January 02, 2009 | Volume VII, Issue 1 IN THIS ISSUE The Outies ............................................... P 2 The List .................................................. P 10 Film Reviews ......................................... P 19 A Manhunting Mormon ........................ P 24 2008 Another Year of Equality Denied 2 q BALTIMORE OUTLOUD January 2, 2009 | baltimoreoutloud.com OUTspoken Publisher Mike Chase [email protected] Executive Editor The OUTIES: Best (or Worst) of 2008 Jim Becker By Steve Charing [email protected] Senior Political Anaylst Senior Political Correspondent Steve Charing Happy New Year, readers! Degeneres David from the Hippo’s Karaoke room In keeping with the year-end tradition Best Hair Studio and Day Spa—Neal’s on Leather Editor Worst Hollywood LGBT Person— Rodney Burger of columnists’ picking the best, worse and Elton John, for his problem with the word Park and Read whatever, I am introducing OUTspoken’s “marriage” during the Prop 8 debate Best Piano Bar— Writers list of the Best (or Worst) of 2008, or the Jeffrey Clagett Jay’s on Read OUTIES. It’ s an unapologetic, biased, Most Supportive Straight TV Chuck Duncan subjective, slanted list of the best (or worst Commentator— Best Change in Bars and Restaurants— Rickie Green in some cases) of politics, culture, the city, Keith Olbermann Ban on smoking. Our lungs get to survive Eva Hersh MD another year. Doug Ireland the state and the scene. Some selections Best Lesbian TV Commentator— P.S. Lorio call for a brief explanation; others clearly Rachel Maddow Best Baltimore Drag Act— Jim Lucio do not. Dimitria Meredith Moise In no particular order, welcome to the Best Local Elected Official on Marriage Ben Ryland 2008 OUTIES: Equality— Comeback of the Year— Nate Sweeney Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, Britney Spears MIA - Alexander St. John Best Date of the Year— for his public support at a legislative Best Departing Hero— Graphics November 4, 2008 committee hearing Dan Furmansky of Equality Maryland Hannah-Love Shibley, Director Best Campaign Slogan— [email protected] Most Disappointing Local Elected Saddest Departing Hero— ”Yes We Can” Official on Marriage Equality— Carol Baker H.E.R.O. Bryan Sullivan Most Inaccurate Campaign Slogan— Gov. Martin O’Malley ”Putting Country First” Best Newcomers— Photographers Most LGBT-Supportive Baltimore City Joe King and Makemie Taylor, for Skip Koritzer Best Political Decision— Elected Official— organizing the Join the Impact rally. It was Harry Lowinger Barack Obama’s eschewing public Council President Stephanie Rawlings- a model for grassroots organizing. Sales financing to raise private contributions Blake Gay Bar Owner of the Year— Mary Taylor, Director instead [email protected] Most Vile Democrat in Maryland— John Cook, owner of PW’s who generously Worst Political Decision— Sen. President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller allows worthy LGBT organizations as well National Advertising for standing in the way of transgender You betcha! John McCain’s picking Sarah as community groups to hold fundraisers Rivendell Media Palin as his running mate. (See Most protections and marriage equality at PW’s 908-232-2021 Inaccurate Campaign Slogan above) Most Vile Republican in Maryland— Web Services Best Conscience for People of Color — Most Disappointing Outreach Effort— Too many to mention Drew Saine Rev. Meredith Moise. She speaks her mind [email protected] Obama’s selecting Pastor Rick Warren to Best LGBT Organization— and does it so well. deliver the inauguration’s invocation PFLAG-Columbia/Howard County, for not Distribution/Circulation Best Jack-of-all Trades— Jay Loane only offering year-round support to the Gutsiest Political Decision— Skip Koritzer [email protected] Obama’s choosing Hillary Clinton to be parents of LGBT children, welcoming all LGBT folks and allies to the organization Best ‘T’ in LGBT— Secretary of State Baltimore OUTloud and providing a safe space for LGBT youth Drew Seine who does a fabulous job Most Nauseating Character in the with the OUTloud website and Mara P.O. Box 3640 and their friends, but also producing on Baltimore, MD 21214 Campaign— a shoe-string budget the splendid multi- Drummond, a beautiful person through and ”Joe the Plumber” 410-244-6780 media “Someone You Love is Gay” ad through and who is active on LGBT issues. www.baltimoreoutloud.com Most Nauseating Word in the campaign that has been praised by PR I love them both. Campaign— pros. In addition, the chapter formed the Best Baltimore LGBT Friendly Theater— Additional Information ”Maverick” largest contingent at Equality Maryland’s Spotlighters Baltimore OUTloud is published every other Friday by Pride Lobby Day and its advocacy work has been Most Influential Entertainer During the Media, Ltd. in Baltimore, Maryland. Readers’ comments a prototype for other PFLAG chapters. Best LGBT Movie— and unsolicited materials are welcomed and may be sent Campaign— ”Milk.” Will the homophobes in Hollywood to: [email