T h e R e s p e c t e d S ource for G L B T N e w s S i n c e J u n e 1 9 9 0 LETTERThe www.theletteronline.com VOLUME 19, ISSUE 9 • SEPTEMBER 2008 Louisville AIDS Walk Will Include 5K Run & Pet Walk Kentucky’s largest annual HIV/AIDS fundraiser, the download a pledge form. Assistance is available to help 16th Annual Louisville AIDS Walk, will take place on you easily set up your own personalized webpage with Sunday, September 28. Registration and entertainment the Walk’s online fundraising service. for the Walk, along with a 5K Run and Pet Walk, will Supporting the Louisville AIDS Walk comes with begin at 1:00pm on the Belvedere. great benefits! The top fundraiser will win a 2009 In addition to the Walk, this year’s event will again Kentucky Derby Festival Ultimate Package. Raise $1,500 provide a fun time for children. The KidZone will offer and you’ll be entered to win an HD TiVo! You can also face painting, ice cream and costumed characters. earn a 16th Anniversary t-shirt, a sweatshirt and a gas/ To get involved in the local fight against AIDS visit grocery gift card valued at $25, $50 or $100. The more The route for the 16th Annual Louisville AIDS Walk/5K Run and Pet Walk will again www.louisvilleaidswalk.org, where you can easily register, money you raise, the more prizes you earn. include the Clark Memorial Bridge. This seems appropriate since the money raised form a team, learn more about the services offered provides a true “Bridge of Hope” for thousands of Kentuckiana residents infected by participating agencies, make a secure donation or Continued on page 8 and affected by HIV/AIDS.

COMMUNITY PHOTO GALLERY

Dozens of folks attended the August gathering of the Louisville Gay Professionals group (also known as “GPro”) that took place at Q in downtown Louisville. GPro’s next Cocktail Party will take place on Wednesday, September 17 beginning at 5:30 in the DOC Bar at the Connection. For more information about the group and other upcoming events, you’ll find them on Facebook or you may write mark@ markengland.com. Brian Rzepczynski

 The Letter www.theletteronline.com SEPTEMBER 2008 Recession-Proof Your Business: Advertise In THE LETTER! [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 2008 www.theletteronline.com The Letter  LETTERThe Around The Region www.theletteronline.com

Post Office Box 7842 Dirty Trick: Defeated Council Candidate Louisville, KY 40257

Founded in June 1990 by Plans Defamation Lawsuit Humphrey Marshall & Jeffrey Goldsmith by Philip M. Bailey

