differences between the larities. The French twins do, however, try after seeing this absorbing, often mesmer- brothers. “We fight over really silly things,” Vic- some puzzling sleights of hand, shar- izing film. 3 - 16 SEP 2009 20/ Theater Gods and Fathers Irish Rep duo, Public’s “Bacchae” triumph in complex challenges

Told through a series of stories BY CHRISTOPHER BYRNE AFTER LUKE as the son goes from being beat- WHEN I WAS GOD here’s an evening of two en up in the sport of hurling to The Irish Repertory Theatre short plays at the Irish ping-pong to finally finding him- 132 W. 27th St. T Rep absolutely worth see- self as a soccer referee, it is, like Wed.-Sat. at 8 pm.; ing. Playwright Cónal Creedon’s the first play, an aching, eco- Wed., Sat., Sun. at 3 p.m. two one-acts are lyrical evoca- nomical, and original look at the Through Sep. 27 tions of the complex and some- challenges all fathers and sons $55-$65; irishrep.org times incomprehensible rela- face when the dreams of one Or 212-727-2737 tionships between fathers and clash with the independence of sons. the other. nature of this conflict are what In “After Luke,” he inter- In this play, Gregg plays the make “The Bacchae” such a prets the parable of the Prodi- father and Mellamphy the son. fascinating study. gal Son, found in the Gospel of They are both excellent here as While the ancient Greek style Luke, in modern Cork. Maneen well, with Mellamphy exhibit- was steeped in pageantry and has gone off to London to try to ing a surprising range, show- polemics, Akalaitis makes the make his fortune while Son has ing himself to be that rare adult conflict visceral, accessible, and stayed home with his father, actor who can convey a little boy exciting for a modern audience. known as Dadda. Maneen is convincingly and movingly. The story concerns the god Dio- Dadda’s biological son, while Tim Ruddy has directed nysus who, denied his divinity Son is from his mother’s first both pieces with sensitivity and because his mother is mortal, is marriage. The boys have heart. This is an extraordinary determined to prove himself the always had a tempestuous and wonderful evening not to be equal of any on Mount Olym- relationship, with Dadda serv- missed. pus. Through the force of his ing as referee. While Maneen personality, he creates a cult trumpets his biological pri- uripides’ “The Bacchae” of ecstatic women throughout macy in the family, Dadda has had its first performance the known world. He returns to a different sense of which boy E more than 2,400 years Thebes to demand his due, but JOAN MARCUS has acted as a real son. ago, but in Joanne Akalaitis’ runs afoul of the state governed Anthony Mackie was exceptional as Pentheus in the Public Theater production of “The Bac- The writing is poignant and stunning production just com- by Pentheus, who imprisons chae.” realistic, and through situation pleted at the Delacorte in Cen- him. Dionysus, being a god, and reflection we see the com- tral Park, the issues and the escapes and wreaks revenge on the focus. Akalaitis’ staging on lent of an 11 o’clock number as plexities of the family dynam- drama — allowing for differ- Pentheus. It is only when ratio- John Conklin’s contemporary she realizes she has murdered ic. The delicacy and poetry ences of style, expression, cul- nality returns that the mortals architectural interpretation of her son. Anthony Mackie is of the writing conveys enor- tural hegemony, and religion — realize what they’ve done. an ancient theater is at times exceptional as Pentheus, find- mous depth, and the actors — remain relevant today. Akalaitis’ galvanizing stag- breathtakingly beautiful. ing a full range of emotion in Michael Mellamphy as Maneen, At issue is whether rational ing effectively balances the long Nicholas Rudall’s transla- an essentially narrow charac- Gary Gregg as Son, and Colin government founded on what’s declamatory speeches by vari- tion is outstanding, offering the ter. Jonathan Groff is certainly Lane as Dadda — give simple empirically knowable is more ous characters with the fluid impact of ritual and the clar- stretching himself as Dionysus, and resonant performances. powerful than what is believed motions of the chorus. Aided ity of real characters. The cast and while he was effective and “When I Was God,” the second without proof. But it goes fur- by Philip Glass’ spectacular handles it very well, in par- appealing, he lacked some of play, also addresses the father/ ther, to examine the dichoto- score, choral speech and sign- ticular Rocco Sisto as the mes- the boldness and fire the script son relationship. In this case, mous nature of humans that ing provide all the backdrop senger with a long, expository indicate. it’s a father who wants his son makes them revel in passion required for the action — some- speech that manages to wring This was a daring choice for to be a sports champion and the and yet yield to cultural struc- times festive; sometimes dark the heart, and Joan Macintosh the Public — no surprise there son who struggles to be his own ture. The constant tension and and dangerous. The chorus as Agave, Pentheus’ mother, — and an unforgettably power- person while pleasing his father. the essentially irreconcilable reflects the action and keeps who has the dramatic equiva- ful evening.

᭤ MOSTLY MOZART, from p.17 nity songs and familiar tunes –– their personalities on the chore- fully frenetic and seems to mark Seven barelegged dancers in “Sailor’s Hornpipe,” “Long, Long ography. They are a community a refreshing expansion of his royal blue tunics and seven in cast of “Empire Garden,” the Ago,” “Dixie” –– and Morris, in clearly enjoying their job of vivi- kinetic imagination. pale body suits form two teams Ives dance, into a platoon of complementary fashion, refers in fying the music, and their focus The program closed with a that articulate the symmetry of giddy irregulars. They wittily his movement to disco and yoga. on musicality reminds us to lis- reminder of why Morris is a mas- Schumann’s recapitulations. define a clan of eccentric charac- At times, like the music, the ten harder. ter choreographer. “V” (2001), In the slow movement, dancers ters –– all the pants are a bit too dancing borders on chaos, the Ma’s cello, Ax’s piano, and set to the Schumann “Quintet progress across the stage, crawl- short. dancers each doing their own Colin Jacobsen’s violin sing with in E-flat major for Piano and ing on feet and hands from oppo- Ives described his trio as a version of the material; then sud- such finesse it’s a shame the Strings,” is a Morris master- site directions, one group moving reflection of his college days at denly, they coalesce into linear musicians are out of sight in the piece of musical visualization. on the beat, the other on the off- Yale. The first movement recalled formations or fall into momen- pit, which seems to muffle the The movement features presen- beat. The passage repeats, mov- a philosophy lecture, the sec- tary unison. volume of their superb playing. tational hand flourishes and ing this way, then that, becom- ond, antics and games, and the There is a remarkable ego- Or maybe the Rose is just too passionate, tilted embraces, in ing seductively hypnotic. It gives third, Sunday service, which less-ness about the dancing vast for chamber music. which there’s never any actual us time to try figuring out its ended “near the ‘Rock of Ages.’” of Morris’s talented company. The movement palette, espe- touch –– like air kisses; they construction, and then to marvel The music quotes from frater- Virtuosos all, they never assert cially of “Garden,” is wonder- skewer schmaltziness. at its poetic simplicity. 3 - 16 SEP 2009 Theater /21 Ham on the Run Tom Judson’s second, third, and remarkable fourth acts

