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NEWSV OLUME 27 ISSUE 9 - JULY 2013 THE COASTAL EMPIRE LGBT COMMUNITY NEWS A FIRST CITY NETWORK PUBLICATION

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SATURDAY SAVANNAH FCN Network News SOCIAL PRIDE P.O. Box 2442 Hosted By: Hosted By: Savannah, Georgia 31402-2442 Join me in Savannah. Savannah Auction SUB ZERO [email protected] Exchange Mitchell Bush July 26th All submissions become the property of FCN and your name will NOT be The Bush Agency July 6th 5:00 - 8:00 printed unless we are given written permission. The editor reserves the right (912)356-0266 7:00 - 10:00 [email protected] 109 Broughton St. to decide what is suitable for publishing. Please note that the deadline for www.TheBushAgency.com 122 Pipemakers Circle submission is the 20th of each month, Thank you. Suite 200 Savannah, GA 31401 Pooler,GA 31322 Cocktail Hour Bash. Vanishing Deductible is an optional feature. Annual credits subject to eligibility requirements. Max. credit: $500. Details and availability vary by state. Products underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Company and Affiliated Companies, Relax and socialize with Columbus, OOhio. Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company. Nationwide, Nationwide Insurance, the Nationwide framemark, Nationwide is OOn Your Bring a Covered Dish, Side, Join the Nation and Vanishing Deductible are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. ©2013 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. GPR-0106M1.2 (01/13) $5 drink specials. your lover, and a dear friend. NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 3 HOW GAY MARRIED COUPLES GET SHORTCHANGED By Marilyn Bowden

More than 1,000 federal rights and securities This makes it a great financial planning tool CHILDREN OF SAME-SEX PARTNERS For example, a widow or widower older are denied to couples in same-sex marriages because the second spouse can wait longer The children of same-sex marriages will than 60 who was married for more than 10 not legally recognized by Section 3 of before taking his or her own benefits. “If your be profoundly affected should DOMA be years, and who has remarried, has the option the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, partner is of the same sex,” Henry says, “you overturned. Right now, their legal position is to continue to collect survivors benefits or to says Vickie Henry, senior staff attorney at can’t do what other couples can do, which complicated. collect based on the new spouse’s earnings. Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates & is to use your spouse’s benefit to maximize A divorced person who was married for 10 Defenders, or GLAD. GLAD is a leading your benefit. You don’t get that protection.” “If both partners have adopted them,” Rae years can also claim spousal benefits. advocacy group in the campaign to strike says, “(the children) may be able to get the down DOMA. “Quite a bit of money could be at stake,” survivors benefit, but there are some hoops to “If DOMA is struck down,” Rae says, “will says David Rae, a Certified Financial jump through.” they start that clock again? There may have “Few of those benefits are more important Planner professional and vice president of to be new laws written for some people to get than Social Security,” says Crosby Burns, investments for Trilogy Financial Services Two factors block access to Social Security their benefits.” policy analyst of the LGBT Research and in the Los Angeles area, “especially if one benefits for these children, says Burns. Communications Project at the Center partner stayed home.” THE SOCIAL IMPACT for American Progress, an independent, “First, state laws do not always provide same- The Williams Institute, a think tank at the nonpartisan educational institute based in THE SPOUSAL DISABILITY BENEFIT sex couples adoption rights that establish a University of California, Los Angeles School Washington, D.C. When the primary wage-earner in a family legal relationship between parent and child. of Law, estimates that there are approximately becomes disabled, Social Security provides Second, DOMA complicates the absence of 650,000 same-sex couples in the U.S. today “This program forms part of the bedrock of relief for his or her spouse through the adoptive rights by not recognizing the legal -- including 114,100 legally married and our nation’s safety net,” Burns says. “With spousal disability benefit. Even a divorced relationship between two legally married 108,600 in civil unions or registered domestic full and equal access to this social insurance spouse of a different sex may be eligible for same-sex individuals. partnerships. If Section 3 of DOMA is program, families headed by same-sex this benefit. repealed, “114,100 additional couples will be couples would finally have access to the “This is a huge safety net,” Henry says. “Should the Supreme Court rule that Section eligible for the range of safety-net programs economic safeguards they need, intended to “Disability is a problem that tends to affect 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional, these children and benefits that fall under Social Security’s keep them out of poverty and afloat during workers in their prime, and most people will finally be afforded access to safety- umbrella,” says Burns. hard times.” don’t carry enough disability insurance to net programs intended to keep them out of provide for that. Yet this is something that poverty,” Burns says. “This includes Social Since Social Security currently serves more Chief among them, Henry says, are the same-sex couples don’t have access to. These Security benefits, which offer thousands of than 56 million Americans, “This would spousal benefit, the spousal disability benefit, are working couples who can’t get this basic children the economic support they need hardly impact the financial standing of the the lump-sum benefit and the survivors protection, even though they are married and when their parents are no longer able to Social Security program. More importantly, benefit. The children of same-sex parents have merged their finances like other couples financially provide for them due to old age, social insurance programs like Social would also be affected. who are considered eligible.” disability or death,” he says. Security are an ultimate net gain to the economy by keeping people out of poverty, Read on to see how the Social Security LUMP-SUM DEATH BENEFIT Related: Rights of same-sex couples in high protecting against the vicissitudes of health, system works in favor of heterosexual AND SURVIVORS BENEFIT court’s hands old age and disability.” married couples and against same-sex When the first spouse dies, Social Security’s married couples. If DOMA is struck down, lump-sum benefit pays $255 to the surviving IMPACT ON SAME-SEX COUPLES gay couples stand to gain more Social spouse. A surviving child may also receive The finances of same-sex marriage partners Security benefits. this benefit. are crippled because their unions are not legally recognized under DOMA. One THE SPOUSAL BENEFIT The survivors benefit ensures that the example: “For every $100 in retirement The spousal benefit allows marriage partners surviving spouse is eligible for monthly benefits a month they do not have access to,” more flexibility in planning for retirement. Social Security benefits based on the earnings Rae says, “a gay couple has to have saved Heterosexual married couples can collect of the deceased spouse beginning as early as $24,000 or so to be in the same position at benefits in a number of ways. For example, age 60, if the marriage lasted at least nine retirement as an opposite-sex couple (who is) at full retirement age, lower-earning spouses months. depending on Social Security.” can collect a benefit based on their own record or half of their higher-earning spouse’s Typically, says Henry, one partner in a That $24,000 is the lump-sum amount benefit -- whichever is larger. So nonworking marriage has much higher lifetime earnings needed to generate the $100 monthly income, PLEASE NOTE THAT A NEW spouses can collect based on the earnings of the than the other, and therefore a higher monthly assuming a withdrawal rate of 5 percent. If DEADLINE IS SET FOR THE working spouse. Also, higher-earning spouses Social Security check. If the higher-wage the challenge to DOMA is successful, there 15TH OF EACH MONTH. can, at full retirement age, “file and suspend,” earner passes away, the survivor will then will still be some hurdles, Rae says. PLEASE HAVE ALL ARTWORK enabling their lower-earning spouse to collect start getting checks for that higher amount. AND ARTICLES SUBMITTED benefits while they continue to work and accrue But if the partners were of the same sex, that additional retirement credits. supporting income doesn’t materialize. PRINT READY.