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/WEBMASTER [Reprinted with permission from the August 13, 2008 issue of L.E.O. Until someone with an address is indentified as being responsible ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION: newspaper. Copyright 2008, L.E.O. Weekly, Inc. All rights reserved.] for the mailer, Herndon cannot file a violation complaint with the Dave VanderPol: (502) 338-4153 Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, the regulatory agency that [email protected] A former candidate for Louisville Metro Council is preparing to oversees campaign expenditures and investigates civil violations file a defamation lawsuit in an effort to find out who is responsible in Kentucky elections. The defamation suit is separate from any GRAPHIC DESIGN Scott Stortz - Titan Design Solutions for distributing an anti-gay campaign flier that might have cost him complaint Herndon might eventually file with KREF. the election. According to state election laws, independent expenditures GRAPHIC DESIGN ASSISTANT In May, Ken Herndon narrowly lost the Democratic primary of more than $500 made by a person or group during a political Bryn Marlow for the 6th District seat to incumbent George Unseld by a mere campaign with the purpose of advocating the election or defeat of 112 votes. The Saturday before the election, voters found in their a candidate must be reported directly to KREF. As of yet, no such HIV RESOURCES EDITOR mailboxes a malicious campaign mailer — a glossy, double-sided, payments for the mailer have been accounted for. Brad Hampton high-priced flier — featuring a photo of Herndon's face transposed This anti-gay flier was distributed to voters just days before the [email protected] atop the body of a man embracing two other men kissing at a gay- election. Herndon believes that whomever created and distributed With an estimated readership of over 14,000, pride parade. Among a number of homophobic jabs in bold letters the mailer must have known it was a violation of Kentucky election THE LETTER is distributed throughout the seven state was this gem: "(Herndon) wants us to elect him because he designed laws. region of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, new garbage cans?! I guess when you live a life of trash you become "They faked the name," he says. "Why else would they create a Michigan & Missouri pretty familiar with garbage cans." fake name — it tells me they knowingly violated the statute." "I frankly think it cost me the race," Herndon, who is gay, told Though she wouldn't comment on Herndon's case specifically, REGULAR CONTRIBUTERS LEO Weekly in June, shortly after the election. Sarah Jackson, executive director of KREF, says anyone who knowingly Brad Hampton Brian Rzepczynski Now, Herndon says he intends to file a civil complaint against a violates the expenditure statute is open to criminal charges, and that James Hensley Ernesto Scorsone John/Jane Doe in Jefferson County Circuit Court in the next couple there are various penalties. Depending upon the case, Jackson says Bryn Marlow Tina Storm of weeks, the first step toward finding out who produced, paid for that charges range from a misdemeanor to a felony, including a Brandon Monson David Williams and distributed the mailer. fine of up to $10,000 for each offense. After KREF investigates a Beth Ann Rubin Misty York Filing suit against an unnamed party would give Herndon's violation they forward it to the appropriate prosecutorial agency, PHOTO JOURNALISTS lawyer the power to subpoena any future witnesses about the mailer's usually the Kentucky Attorney General's Office. James Hensley, Scott Stortz, David Williams source. A line on the flier states that a group called "Citizens for "Criminal penalties would depend upon the attorney general," Family and Moral Values" paid for it; however, no such organization she says. Publication of the name, photograph or is registered with the state. In turn, Allison Martin, spokeswoman for the attorney general, likeness of any person, organization, or business "We don't know their names — yet," Morgan Ransdell, Herndon's says that any prosecution would depend upon initial findings by in articles or advertising in THE LETTER or on attorney, tells LEO Weekly. "One of the purposes of our complaint KREF. its companion website is not to be construed is to learn that information." "They may coordinate with us," she says. "But it's their call on as an indication of the sexual orientation of Ransdell says the lawsuit is based upon the mailer's inflammatory any investigation." such person, organization or business. illustrative and written content, which falsely depicts Herndon with Martin tells LEO that her office was first notified about the the purpose of injuring his reputation. Once an individual or group mailer on Election Day, when a Jefferson County resident called the THE LETTER assumes no responsibility for is named in the defamation lawsuit, that information could be used Election Fraud hot line complaining about its homophobic content. unsolicited materials submitted for publication. to open the door to criminal charges for whomever is responsible After reviewing the mailer, the complaint was forwarded to Emily THE LETTER reserves the right to edit or reject for the mailer. Dennis, legal counsel for KREF. any advertisement. "When you have an anonymous violation you have to start Meanwhile, Herndon is unwavering, saying he hopes the somewhere," says Herndon, adding, "If we find definitive evidence, defamation complaint will spawn either a civil or criminal case to we'd then proceed to change that Jane/John Doe to a specific name." uncover who is responsible: "We will pursue both — vigorously." © 2008, The Letter News, LLC. All rights reserved. Queer As Smoke: Kansas City Cincinnati AIDS Walk Event Challenges Smoking OCTOBER 2008 DEADLINES September 27 The 6th Annual LGBTQ Tobacco Summit will take place Press releases, Regional Calendar September 22 -23, 2008 in Kansas City, Missouri. This event items and Community Groups listings is the premier training event for LGBTQ tobacco disparities Save the date for the 2008 Walk to Stop AIDS. This year's must be received no later than nationwide. event will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at Sawyer Wednesday, September 17, 2008. Workshops will provide case studies of some of the best Point, on the downtown Cincinnati riverfront. Onsite registration practices in this arena. State policymakers, researchers, program Advertising reservations must managers, activists, and community organizers are invited to will begin at 8:00am and the walk will begin at 9:00. be received no later than meet the experts, learn, and share their wisdom. Monday, September 22, 2008. To register online or for more information visit www. For more information, including details on the availability STOPAIDScincinnati.org or call (513) 421-2437. All items should be sent to: of scholarships for participants, visit www.lgbttobacco.org or [email protected]. call (617) 927-6452.