BY WICKHAM BOYLE CANNED HAM newest work, “Canned Ham.” Dixon Place I will get to the backstory of ere is how Tom Jud- 161A Chrystie St., the name, but for now go with son’s bio reads: Mid- btwn. Rivington & Delancey it and hear the tale Judson is H dle-aged former actor, Sep. 23-24 at 8 p.m. telling: “So according to Ter- musician, waiter, bartender, $18; ovationtix.com rence McNally, since this is porn star (a.k.a. Gus Mattox), a one-man show, I couldn’t writer, carpenter, composer, do a reading with a cast, the activist, street food vendor, 2003 — Enter Tom Jud- usual way a writer hears a bike messenger, chorus boy, son, reborn as Gus Mattox, new work, so I should have callboy, and all around gadfly. “world’s oldest gay porn star”; someone read it to me. So I Given an imminent return to 2006 — wins Best Performer got John Glover to read it to the stage, it’s not unreason- of the Year at the Gay Porn me.” able to present the incredible, Awards and retires; enter Okay, stop. In the pantheon ever-changing arc that is Jud- Acme Housing — renovating of theater, let alone gay the- son’s life as a theatrical set and flipping homes upstate; ater, McNally and Glover are up. 2008 — enter the recession above-the-marquee names, Dark stage: Enter Tom Jud- and housing slump; Jud- and here they are, firmly son, a boyishly handsome, son takes two months in the in Judson’s corner proffer- muscled, tattooed, middle- Caribbean to work construc- ing counsel. Judson is not a aged man toting an accor- tion and write; 2009 — enter middle-aged man who just dion. His life unfolds: 1982— Tom Judson, writer, thespian decides to write a play; when composer about town; 1990 and still a star, in “Canned Judson writes, actors, direc- — meets Bruce Birnbaum; Ham.” tors, and producers clamor. 1995 — Bruce dies of AIDS; When finally reached by And rightfully so. 1999 — on the Road with phone, Tom Judson launched “Cabaret.” right into the trajectory of his ᭤ JUDSON, continued on p.25 Tom Judson, in his very latest incarnation. “LUSCIOUS,DISHY FUN. Is she the devil in Prada? The truth is more fascinating. A fly-on-the-wall portrait of Anna Wintour. GRADE: A!” – Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly “RUN, DON’T WALK,TO ‘THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE’! YOU CAN’T MISS THIS FILM!” –Glamour “HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!” – Andrew O’Hehir, Salon.com

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■ IN THE NOH The Boys of Late Summer Danny Kaye, Peter Allen honored, flea market Author, Lewin’s camp classic

BY DAVID NOH Laurence Olivier, and also Eve Arden, Gwen Verdon, and oth- rian Childers is current- ers. I believe that Danny had ly playing Danny Kaye, a lot of demons that we don’t Ba protean, multi-faceted deal with in this show... that’s a talent, in “Danny and Sylvia” whole different show. (St. Luke’s Theater, 308 W. 46th “I believe that Danny was St., open run; telecharge.com), bipolar or manic/depressive a retelling of the song and dance before it was really diagnosed. man’s early years through 1948, He went to therapy three times when he played the London Pal- a day, five times a week for psy- ladium. The musical includes choanalysis. His mother died the story and struggles of Kaye young, and I personally think and his wife, Sylvia. that he was looking for some- Childers, a native of South thing and someone to fill that Carolina, appeared in another void, which really explains a musical at Washington’s Ameri- lot about his relationship with can Century Theater in Wash- his wife, who really controlled ington, and its artistic director, his career for many years. But Jack Marshall, saw his possibil- regardless of his offstage per- ities for bringing to life the script sona or demons, he never let an of “Danny and Sylvia.” That, audience down. He was always Childers said, “was the start of the most at home onstage in this incredibly long, wonder- front of a live audience.” ful journey. We started with a five-performance, semi-staged nother multi-talent, reading in May 2001, and the Peter Allen, was cel- response was overwhelming. It A ebrated by fellow Aussie was decided that we would open Darren Williams in his show American Century’s fall season “Not the Boy Next Door –– the with a full-blown production. We Peter Allen Songbook,” at the were nominated for Helen Hayes Metropolitan Room. Allen, Wil- Awards, I won the award that Ava Gardner stakes a claim to being the most beautiful woman ever in Albert Lewin’s “Pandora and the Flying Dutchman,” also starring liams told me, “has always been year for Best Actor in a Musical, James Mason. a huge influence on my musical and it was decided to remount career. In the early ’60 –– before the show at Metrostage Theater and hold an audience in the Short, Robin Williams, or Jim “Our audience consists of my time –– he started off as part in Virginia. palm of his hand. He was a true Carey.” Kaye fans who grew up with of a duo called the Allen Broth- “After that, we went to New entertainer, a word which isn’t In researching the part, him and remember all his songs ers on “Australian Bandstand,” York for the Chip Deffaa Festi- used much these days. You Childers said, “I’ve read every and comedy, but we also get along with the Bee Gees and val, where it was directed by the have triple threats, but Danny book, seen every movie, TV a younger crowd who haven’t Olivia Newton-John. My father, fantastic, late Tommy Walsh. was much more than all those show, just immersed myself in heard of him or his personal Warren Williams, was also a We got great reviews but didn’t things. His brand of comedy all things Danny. The role itself life, like his relationship with part of the “Bandstand” family, get picked up for the real com- was unique, with his double- is a marathon, requiring stami- his wife, Sylvia Fine, who is por- although he never made it quite mercial run we were hoping for. talk gibberish, but he could also na and energy from the start of trayed by the fabulous Kimberly so big as the others, but is still Many years passed, with a five- be elegant, understated, and the show to the end. You can’t Greenberg. The show includes performing wonderfully back in waver, or the audience won’t both his classic material like Australia. As one of four music- believe you. I spoke to everyone ‘Tchaikovsky’ and ‘Minnie the loving kids in our family, Dad I could about the onstage/ off- Moocher,’ and original songs would tell us stories from the “Danny was really a genius who could stage person. What was impor- and material that drive the story “Bandstand” days and show us tant was to not only be able to forward. The book is written the old videos. I always loved sing, dance, act, clown, and hold an master the hands, patter, gib- by his former publicist, Robert vocal harmonies, and the Allen audience in the palm of his hand.” berish, and vocal inflections, McElwaine, and is a valentine to Brothers and the Bee Gees but also to portray him as a both Danny and Sylvia.” always caught my ear. Later, human being.” Although both Kaye’s wife I realized Peter’s songwriting Kaye’s family was not involved and daughter always denied talents and fell in love with his performance run at the Forum simple, a consummate perform- in the development of the show, it, rumors persist that he was amazing and often underrated Theater in New Jersey, and then er who is sadly forgotten in this “but the Kaye estate has seen bisexual, the most sensational compositions.” producer Hy Juter, who always day and age. At one point, he the show since and approved of which has Vivien Leigh once Williams described his show loved the show, helped us put was the highest paid entertainer wholeheartedly. We just had discovering him in bed with as “not an impersonation of on a night backers’ audition in in Hollywood. He also conduct- some Kaminskys [Kaye’s real her husband, Laurence Olivi- Peter Allen. It is a tribute to this New York where we finally got ed symphony orchestras, was last name] come see the show er. Childers said, “Well, I will wonderful entertainer and song- the money we needed for this a professional Chinese chef, a last month, and they were give you my stock answer on writer, exploring his life and Off-Broadway run.” pilot, and fascinated by surgery overwhelmed with joy for our the relationship with Laurence times from humble beginnings, From Childer’s perspective, of any kind. You can see his keeping his memory alive and Olivier: I wasn’t in the room so growing up in a small Austra- “Danny was really a genius who influence on comedic entertain- keeping true to the story of his I don’t know. There were defi- could sing, dance, act, clown, ers nowadays, such as Martin youth. nitely rumors of affairs with ᭤ IN THE NOH, continued on p.23 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 3 – 16 SEP 2009 23

