Rainbowtimesmass.Com the FREE Street Sense: Should People Why It’S Wrong to Vote on Vote on a Civil Right? Anyone’S Rights
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Year 1, Vol. 9 • June 7-21, 2007 www.therainbowtimesmass.com The FREE Street Sense: Should people Why It’s Wrong to Vote on vote on a civil right? Anyone’s Rights. RainbowTimes p. 2 p. 12 Your LGBTQ News Source in Western MA, Southern VT, and Northern CT Kevin Aviance: Where do DEMOCRATIC presidential Bouncing Back hopefuls stand on LGBT issues? FIND OUT! from BRUTAL ATTACK! p. 13 Our exclusive interview. p. 3 International QUEER Screenplay contest announced. p. 9 PARADISE CITY: 15,000 visitors attend festival p. 15 COMING OUT STORIES: Attitude is everything, student who comes out. p. 11 2 • June 7-21, 2007 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesmass.com Opionions Street Sense: Do you think that on June 14th, the legis- Love, Rights…and the Rest of It lature will vote in favor of sending the marriage amend- By: JM the JP*/TRT Columnist wrong with ment to the voters? Should people vote on a civil right? ear and entitlement seem to be being queer. “... I hope that people “I think leaving it up to responsible for the majority of We sacrifice can marry basically the people is a better Fharm that is inflicted in our per- self-love for whoever they choose. I decision than either the sonal lives and in the world at large. In the benefit of think marriage is a per- supreme court or con- this scheme, we all participate to some a good job, a sonal thing and that if gress voting on it. I think extent. family who the state’s going to get that if it is a civil right, Just recently, I read an article about a accepts other involved, make every- and someone has to person who was described as “fearless” parts of us, or thing a civil union, so vote on it to decide it’s throughout this detailed story of her life. a feeling of I’m engaged to my better to leave it up to Noticeably missing was the fact that she J.M. the JP safety. fiancé, and heterosexual marriage should be a civil the majority of the voters, then to have a few people is a lesbian. In a larger context, fear and entitlement union, everything should be a civil union. And all represent everyone in a decision this great.” Last summer, I attended the run hand in hand to create national, cul- marriages can be within their own. If the Catholic Church wants to say we only marry men and women, —Anja Waechter-Bourbeau, Northampton International LGBT Human Rights tural, and religious chauvinism. People hey that’s your right, whatever! But according to state Conference in Montreal. Amazing people fear or misunderstand what they don’t law, state rights, and civil rights, it’s all universal, it from every continent participated, includ- know. Whole countries engage in greed matters not who you marry.” ing prime ministers, religious leaders, and privilege to justify horrific harm, and —Jonathon Kennedy, Northampton activists, and writers. I was surprised and they use fear as a motivator. very moved by the simple mantra So, readers, how do we transcend fear “Hopefully they will put it “I think they will. You on the ballot. Why do would think that people throughout the conference: The single and entitlement in this world as it is? they want it put on the would have enough most important thing we can do to further What do we do to transform things? ballot, because they common sense to treat our rights and ability to live in the world Write in. I would love to open this dis- want it resended? people correctly without safely is to COME OUT. cussion further. Peace. Certainly people should having to seek legisla- Speakers from middle Eastern, African *J. Mary Sorrell is a Justice of the Peace and an vote on it, if it’s that tive solutions to what and eastern European countries—where elder advocate. She feels compassion for every- important. But if it’s for should be normal per- homosexuality is a crime punishable by a one in the LGBT community—out, in, and in the nefarious reasons, that sonal behavior ... So it seems like a back door way prison sentence or execution—were very process of coming out. She believes we have they feel there is a groundswell to resend that right, of going around it. They’ll say ‘well the people have clear about this. Despite the obvious then I’m a little bit ambivalent about putting it on the spoken’ but I mean you know, that’s assuming that tremendous power to heal ourselves and others risks, they expressed that living in fear is on