 The Letter www.theletteronline.com SEPTEMBER 2008 Tennessee: Three Men Attacked Outside Bar [Reprinted with permission from OUT & minor injuries, classifying the incident as a ABOUT, Nashville, TN. Copyright 2008, Out simple assault, according to a police report. & About Newspaper, Inc. All rights reserved.] The two male assailants had spent much It's being classified as a simple assault, but of the night inside New Beginnings and two Johnson City men attacked outside a left the bar at about 2:00am. They shouted gay bar want to see the attack pursued as a homosexual slurs at patrons as they left and hate crime. then attacked the three victims, according to Johnathan Smith, 29, and Matt Widner, a police report. 20, both of Johnson City, and Russell Onks, Smith told the Johnson City Press that the 40, of Knoxville, were attacked by to men attackers had been hitting on several people in the early morning hours of Wednesday, in the bar during the night, leading him to August 20, outside of New Beginnings, a believe the attack was a premeditated hate Johnson City gay bar. crime. He said things could have been much The three men were talking in the worse if the assailants had been successful in parking after leaving the bar when two men having one of the bar's patrons leave with approached them in a pickup truck. They them. parked the truck between other bar patrons Widner said the he thinks the attack is and the three men, exited the truck and then indicative of rising hostility towards gays in attacked them. All three victims received that area. Illinois Campaign Selects Out Gay Man Communications Director Presidential hopeful Chamber of Commerce. Sen. Barack Obama Prior to that position, DeJong worked recently announced as a spokesperson for Illinois Gov. Rod that openly gay Justin Blagojevich. DeJong has been named DeJong, age 26, has been active within his new Director of local and state government agencies since Communications for moving to Chicago in 2001. He began Illinois. working in Blagojevich's administration in DeJong has been early 2005, serving first as a spokesman for previously recognized the Department of Commerce and Economic by Windy City Media Opportunity then as lead spokesman for Justin DeJong Group for his numerous the Department of Central Management contributions to the Services . state’s GLBT community. He has been involved with Equality He will take a leave of absence from Illinois, the AIDS/Run-Walk and various his current position at the Chicagoland other community organizations.

2209 Goldsmith Lane Louisville, KY 40218 (502) 452-6912

SEPTEMBER 2008 www.theletteronline.com The Letter  U. of L. Pride Week Event Features Former Clinton Staff Member

Keith Boykin is a man who has and signing of his newest book, Beyond the connections with some of the biggest names Down Low: Sex, Lies, and Denial in Black in the Democratic Party. America, will follow. Educated at Dartmouth and Harvard, he For more information, visit www. attended law school louisville.edu/diversity/lgbt with Senator Barack Boykin is the editor of The Daily Voice Obama and served in newspaper. He is a host of the BET television the White House as show My Two Cents, a New York Times best- a special assistant to selling author of three books, and a frequent President Bill Clinton. political commentator on CNN. Boykin will be Boykin has been actively involved in featured in the progressive causes since he worked on his opening event for first congressional campaign while still the University of a student in high school. He is a veteran Keith Boykin Louisville’s 2008 Pride of six political campaigns, including two Week Celebration. presidential campaigns, and he was named Boykin will discuss Race, Gender, and one of the top instructors when he taught Sexuality in the 2008 Presidential Campaign political science at American University in beginning at 7:00pm on, Monday, October Washington. 6 in the Chao Auditorium at the University Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, ONE FOR ALL of Louisville’s Ekstrom Library. A reception Boykin currently lives in New York City. 1975 Douglass Boulevard Louisville, Kentucky 40205 • (502) 451-1963 Lafayette: 1st Pride Celebration Planned

Quality Thrift Items Historically speaking, GLBT pride celebrations usually take place in the month of June. However Lafayette, Indiana is about to experience it’s first pride celebration during the month of October. Wednesday thru Saturday: 10:00am – 6:00pm OUToberfest will take place Saturday, October 11th from 4:00pm to Midnight on Main Street Sunday: 12:00noon – 4:00pm between 6th and 7th Streets. Admission is free. PRIDE Lafayette President Bryan Bell said OUToberfest 2008 will feature music, a street fair, Store Proceeds Benefit Glade House & House of Ruth illusionists, and events for children. Many Downtown businesses are will offer extended hours. "One of the things that impresses me about Lafayette and West Lafayette is the diversity Volunteers Always Welcome! within the greater Lafayette community, Bell told WLFI-TV. "So our hope is that we will create an increased awareness of the LGBTI community." Space for this ad donated by Dr. Fred Schloemer The pride festival is being made possible with the support of Pride Lafayette, Inc (www. pridelafayette.org)., in conjunction with Citizens for Civil Rights, Parents and Friends of Lesbians www.SchloemerServices.com and Gays (, and other local community organizations.