᭤ IN THE NOH, from p.22 was always true to himself, which also shows in his songs. lian country town to being discovered “I myself was born and raised in by Judy Garland, his marriage to Liza Sydney, one of four children who all Minnelli, and finally becoming a star ended up as professional entertainers. in his own right. As well as performing As a child, I was a boy soprano, win- my own arrangements of his hit songs, ning many contests at Sydney’s Opera including ‘Arthur’s Theme,’ ‘Don’t Cry House. Later I studied musical theater Out Loud,’ ‘I Honestly Love You,’ etc., at the Actor’s Center in Sydney and the show explores some of his equally appeared in leads in the Australian pro- brilliant hidden gems, most of which are duction of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s autobiographical, and put the icing on ‘A Grand Night for Singing,’ as well as the cake of such an interesting showbiz an international cast of ‘South Pacific.’ story, so to speak.” My proudest moment, career-wise, was Asked how Allen is remembered being awarded the Australian Vari- today in Australia, Williams said, “He ety Entertainer of the Year, in honor of is an icon at the highest level. His com- Peter Allen, which inspired me to do this position, ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ is show. Five years ago, I relocated from known as Australia’s unofficial nation- Sydney and now live in the beautiful al anthem and is often sung at major neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights.” sporting events, and has been the theme song for Quantas Airways for many rtistic dreams flourish in the years. Another of his songs, ‘Tenterfield unlikeliest of places, like Man- Saddler,’ also captures the Australian A hattan’s Antique Garage on West spirit, and is widely considered to be one 25th Street, where Larry Baumhor sells of the greatest autobiographical songs vintage photographs every weekend. He ever written. also writes, having self-published three “I think he contributed more than he books (shortstoriesandphotos.com) that is given credit for in the entertainment reveal his utterly unique, self-ruminat- industry. Not many people realize that ing, and neurotically funny take on life he was the first major recording art- and its absurdities. The titles say a lot ist to openly come out back in the ’70s, — “Gefilte Fish in the House of Bedlam,” risking his own career and a recording “SexPsyche,” “Who’s the Putz on Face- contract with A&M. Nobody else had book?,” as does this opening sentence: the guts before him, so he paved the ROSEGG CAROL way for so many others after that. He ᭤ IN THE NOH, continued on p.24 Brian Childers stars as Danny Kaye in “Danny and Sylvia,” which has an open-ended run at St. Luke’s Theater.

