July 27, 2012 | Volume X Issue 6 by Carrie Evans Large Turnout for Marriage Fundraiser in Howard County I First Met Lisa in 2005
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A Woman OUT Named Lisa July 27, 2012 | Volume X Issue 6 BY CARRIE EVANS Large Turnout for Marriage Fundraiser in Howard County I first met Lisa in 2005. Or maybe it was 2006. The precise year we $75 to $2,000 for the event that saw County the best place in America. In Novem- meet is fuzzy because Lisa is one a number of elected officials lending ber, we will be the first state in America to of those people you can’t remember their support to defeat the Novem- pass this.” not knowing. Lisa and her partner, ber referendum to overturn the Civil MD4ME campaign chairman Josh Levin Gita Deane, were the lead plaintiffs Marriage Protection Act. said the effort has a “values framework” in the marriage equality case (Deane The fundraiser was co-hosted whereby conversations with people must and Polyak v. Conaway) that Equality by Ken Ulman and County Register take place to get the word out that empha- Maryland and the ACLU of Maryland of Wills Byron Macfarlane who is the sizes a lifetime commitment by same-sex filed in 2004. I remember when Dan first ever openly gay officeholder in couples. He stressed the need to raise Furmansky, EQMD’s executive direc- the county. All four of the Democrat- money to not only pay for direct mail and run tor at the time, told me about Lisa ic county council members attended a field organization but to also counter the and how he knew, from the moment – Calvin Ball, Courtney Watson, scare tactics commonly used by the opposi- he met her and Gita, that they were Mary Kay Sigaty and Jen Terrasa – tion in these battles who “will appeal to the “the ones!” as did state delegate Guy Guzzone worst natures and worst fears.” Since meeting Lisa, I have wit- (D-Howard) and state senator Rich Macfarlane hailed the fundraiser a huge nessed a fierce advocate who has, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman (l.) with Madaleno (D-Montgomery). success in that it attracted a cross-section for many years, dedicated her life to Register of Wills Byron Macfarlane credit: Sam O’Neil In introducing Ulman, Macfar- from the county. “Not only politically active the fight for fairness and respect for lane said, “Howard County has a people were here but others who are pas- LGBT people. I have also become BY STEVE CHARING major role in winning this referendum.” He sionate about the issue.” keenly aware of the many qualities Nearly 100 packed the Ellicott City home of thanked Ulman and the other elected officials Sen. Madaleno told Baltimore OUT- there are to love about her. The qual- Lou and Diana Ulman, the parents of How- for their personal commitment to the cause. loud, “If every official of Ken Ulman’s status ity that most members of our commu- ard County Executive Ken Ulman, on July Ulman, who many believe will make a would hold such events, it would be quite nity, our allies and, yes, our foes have 13 to attend a fundraiser for Marylanders for run for governor in 2014, said, “Our values helpful.” seen is Lisa’s absolute unwillingness Marriage Equality (MD4ME). Donors paid of diversity and acceptance makes Howard The amount raised was not disclosed. t to accept unequal treatment under the law for LGBT people. But among the many amazing qualities that she Gay Mormon artist Justin Utley Justin possesses, one that many people do Utley not have the opportunity to view up close and to be personally affected Standing for Something by is the width, depth, and capacity of her heart. Lisa’s love, loyalty and BY DEBORAH J. DRAISIN nally come into his own both personally commitment to her family, friends, “Every life has a story, if we only bother and professionally. and the larger LGBT community of to read it,” urges Chick-Fil-A’s (ironically) Deb Draisin: Is “Great Escape” Maryland knows no bounds, even staunch Christian founder, Dan Cathy. about your breakup with the LDS? when that commitment requires tre- Ironically, because singer/songwriter, Jus- Justin Utley: I wrote that after my mendous personal sacrifice. tin Utley, began his career within the folds move to New York City; it’s about moving Hours after we lost the lawsuit in of Christianity: The Church of The Latter- from a place physically, emotionally and 2007, for example, Lisa and Gita at- day Saints (LDS) to be exact. spiritually restricting to a place where you tended the press conference and of- A devout Mormon hailing from Salt can do and become anything you want. So, fered comfort to others even though Lake City, Justin’s beliefs ran so deep that, in a sense, yeah, the song is about break- they felt, perhaps more than anyone, upon discovering that he had feelings for ing ties with the LDS Church, in addition to the pain of that wrong legal decision. others of the male persuasion, sought help moving