Louisville PFLAG Chapter To Discuss Vision & Future of Group This discussion portion of this month’s meeting of the Metro Louisville chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians & Gays will focus on the need for increased participation by members to help assure continued outreach to the community. The chapter has been in existence for nearly 20 years. New and long-standing group members alike are asked to help out with future group projects. This could be something as simple as staffing a booth and handing out our brochures at the Kentuckiana Pride Festival or other venues. Members are also needed to help at the chapter’s annual scholarship dinner. If you prefer a more active role in the future of this organization, please attend and find out how you can help. The September PFLAG meeting will take place on Sunday, September 21 at 3:00pm at First Lutheran Church, 417 East Broadway in downtown Louisville.

 The Letter www.theletteronline.com SEPTEMBER 2008 Pandora Productions Presents RegionalCalendar Two Shows In Repertory sponsored by Mark England Pandora Productions is set to offer Show - $17.00 and are available online at IItems listed in our Regional Calendar should be of interested to the GLBT community. Items are more diversity and options this season for www.PandoraProds.org or by calling (502) listed for FREE and are welcome from non-profit community organizations, support and social groups. We also publicize events sponsored by businesses and professionals currently advertising in THE LETTER. her growing subscriber base. This month 216.5502. Please send us information at least four to six weeks in advance of your event. Louisville’s cutting edge GLBT The Laramie Project will run Contact: [email protected] and be sure to type “Regional Calendar” in the subject theatre company will present September 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 18, 20 line of your message. two shows running in repertory. at 7:30pm and September 7 at Every Monday Moises Kauffman and Tectonic 2:00pm. 7:00pm. Movie Mania at Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Cincinnati, 4119 Hamilton Avenue. Theatre Project’s The Laramie Stop Kiss is scheduled for Free. For movie titles click on the icon for the GLBT Calendar page at www.glbtcentercincinnati.com. Project and Stop Kiss by Diana September 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, Every Tuesday Son. Both plays explore hate 19, 21 at 7:30 pm and September 2:45pm. GLBT Mental Health Issues Support Group at The Recovery Center, 2340 Auburn Avenue, crimes from different angles. 13 at 2:00 pm. Cincinnati. (513) 241-1411. Pandora will again perform Pandora is offering 5 or 6:30 -8:00pm. Triangle Martial Arts Association: Tae Kwon Do training for the GLBTQ community. at the Bunbury Theatre in the 7 show series subscriptions Beginners & experienced welcome! Fuzion, 1335 Story Avenue, Louisville. Historic Henry Clay, situated on the corner through the end of the run of The Laramie 7:30pm. Women's Tuesday Night Coming Out Group at Off The Avenue, 1546 Knowlton Street, of 3rd and Chestnut Streets. The theatre Project and Stop Kiss. A 5 show series is Cincinnati. (513) 535-2517. is located on the third floor and tickets are offered at $70.00 and a 7 show series at available in the lobby on that floor. Ticket $95.00. For more information visit www. Every Friday 9:15pm - Midnight. Derby City Kickers Country & Western Dancing at Q, 921 West Main Street, prices are: Advance - $15.00 / Day of PandoraProds.org. Louisville. No cover before 10:00pm. $3.00 cover after 10:00pm.

1st & 3rd Thursdays 7:00pm. Gay Men’s Support Group meets at Metropolitan Community Church of Louisville, 1432 Highland Avenue. Cincinnati Center Adds New Board Member

3rd Wednesdays The Gay and Lesbian Community of Greater Cincinnati recently Louisville Gay Professionals. Group meets at a different bar each month. More information: mark@ added Rusty Lockett to it’s Board of Directors. markengland.com. Lockett has been involved with several community organizations, 4th Wednesdays including Stop AIDS, College of Evening & Continuing Education 6:00pm. Kentuckiana Rainbow Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting. For location visit www. KentuckianaRainbowCoC.org or call (502) 815-7195. Tribunal, Stonewall Cincinnati and the Clermont County Alcohol, Drug, & Mental Health Services Board. He currently serves as Junior Sunday, September 21 Warden at Church of Our Savior and a board member of the Mount 3:30pm. Heartland Fairness, affiliated with the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, monthly meeting at 326 West Dixie Avenue in Elizabethtown. Write: [email protected]. Auburn Transformations Community Development Corporation. He is a volunteer for Pride Alive and Pride Night, events sponsored by Sundays, September 21 Rusty Lockett 4:00pm. Cincinnati Women Out Front's Spirituality & Alternative Health Group meets at Sidewinder the Center. Café in Northside. For more information: www.myspace.com/womenoutfront. The Community Center is a non-profit organization founded in 1993 whose mission is to Wednesday, September 17: provide information, support, resources, social activities and meeting space to the GLBT 6:30pm. Indy Bi-Versity, confidential discussion group. For more information, including the meeting Community. For more information visit www.glbtcentercincinnati.com. location, write: [email protected].

