524 • March 12, 2015 • Outwordmagazine.Com
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No. 524 • March 12, 2015 • outwordmagazine.com Annual Special Issue Visit the New Must-experience Winter Holiday in the Vegas Shows Castro! Dinah Czech Republic All the Way! page 12 page 16 page 19 page 20 COLOR COLOR COLOR Letters Plans Underway for Anti-gay Initiative Shows Sacramento Q-Prom Need for Initiative Reform Prepare yourself for a night of music, Dear Outword Readers, dancing, and masquerade themed I am writing to ask your help. Recently, a splendor at the Sacramento LGBT ballot initiative was filed with a provision Community Center’s 7th annual Q-Prom. that said LGBT people should face the death This event is open to LGBTQ youth penalty. and allies (ages 13-21) and provides a fun Clearly, these types of ballot measures and authentic prom experience in a safe should be of concern to all fair minded and accepting atmosphere. people. A petition (www.ipetitions.com/ So, put on your best duds, bring your petition/protect-civil-rights-chnge-the- friends and be there for a fun-filled california-ballot) has been established to ask evening sure to create some lasting the California Attorney General, Assembly memories! Speaker and Senate President to address the The Q-Prom will be held April 10, from issue of ballot initiatives that infringe upon 7 p.m. to midnight at the Tsakopoulos the civil rights of anyone. Library Galleria. Advance tickets are $10 For example, a ballot measure to deny online at qprom2015.bpt.me or at the women equal pay, Latinos the right to vote, Center; $15 at the door. or a particular group to practice their We aim to ensure a safe experience for religion. everyone and there will be zero tolerance All could be placed on the ballot if for drugs or alcohol. someone paid $200 and was able to collect the required signatures. Shouldn’t all ballot measures have a pre-qualification to ensure Judy Shepard to Attend that they do not produce an unconstitutional Commemoration law that infringes upon the civil rights of On Thursday, April 2, from 5:30 p.m. others? – 6:30 p.m., U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Thank-you, Wagner will host Judy Shepard at a Stampp Corbin special commemoration of the 5th anniversary of the passage of the Help for Married Same-Sex landmark Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Couples: “Don’t Leave Money Refusing to let Matthew’s senseless on the Table” and tragic murder define his life, Ms. Know Your Rights/California, is hosting a Shepard has traveled across the nation town hall series to discuss social security and and around the world, speaking to the LGBT community audiences about what they can do as “There is a substantial amount of money individuals and as communities to on the table in Social Security benefits for make this world a more accepting place LGBT couples and their children. It’s time for for everyone – regardless of race, same-sex married couples to access these religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, long denied financial benefits,” said Ari or sexual orientation. Gutiérrez Arambula, of the National The commemoraton will be at The Committee Foundation. Well, Terrace Suite, CSUS, 6000 J St. In Sacramento, the Town Hall Meeting will Seating is limited and free parking be held April 9 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the permits are available to registrants by Pioneer United Church of Christ, 2700 L St email at [email protected] or and will be hosted by the Sacramento LGBT 916-554-2907. Community Center. PBS Web Series Explores Issues Surrounding Sexuality and Gender Identity In the first episode of First Person, a new PBS web series, Skylar Kergil a transgender artist, activist and YouTuber, talks about his experience documenting his transition from Female to Male on YouTube. New episodes will run every other week at FirstPersonPBS.org. outwordmagazine.com March 12, 2015 - March 26, 2015 • No. 524 Outword Magazine 5 Outword Rights Extended for Workers In Same-Sex Marriages Staff orkers in legal, same-sex marriages, regardless of where they live, will now have the same rights as those in PUBLISHER Fred Palmer Wopposite-sex marriages to federal job-protected leave ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION under the Family and Medical Leave Act to care for a spouse with Ron Tackitt a serious health condition. GRAPHIC DESIGN The U.S. Labor Department announced a families have benefited since the FMLA’s Ron Tackitt rule change to the FMLA on Feb. 23 in provisions became effective and even more keeping with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling American families will benefit as a result EDITOR in United States v. Windsor. That ruling of the rule. Charles Peer struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Today’s rule change updates the FMLA [email protected] Act provision that interpreted “marriage” and regulatory definition of “spouse” so that an ARTS EDITOR “spouse” to be limited to opposite-sex eligible employee in a legal same-sex Chris Narloch marriage for the purposes of federal law. marriage will be able to take FMLA leave “The basic promise of the FMLA is that no for his or her spouse