and starting over. While carrying the extra pressures in the form of “conversion therapy.” DD: That is interesting; I had no and burdens of being a named plain- When that (obviously) didn’t take, Jus- idea. I just have to know: what the fuck tiff, never did Lisa say “This is too tin found himself questioning everything, goes on in “conversion therapy?” Do difficult” nor “Can’t someone else do leading him on a journey of self-discovery they scald you with boiling water if you it?” Rather, she said “Yes” to every re- from a small town to the Big Apple, where look at a dude? quest for her presence at all manner he now resides. JU: Yes, and they have electrodes of hearings, meetings and fundrais- Currently on his third full-length, 2011 hooked up to batteries in our pockets. —continued on page 2 album “Nothing This Real,” Justin has fi- —continued on page 16 NENEWSWS // LOCAL Free State Legal Wells Fargo Settle A WOWOMANMAN NNAMEDAMED LISA – continued from front page Project: Merki Discrimination Suit Co-Publishers Discrimination Suit Jim Becker • Jim Williams inging events.events. OnOn somesome daysdays whenwhen eveneven II hadhad Jim Becker • Jim Williams Named Executive [email protected] Named Executive to psyche myself up to go to Annapolis to Executive Editor On July 12, Wells Fargo announced settle- talk to legislators or contend with opponents, Jim Becker Director Jim Becker ment with U.S. Department of Justice re- Lisa was my source of inspiration. [email protected] Merki reaffirmed Free State’s mission and garding mortgages. The DOJ suit, based In 2011, when EQMD experienced major Merki reaffirmed Free State’s mission and garding mortgages. The DOJ suit, based In 2011, when EQMD experienced major Managing Editor commitment to the low-income LGBT com- on a survey of loans between 2004 and bumps in the road, Lisa did not entertain the Dana LaRocca commitment to the low-income LGBT com- on a survey of loans between 2004 and bumps in the road, Lisa did not entertain the [email protected] munity. “We have more and more cases 2009 where it was alleged that Wells Far- possibility that those challenges were insur- [email protected] Production Director coming through the door every week, and go mortgages may have had a disparate mountable. Many others would have walked Production Director Bill Andriette we look for- impactimpact onon somesome African-AmericanAfrican-American andand HisHis- away, but Lisa dug in. How deep she had ward to un- panic borrowers. The lender asserts that, to dig is known to only a few; but suffice it Sales Director ward to un- panic borrowers. The lender asserts that, to dig is known to only a few; but suffice it Mary Taylor dertaking “While Wells Fargo denies the claims, the to say that her shovel’s edge probably broke [email protected]@baltimoreoutloud.com some new company has agreed to pay $125 million through somewhere in China! Her unwav- some new company has agreed to pay $125 million through somewhere in China! Her unwav- Leather Columnist initiativesinitiatives to borrowrs that the DOJ believes were ering optimism, iron-clad will, and persua- Rodney Burger and projects adversely impacted sive powers helped bring about a renewed Contributing Writers Joey Amato • Shawn Bradley • Cathy Brennan • Terrence Brower • inin thethe comcom- by mortgages priced EQMD that helped lead the charge to pass Joey Amato • Shawn Bradley • Cathy Brennan • Terrence Brower • Joshua Buchbinder • Steve Charing • Jeffrey Clagett • inging year,”year,” hehe and sold by inde- the Civil Marriage Protection Act. That law, Chuck Duncan • Jon Fairbanks • Michael Farley • Gerry Fisher • said. pendent mortgage if successfully defended in November, will Eva Hersh MD • Tye Hogan • Sam Kunz • Jessica Lemmo • said. pendent mortgage if successfully defended in November, will Jay Loane • Rev. Meredith Moise • Vann Mills • Corey Reidy • Merki re- brokers through its finally deliver on the promise of the lawsuit Jay Loane • Rev. Meredith Moise • Vann Mills • Corey Reidy • Merki re- brokers through its finally deliver on the promise of the lawsuit Gregg Shapiro places Mark wholesale channel.” to which Lisa first lent her name, energy, and Scurti, who In a statement talents. Graphics Joe Velasquez • Bob Wellington remains on released that day, And, so, it was with sadness that I read Joe Velasquez • Bob Wellington the board. the company an- Lisa’s letter of resignation from the EQMD Cartoonist the company an- Bruce Garrett (www.brucegarrett.com) The Free nounced, “In keep- Board last week. I knew there would come Bruce Garrett (www.brucegarrett.com) Photographers State Le- inging withwith thethe company’scompany’s commitmentcommitment toto concon- a time when EQMD would have to give Lisa Photographers Bruce Garrett • Jay W Photos •• JustinJustin NixonNixon gal Project tinue lending in Baltimore and to supporting back to her family and other responsibilities.