April 8, 2011
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alan Mingo, Jr. credit: DreamWorks Theatricals (Joan Marcus) OUT April 8, 2011 | Volume IX Issue 23 Stonewall Uprising Gender Identity Anti- Capturing Defining Moments in LGBT History Discrimination By Steve Charing gratulate you documentary form. Bill Passes On April 25, PBS’ American Experience for this work. SC: how long will be premiering the documentary film, given the pauci- did it take you to House Stonewall Uprising. The impromptu battle ty of witnesses put it together? between bar patrons and police on June 28, and footage of KD: The proj- Moves to Senate 1969 following yet another raid of the Mafia- the events, what ect took about a owned Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street motivated you to year. Four months in New York’s Greenwich Village has been embark on this of shooting, and the By Dana LarOCCa considered by most LGBT historians as the tough project? rest editing. On Saturday March 26 the Maryland pivotal moment – a “Rosa Parks moment” as Kate Davis: SC: how did this House of Delegates voted in favor described by the Village Voice – in the histo- This is a proj- compare with your of HB235, the Gender Identity Anti- ry of gay liberation. ect we felt very at other works, such Discrimination bill. It won by a respect- Award-winning filmmakers Kate Davis home with, given as your emmy- able margin of 86-52. It was a hard and David Heilbroner put together this fas- our history of mak- winning Scopes: won battle that involved few amend- cinating historical chronicle of how an as- ing LGBT themed The Battle Over ments the most significant of which sortment of drag queens, hustlers, gay and films with the over- America’s Soul was the definition of “Gender Identity.” transgender patrons of the Stonewall Inn all aim of rais- (history Channel) “Identity, appearance, expres- banded together to say “enough is enough” ing mainstream and Jockey (hBO) sion or behavior” was removed from and fought off police homophobia and awareness of gay in terms of scope the definition for a more concise def- harassment. rights issues. I and difficulty? inition of “identity or appearance.” A We are grateful that Ms. Davis was was surprised the KD: Well, every clause involving commercial leasing kind enough to be interviewed by Baltimore Stonewall story film seems to have was removed also. These changes OUTloud on this must-see film for anyone had not been done its particular chal- had little effect on the outcome of the who has an interest in LGBT history. before, and yet it lenges. Scopes was legislation. Steve Charing: Stonewall Uprising is had not been told a tough intellectual On March 24 the bill had been put an exceptional documentary, and i con- in depth using a —continued on page 4 on “procedural hold” at the request of Carroll County Republican Delegate Susan Krebs. She requested a def- inition of “transgender” of Attorney Baltimore OUTloud voted Best of LgBt Maryland General Gansler the previous day. It wasn’t clear why this request was Editor Steve Charing chosen LGBT ‘Person of the Year’ granted since the word “transgender” In an annual online poll sponsored by the the 2011 Best LGBT/Friendly Business or does not occur anywhere in the bill. R-Group, Maryland’s largest LGBT so- Nonprofit. Ron Zimmerman Realtors came The “procedural hold,” the innocuous cial organization with nearly 1,600 mem- in first. amendments, and the final victorious bers, Baltimore OUTloud was voted as the “Baltimore OUTloud was founded with vote in the House of Delegates were 2011 Best Maryland LGBT Newspaper/ the idea that this region would benefit from reminiscent of a similar victory a few Publication. The City Paper finished in sec- another and independent voice for the LGBT weeks ago in the Senate over the mar- ond place (honorable mention). community,” said Jim Becker, OUTloud’s co- riage bill. The victory faded quickly af- A record total of 2,407 votes were cast publisher and Chair of the Board of Trustees ter the weekend passed. by R-Group members and others in the for Pride Media, the paper’s parent compa- On Monday March 28 transgender Baltimore-Washington community in a ny. “This award is so gratifying because it is activists in opposition to HB235 and survey that covered 10 categories. The testament to our success in being that voice.” Equality Maryland activists in favor of awards are referred to as the “aRGies.” In addition, OUTloud’s managing editor, HB235 descended on Annapolis. This was the first year for the Best Steve Charing, received the highest number —continued on page 5 Newspaper/Publication category. OUT- of votes for 2011 LGBT Person of the Year. loud also received honorable mention in —continued on page 5 Moveable Feast A Blueprint for Marriage Equality in 2012 Following the near-miss of a situation that is crucial dur- as one of “equal rights” where we won’t have achieving marriage equality OUT ing a referendum. to engage in a distracting side argument on in the 2011 Maryland General Clearly, the failure to move the definition of “civil rights”. But we should Co-Publishers Assembly, many gays and les- Spoken the marriage bill through the not retreat on the word “marriage”. Naming Jim Becker • Jim Williams [email protected] bians were left heartbroken, House this session was in part it anything else opens up the separate but angry and frustrated. It was a due to the opposition of sever- equal doctrine, which is unacceptable in this Executive Editor Jim Becker disappointment, to be sure, but al Democratic delegates who movement. [email protected] there is no reason why we can- were influenced by church- Managing Editor not succeed in 2012 if the entire going African-American con- ideas are important too. Steve Charing LGBT community and allies get stituents. This group has Equality Maryland and its board mem- [email protected] on board. We have the benefit been traditionally opposed to bers should welcome strategic ideas from Production Director of a year’s time to regroup, col- marriage for same-sex cou- the broader community. Large open meet- Bill Andriette lect our thoughts and execute a ples. Securing the votes from ings would likely be unruly, difficult to man- Sales Director winning game plan. those delegates would likely age and nonproductive. Instead, Equality Mary Taylor Keep in mind, however, Steve Charing have been the difference be- Maryland should schedule smaller meetings [email protected] that although House Speaker tween winning and losing. in the months ahead with community leaders Leather Columnist Michael Busch indicated he Therefore, a major educa- in business and media as well as other local Rodney Burger would bring up the Civil Marriage Protection tional effort needs to be undertaken. Allies, advocacy organizations that have succeed- Contributing Writers Act in 2012, there is no guarantee that he will. such as the Maryland Black Family Alliance ed in advancing equality at the grass roots Josh Aterovis • Shawn Bradley • Terrence Brower • Jeffrey Therefore, it is imperative that he be con- who have done great work on our behalf, level. There should be a free exchange of Clagett • Jeffrey Clouser • Chuck Duncan • Deborah Draisin • Gerry Fisher • Eva Hersh MD • Marty Hoegg • Sam Kunz • Dana vinced there are sufficient votes for passage. would be helpful in that regard. ideas to determine the most effective way of LaRocca • Jessica Lemmo • Jay Loane • Meredith Moise • Vann The following represents my ideas on Equality Maryland should also solicit reaching out to targeted constituency groups Mills • Bill Palmer • David Placher • Sandy Rawls • Colin Riley • how we can secure the necessary votes in the assistance of supportive del- Gregg Shapiro • Larry Walker the House of Delegates and hold on to the egates and senators especially in Graphics Senate’s support. predominantly African-American Joe Velasquez districts in Baltimore City and Cartoonist Keep it local Prince George’s County. Perhaps Bruce Garrett (www.brucegarrett.com) While national groups, such as the town hall meetings held jointly by Photographers Human Rights Campaign and Gill Action these elected officials and Equality Bruce Garrett • Jay W. • Justin Nixon were gracious to help Equality Maryland with Maryland could go a long way Web Editor the efforts in the legislature in 2011, I would in allaying fears about marriage Anja Saine prefer that their resources, reach and fund- equality. [email protected] raising capabilities be applied to a referen- Of course, this could present Managed Web Services The Fusio Group dum battle should one transpire. For our a challenge in obtaining the assis- 866-322-7498, www.thefusiogroup.com work in the legislature, it is best that Equality tance of these politicians, but you National Advertising Rep Maryland, with the support of the LGBT com- can be sure that homophobic del- Rivendell Media munity and a professional lobbying firm, con- egates Emmett Burns and Don 908-232-2021 vince wavering and/or persuadable lawmak- Dwyer will be working with NOM Founders ers to gain the necessary votes. and other anti-gay organizations to ensure and to help formulate a broad strategy for Jim Becker • Joe Berg • Mike Chase • The national groups, many believe, a defeat. raising large sums of needed money to suc- Lee Mooney (1959-2007) • Jim Williams played an influential role in the controversial Also, our efforts to line up votes should ceed in a referendum battle. decision this year to commit the marriage bill focus on Democrats. Virtually all Republican The above outlines a blueprint for suc- Baltimore OUTloud to committee, which left a bitter taste in the lawmakers in this state are against marriage cess but undoubtedly there is much more P.O.