Sunday: September 21 & October 19 3:00pm. Metro Louisville Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) meeting. First Lutheran Church, 417 East Broadway. For more information call (502) 329-0229 or write pflagmom10@yahoo. com. Confidentiality respected.

September 26 - 28 Dayton LGBT Film Festival at The Neon. Details: www.myspace.com/downtowndaytonlgbt.

Wednesdays, October 1 7:00pm. Crossport Crossdresser Support Group, Cincinnati. (513) 919-4850.

Tuesdays, October 14 THE LETTER 7:00pm. Cincinnati Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) meeting. Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, 103 William Howard Taft Road. For more information call (513) 755-6150. Salutes Gregs! Saturday, October 11 Cincinnati GLBTQ Youth Summit. Details: www.cincyyouthsummit.org. Over the yearrs Greg's bar in Indianapolis has raised Tuesday, November 4 Election Day. Poll hours vary from state to state. Contact your county clerk's office for local hours and over $400,000 for the Indiana AIDS Walk! Greg's has poll locations. also made significant contributions to Indy Pride, Names Project IN, Indiana Civil Liberties Union, Indiana Youth Group, Damien Center, Justice Inc., Parkview Manor, Indiana Cares/AIDServe and many other community organizations!

SEPTEMBER 2008 www.theletteronline.com The Letter  Louisville AIDS Walk Offers Will Include INDIANA EQUALITY 5K Run & Pet Walk KENNETH C. PLOTNIK Get Informed / Donate / Volunteer Continued from page 1 Attorney at Law Walkers, Runners, Kids & Pets Welcome Post Office Box 20621 The AIDS Walk, 5K Run and Pet Walk all begin at 3:00pm Indianapolis, IN 46220 and follow the same scenic, flat, paved course. 607 West Ormsby Avenue (502) 636-0361 (888) 567-0750 Bring your pets for the “Pet Walk”! Special water stations Louisville, Kentucky 40203 Fax: (502) 634-0576 and shaded areas along the route will be provided for your www.indianaequality.org pets. Runners are encouraged to come out too! A 5K Run, organized by Pacers and Racers, will be offered as well. While there is no charge to participate in either the Walk or Pet Walk, a $20.00 registration fee is being charged to part in the 5K Run. All Walk and Pet Walk particpants are asked to seek pledges to support people to support the work of agencies serving persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. If you can’t participate in person, please consider making a tax deductible donation online or mailing in a donation to: Louisville AIDS Walk 810 Barret Avenue, Suite 305, Louisville, KY 40204. With 100% of proceeds going to provide direct services and knowing our organization is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity, you can be sure your support will be making a difference for our neighbors who are struggling with HIV/AIDS. What Path Calls You?

clamourunderbridge.typepad.com Safety Suggestions

By all means, do enjoy yourself this Pride Month! At the same time, we offer you some common sense guidelines to make sure you stay around for many more Pride celebrations to come. The Discrimination Response Team at Louisville's Fairness Campaign suggests…

Stay Alert – Awareness is your best self-defense.

Watch Your Drink – Make sure you know the person who is buying your drink, or buy your own. Watch your drink if you lay it down. Remember that drugs can be easily slipped into your glass!

Trust Your Instincts – If you think something is wrong, believe your feelings and remove yourself from the situation. INFORM Project Confidence – While out walking, move like you know where you're going and keep your head up and YOUR PARTNER look around.