4 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 5 CHRISTIAN GROUP APOLOGIZES TO GAY COMMUNITY By David Crary, Ap

The president of a leading Christian ministry dedicated to helping gays However, Hurst noted that some of Exodus’ former followers — repress their sexual urges through prayer has apologized to the gay disenchanted by Chambers’ evolution — had formed a new group community and says the group is shutting down. called the Restored Hope Network, which calls itself an “ex-gay ministry” and continues to promote the idea that gays can be converted Alan Chambers, in a statement posted Thursday on Exodus to heterosexuality. International’s website, said the group wants to apologize to the gay community “for years of undue suffering and judgment at the hands of READ THE APOLOGY ON PAGE 16 the organization and the church as a whole.”

Chambers also made an apology in a speech to his ministry’s annual conference, saying, “We’ve hurt people.” SATURDAY SAVANNAH SOCIAL PRIDE “While there has been so much good at Exodus, there has also been bad,” Hosted By: Hosted By: he said. “We’ve fought the culture war, and we’ve lost. It’s time for peace.” Savannah Auction SUB ZERO Exchange July 26th Exodus International, which is based in Orlando, Fla., was founded July 6th 5:00 - 8:00 37 years ago and claimed 260 member ministries around the U.S. and 7:00 - 10:00 internationally. For decades, it offered to help conflicted Christians rid 122 Pipemakers Circle 109 Broughton St. themselves of unwanted homosexual inclinations through counseling Suite 200 Savannah, GA 31401 and prayer, infuriating gay rights activists in the process. Pooler,GA 31322 Cocktail Hour Bash. Relax and socialize with Exodus had seen its influence wane in recent years as mainstream Bring a Covered Dish, $5 drink specials. associations representing psychiatrists and psychologists rejected your lover, and a dear friend. its approach. However, the idea that gays could be “converted” to heterosexuality through prayer persists among some evangelicals and fundamentalists.

The announcement that Exodus would close was not a total surprise. ADOLESCENT AND ADULT Last year, Chambers — who is married to a woman but has spoken PSYCHOTHERAPY openly about his own sexual attraction to men — said he was trying to INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES, GROUPS distance his ministry from the idea that gays’ sexual orientation can be permanently changed or “cured.” Specialties include: Addiction, Anxiety, In his statement Thursday, Chambers said the board of Exodus had Depression, GLBT/Gender Issues, decided to close it and form a new ministry, which he referred to as Relationship Issues, Trauma reducefear.org. Braswell Gamble, LPC “Our goals are to reduce fear and come alongside churches to become safe, welcoming, and mutually transforming communities,” he said. 912-231-8429 Sarah W. Holmes, Ph.D. Gay rights activists welcomed Chambers’ apology, while reiterating THE DON CALLAHAN 912-233-7204 their belief that Exodus had caused great damage. R e a l E s t a t e G r o u p Duke Miles, LCSW “This is a welcome first step in honestly addressing the harm the 912-233-1312 organization and its leaders have caused,” said Sharon Groves, director 912-441-4416 | [email protected] of the Human Rights Campaign’s religion and faith program. “Now Nancy Wallace, LCSW we need them to take the next step of leadership and persuade all other 912-447-0230 religious-based institutions that they got it wrong.” Martha B. Womack, Ph.D. 912-447-5660 Truth Wins Out, another gay rights group that had been harshly critical of Exodus, praised Chambers for “integrity and authenticity.” 23 E. 38TH STREET “It takes a real man to publicly confront the people whose lives were SAVANNAH, GA 31401 destroyed by his organization’s work, and to take real, concrete action to begin to repair that damage,” said the group’s associate director, Evan Hurst.

NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 7 A NAVY SEAL’S BIGGEST SECRET: Florida’s Hands On Children’s Museum Allegedly LIFE AS A TRANSGENDER Denies Lesbian Moms A Family Membership Rate By Doug Stanglin - USA TODAY By David Crary, Ap

Former team members praise Beck’s courage A Florida-based lesbian couple is crying foul after a local museum to come out after 20 years. allegedly refused to offer them the standard price of a family membership.

In the super-secret world of the Navy SEAL, Chris Beck carried Karen Lee-Duffell, who says she’s had a membership at the Hands around an explosive secret of his own during his 20 years with the On Children’s Museum of Jacksonville, Fla. for over three years, elite, all-male unit: a transgender life. tells WTLV it felt “like a punch in the gut” when she was told by a staff member that she would have to pay more for the family rate In the memoirs Warrior Princess, published Saturday, retired Navy than a pair of opposite-sex parents. SEAL Kristin Beck — formerly Chris — writes about life struggling with her sexual identity and then going public. “She says, ‘Oh wait no, you’re going to have pay an extra $10 to add this other mom -- you can’t have two moms,’” Lee-Duffell, a Chris Beck served 20 years as a Navy SEAL, including seven mother of two, is quoted as saying. combat deployments, and earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. A museum official released a statement to First Coast News noting Beck retired from Navy SEAL Team 6 in 2011, only months before that the memberships are “very specific” and do not allow for any it raided Osama bin Laden’s hide-out, and was always careful to substitutions. keep the secret close to the vest. Meanwhile, a Facebook page calling for users to boycott the Kristin Beck, 46, who works as a military consultant in the Tampa OTHER REACTIONS: museum has over 1,000 likes, while an online petition has drawn area, decided in March to go public by posting a new LinkedIn over 1,300 signatures at the time of this writing. The petition, which profile picture of herself dressed as a woman. • “Being a SEAL is hard. This looks harder.” can be viewed here, reads in part:

“I am now taking off all my disguises and letting the world know my • “I am thankful that your decision was to confront your “There are many kinds of families in the United States. Some true identity as a woman,” Beck wrote on her LinkedIn page. challenges rather than, as you stated in your own words, ‘put a families do have a mom and a dad. Some have just a mom or shotgun in your mouth.’ “ a dad. Some families have a mom or dad and a grandparent. Beck said some SEAL buddies thought at first that it was a joke, but Some families have two moms or two dads. All families are she assured them it wasn’t. • “You’re a Team Guy, first and foremost, and you always will entitled to be recognized as such and deserve to be treated be. I’ll drink a beer with you anytime, anywhere, for any reason, equally by the businesses they patronize.” Beck began hormone treatments three months ago. She also received no matter how you are dressed ... especially if you are buying.” laser treatment to remove facial hair. Meanwhile, Lee-Duffeell added: “We’re members of the YMCA, Beck’s co-author is Anne Speckhard, an adjunct associate professor we’re members of the Cummer Art Museum, we’re members of the In the memoirs, Beck notes the irony of one mission as a Navy of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School, whose has Museum of Art and History, we’re members of the zoo; all of these SEAL in which he was disguised as an Afghan man to blend in with specialized in post-traumatic stress disorder and counterterrorism. places have never had a problem with the fact that we’re family and female-hating Taliban men. giving us the family membership.” What’s striking about Beck, Speckhard said in an interview with “It was weird that I could grow a beard and trick them into thinking USA TODAY, is how normal she is. “She’s healthy, normal, a next- In 2012, a Virginia-based fitness club changed its membership I was one of them – and really I’m an Amazon woman in disguise as door-neighbor person.” policies after being slapped with a lawsuit by two gay men who were a U.S. military guy in disguise as a Pashtun!” stripped of a family membership -- and whose two-year-old son was Speckhard described Beck, who attended the Virginia Military reportedly denied access to a swimming pool -- after management The book is dedicated to Beck’s family, to the “underdogs, the Institute, as a highly competitive individual who played sports in discovered they were a same-sex couple. activists, the downtrodden,” and to SEAL teammates, to whom school and always wanted to serve in the military. Beck offers a personal message: “I am still the same person with the Will Trinkle and partner Juan Granados had claimed that a club same experience and the same spirit.” Speckhard said she does not see Beck’s decision to join the Navy employee told him that although their membership application SEALs as an act of overcompensation, rather as fitting a character had initially been accepted, the couple and their son Oliver were The memoirs, published by Advances Press, notes that Beck has as a high achiever. not recognized as a family under Virginia law, according to The been married twice and has two sons, but was often removed from Roanoke Times. their early life because of frequent deployments and to avoid dealing “As a woman, he would have joined the SEALs as well,” Speckhard with personal issues. said. The Navy SEALs currently do not take female candidates. PLEASE NOTE THAT A NEW DEADLINE IS SET FOR THE The book includes some reactions from former team members, The Virginian Pilot, which serves a largely military area of Virginia, FEEL FREE TO ADVERTISE 15TH OF EACH MONTH. OR WRITE ARTICLES including praise for Beck’s courage in the forward, which was writes that transgender service is still forbidden in the military, even PLEASE HAVE ALL ARTWORK written by former boss, retired Navy SEAL and astronaut William after the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” opened the military up to Contribute to FCN about what AND ARTICLES SUBMITTED Shepherd. gay and lesbian servicemen and women. YOU think and feel. PRINT READY.

8 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 9 EXXON DEFIES CALLS LGBTQ YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM TO ADD GAYS TO ANTI-BIAS POLICY WILL CONTINUE AT SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOLS By James Stewart AMID STAGGERING STATISTICS By Aaron Sankin

Each year, one out of every three gay, lesbian or bisexual students in the San Francisco Unified School District reportedly attempts suicide. For transgender students, that number jumps to nearly one in two.

These statistics were captured in a 2011 survey of nearly 5,000 SFUSD middle and high school students developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and have inspired an aggressive anti-suicide campaign in San Francisco schools.

“The numbers about suicides are the final statistics in a series of For millions of gay and lesbian employees, much has changed since “Exxon Mobil is an outlier among Fortune 500 companies on this statistics that start with lack of safety,” said Jodi Schwartz, executive 1999, when no states recognized gay marriage, “Don’t Ask, Don’t issue,” Mr. DiNapoli said when I asked him about it this week. He director of the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center, Tell” effectively barred people who were openly gay from serving said it was not only a social or civil rights issue. “The company runs an organization that supports LGBTQ youth. While the survey was administered at 91 school sites across the in the military, Matthew Shepard’s murderer was convicted — the risk of restricting its ability to attract and maintain top talent. country, SFUSD is the only participating school district to include and Exxon Mobil shareholders were first asked to protect gay and Exxon Mobil is sending a message that applicants and employees In an ongoing effort to improve these statistics, LYRIC plans to items on sexual orientation and gender identity in both their middle lesbian employees from discrimination. can be discriminated against on the basis of non-job related criteria. continue a program it started in 2011 in a handful of SFUSD schools, and high school surveys. It just doesn’t make sense from a bottom-line standpoint.” the organization will announce in a press conference Thursday. One thing hasn’t: Exxon Mobil’s implacable opposition to adding The in-school program will start up again in the fall at two middle “Empowering our students to have thoughtful conversations about sexual orientation to its official equal employment opportunity In countries where it’s mandated by law, Exxon Mobil does have schools and one high school, and will include a social justice class, gender and sexuality doesn’t stop with our youth, nor does it stop statement. policies barring discrimination against gay and lesbian employees support groups for families, and trainings for teachers on how to with a single community,” San Francisco Supervisor David Campos — and extends spousal benefits to same-sex married couples. But effectively intervene in situations involving LGBTQ youth. said in a statement. “We--as people invested in how out schools The issue will be on the agenda at Exxon Mobil’s annual the company has gone to unusual lengths to avoid doing so in the nurture diversity and acceptance--must deliberately join those shareholder meeting next week for the 14th consecutive year. Last United States. Mobil Oil had polices protecting gay and lesbian Schwartz noted that offering a class during the school day is a conversations.” year the company went so far as to ask the Securities and Exchange employees from discrimination, and extended benefits to same-sex crucial element of the program’s success because similar initiatives, Commission for a ruling that it needn’t keep including the proposal couples. But Exxon rescinded them when it acquired Mobil in 1999. such as ones by the Gay-Straight Alliance, are typically held after Campos is one of two openly gay San Francisco supervisors who on its ballot, but was rejected. It eliminated the same protections and benefits when it acquired school and often require parental permission. will participate in LYRIC’s press conference on Thursday. XTO Energy in 2009. The proposal, backed this year, as it has been since 2010, by New “You already have to be out, or out as an ally, and you have to have On the national level, the suicide risk for gay and lesbian youth is far York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on behalf of the A former Exxon Mobil employee told me that he was involved with parents that are okay with that,” she said. “We wanted to change higher than for straight young people, according to a 2011 study by New York State Employees Retirement System, has never gained the company’s effort to transfer a highly valued executive from that and have students who are part of this dialogue to be part of the the Massachusetts-based Suicide Prevention Resource Center. The majority support. That’s not unusual for so-called social, political Belgium, where the executive lived with his husband, to Texas. He regular school day, and those youth who were queer or questioning study also found that gays and lesbians between the ages of 15 and and environmental shareholder initiatives, since most institutional said the executive told the company, “I’m not coming alone,” and to be able to go to a class and not have to ask a parent to be there.” 24 are up to three times more likely to report suicidal thoughts and money managers usually decline as a matter of policy to vote against asked for the same medical benefits and recognition for his spouse up to seven times more likely to report having attempted suicide management recommendations on such issues. Still, the measure that he received in Belgium. The company refused. The survey on SFUSD students found that 11 percent of the district’s than their straight counterparts. has gained as much as 38 percent of the vote, considered resounding high school students self-identified as LGBTQ and 1.6 percent support by the feeble standards of shareholder democracy. An Exxon Mobil spokesman said he couldn’t comment on a specific identified as transgender. In recent years, a number of large-scale initiatives, such as the case, but noted that the United States immigration service doesn’t Trevor Project and the It Gets Better Project, have begun efforts to That hasn’t fazed Exxon Mobil. On the contrary, as social attitudes grant visas to same-sex spouses since those marriages aren’t Across the board, the survey, which will yield a new set of results reverse the tide of suicide among LGBTQ young people. and other corporations’ policies on the subject of gay rights have recognized under federal law. He confirmed that it was company later this year, found that LGBTQ students experienced far higher changed drastically, Exxon Mobil has moved steadily further from policy to provide such benefits only in countries where they are rates of being bullied, having their property damaged or getting in the mainstream, even within the energy sector. According to the mandated by law, and not in the United States. According to Mr. a physical fight at school than straight students. Fifty-eight percent Human Rights Campaign, 88 percent of Fortune 500 companies have DiNapoli, Exxon Mobil told him that the company refused to of middle school students who identified as transgender reported SAVANNAH HAS A TERRIFIC adopted written nondiscrimination policies prohibiting harassment recognize the validity of same-sex marriages in New York or any being threatened or injured with a weapon at school the prior year, YOUTH PROGRAM and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as have all other state where they are now legal. “Exxon Mobil must recognize whereas only 5 percent of their straight classmates experienced the the major integrated oil companies that compete with Exxon Mobil. that its stance against equal rights will hurt the company and its same. ITS CALLED investors,” Mr. DiNapoli said. STAND OUT YOUTH Twenty-one states, the District of Columbia and more than 160 cities “If you’re not feeling safe at school and you’re not feeling supported and counties have laws prohibiting employment discrimination about who you are, and likely there’s complications going on with Learn more by visiting based on sexual orientation. But Exxon Mobil maintains it isn’t your family situation ... [you wonder,] ‘Where do I fit in this world? standoutyouth.org or call 912.657.1966 bound by these because of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, I don’t fit at home. I don’t fit at school, I don’t fit into my religious which pre-empts state law. A constitutional challenge to DOMA is institutions,’” Schwartz said. “When students feel worthless it leads Weekly Movie and Discussion Groups awaiting a decision by the Supreme Court, and two federal appeals them to despair, depression and suicide attempts.” courts have ruled DOMA unconstitutional. petitions.moveon.org/sign/exxon-dont-discriminate