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᭤ IN THE NOH, from p.23 journals, publishers, or agents. I must ten years. Initially, I began selling ilm Forum honors James Mason have close to a thousand rejections ephemera, books, and photos. I saw with a special screening of “Pan- “Have you ever eaten smoked gefilte fish, over the years.” there was a market for vintage pho- F dora and the Flying Dutch- not with the traditional horseradish, On the surface, dealing with cus- tography, and changed my inventory. man” on September 14 (209 W. Hous- but with a couple of cigarette ashes on tomers and friends at the Garage, I also have a passion for photography ton St., filmforum.org). Mason — in a top, billows of cigarette smoke in the Baumhor seems the most easy-going and love finding vernacular surreal select group with Charles Boyer, John air, served by a Jewish grandmother and affable of souls, but he said, “I images. Many of my customers feel as Barrymore, Ralph Richardson, Rob- who wore a brassiere as a blouse, with live life existentially, in the moment, though they’re collecting art, especial- ert Mitchum, George Sanders, Roger a Viceroy cigarette dangling from her sucking the marrow out of my experi- ly with the vernacular surreal photos. Livesy, Anton Walbrook, Joel McCrea, lips?” ences. I believe that life is absurd and For two dollars and up my customers Robert Ryan, Sterling Hayden, and Jeff Baumhor said, “During the past 22 that happiness comes from coming to can buy a snapshot that is evocative of Bridges — is one of my favorite actors. years, writing has become an extension terms with your suffering and pursu- their aesthetic taste. Certain snapshots He rarely disappointed in presenting of who I am. I evolved as a writer with ing your dreams. I’m filled with com- are very collectible, many of which human, complex, sometimes androgy- my own voice, culminating in ‘Gefilte passion and love, and often live in my were taken by mistake, such as odd- nous characters, however dark. His Fish in the House of Bedlam.’ Before I subconscious, acting like a goofball. I ball juxtapositions, double exposures, craft was a far cry from the predictable began writing that, I had an epiphany. know that every day could be my last and exotic compositions. Filmmakers yawn-inducing “manly” heroics of such I said to myself, I have to expose my day. I open my heart and soul for peo- Lorca Shepperd and Cabot Philbrick big-gun names as Gary Cooper (post- raw gut level emotions, regardless of ple I feel connected to. However, I do filmed and produced the documentary 1943), Spencer Tracy, James Stewart, how embarrassing they may be. And not socialize much, and feel discon- ‘Other People’s Pictures’ about snap- and Gregory Peck. while doing this, I want to incorporate nected to society. I have a distrusting shot collecting at the Garage, which “Pandora” is a real cinematic one- humor and satire. I felt people could attitude towards most people. I feel won awards at several film festivals. off, the luridly romantic Technicolor relate to me being naked on the page. that race, religion, and class are forces “A plethora of celebrities have fever-dream of studio aesthete writer- And in part, I wanted to connect to of evil destroying the world that have patronized the Garage, purchasing director Albert Lewin, best known for my readers, relate to them on an emo- been justified by mankind. collectibles and antiques. I personally “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1945), tional level. I was fascinated with the “Without my customers and dealer do business with Alan Dershowitz and which shares with “Pandora” the film- late comedian Andy Kaufman in that friends at the Garage, I would not be a Joe Franklin. Many others have passed maker’s obsession with baroque decor, he often left you in bewilderment as published author. I’m friendly with art- through — Sigourney Weaver, Berna- fruity epigrams, and taverns with to what the differences were between ists, writers, photographers, and many dette Peters, Nicole Kidman, Sheryl names like the Two Turtles. It begins reality and fantasy. I used this concept creative people who inspired me and Crow, Gloria Vanderbilt, Marisa Tomei, with the “moving finger” quote from in my writing.” made suggestions regarding editing, Catherine Deneuve, Michael Imperioli, Omar Khayyam’s poetry — which “I’ve written five novels, four unpub- stories, and book covers. Ken Brown, Paul Shaffer, Bette Midler, Penny Mar- Josef von Sternberg also employed in lished, one nonfiction manuscript, 30 a customer who buys snapshots, is a shall, Sarah Miles, Joan Collins, Joy his camp epic “The Shanghai Gesture” short stories, articles, hundreds of prolific artist, filmmaker, and photog- Behar, Heidi Klum, and Monica Lewin- — and progresses to “the measure of poems and letters. I’ve written some rapher who collaborated with me in ski. Michael Jackson and Heath Ledger love is what one is willing to give up articles for newsletters and online, but designing the covers of my books. patronized the Garage. for it.” In the case of playgirl/nightclub I was never able to crack the literary “I’ve been selling at the Garage for “Trying to earn a living as a photogra- singer Pandora Reynolds (Ava Gard- phy dealer at the Garage is a constant ner, staking a major claim to being the struggle. But it’s the passion I have for most beautiful woman ever), it means selling photography and the friend- demanding that her lovers push their ships I’ve developed over the years that cherished race cars into the sea, face JOIN THE are the driving force behind my profes- deadly bulls in the corrida, and basi- sion. To surround myself with creative cally put up with her maddeningly per- people has been a wonderful, enlight- verse yet irresistible allure. WEDDING ening experience that has fostered my Shot with salivating lushness by commitment as a writer. cinematographer Jack Cardiff, divine- “Unfortunately, the Garage is clos- ly gowned by Bumble Dawson (with PARTY! ing in the near future, ending an era of maybe the best hat in movie history), antique/ collectible markets in Chel- Pandora fecklessly wends her way sea. The buildings were sold to devel- through an F. Scott Fitzgerald lost gen- opers whose intention is to demolish eration world set on the Costa Brava, A DOUBLE-WEDDING GIVEAWAY CONTEST! the Garage and build high-rises. The stepping over chiffon scarf-festooned Starting June 12, Gay City News readers may enter to win: demolition of this culture in Chelsea ancient sculptures lying on the beach, began about three years ago. There until she meets her match in Hendrik • round-trip tickets to Key West were about six outdoor flea markets, van der Zee (Mason, at his brooding some of which began in the 1960s. best), who just may be the legendary, • 5-day 4-night honeymoon These markets, a cultural phenome- lost Flying Dutchman. Alan Rawst- • wedding bands non in New York City, known through- horne’s fraught score crashes to keep out the world, attracted thousands of up with lines like “Her voice spoke Two lucky couples will be drawn on Valentine’s Day, patrons on the weekends, were forced words that passed like flame through February 14, 2010. Visit GayCityNews.com to participate! to close by developers who built these my tortured ears to take possession of mortar-gnawing high-rise buildings my burning brain,” “Pandora should at 24th and 25th & Sixth Avenue. The appear as woman in the abstract — SPONSORS: Garage was supposed to close Novem- bride, mother, the original and generic • American Airlines ber 2008, but due to the collapse in egghead from which we can imagine the economy, the developers are delay- the whole human race to be hatched,” • Diamonds International ing demolition of the Garage. However, and “A profound and unconscious jeal- • Island House eventually the Garage will be demol- ousy of his dead father had created a • Kleinfeld Manhattan ished. The owner of the Garage Flea permanent and incurable disturbance Market, who leases the property, has in the violent soul of Juan Montalvo.” • Pearl’s Rainbow Key West opened Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market at You’ll scream, you’ll die. 39th & Ninth Avenue in hopes of revital- ADVERTISERS: Please contact izing the past years of the outdoor flea Contact David Noh at Inthenoh@aol. [email protected] or markets, and to have a venue for cus- com and check out his new blog at http:// 646-452-2471. tomers who shopped at the Garage.” nohway.wordpress.com/. WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 3 – 16 SEP 2009 25