protected]. | Pride Media offices Tina Fey Best Political Event—Join the Impact on November 15, which through the use of keep it from winning Oscars? are located at 1120 N. Charles Street, 4R, Baltimore, 21201. | All materials appearing in this newspaper are the property Most Ironic Disclosure— the Internet and a zero budget, on just 5 Best in Mining for Gold— of Pride Media, Ltd. and may not be reproduced without Turns out that daughter of social days notice managed to muster about a Michael Phelps (not too shabby in a the written permission of the editor. conservative Sarah Palin isn’t so big on thousand (half of them straight) to a protest Speedo either) abstinence only Prop 8 rally outside City Hall. Best Baltimore Sports Team— Best Court Decision— Best Non-political Event— The Ravens who also wear our fave color California’s Supreme Court ruling that Baltimore Pride, for its colorful, well-run purple, and Todd Heap is still a great Tight same-sex marriage should be legal parade, block party and festival End Worst Election Result— Best Gay Bar— Best Orioles Off-Season Move— California passing Proposition 8, which PW’s Sports Bar in N. Laurel, for its Finally getting “Baltimore” written across negated the court decision above friendly staff and crowd and its wide range the road jerseys for 2009. of events and community involvement Best Hollywood Straight LGBT Ally— Worst Team in 2008 (and All-Time)— Brad Pitt, for his substantial contributions Best Karaoke Gay Bar— Bush-Cheney to defeat Prop 8. Hippo with Steve Smith as the emcee and ©2008 - All Rights Reserved Chairman of the Board Jim Becker The Drinkery as runner-up Steve Charing’s OUTspoken blog is at Best Hollywood LGBT Person— President Jim Williams www.SteveCharing.blogspot.com. (Tie) Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen Best LGBT Bartender— Vice President Lee Mooney baltimoreoutloud.com | January 2, 2009 BALTIMORE OUTLOUD q News Local Local Greenstein, Brewster Union Baltimore’s 1st Jewish Commitment New Executive Director Ceremony—The first ever local commitment ceremony was performed at Beth El Synagogue of Baltimore on of Equality Maryland October 10, 2008. Evan Greenstein and Cory Brewster committed themselves to each other in a service performed to Address PFLAG by Rabbi Mark Loeb, assisted by By Steve Charing Rabbi Steven Schaetz and Cantor Kate Runyon, the newly appointed Executive where she led the statewide lgbt civil Tom King. More than 200 friends and Director of Equality Maryland will appear rights organization through a critical period family attended this historic event. before the Columbia/Howard County following the departure of their founding Congratulations to Evan and Cory. chapter of PFLAG—Parents, Families and executive director, and after several years Photo by Skip Koritzer. Friends of Lesbians and Gays—at their serving as a trustee and Chair for the general meeting on January 13. organization’s People of Faith and Allies & Equality Maryland’s Kate Runyon Ms. Runyon succeeds Dan Furmansky, Diversity Committee. who has recently left his post after serving Ms. Runyon served in the Peace Corps respect, community awareness, bridge in that capacity for five years. Over that working in the Agro-forestry sector in The building, communication, political savvy and time, Furmansky led the organization’s Gambia, West Africa. She is a Certified advocacy to her life’s work as an activist.” growth from a staff of one on a tiny budget Master Gardner, and received a degree The meeting, which will take place at the to a point where the staff has increased in Art, Global Studies, and German from Owen Brown Interfaith Center in Columbia significantly, as has Equality Maryland’s Wittenberg University in Ohio. at 7:30 p.m., is free and open to everyone. operational budget. “We are thrilled to have found someone More information can be obtained at www. The new director comes to Maryland of Kate Runyon’s caliber and experience,” pflag.md.org after a stint as Interim Executive Director said Equality Maryland Board President at the Triangle Foundation in Michigan, Scott Davenport. “Kate brings commitment, Find luxury, comfort, convenience and style in both of our beautifully appointed all-suite hotels. We're just footsteps off historic Charles Street in downtown Baltimore. Our suites are filled with world-class amenities and our personal attention to detail will make any stay a memorable experience. In addition to our comfortable features, we offer complimentary high-speed internet in every suite and your choice of two restaurants, a lounge, a gourmet deli and a dessert shop. 410.727.2222 www.TREMONTS.com 4 q BALTIMORE OUTLOUD January 2, 2009 | baltimoreoutloud.com The Many Faces of Dr. Eva Chase Brexton How was your New Year’s Eve? Health Services, Inc. By Dr. Eva Hersh Was the first resolution you made this New Years Day prompted by the headache and sick feeling you woke up with January 1? Maybe 1978 - 2008 you had to deal with the consequences of a holiday car accident.