regardless of the state SALES one should have to choose between the job in which the employee resides. Previously, Fred Palmer and income they need, and caring for a loved the regulatory definition of “spouse” did CONTRIBUTING one,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. not include same-sex spouses if an WRITERS Perez in announcing the rule change. “With employee resided in a state that did not Diana Kienle our action today, we extend that promise so recognize the employee’s same-sex Frances Marlatt that no matter who you love, you will receive marriage. Under the new rule, eligibility Colt McGraw Chris Narloch the same rights and protections as everyone for federal FMLA protections is based on Bonnie Osborn else. All eligible employees in legal same-sex the law of the place where the marriage Charles Peer marriages, regardless of where they live, can was entered into. This “place of now deal with a serious medical and family celebration” provision allows all legally PHOTOGRAPHY situation like all families – without the threat married couples, whether opposite-sex or Charles Peer of job loss.” same-sex, to have consistent federal family ON THE COVER Enacted in 1993, the FMLA entitles leave rights regardless of whether the state A Traveling Hipster Bear eligible employees of covered employers to in which they currently reside recognizes take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified such marriages. DISTRIBUTION family and medical reasons. Employees are, For additional information on the Kaye Crawford Michael Crawford for example, entitled to take FMLA leave to FMLA, including information and fact care for a spouse who has a serious health sheets on the revisions, visit www.dol.gov/ condition. Millions of workers and their whd/fmla/spouse/index.htm. ADVERTISING SALES Northern California (916) 329-9280 LGBT Concerns Raised About Fred Palmer National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media Trade with Brunei & Malaysia (212) 242-6863 o-Chairs of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, have sent a letter to President Barack Obama asking for Cclarification on the inclusion of Brunei and Malaysia in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. The letter, sent February 18, was signed by Malaysia in the Trans-Pacific Partnership U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI), David (TPP) negotiations. … It seems inconsistent Cicilline (D-RI), Sean Patrick Maloney for the United States to expand trade (D-NY), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Mark privileges to [Brunei and Malaysia] while Outword Magazine Inc. Takano (D-CA). taking action against Gambia.” According to the lawmakers, these two Brunei continues to move forward with Office countries are responsible for severe human full implementation of a strict penal code 372 Florin Road, #133 rights abuses, including adopting penal mandating the stoning to death of LGBT Sacramento, CA 95831 codes permitting the imprisonment and citizens; similarly, Malaysia has not taken physical harm of LGBT people. action to end its persecution of LGBT PHONE: (916) 329-9280 In a similar situation last year, the United individuals. FAX: (916) 498-8445 States Trade Representative (USTR) Despite these abuses, the Administration www.outwordmagazine.com announced action to revoke the Republic of continues to include them in negotiations [email protected] The Gambia’s trade preferences, previously around the TPP and lists them as intended enjoyed under the African Growth and signatories to the trade agreement. ISSN # 1084-7618 United States Library of Congress Opportunity Act of 2000 (AGOA), after Gambia implemented a law criminalizing Nat. Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce homosexuality, targeting individuals Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce perceived to be LGBT with harassment, Nat. Lesbian & Gay Journalist Association Midtown Business Association detention and life in prison. The lawmakers said in the letter: “In light of the decision to end trade preferences for Gambia, we write today to ask for clarification on the inclusion of Brunei and 6 Outword Magazine March 12, 2015 - March 26, 2015 • No. 524 outwordmagazine.com Briefly Put Sen. Lara Calls for Review of Bar Membership for Attorney Pushing Anti-LGBT “Sodomy Suppression Act” Appalled by reports that a member of the California State Bar is leading an effort to pass an anti-gay ballot initiative calling for LGBT people to be “…put to death by bullets to the head…, ” Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) sent a letter to the State Bar asking whether the proponent, Matthew McLaughlin, is violating the “good moral character” clause required for Bar membership. “Qualification to become a licensed attorney includes not only educational requirements and an examination, but also requires demonstrated ‘good moral character.’ This includes that those seeking admission to the Bar demonstrate ‘respect for and obedience to the law, and respect for the rights of others and the judicial process.’ I support freedom of speech but calling for state sanctioned execution of a protected class calls into question the proponent’s character and judgment.