᭤ JUDSON, from p.21 country, but when I wrote the first ing construction this past summer thy is a different challenge. “This play draft of the script, it ran longer than on a Caribbean island called Saba. is a memoir of the last 20 years of my I have known Tom Judson in near- people would be able to watch stand- I wrote it in three days. My wonder- life, my adulthood. When I turned 30, ly all his incarnations, and he always ing, so I decided to do it in theaters ful boss had seen me working away I hosted a party with lots of friends surprises me. The last time I looked, he with traditional seating.” at the chore list for a month, and she and a 20-piece orchestra. Now, as I was renovating houses, so how did the I promised you backstory on the said, ‘Go to Cottage In the Sky, and am about to turn 50, it is just me and idea for a one-man show materialize? name of the show and here it is: don’t come back until you’ve written my accordion. I needed that 20-piece “It really started in January during According to Judson, the nickname of the play.’ And so I went up there and orchestra back in the day. Now I know the hard winter. I thought, I am not the style of camper he purchased and wrote the first draft. It came so quick- it is all in me.” going to be here next winter; I will be renovated — shirtless with an elec- ly, it came so fast, I wasn’t sure what Judson’s world premier is Septem- some place warm. Oh, I’ll just bounce ber 10 at Jason’s Upstairs in upstate around; maybe I’ll go to Key West Hudson, near his home in Catskill. and work as a bartender. Or maybe it Then it is on to Dixon Place — the could be interesting to try a few dif- last time he performed that venue ferent warm-weather places. Then was when Dixon Place was in founder I saw this little metal camper sitting “I’ll be this former porn star and play the Ellie Covan’s living room. After that, by the side of the road. I love the lore accordion and maybe I could tell stories. the show goes on the road, presented of campers and the architecture, so by ChiChi LaRue, porn director and I bought the camper for $100. And Then the light bulb clicked on.” drag queen extraordinaire. The pro- it was settled. I decided, that’s what ducing company Tweed and director I will be doing. I love campers. I will Kevin Maloney are searching for a lon- drive around in the warm weather ger-term venue in New York. and rake gravel or wash dishes. I All Judson knows for now is that will be Mr. Itinerant Worker for three “the route is a south and west circle months and I’ll bring my accordion. I tric metal polisher — is the Canned I had, so I sent it to Charles [Busch, from New York City, and I will return used to be famous, so I’ll be this for- Ham. Judson explained, “I am a big playwright, actor, and drag artist]. by the northern route. But it’s all still mer porn star and play the accordion ham, so it all made sense. The logo His response was, ‘Do you want a real gelling.” and maybe I could tell stories. Then for the show is Scout from “To Kill a critique or just enthusiastic encour- This is how it is for Tom Judson. the light bulb clicked on. Mockingbird” dressed in her ham cos- agement.’ I said the former, of course. Despite set backs and bone-crushing “People have been telling me, that I tume. I saw the logo in my head in the His real critique was so positive it heartache, he toddles off into the sun- should tell stories from the industry instant I decided to tour the show. read like enthusiastic encourage- set, swathed in a canned ham, ready and my life. And if this were a movie, Really.” ment. So I dove back into the second for his next close up. you would have heard harp music Moving from idea to actuality is a draft.” and seen things fall into my plate leap, but at this juncture the work It’s evident that Judson has lived Follow Tom Judson’s adventures at from above. The original plan was to came fast and furious for Judson. “I what is often called an interesting life, http://cannedhamcamper.blogspot. do the show in gay bars across the wrote the first draft while I was work- but making it coherent and stagewor- com/.

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᭤ KENNEDY, from p.1 was greeted like a conquering hero. His passion, vigor, and At that time, before national emotional connection to the political ambitions led Giuliani crowd that evening recalled the to repudiate his support for electrifying concession speech ending the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell he had offered at the Democrat- military policy and in favor of ic National Convention 16 years civil unions, the former mayor earlier, also in New York. was working to burnish his In an interview with NY1 credentials as a moderate, and News, Christine Quinn, the out had embarked on what ESPA lesbian speaker of the New York termed “a more productive dia- City Council, recalled just how logue” with the group. A year singular an event Kennedy’s later, ESPA would stay out of appearance at the 1996 ESPA the mayor’s race, and Giuliani, dinner was. grateful that his Democratic “It was a remarkable thing opponent had not gotten the in the ’90s to have a man like group’s nod, finally embraced Ted Kennedy in New York stand what at that time was a land- with the LGBT community and mark city domestic partnership declare our efforts part of the law. civil rights movement,” she said. But in October 1996, many Ted Kennedy was the first gay activists saw nothing to be US senator to publicly voice his gained from dialogue with Giu- support for marriage equality liani, and several dozen picket- for same-sex couples. During ed outside the event. The may- the early years of the AIDS cri- or’s speech inside was generally sis, when funding to address received politely, even warmly the epidemic was often late in by some, but there were loud coming and mired in the poli- hecklers as well. tics of the culture wars, Ken- Stephanopoulos was sup- nedy brought his unique stat- posed to be on hand to intro- ure on the health care question duce a video message from to bear in playing a leadership Senator Ted Kennedy addressed the 1996 fall dinner of the Empire State Pride Agenda at Manhattan’s Grand Hyatt Hotel. Clinton, but at the last minute role. His was a vigorous voice in he was unable to leave Wash- opposition to the innumerable tion drive, Kennedy stood up advantage. We’ve rejected that dent of the Human Rights ington. The video presenta- anti-gay riders the late Repub- on the Senate floor and said, tactic before, and I’m hopeful Campaign, the Washington- tion went ahead, with Clinton lican Senator Jesse Helms of “We all know what this issue that we will do so again.” based LGBT lobby, in a written lamenting the defeat in the Sen- Scott D. Gortikov, the exec- release, was unstinting in his ate the month before, by a 50-49 utive director of MassEquality, praise of Kennedy. vote, of the federal Employment the group that led the success- “The nation has lost its great- Non-Discrimination Act. Clin- “The nation has lost its greatest ful drive to protect the state est champion and strongest ton pledged, if reelected, to fight high court victory for gay mar- voice for justice, fairness, and for passage the following year, champion and strongest voice for riage in Massachusetts from compassion,” he said. “The loss but in fact the Senate has never justice, fairness, and compassion.” being overturned, released a to our community is immeasur- approved the measure, which statement saying, “Senator able. There was no greater hero throughout its legislative his- Kennedy’s commitment and for advocates of LGBT equal- tory was always shepherded by leadership on fighting for equal ity than Senator Ted Kennedy. Kennedy. North Carolina tried to attach is about. It’s not about how rights is unmatched. He rallied From the early days of the AIDS The president made no men- to legislation, particularly in to protect the sanctity of mar- against discrimination dur- epidemic, to our current strug- tion in his video remarks of his the late 1980s and early ’90s. riage, or how to deal with ing the beginning of his career gle for marriage equality he has having signed DOMA. When the US Senate con- activist judges. It’s about poli- nearly half a century ago and been our protector, our leader, In lieu of Stephanopoulos, sidered a federal marriage tics and an attempt to drive worked to promote marriage our friend. He has been the core Kennedy was dispatched to New amendment pushed by former a wedge between one group equality as recently as this of the unfinished quest for civil York to serve as the evening’s President George W. Bush as a of citizens and the rest of the summer.” rights in this country and there chief Democratic speaker. He centerpiece of his 2004 reelec- country, solely for partisan Joe Solmonese, the presi- is now a very painful void.”