this journey. ballot. So it depends on what the reasons are behind the people know enough about the issue to actually an unacceptable option. it. I think most people in Massachusetts accept it.” make a vote and I don’t think that the electered is When we do not come out, we actively —Marcia Tecca, Hebron, CT that educated on a lot of issues anymore.” participate in fear and tragic compliance —Jim Sullivan, Northampton The Rainbow Times with the notion that there is something 13 Old South St. • Suite 2C Northampton, MA 01060 I remember ... I always will remember! www.therainbowtimesmass.com By: Jane Hamel/TRT Columnist Ford. meant for a lonely person. I wanted to do [email protected] [email protected] fter Memorial Day, 2007, my nothing else. I felt connected to something I remember – Phone: 413-204-8959 • Fax: 866-310-8512 thoughts are scattered in all direc- Rachael’s that transcended my confusion. There is an tions. I can feel another depres- immense sensuality in wave riding. A older brother Viviana Valiente sion coming on because most of my memo- Fluidity, gracefulness, hyper-awareness, Publisher killed him- Gricel M. Ocasio Jane Hamel ries recall family experiences before my self. No one mixed with awesome and overwhelming Jack/ie Kennedy banishment. So rather than bore you with power. I had no need for religion. Editor-In-Chief ever said why. Writers: whiny drivel, I’ve dug this rather appropri- Nicole Lashomb I remember – joining the Navy to escape Lindsay Wilson I remember – Sales & ate poem out of the archives. It was written (Street Sense) my brother my past and avoid being drafted. I was torn Distribution some years ago when I was part of a writ- between duty to my country and being led J.M. Sorrell ing/therapy trans-support group in NYC. being born Ben Peterson by a wrong-minded government. My con- Webmaster: I REMEMBER Jane Hamel when I was Columnists: flict led to a nervous breakdown and an Dr. Renee Lang Jarred Johnson I remember – a re-occurring dream of a cou- eight years old. No one paid much attention to me after that. unsanctioned vacation which led to an inter- Atty. Jennifer ple on very high stepladders painting a rain- esting experience in military prison. Dexter bow. I remember – sneaking up to my grand- mother’s apartment and trying on her I remember – that my first marriage was The Rainbow Times is published by The Rainbow I remember – Norbert drowned in the terrible. Times, LLC. The articles written by the writers, millpond. I was four years old. corsets. It gave me a girl’s shape. I never columnists, and correspondents express their opin- told anyone how much I wanted to be a girl. I remember – drinking becoming my ion, and do not represent the endorsement or opin- I remember – when I became too old for favorite pastime. It drowned out the female ion of The Rainbow Times, LLC or its owners. To I remember – being very awkward when it Mommy to put nail polish on me too. I had voice that wouldn’t shut up. I had a friend write letters to the editor, please send your letters, to become a boy. came time to date girls. I was at first with your name, address and phone number to: The attracted to those who were larger than me who saw it as self- destructive. He set me up Rainbow Times (address shown above), or e-mail I remember – that school milk tasted differ- for some reason, but it never went well. I on a blind date. I never thought I would ever any comment/s to the editor at: editor@therainbow- ent than home milk. never knew what to do or say. To avoid the love a person as much as I did this woman. timesmass.com. All submissions will be edited I felt it was necessary to tell her of my inner according to space constraints. The Rainbow Times, I remember – when the Pony Boy ice cream confusion, I found myself being rude, feelings before we went further. That was LLC reserves the right not to print any or all con- trucks were pulled by real ponies. which I always felt terrible about. I felt dif- tent, or advertisements for any reason at all. To ferent and very lonely. I was not one of the twenty years ago. The drinking finally receive The Rainbow Times at your home via regu- I remember – going to Fenway Park, where boys, but I acted like them out of fear of stopped because I chose to. That unlocked lar mail, or through electronic delivery, please visit my grandfather always got us a box seat our website. The content and graphics (photos, etc.) anyone knowing that I thought like a girl. so many years of kept feelings and allowed near the Red Sox dugout.