10 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 11 EXCLUSIVE: DISNEY CHANNEL BREAKS NEW LOCAL CHURCHES GEORGIA CONGREGATION CHEERS PASTOR FOR GROUND WITH GOOD LUCK CHARLIE EPISODE CUT TIES WITH BOY SCOUTS KICKING OUT (GAY) BOY SCOUTS By Michael Schneider By Dyana Bagby By Dyana Bagby

In a first for the Disney Channel, next season an episode of Good SAVANNAH, GA - The Boy Scouts of America policy change Luck Charlie will feature a family with two moms. allowing openly gay scouts is impacting troops in the Coastal Empire. Some local churches are cutting ties with the group because Producers are currently casting the couple, with production the new policy is in direct conflict with their religious beliefs. set for next week. The episode will air in early 2014 as part of Good Luck Charlie’s final season. Because Good Luck Charlie is Several scout groups in the Coastal Empire are funded, and coming to a close, the characters are only expected to appear in chartered, by religious groups. this one episode. “We’ve had probably six-to-eight at this point that we know of that In the storyline, parents Amy and Bob Duncan (Leigh-Allyn Baker are going to change, not have an association with the Boy Scouts and Eric Allan Kramer) set up a playdate for preschooler Charlie of America, which we are obviously sad to have that happen,” said (Mia Talerico) and one of her new friends. When the kid arrives, Scout Executive of the Coastal Empire Council, Tom Cardiff. the Duncans learn that Charlie’s pal has two moms. That’s fine, but the potential new friendship is put to the test as one mom chats Tom Cardiff, the Scout Executive of the Coastal Empire Council, with Amy, and the other is stuck listening to Bob’s dull stories. said he can’t fault any of the churches on their decision. Several churches in Georgia are busily kicking out Boy Scouts after The playdate is actually the secondary story in the episode, as “I understand the road they are going down that any change to this the national organization said it would allow gay boys into its ranks much of the action will center on Teddy (Bridgit Mendler) and her particular area will infuriate a lot of people so we are going to try (but still keep out those pesky adults who were at one time gay best friend Ivy, as Ivy prepares to head off to college. and pull the troops back together, try to do the best we can to find youth themselves.). homes for the rest of these units that have been asked to leave,” said But Disney Channel understands the groundbreaking nature Cardiff. And Georgia, while it now has to accept GAYPWR, is getting some of featuring a same-sex couple on one of its sitcoms and took downright dismaying reactions to the pastors of these churches who extra care in crafting the episode. “This particular storyline was The latest organization to oppose the new policy is the Southern are not doing what Jesus would do and turning away these young developed under the consultancy of child development experts Baptist Convention but the denomination can’t force its churches to men because, well, being gay is a sin, according to their narrow and community advisors,” a Disney Channel spokesperson says. cut ties since they are all independent. minds. “Like all Disney Channel programming, it was developed to be relevant to kids and families around the world and to reflect “If people begin to teach things that are not biblical or anti biblical WSB-TV talked to the preacher proud of his decision to boot the themes of diversity and inclusiveness.” as we would see it, they are free to do that. I mean everyone has a Boy Scouts out of Roswell Street Baptist Church, even boasting he choice and they made that choice, but we have a choice too we don’t received a standing ovation. The fact the troop had been meeting Disney Channel already tested the waters last year with its on-air have to support that, or finance that, or use our personnel to support at the church for 68 years didn’t matter to this guy who’s worried social outreach campaign “Make Your Mark.” In one segment, a that,” said Southside Baptist Church Pastor Allan Bosson. about all the boys in tents and their hormones (has he been talking teen with two moms was featured, a move that was called a “big to Sen. Saxby Chambliss?) and the obvious sexual activity that is step forward” by GLAAD.The Boy Scouts of America has not Southside Baptist Church doesn’t have a Boy Scout group but Pastor going to happen. lifted the ban on gay scout leaders. Allan Bosson said if they did they would follow the Convention’s decision. Jesus Christ, y’all. Why are these guys so dumb? TWO SUNDAY SERVICES 9:30 and 11:00 am “In our opinion Boy Scouts will never be the same again it will Watch the clip below and listen to what Pastor Ernest Easley has to just be another group of boys getting together and having fun,” said say about his brave decision to stop allowing young men meeting at Pastor Bosson. his church. Children’s Church & Nursery 11:00am The policy change on allowing openly gay scouts begins in January. Photo Above is of Pastor Ernest Easley Guided Meditation Service of Roswell Street Baptist Church. Thursdays 12:00noon - 12:30pm “At this particular point it doesn’t change what our mission is which is to teach our young men to be leaders and to be good citizens Courtyard Books & Gifts and to follow the scout oath and law but we’ve been hurt some Open Sundays 10:00am - 1:00pm and hopefully we are going to fight through it and move on,” said Thursdays 11:00am - 1:00pm Cardiff. FEEL FREE TO ADVERTISE The Boy Scouts of America has not lifted the ban on gay scout OR WRITE ARTICLES 2320 Sunset Blvd, Savannah GA 31404 leaders. Contribute to FCN about what [email protected] YOU think and feel. unityofsavannah.com (912) 355-4704