᭤ FEERICK, from p.4 out to her to discuss getting ency about her. I am hoping that nyside for the event. This year, immigrants; she reminded him involved in Queens politics. others will see that like I do, as a she provided financial backing that the same issues face Mexi- to be a candidate like her.” “I don’t think I’ve ever not strength.” and threw a free pre-parade cans, Guatemalans, and other Sklarz explained that as a supported the LGBT candi- Fay, a filmmaker and an breakfast at the Anoroc Club. ethnic groups across the city. member of the Democratic date,” Sklarz said. activist on issues from marriage Fay said he never felt pressure Ober said he first met Feer- State Committee, Van Bramer Like Sklarz, Fay admires both equality to AIDS to immigration to offer support for her race in ick about a decade ago when he several years ago gave her a candidates, saying his choice reform, has been best known in return. was president of the Ridgewood key assist in getting the state was “not as clear-cut” as in some recent years for his leadership Feerick impressed Fay not Democrats and she headed up party on board in support of a other races, that if “we wake up on the St. Pat’s for All Parade, only for standing with the LGBT Anoroc. “I think that Deirdre is transgender nondiscrimination on the 16th and its Deirdre or founded to provide an alter- community, but also in her just an outstanding candidate measure pending in Albany. Jimmy, it will be a great day for native to Manhattan’s Fifth advocacy on issues like domes- and an outstanding person,” She met Feerick, who is a local New York City.” But, he added, Avenue parade that excludes tic violence and undocumented he said. “She’s very responsive Democratic district leader, while “There’s something different openly LGBT contingents. Feer- immigrants. He recalled talking and she knows how the bills get still living in Manhattan; Sklarz about Deirdre. It’s unusual that ick, he said, reached out to him with his fellow Irish-American moved and passed in the Coun- said that when she first arrived she doesn’t come across as a about four years ago to offer her about the fact that the 26th Dis- cil. She knows all the details of in Woodside, Feerick was one candidate with polished sound- assistance as a district leader trict is home to the city’s largest of the few people who reached bites. There’s a certain transpar- in broadening support in Sun- number of undocumented Irish ᭤ FEERICK, continued on p.27 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 3 – 16 SEP 2009 27

᭤ FEERICK, from p.26 And she challenged the notion, wide- ly batted about, that Quinn has moved the budget.” Ober added that he is confi- away from her progressive roots. “I think dent that on LGBT issues, “she would be that the issues that the speaker has put a tremendous and courageous ally on the forth as priorities are harkening back to City Council.” The strength of her relation- where she came from, that’s where she ships with elected officials citywide and came in,” she said. especially in Queens, he said, might make A supporter of marriage equality for her “the very best person” to advocate on same-sex couples, Feerick talked about measures such as marriage equality with her efforts to lobby veteran Queens Dem- state legislators. ocratic State Senator George Onorato — Feerick boasts lifetime residence in the to date, resistant to the measure pend- 26th District, having grown up the daugh- ing in Albany — to come around on the ter of an NYPD detective and teamster issue. Noting that she is only discussing father and a nurse mother in Long Island those conversations because Onorato City and Sunnyside, before attending “seems to have” done so already, she SUNY’s University at Albany and Brook- suggested the senator has demonstrat- lyn Law School. ed a more open mind than some others When she first went to the Council, she she has raised the issue with. “Senator worked in its Oversight and Investiga- Onorato has always listened, reflected, tions Unit, where she was responsible for and thought,” Feerick said. “And he auditing a wide range of city agencies and asked questions. And my conversations recommending steps to improve efficiency with him, like I said, have been respect- and effectiveness. Feerick’s work soon ful, and while we may have a difference caught the eye of Ronnie Eldridge, chair of of opinion, it is not like other conversa- the Women’s Issues Committee and one tions have been.” of the most prominent progressives on As is often the case in Democratic the Council throughout the 1990s, who primaries, the battle for union endorse- asked her to assume the role of counsel ments has been spirited in the 26th to her committee. Eldridge, Feerick said, District. Van Bramer took home three was among her earliest endorsers in this big prizes — the Working Families year’s race. Party, the Service Employees Interna-

Feerick’s work soon caught the eye of Ronnie Eldridge, chair of the Women’s Issues Committee Gay, and one of the most prominent progressives Str8, on the Council. Bi, Curious?

A good deal of the work on Eldridge’s tional Union Local 1199 United Health committee involved addressing domestic Care Workers East, and SEIU’s Local violence and sexual assault, and it was on 32BJ, the building service workers. these efforts that Feerick first met Chris- For her part, Feerick won endorsement tine Quinn, now the Council speaker but by the United Federation of Teachers, at that time head of the New York City run until recently by out lesbian Randi Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. Weingarten, who has now turned her Feerick said that as committee counsel, attention to the national union, and she began to work with a broader range the Retail, Wholesale, and Department of Council members and developed the Store Union. skills she argued will be essential if she is Media outlets have raised questions elected. about the relationship between the “Working as counsel to a commit- Working Families Party and a for-prof- tee, you brief the Council members,” she it political consulting affiliate, Data explained. “That’s one of the strengths I and Field Services, that it created; bring. Just like a Council member tries to Feerick has filed a complaint with the lobby fellow members to get on board with city Campaign Finance Board seeking a piece of legislation, when you’re a coun- an inquiry into Van Bramer’s relation- sel to a committee, you are briefing Coun- ship with DFS. Ten days after the DFS cil members, and you have a responsibil- story first appeared, however, Citizens ity to let them know what the cons could Union, widely seen as the city’s lead- possibly be or what the objections are.” ing good government group, stated its Asked about last year’s storm over a “preference” for Van Bramer. Council leadership “slush fund,” Feer- (Full disclosure: Jimmy Van Bramer ick treaded carefully. “If the speaker was a frequent contributor to Lesbian and /ÀÞʈÌÊÀiiÊUÊ >Ê˜œÜ has funds to further the agenda of the Gay New York, where this reporter was speaker’s office, then that’s what it is, his editor. Pauline Park has been an occa- but it’s not something else,” she said. In sional contributor to both LGNY and Gay 646-731-6657 the wake of the scandal, however, “great City News. Melissa Sklarz recently wrote strides have been made” in reforming the a story for Gay City News about her visit member item appropriations, in terms of to the White House to attend President vetting and transparency, Feerick said. Barack Obama’s LGBT Pride Reception.) 1800GayLive.com MC 7002 Ent only 18+ *Limited Free Trial Photography by Kevin E. McPherson 3 - 16 SEP 2009 28/ Politics