StopTheSpreadOnline.org Carry A Whistle – Carry it on your person where it is easily accessible, like a jacket pocket or on your key chain. When you need help, blow the whistle. If you hear a whistle and see someone is in trouble, call 911 immediately. To stop the cycle of STD’s growing Place your order: Remember to report all hate crimes and acts of discrimination! (502) 338-4153 OR in our community, sexual partners need To give a confidential report about discrimination or hate crimes in Metro Louisville write: [email protected]. [email protected] to be tested and if necessary treated.

 The Letter www.theletteronline.com SEPTEMBER 2008 Spiritual Connection Outed Christian TV Host Joins Soulforce Equality Ride [Reprinted with property, but it will be worth it. Their policies of discrimination must permission from OUT & end. I'm excited to be a part of something which is beginning the end ABOUT, Nashville, TN. of these policies." Copyright 2008, Out & Equality Ride is a annual six week tour with GLBT and straight About Newspaper, Inc. All students who peacefully protest. The "Riders" offer Christian college's rights reserved.] that expel students and fire staff for being gay open dialogue to discuss Nashvillian Azariah the issue of homosexuality and the Bible, many colleges decline to Southworth, who recently participate. came out as a Christian Azariah Southworth has already had a year full of life changing City of Refuge Worship Center TV host of a popular experiences. Southworth hosted a popular Christian TV show until Come Worship Freely Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Christian program, has coming out to Out & About Newspaper readers as gay on April 16, 1041 Goss Avenue, Suite 101, now announced he will join 2008. Louisville, KY 40217 (502) 762-8986 / (502) 495-2603 Soulforce on their annual After his 'coming out' made national news on Fox News, Rev. Randy Meadows, Pastor Equality Ride this fall. HuffingtonPost.com, PerezHilton.com and many others, Southworth Sunday Bible Study: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am & 7:00pm "I'm so excited to be a was diagnosed with a rare tumor a month later. Wednesday Worship: 7:00pm part of a passionate and "It has definitely been a very challenging time in my life. Dealing with www.cityofrefugewc.org Azariah Southworth young group, working the attention of 'coming out', new projects, speaking engagements, the towards equal rights for GLBT students at these Christian colleges. tumor, moving to L.A., etc. I'm ready now to do something worthwhile It will be a life changing experience for me, I'm excited to learn and exciting like, Equality Ride." says Southworth. each of their stories," Southworth said. "I know we will be greeted For more information on the Equality Ride visit, www. with hostility at some campuses and arrested if we enter onto their equalityride.com.

Jay Bakker Leads 7 Straight Nights For Equal Rights Events

“Gay and transgender Americans are our neighbors” will be the simple message of faith leaders across the nation during the week of September 14 - 20. These religious leaders are part of Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights 2008, a week that will spotlight fair-minded straight people across the nation. In 2007, the project’s inaugural Progressive Pathways Fellowship year, nighttime vigils lit up 36 American cities in 25 states over seven nights. What Path Calls You? This year, churches in cities as diverse as Danville (Indiana), New York City, Superior, Sunday Worship and Education: 5:30pm. Wisconsin, Modesto, California, Denver and Portland will sponsor 7 Straight Nights events. Tuesday Book Chat: 6:15pm. #208 1/2 Mellwood Arts & Among the clergy speaking out is Jay Bakker, pastor of Revolution Church in New York Entertainment Center, City. He was featured in the documentary series One Punk Under God, which documented 1860 Mellwood Ave., Louisville, KY 40206 his journey to become a gay-affirming Christian. He is the son of Jim Bakker and the late http://www.progressivepathways.org Tammy Faye Messner. “As Christians, if we follow the example of Christ in loving our neighbor as ourselves, then we have to realize that everyone is our neighbor, everyone deserves to be treated with love and respect and grace,” says Bakker. Like Bakker, Michelle Garland has been on a journey to support gay and transgender friends. A Modern Orthodox Jew and married mother of three, Garland initially feared that, even as a straight woman, she would become the target of harassment. "But I was determined to do what I knew in my heart was right. I believe we are all G-d’s children and to deny love to a fellow human is to reject the spark of G-dliness that is in each of us,” says Garland, who is now organizing a Seven Straight Nights event in Ames, Iowa, for the second year in a row. Nationally, Seven Straight Nights is sponsored by Atticus Circle and Soulforce, who are currently seeking straight people who are interested in organizing events in their communities. For more information, visit www.sevenstraightnights.org Jay Bakker

SEPTEMBER 2008 www.theletteronline.com The Letter  10 The Letter www.theletteronline.com SEPTEMBER 2008