12 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 13 MARRIAGE EQUALITY WINS AT SUPREME COURT, Through JULY 28, 2013 BUT NO IMMEDIATE CHANGE IN GA. By Laura Douglas - Courtesy Georgia Voice Chicago is the alluring musical tale of fame, corruption, murder ... and all that jazz. This winner of six Tony The Supreme Court handed down a pair of victories for marriage “Exactly 10 years ago today, the Supreme Court issued an historic equality today, striking down a key part of the federal Defense of ruling striking down state laws that branded gay people as criminals. Awards sizzles with a remarkable cast of characters, Marriage Act as unconstitutional and issuing a ruling in a challenge Today, it once again struck down a law passed by legislators who sat clever staging and incredible Fosse-style dance to California’s Proposition 8 that should allow gay marriage to in moral judgment against LGBT people, this time condemning them resume in that state. in the eyes of the entire nation,” said Jon Davidson, legal director numbers making this Broadway favorite for Lambda Legal. “DOMA was unconstitutional when Congress a must see! The rulings do not give same-sex couples the right to marry in wrote it and, with today’s ruling, its bruising hand has been lifted. Georgia, but LGBT rights supporters here will join allies around the nation in hosting rallies tonight. The Atlanta rally is set for 5 p.m. at “This is a huge victory for married same-sex couples and their the corner of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue. families because it will affect almost every facet of life from health care to retirement to taxes.” “While we had hoped for a more expansive ruling that would immediately affect the legal status of couples here in Georgia, IMPACT IN GEORGIA this is an important step towards the full legal recognition of our relationship.” said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens said today’s DOMA ruling Equality, the state’s largest LGBT political group. has no impact on Georgia.

BY PINK & 104.9 THE SURF SPONSORED “We can celebrate for our colleagues and loved ones in California “Today’s decision rests on the basic assumption – with which and the twelve other states affected by this ruling today,” Graham I strongly agree – that the power to define marriage is a power said. “Tomorrow we begin the process of building a movement to traditionally reserved to the States,” Olens said in a statement. “The Jaquez André Sims, Caitlin Carter, Adam Pellegrine recognize our own marriages here in Georgia.” decision does not affect existing state definitions of marriage; in fact, it explicitly says that it is limited to marriages recognized by In the most sweeping of today’s decisions, the Supreme Court ruled states as lawful. I agree with the Chief Justice that this limitation 5-4 that the Defense of Marriage Act’s ban on federal recognition of means what it says. same-sex marriages is unconstitutional. “The definition of marriage adopted by Georgia’s voters is unaffected President Obama, who had instructed his Justice Department not to by today’s decision,” Olens said. defend DOMA, praised the ruling. The DOMA decision does not allow gay Georgians to marry, but “This was discrimination enshrined in law. It treated loving, how it impacts those who have married in other states is uncertain. committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people. The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and our country Dan Bloom, a gay attorney with Pachman Richardson LLC Family is better off for it, “ Obama said. “We are a people who declared that Law Attorneys, said what the DOMA ruling means for Georgia is we are all created equal – and the love we commit to one another “the unknown question right now.” must be equal as well.” Georgia has a constitutional amendment in place that prohibits The ruling means legally married same-sex couples, whose same-sex marriage and also does not recognize same-sex marriages marriages are recognized where they live, should receive federal from other states. The ruling today does not change that. But marriage recognition as well. what happens if a Georgia couple gets married in a state that does recognize same-sex marriage? It remains uncertain what the decision means for gay couples who travel to states where it is legal to marry, but live in states like “The question that is still out there is if a couple gets married in New 785 King George Blvd – Suite 102 firstcitynetwork.net | 912.236.2489 Georgia that refuse to recognize those marriages. York and moves to Georgia, what does that mean? If the couple was receiving Social Security benefits in New York, do they stop getting In a separate case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, the court also ruled 5-4 them when they move here to Georgia? That’s the question still out that supporters of California’s Proposition 8, the ballot measure that there,” he said. ended gay marriage in the state, did not have standing to defend the law in court. “None of us know this. The question is what is Georgia going to do when it has to deal with some of this stuff,” he added. “Right In a victory for gay Californians, the court remanded the case back now what’s certain is the people in 12 states that allow same-gender to the district court, which had previously thrown out the law. marriage — they have all federal protections of marriage.”

Today’s rulings came on the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Another thing that’s certain — there will be more lawsuits. Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down sodomy “There’s no question the result of this is more litigation,” laws that had been used to discriminate against gay people. Bloom said.

NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 15 “If you get married in New York [where you receive federal the federal government. This kind of lawsuit would fall under due “The history of DOMA’s enactment and its own text demonstrate increases the number of Americans -- approximately 94 million protections] and move to Georgia and then are being denied equal process or equal protection. that interference with the equal dignity of same-sex marriages, a people, or 30 percent of the United States population -- who live in protection, which is whole purpose of DOMA case … we just don’t dignity conferred by the States in the exercise of their sovereign a state with marriage equality.” know yet,” he said. Another challenge possible in Georgia would have a couple try to power, was more than an incidental effect of the federal statute. It get married, be denied, and then sues for the right to marry. was its essence,” the majority opinion states. In a bit of an unexpected line-up, the five justices in the majority The Supreme Court in its ruling purposely left some questions were Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the opinion, Stephen unanswered, Bloom said. “That’s would be the head-on challenge,” Holbrook said. DOMA was defended by the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, Breyer, Elena Kagan, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia. a committee led by Republicans from the U.S. House of “If they had specifically said the right is transportable, that would be But for right now, Georgia is not going to be forced to recognize Representatives, after President Obama’s Justice Department Dissenting justices were Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, equivalent to legalizing same-gender marriage — which is not what any same-sex marriages and same-sex couples will not be receiving refused to defend it. Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor. they did,” Bloom explained. federal benefits, he explained. “The arguments put forward by BLAG are just as candid about the It also will likely depend on the kind of benefit, Bloom said. Lambda Legal is taking a lead role in trying to determine what will congressional purpose to influence or interfere with state sovereign GAY RIGHTS CELEBRATE happen in states where same-sex marriage is not recognized. choices about who may be married,” the majority opinion continues. ACROSS THE LOW COUNTRY The Department of Defense, for example, states spousal benefits are Courtesy of WSAV decided based on where a person gets married. In Bloom’s opinion, “Key details remain to be worked out over the coming months, Notes the court, “DOMA’s principal effect is to identify a subset that means veterans, for example, now living in Georgia that were including the implications for legally married same-sex couples of state-sanctioned marriages and make them unequal. The legally married in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage will living in states that deny their true marital status,” Davidson said. principal purpose is to impose inequality, not for other reasons like Gay rights advocates across the nation celebrated the Supreme receive federal marriage benefits. governmental efficiency.” Court’s decision to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, but it left “Lambda Legal and our sister organizations will work with Obama some the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry wondering where they With the IRS, however, benefits are not decided by where you were Administration officials and will continue to pursue legal and PROP 8: NO STANDING FOR GAY BAN SUPPORTERS stand. married but by where you live. So those in Georgia who married in administrative actions as may help to clarify these matters and to another state are not able to receive federal marriage benefits. implement both of today’s judgments against discrimination,” he The court’s second gay rights decision today effectively allows gay Take Billy Wooten. He’s gay and married his partner of 15 years said. couples to resume marrying in California. in March -- traveling to Washington, D.C., where gay marriage is “This is where things get tricky,” he said. “As best I can tell, legal, to tie the knot before coming home to Savannah. it depends on the benefit itself. The ruling may avail people in DOMA: ‘PRINCIPAL PURPOSE IS TO IMPOSE INEQUALITY’ Gay couples gained marriage rights in California in 2008 thanks to a Georgia to some benefits, but certainly not to all benefits. This is ruling by the California Supreme Court. But in November 2008, the “We did it one because we wanted to and two because we could not sweeping and it does not mean those in Georgia will get all the Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority decision striking state’s voters approved Proposition 8, which amended the California but three to prepare for the day when DOMA was struck down,” he federal benefits even if they get married in a state that recognizes down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, joined by Justices Constitution to only recognize marriage between and a woman. said. “There was no doubt in my mind that DOMA would be found same-gender marriage.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen unconstitutional.” Breyer. A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld As a married gay man living in a state where gay marriage is illegal, Bloom said he will continue to advise his clients who are same-sex that ruling on the narrower grounds that California, having granted Wooten will file his 2013 state tax returns as single, but he’s not sure couples to get all the contractual protections — such as wills, health The four justices who dissented were Chief Justice John Roberts, same-sex couples all of the legal rights of marriage, could not yet how he’ll file his federal returns. care directives — provided under Georgia law. Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. provide a legitimate reason for revoking an existing right. The Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996, had made it illegal to “You need to avail yourself to all the protections available in Georgia The majority decision relies heavily on the rights of individual states The case was brought by two gay couples represented by the offer federal benefits to same-sex couples in states where they were that you can until this is all fleshed out,” he said. to govern marriage laws, noting that by refusing to recognize legal American Foundation for Equal Rights. Prop 8 was defended by legally married. same-sex marriages as valid under federal law, DOMA directly and supporters of the measure after the California governor and attorney Tim Holbrook, associate dean of faculty and law professor at intentionally undermines a state’s authority. general refused to argue in favor of it. The Diocese of Savannah decried the Supreme Court’s decision. Rev. Emory University, wrote an amicus brief on behalf of NFL stars Daniel Firmin, the diocese’s vicar general called it a “watershed. Chris Kluwe, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, and Brendan The case was brought by New York resident Edith Windsor, now 83 Today, the Supreme Court held that the supporters had no right to “Different relationships have different terms different meanings,” Ayanbadejo of the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens, urging years old, who married her partner of more than four decades, Thea bring the appeal. “We have never before upheld the standing of a he said. “But marriage is a special one. Marriage is a special one. the Supreme Court to sack California’s Proposition 8. Spyer, in Canada in 2007. New York recognizes same-sex marriage, private party to defend the constitutionality of a state statute when We can entertain the duscusssion of what we call different types of although the federal government does not. state officials have chosen not to. We decline to do so for the first relationships for sure. But marriage is. Marriage is a unique one.” “For Georgia, this does nothing,” Holbrook said of the DOMA time here,” reads the majority opinion. Firmin reaffirmed the church’s position that marriage is between a ruling. “The court made it crystal clear they are not deciding on a When Spyer died in 2009, Windsor was hit with an inheritance tax man and a woman and is for the purpose of creating children. national constitional right to same-sex marriage.” bill of more than $360,000, which she would not have owed if the The decision should mean that same-sex couples will be able to government recognized her marriage. resume marrying in California. “Society defines it as a union between a man and a woman, and The next challenges to come from Georgia would be if someone that’s what we will focus on,” he said. “And that’s what we will legally married in another state, such as New York, sued in Georgia “DOMA seeks to injure the very class New York seeks to protect. By “Because of our efforts together, California joins 12 other states and defend.” federal district court to have their marriage legally recognized, doing so it violates basic due process and equal protection principles our nation’s capital in recognizing the fundamental right of gay and Holbrook explained. This could be a case very much like Edie applicable to the Federal Government,” the decision states. lesbian couples to marry,” leaders of the American Foundation for But Wooten sees those tides turning despite the church’s efforts. Windsor’s case that led to DOMA being ruled unconstitutional Equal Rights, which brought the case, said in a statement. “Some case somewhere will work its way through the courts I feel — Windsor sued because she was forced to pay an enormous tax The decision also directly confronts the intent of DOMA to sure, and it will just be a matter of time before gay marriage will be after her wife died because their marriage wasn’t recognized by discriminate against same-sex couples. “As the nation’s most populous state, California substantially in 50 states,” he said.