᭤ POLITICS, from p.1 at Houston Street’s Pier 40 will think that really exists, and she said, “With your support affordable food available at include a 24-hour drop-in cen- the way we’re going to do that and your participation, at the Pier 45, just above Christo- lished from the start simpatico ter for LGBTQ young people, is to roll up our shirtsleeves, board, at the borough president pher Street, Passannante-Derr with fellow LGBTQ community and pledging that if elected to with respect for all of us.” level, at city planning, and the laid responsibility back at members roughly a generation the Council she would make At the same time, Kurland City Council, that will happen. FIERCE’s feet. “Why don’t you younger. As part of its effort to discretionary “member item” argued, the procedures in place But you have to be at the hear- start something down there?” embrace youth of varying gender money available to the group. for approving how land regulat- ings with your testimony… It’s a she asked. Then, recalling that identities, FIERCE typically asks Kurland seconded her rival’s ed by the city, such as the piers, lot of work.” the group is a non-profit, she speakers at its events to state commitment on Pier 40, and on can be used — governed by FIERCE challenged Passan- added, “Maybe you could have their “preferred gender pronoun” many broad policy questions, the Uniform Land Use Review nante-Derr to explain why, a separate, for-profit organiza- or PGP, by which they wish to the two candidates largely hit Procedure, or ULURP — dis- during the debate several tion that would provide food be identified. Passannante-Derr, the same notes. Many of their enfranchises certain portions years ago about the Christo- down on Pier 45.” also an attorney, was initially differences emerged when they of the community, in this case, pher Street pier’s curfew, she Desireé Marshall, the evening’s caught off-guard by the ques- got down to specifics. On sever- the FIERCE constituency. “The supported the relocation of “referee,” read an email from tion, saying she wanted to be al occasions, Kurland empha- ULURP system that happens the LGBTQ night scene to Pier Quinn, expressing her regret called “Maria.” Prompted again, sized two leading themes of her now often times excludes com- 54 at West 13th Street, which at missing the event and recall- she said that “her” is her PGP. campaign — that choices need munity involvement,” she said. the group said was out of the ing efforts her office had worked Kurland answered the same not be made between polar- “We need to find creative ways to way, less safe, and inherently on with FIERCE in recent years. question by saying audience ized options and that public bring everyone to the table.” a temporary fix, given the like- Kurland, in turn, used regret- members could apply any gender decision-making must be more Passannante-Derr took great lihood of redevelopment there. ful tones in noting the Council identification to her they wished, open and transparent. Speak- exception to Kurland’s asser- The candidate responded that speaker’s absence. “I am sad- adding later, “I am in a lot of ways ing to the simmering ten- tion. “I disagree with your first the proposal “was not in any dened that she is not here,” she gender-nonconforming.” sions in recent years between statement that the ULURP pro- way disrespectful,” but rather said of Quinn. “LGBTQ youth Passannante-Derr, at LGBTQ youth of color and cess is not all-inclusive of the aimed at opening up space for have been ignored for too long. other points, was proactive in more affluent and less racially community,” she said, pointing young people wishing to stay And you deserve to have all three embracing goals in line with diverse neighborhood resi- out that approval is generally an out later than 1 a.m. End- of the candidates here tonight… FIERCE’s agenda, calling for dents, she said, “I want to find eight-month effort that involves ing discussion of the topic in We need our elected officials lis- an inspector general in the a way for us to dialogue better numerous levels and agencies something of a stalemate, Pas- tening better.” public schools to investigate with the greater community. of government, all of them open sannante-Derr said, “If it’s still Passannante-Derr passed on harassment and discrimina- I think we’ve been put into a to public input. Expressing her unacceptable, I’d like to know that chance to swipe at Quinn, tion against queer students, false dichotomy where it’s the confidence that a 24-hour drop- why it’s still unacceptable.” but later said, “Years ago I sup- saying she “firmly believes” bad kids versus the bad com- in center at Pier 40 could and But when asked about ported Chris. I thought she was any redevelopment approved munity residents, and I don’t should result from the process, opportunities for making more a reformer.”

gay men. Speaker Quinn worked lock- I fully support the speaker for a third term. first elected in 2001, including the transgen- with her ability to speak on a wide range of ᭤ LETTERS, from p.15 step with community groups to do all We should be so lucky to have someone of der rights law enacted in 2002, the Dignity in issues of importance to our members. (Its no that government could do to support our her commitment and character serve as All Schools Act (prohibiting bias harassment wonder she was re-elected in a landslide the August 22, 2009 work. She was critical to our success and our representative again. in schools) enacted in 2004, and a domestic next day to 4 more years.)” To the Editor: to our being able to sustain a campaign Daniel Carlson partnership benefits law (ultimately invali- The LGBT community could not have a I feel compelled to write in defense for four years. I saw up-close how con- Chelsea dated by the Court of Appeals). stronger ally in the City Council than Helen of Speaker Christine Quinn in light of the sidered she is in her decision-making; Co-Founder, HIV Forum Helen Sears has also secured funding Sears, and if you live in the 25th district, I debates that took place last week. I was she looks at all angles and her passion New York City for LGBT community organizations, including urge you to vote to re-elect her as our Coun- appalled in reading how Speaker Quinn’s for doing good for the community was Queens Pride House and the AIDS Center of cil member. opponents spoke about her tenure as apparent. Queens County (ACQC). Even the Lesbian & Pauline Park Council member. Classifying this elec- She may not have been perfect so far, DROMM VERSUS Gay Democratic Club of Queens — founded Jackson Heights tion as being about “an arrogant incum- but her heart has been in the right place. SEARS by Danny Dromm, one of Helen’s primary bent that has sold out our community Given her record, I believe she deserves opponents — has taken note of her strong for a right-wing Republican mayor” is respect, and it was clear from Osborne’s September 1, 2009 commitment to LGBT equality, as it did in WRITE US! ludicrous and borderline stupid. Mayor article she wasn’t given her due at those To the editor: the December 2005 issue of its newslet- Address letters to the editor, of no more Bloomberg is hardly a right-winger and debates. Is it wrong to challenge a public On September 15, primary voters in ter: “On November 7th, the club was hon- than 250 words, to: Christine Quinn is far from arrogant. official? Absolutely not. Should she get a Queens City Council District 25 have the ored to host Council Member Helen Sears [email protected] ; I know firsthand how the speaker is free pass because of her good work? No. opportunity to return someone to office who who Represents: Parts of Jackson Heights, Or fax them to 646-452-2501; effective, empathetic, and good-hearted. That’s her job. has been a strong ally of the LGBT community Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Rego Park, Wood- Or mail them to 145 Sixth Ave., In 2004, I, along with others, launched What I take issue with is using hyper- (“Homophobia Must Cease in Queens Council side, Corona. Ms. Sears spoke passionately 1st fl., New York 10013. the HIV Forum, a grass-roots community bole to disrespect an incumbent who has Race,” by Paul Schindler, posted online Aug. about her commitment to securing full LGBT Please include your phone number, for initiative to raise awareness about ris- clearly worked hard, fought and battled 7). Helen Sears has co-sponsored every piece rights and reminding the audience that she confirmation purposes only. The editors ing HIV infection rates and rampant and many competing interests while still of LGBT-specific and LGBT-inclusive legisla- has been a long time supporter... Each time reserve the right to edit all letters due to very dangerous crystal meth use among achieving a great deal for our community. tion introduced in the Council since she was Ms. Sears attends the club, she wows us space constraints.

