September 9, 2011 | Volume IX Issue 9 REEL ADVICE
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
OUT September 9, 2011 | Volume IX Issue 9 REEL ADVICE ByG GreG Shapiro Writer / director Rashaad Ernesto Green’s Baldwin Enters Gun Hill Road (Simon Says Entertainment), Senate Race a 2011 finalist for the Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival, is not the first U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin American indie film to address LGBT issues who has served Wisconsin since in the Latino community. Peter Bratt’s 2009 1999 entered the race for Senate on La Mission, starring the writer / director’s Tuesday Sept 6. If she is successful in brother Benjamin Bratt as the macho Latino her bid she will become the first open- father of a gay son, is a recent example. And ly LGBT Senator. Sitting Senator Herb the films share more than a few similarities. Kohl announced his retirement in May. Both fathers, for example, have done Ms. Baldwin has been open about time in prison. Both are fiercely proud of Vanessa photo: Mykwain Gainey her sexual orientation since she en- their heritage and equally secure in their het- As a final act of masculinity before leav- returns to the Bronx neighborhood where tered public life. She say that the erosexuality. And, naturally, both feel threat- ing prison, Enrique (Esai Morales) exacts re- his wife Angie (Judy Reyes), who has con- campaign isn’t going to be about her, ened to their very core by the queerness of venge on a fellow inmate, earning himself 90 sidered leaving him for the more stable but about the issues. their sons. days in solitary. Upon his release, Enrique —continued on page 17 Baldwin announced her candida- cy in a video sent to supporters on Tuesday in a message that said she has made standing up for the mid- dle classes her top priority. The op- Baltimore City primary election Day... position is not likely to focus on her Baltimore City Primary Election Day is own community, but is Tuesday, September 13, 2011 middle class values though, but rath- Tuesday, September 13, 2011. Voting hours it is also true of other er her firm stance on liberal and pro- are from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Sample bal- groups who have the ability to get their sup- Gaylife’s recent survey of the candidates. gressive issues. lots had been mailed out with an incorrect porters and advocates to the polls. Otis Rolley supported civil unions, but not In 2009, she was one of a small date (September 3). Though those were Baltimore is the place where LGBT cit- marriage. Joseph “Jody” Landers scored just minority of Representatives to vote mailed by the State of Maryland, the izens are active and involved in the under Frank Conaway. Support for marriage against an additional $97 billion for Baltimore City Elections Board political arena. The struggle for is a litmus test; it will not determine how a fu- the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This was quick to inform voters of LGBT equality is still alive and ture mayor will respond to city based LGBT year she voted against Patriot Act the error. Baltimore city is it runs through our entire city, issues. extensions, although they ultimate- run by Democrats, indeed not just the “gayborhood,” Both incumbent Mayor Stephanie ly passed the House. She also voted the entire City Council is but through every neigh- Rawlings-Blake and Catherine Pugh have against funding for U.S. ground forc- Democrat. Therefore, the borhood. It isn’t just about been vocal supporters of LGBT rights. Here es in Libya also this year. Similarly, Primary Election determines the anti-discrimination pro- the question becomes more of which candi- she voted in favor of prohibiting funds the future. tections that we have or the date will be the most effective, not so much from being used in contradiction to Falling on an off-year the marriage equality that we which will be more supportive. the war powers resolution. voter turnout will leave the de- will have. It is about crime, The hotly contested 12th District, which She voted in favor of the 2007 cisions to those who have cho- and homelessness, job cre- includes half of what some call the “gaybor- Sexual Orientation Employment sen to exercise their franchise. For ation, school bullying, and all of the hood” is a race where a relatively small num- Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) spon- this reason, the Baltimore LGBT community same problems that affect our non LGBT ber of people can really make a difference. sored by Massachusetts Congressman can exercise a much greater influence than neighbors. Were it a high voter turnout race incum- Barney Frank. On immigration issues, is possible on a year that might bring the bulk Among the mayoral candidates, only bent Carl Stokes, had he not entered the —continued on page 3 of voters to the polls. This isn’t just true of our one, Frank Conway, scored low in Baltimore —continued on page 3 The Time to Plan for a Referendum Battle is Now Following the victory on MME will not put the cart be- Focus on the Family, the American Family the marriage equality bill in fore the horse and instead fo- Association, the Mormon Church and the the Senate during the 2011 OUT Co-Publishers cus on getting the bill through mega-churches in predominantly African- Jim Becker • Jim Williams Maryland General Assembly, I Spoken both chambers. Governor American areas of Baltimore City and Prince [email protected] had asked a former official at O’Malley promised to sign it George’s County. Executive Editor Equality Maryland (not the ex- and actively campaign for it as To illustrate the challenge, NOM alone Jim Becker [email protected] ecutive director) if plans are part of his legislative package. spent $1.8 million in support of Proposition Managing Editor afoot to combat a likely refer- If signed into law, one can 8 in 2008. The next year in Maine, NOM was Dana LaRocca endum should the marriage bill rightly assume the opposi- the majority contributor to the anti-equality [email protected] be signed into law. That per- tion will garner the required Stand for Marriage Maine with $1.6 million Production Director son said that “we are focused number of signatures, re- geared towards Question 1. Overall, in 2009, Bill Andriette on winning in the House, and Sales Director gardless of the method, and NOM’s total expenditures were roughly $7.5 Mary Taylor we’ll worry about the referen- the issue–“Should marriage million. [email protected] dum later.” only be between a man and The task becomes even more exigent as Leather Columnist Rodney Burger On the surface, that re- Steve Charing a woman?”– will be offered to a full-blown, all-out education campaign is re- sponse seemed prudent. The the voters. And with the next quired, especially among African-Americans Contributing Writers Shawn Bradley • Cathy Brennan • Terrence Brower • legislative battle had yet to be General Assembly ending in and Catholics. With President Obama on the Steve Charing • Jeffrey Clagett • Jeffrey Clouser • Chuck Duncan won, and energy and resourc- April 2012, there is precious 2012 ticket, turnout among blacks is expect- • Gerry Fisher • Eva Hersh MD • Sam Kunz • Jessica Lemmo • Jay Loane • Meredith Moise • Vann Mills • Colin Riley • es must be dedicated to jumping that hurdle little time to organize, raise funds, and exe- ed to be high. This is particularly significant in Gregg Shapiro • before you look further down the track. And cute a winning strategy to thwart the inevita- Maryland with its high proportion of African- with a potential ballot initiative taking place ble referendum come November. Americans (nearly 30 percent). And accord- Graphics 19 months in the future, arguably there was Accordingly, the time to plan for such an ing to the Public Religion Research Institute, Joe Velasquez Cartoonist time to mount a strong defense. eventuality is now–not after the bill is signed 2 out of 3 African-American Protestants op- Bruce Garrett (www.brucegarrett.com) Unfortunately, the marriage bill fell short and the predictable celebrations fade away. pose marriage for same-sex couples. Photographers by only a few votes of victory in the House The main focus of the plan should be Older citizens tend to be socially conser- Bruce Garrett • Jay W Photos • Justin Nixon without an actual floor vote taken. On top of to bring in money–lots of it–and in a down vative, and as a group, they are more apt to Web Editor that, Equality Maryland, the principal group economy to boot. Just to raise funds to coun- vote. Moreover, the Dream Act referendum Anja Saine [email protected] leading the legislative effort, essentially im- ter the advertisements by opponents in the will also be on the ballot drawing out many Managed Web Services ploded in terms of organizational stability, fi- high-priced media markets of Baltimore and voters to defeat that law who are also likely The Fusio Group 866-322-7498, www.thefusiogroup.com nances, and to some extent, its reputation Washington will be daunting in itself. The to oppose same-sex marriage. National Advertising Rep within the LGBT community. need for printed materials, phone banking If the opposition succeeds, the law is Rivendell Media Its board, which experienced multiple and other related expenses will cost a bun- dead, and it could take decades before pol- 908-232-2021 resignations following the session and had dle as well. iticians decide to overrule the “will of the Founders Jim Becker • Joe Berg • Mike Chase • fired its executive director, is attempting to There will be a plethora of well-funded, people.” Lee Mooney (1959-2007) • Jim Williams bounce back.