16 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 17 SUPREME COURT DISMISSES CALIFORNIA’S PROPOSITION 8 APPEAL By Bill Mears Courtesy CNN

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal over same-sex marriage Both they and Kristin Perry and Sandy Stier, the other plaintiff on jurisdictional grounds, ruling Wednesday private parties do couple from Berkeley, were in the courtroom when the rulings came not have “standing” to defend California’s voter-approved ballot out. They were cheered when emerging from the court building. measure barring gay and lesbian couples from state-sanctioned Their views were echoed by fellow same-sex marriage supporters, wedlock. who rallied outside the court with the hope that the justices will eventually issue a broad ruling to strike down bans nationwide. The ruling clears the way for same-sex marriages in California to resume. In dissent, Justice Anthony Kennedy said the court’s majority ignored the initiative process that led to the passage of Proposition 8. The 5-4 decision avoids, for now, a sweeping conclusion on whether same-sex marriage is a constitutional “equal protection” right that “What the court fails to grasp or accept is the basic premise of the would apply to all states. initiative process. And it is this. The essence of democracy is that the right to make law rests in the people and flows to the government, At issue was whether the Constitution’s guarantee of equal not the other way around. Freedom resides first in the people protection under the law prevents states from defining marriage to without need of a grant from government,” he said. “The California exclude same-sex couples, and whether a state can revoke same-sex initiative process embodies these principles and has done so for marriage through referendum, as California did, once it already has over a century. ... In California and the 26 other states that permit been recognized. initiatives and popular referendums, the people have exercised their own inherent sovereign right to govern themselves. The court today But a majority of the Supreme Court opted not to rule on those frustrates that choice.” issues. Instead, it ruled on “standing” -- whether those who brought the suit to the court were entitled to do so. Kennedy was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Sonia Sotomayor. “We have never before upheld the standing of a private party to defend a state statute when state officials have chosen not to,” said Chief Justice John Roberts. He was supported by an unusual SAVANNAH LGBT COMMUNITY REACTS TO coalition: fellow conservative Justice Antonin Scalia and more SAME-SEX MARRIAGE RULINGS liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Elena By Raquel Rodriguez Kagan.

By dismissing the case, the court leaves in place the lower court SAVANNAH, GA - Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and decision in California that allows for same-sex marriage to be transgender community in Savannah are celebrating both high court reinstated. The federal appeals court stay on the decision will be rulings. The Savannah Chapter of Georgia Equality met at Wright lifted. Square to express their joy. The director of the organization said he gets goose bumps when he thinks about how far the country has It was act two in a closely watched pair of high court appeals over come. state and federal laws and the limits of recognizing the ability of gay and lesbian couples to wed. The outcome of the rulings gives same- “I could hardly contain my enthusiasm. I’ve been smiling broader sex couples much to be encouraged about. than I have a long time today because I literally never thought that I’d see this day not in my lifetime,” said Kevin Clark. California voters approved Proposition 8 in 2008 with 52% of the vote shortly after the state Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriages Clark said he’s always found the Savannah community warm and are legal. The measure put gay and lesbian marriages on hold in accepting towards the LGBT community. the state, but a federal appeals court later rule Proposition 8 was unconstitutional.

Two of the original plaintiffs -- Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, a Burbank, California, couple who want to marry but could not because of Proposition 8 -- contended the state was discriminating against them because of their sexuality.

“This is about our freedom and our liberty,” Katami told CNN. “We are not trying to topple marriage. We are not trying to redefine marriage. What we are trying to say is that equality is the backbone of our country.”

18 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net I AM SORRY By Alan Chambers