᭤ BRIEFS, from p.11 to keep their battle against mar- high school teachers on leave 2007-2008 school year, when was found to have told Mer- that she is taking an unpaid, vol- riage equality alive. — PS after settling a suit by a student Diane Cleveland, a 39-year-old ritt’s fellow students that the untary leave of absence at her Court ruled unanimously in favor who said he had been repeated- social studies teacher, said of youth “enjoys wearing women’s request.” of equal marriage rights for gay Repeated Anti- ly taunted with anti-gay harass- him, “The boy’s fence swings clothes,” and, in another effort Merritt eventually transferred and lesbian couples, and the Gay Taunts ment, the Minneapolis Star both ways,” as his classmates to snuff out any remaining inter- to Zimmerman High School, Democratic leaders of both the Forces Two Tribune reports. According to an looked on. When Merritt wrote est in American history, respond- from which he graduated this State Senate and House have Teachers on investigation by the Department a report on Benjamin Franklin, ed to his plans to do a report on year. The Department of Human vowed to block a constitutional Leave of Human Rights, Alex Merritt, Cleveland commented that he Abraham Lincoln by saying, Rights findings led the Anoka- amendment vote to overturn the The Minneapolis-area Anoka- 18, was a junior at the Second- had a “thing for older men.” “Since you like older men.” Hennepin District to make a set- decision. Republican critics of Hennepin School District, Minne- ary Technical Education Program Walter Filson, a 56-year- Cleveland’s attorney, Phil Vil- tlement of $25,000 to the young the court, however, have vowed sota’s largest, have placed two in suburban Anoka during the old law enforcement teacher, laume, claimed, “Our position is man. — PS WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 3 – 16 SEP 2009 29 Experience the Harbor. Tours daily from South Street Seaport

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᭤ SNYDER, from p.6 people on the Lower East Side and in high school classmate, “was the kind of der said she would establish a dedicat- East Harlem. saturation I had never had… I learned ed hate crimes unit in the DA’s office. ful that many of her readers discerned The risk that Snyder’s criminal jus- a lot.” Building on her credentials in sex the subtlety she now ascribes to that tice perspective might be viewed as too She pointed out that former Supreme crime prosecutions, Snyder is also passage. hard-line and inflexible by the liberal Court Justice Harry Blackmun, after interested in taking on domestic vio- In one respect, “25 to Life” is emblem- Manhattan Democratic primary elec- more than two decades on the bench lence, pledging to elevate the office’s atic of the needle Snyder is working to torate is typified by the flak she caught as a supporter of the death penalty, efforts on that score to a full bureau. thread in the three-way Democratic in 2005 over her support for the death switched his position in 1994, say- She supports expanding the DA’s primary contest for district attorney. penalty, when she unsuccessfully chal- ing he was “tired of tinkering with the domestic violence expertise in situ- In the book, she writes about presid- lenged incumbent Morgenthau. machinery of death.” Sitting Justice ations involving unmarried couples ing “over the trials of some of the most In this year’s campaign, Snyder has John Paul Stevens more recently came and LGBT victims, and committed violent drug gangs” in the 1980s and said her previous advocacy for the to the same conclusion. to increasing HIV/ AIDS awareness 1990s, when the city at times staggered death penalty applied only to cases “I am able to listen to other points of among ADAs and other staff. under the weight of serious crime. involving terrorists and serial child view,” Snyder said. “I hope that people Snyder boasts the support of several Those sections of “25 to Life,” the title rapist murderers, and that in the past can evolve. I evolved.” influential progressive women in New itself, and her frequent cable television several years she concluded that the The power of Snyder’s story about York politics, including Geraldine Fer- appearances established her bona fides risk of wrongful conviction outweighed Deskovic was blunted, however, late in raro, the 1984 Democratic vice presi- as a no-nonsense crime fighter, but she any justification for using that sanction July when the former convict endorsed dential nominee, Ruth Messenger, the now says that image masked the book’s even in those limited circumstances. Aborn. 1997 Democratic mayoral nominee, attention to alternatives to incarcera- In interviews with Gay City News and Even as Snyder makes clear she and Karen Burstein, the out lesbian tion for nonviolent offenders, particu- at an April debate sponsored by the has proven herself tough enough to 1994 Democratic attorney general can- larly youth. Stonewall Democratic Club, Snyder’s take on big city violence — “serious didate, and is also endorsed by EMI- In a recently issued position paper opponents, Richard Aborn and Cyrus crimes need to be treated seriously LY’s List, which works to elect women on LGBT issues, Snyder pledged to Vance, Jr., ridiculed that change of and I offer no apology for that” — her to public office. Among her LGBT sup- focus on queer homeless youth, often heart, saying that evidence about exe- campaign emphasizes reform and pro- porters, in addition to Hibsher, are the both victimized and the targets of law cutions of innocent defendants has gressive preventive alternatives. She Stonewall Democratic Club, East Side enforcement efforts, in her work on been discussed for decades and sug- has pledged to aggressively prosecute State Assemblyman Micah Kellner, criminal justice alternatives. Her cam- gesting the shift was a purely political hate crimes — significantly commit- , who worked in paign biography details her involve- calculation made in advance of another ting to combat the targeting of “victims the Clinton White House and until late ment with Abraham House, a Bronx DA race. because of gender, identity or sexual last year in top posts for Governors facility that houses convicts who would Snyder explained that her work on orientation,” despite the fact that New and David Paterson, and otherwise be incarcerated and offers behalf of the Westchester County dis- York law does not explicitly offer pro- Richard Socarides, who was also an services to anyone who has been in trict attorney, for whom she led a year- tections for the transgender communi- aide to the former president. Former prison and their families, as well as long investigation that exonerated Jef- ty (the few prosecutions to date typical- Mayor and Citizens Union, with the Andrew Glover Youth Program, frey Deskovic, convicted in 1990 at the ly relying instead on evidence of either a good government group, have also which is a similar effort aimed at young age of 17 for the rape and murder of a gender or sexual orientation bias). Sny- endorsed Snyder.

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