Three years ago, Leslie and I began a very public conversation with TO MEMBERS OF THE LG- Never in a million years would I intentionally hurt another person. Our America’s Lisa Ling, from the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) BTQ COMMUNITY: Yet, here I sit having hurt so many by failing to acknowledge the regarding some of our deeply held beliefs about Christianity and pain some affiliated with Exodus International caused, and by fail- the LGBT community. Today, we have decided to carry this public In 1993 I caused a four- ing to share the whole truth about my own story. My good intentions conversation even further. While this conversation has and may well car pileup. In a hurry to matter very little and fail to diminish the pain and hurt others have continue to be met with many different responses from supporters get to a friend’s house, I experienced on my watch. The good that we have done at Exodus is and critics, it is our desire to keep having these honest discussions was driving when a bee overshadowed by all of this. in the hopes of arriving to a place of peace. started buzzing around the inside of my wind- Friends and critics alike have said it’s not enough to simply change Several months ago, this conversation led me to call Lisa Ling to shield. I hit the bee and our message or website. I agree. I cannot simply move on and pre- take another step on this messy journey. I asked if she would, once it fell on the dashboard. tend that I have always been the friend that I long to be today. I again, help us add to the unfolding story by covering my apology to A minute later it started understand why I am distrusted and why Exodus is hated. the people who have been hurt by Exodus International. Our min- buzzing again with a istry has been public and therefore any acknowledgement of wrong fury. Trying to swat Please know that I am deeply sorry. I am sorry for the pain and hurt must also be public. I haven’t always been the leader of Exodus, but it again I completely many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent I am now and someone must finally own and acknowledge the hurt missed the fact that a years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your at- of others. I do so anxiously, but willingly. city bus had stopped tractions didn’t change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation three cars in front of me. change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that It is strange to be someone who has both been hurt by the church’s I also missed that those stigmatized parents. I am sorry that there were times I didn’t stand treatment of the LGBT community, and also to be someone who three cars were stopping, as well. Going 40 miles an hour I slammed up to people publicly “on my side” who called you names like sod- must apologize for being part of the very system of ignorance that per- into the car in front of me causing a chain reaction. I was injured and omite—or worse. I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, petuated that hurt. Today it is as if I’ve just woken up to a greater sense so were several others. I never intended for the accident to happen. I failed to share publicly that the gay and lesbian people I know were of how painful it is to be a sinner in the hands of an angry church. would never have knowingly hurt anyone. But I did. And it was my every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people fault. In my rush to get to my destination, fear of being stung by a that I know. I am sorry that when I celebrated a person coming to It is also strange to be an outcast from powerful portions of both silly bee, and selfish distraction, I injured others. Christ and surrendering their sexuality to Him that I callously cel- the gay community and the Christian community. Because I do not ebrated the end of relationships that broke your heart. I am sorry completely agree with the vocal majorities in either group and am I have no idea if any of the people injured in that accident have suf- that I have communicated that you and your families are less than forging a new place of peaceful service in and through both, I will fered long term effects. While I did not mean to hurt them, I did. me and mine. likely continue to be an outsider to some degree. I imagine it to be The fact that my heart wasn’t malicious did not lessen their pain or very much like a man I recently heard speak at a conference I at- their suffering. I am very sorry that I chose to be distracted that fall More than anything, I am sorry that so many have interpreted this reli- tended, Father Elias Chacour, the Melkite Catholic Archbishop of afternoon, and that I caused so much damage to people and property. gious rejection by Christians as God’s rejection. I am profoundly sorry Israel. He is an Arab Christian, Palestinian by birth, and a citizen of If I could take it all back I absolutely would. But I cannot. I pray that that many have walked away from their faith and that some have cho- Israel. Talk about a walking contradiction. When I think of the ten- everyone involved in the crash has been restored to health. sen to end their lives. For the rest of my life I will proclaim nothing but sion of my situation I am comforted by the thought of him and his. the whole truth of the Gospel, one of grace, mercy and open invitation Recently, I have begun thinking again about how to apologize to to all to enter into an inseverable relationship with almighty God. My desire is to completely align with Christ, his Good News for all the people that have been hurt by Exodus International through an 1102 Bull Street • Savannah, GA • 31401 and his offer of peace amidst the storms of life. My wife Leslie and experience or by a message. I have heard many firsthand stories I cannot apologize for my deeply held biblical beliefs about the my beliefs center around grace, the finished work of Christ on the from people called ex-gay survivors. Stories of people who went to boundaries I see in scripture surrounding sex, but I will exercise my (912) 236-4703 • Fax (912) 236-9026 cross and his offer of eternal relationship to any and all that believe. Exodus affiliated ministries or ministers for help only to experience beliefs with great care and respect for those who do not share them. Our beliefs do not center on “sin” because “sin” isn’t at the center of more trauma. I have heard stories of shame, sexual misconduct, and I cannot apologize for my beliefs about marriage. But I do not have our faith. Our journey hasn’t been about denying the power of Christ false hope. In every case that has been brought to my attention, there any desire to fight you on your beliefs or the rights that you seek. to do anything – obviously he is God and can do anything. has been swift action resulting in the removal of these leaders and/ My beliefs about these things will never again interfere with God’s or their organizations. But rarely was there an apology or a public command to love my neighbor as I love myself. With that, here is an expanded version of the apology I offered dur- acknowledgement by me. ing my recent interview with Lisa Ling to the people within the You have never been my enemy. I am very sorry that I have been LGBTQ community who have been hurt by the Church, Exodus And then there is the trauma that I have caused. There were several yours. I hope the changes in my own life, as well as the ones we International, and me. I realize some within the communities for years that I conveniently omitted my ongoing same-sex attractions. announce tonight regarding Exodus International, will bring resolu- which I apologize will say I don’t have the right, as one man, to do I was afraid to share them as readily and easily as I do today. They tion, and show that I am serious in both my regret and my offer of so on their behalf. But if the Church is a body, with many members brought me tremendous shame and I hid them in the hopes they friendship. I pledge that future endeavors will be focused on peace being connected to the whole, then I believe that what one of us would go away. Looking back, it seems so odd that I thought I could and common good. does right we all do right, and what one of us does wrong we all do something to make them stop. Today, however, I accept these do wrong. We have done wrong, and I stand with many others who feelings as parts of my life that will likely always be there. The days Moving forward, we will serve in our pluralistic culture by hosting now recognize the need to offer apologies and make things right. I of feeling shame over being human in that way are long over, and thoughtful and safe conversations about gender and sexuality, while believe this apology – however imperfect – is what God the Father I feel free simply accepting myself as my wife and family does. As partnering with others to reduce fear, inspire hope, and cultivate hu- ould have me do. my friends do. As God does. man flourishing.

20 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 21 KENNEDY’S OPINION MAY PREDICT THE FUTURE U OF M RESEARCHERS CONDUCT WORLD’S FIRST FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CORD BLOOD TRANSPLANT AIMED AT CURING By Robert Barnes - Washington Post LEUKEMIA AND HIV/AIDS By Justin Paquette

The Supreme Court moves incrementally. And, very often, inexorably. Roberts in a nearly unanimous warning to Congress that the law would Today, University of Minnesota physicians will perform the world’s Verneris. “At first, the patient will receive antiretroviral drugs to Seedlings planted take root. And that is why the careful, limited and be upheld for now but that there were serious questions about its first cord blood transplant designed specifically to cure a pediatric keep his HIV suppressed. But after several weeks to a few months, even technical rulings announced Wednesday, the first time the court constitutionality. patient of HIV/AIDS and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). we will test the patient for evidence of HIV infection and if none is has squarely confronted the issue of same-sex marriage, hold such found we will stop the drugs.” importance for the future. Congress took no action, and Roberts lowered the hammer Tuesday. The procedure will take place at the University of Minnesota Medical Center and will be completed by a clinical team composed While the procedure is complex, the researchers are confident the He all but sounded a fire alarm when Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said He reminded that “eight members of the court subscribed” to the view of transplant physicians Michael Verneris, M.D. and John Wagner, University of Minnesota is the ideal site to attempt such a landmark the court’s majority opinion in U.S. v. Windsor, which struck down a that there were serious constitutional problems and said Congress’s M.D., of the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, and case. crucial part of the Defense of Marriage Act, was built on a bedrock of failure to correct them left the court “no choice” but to strike down the HIV/AIDS infectious disease specialist Timothy Schacker, M.D. respect for a state’s ability to define marriage and “confined to those law. In 1990, Wagner performed the world’s first cord blood transplant lawful marriages” that states decided to sanction. The breakthrough nature of the case stems from the use of cord for leukemia. In 1999, researchers at the University of Minnesota That might have been on the minds of Roberts and Justice Samuel A. blood (the blood extracted from the placenta after a baby is born) performed the first double umbilical cord blood transplant and in Scalia warned that the opinion by Kennedy and the court’s liberals Alito Jr. on Wednesday. They wrote separate dissents in the DOMA that contains a variant of the cell surface protein CCR5 – known 2000, performed the first transplant using umbilical cord blood was not actually a toast to federalism; it was larded with language that case to draw attention to Kennedy’s line about the limited nature of his as CCR5Δ32. Present in less than one percent of the population, transplant from a donor conceived using pre-implantation genetic provided a road map for challenging the states that do not allow same- ruling rather than the broad language about “the evolving understanding CCR5Δ32 prevents most strains of the HIV virus from entering a testing to ensure a perfect tissue match and freedom by a genetic sex marriage. of the meaning of equality.” patient’s T cells, ultimately protecting against the destruction of the disease. The University of Minnesota is one of the largest cord host’s immune system. blood transplant centers in the world. “By formally declaring anyone opposed to same-sex marriage an Wrote Alito: “To the extent that the court takes the position that the enemy of human decency, the majority arms well every challenger to a question of same-sex marriage should be resolved primarily at the state “What we’re attempting is a first and potentially landmark case “Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is one of the cancers that occurs state law restricting marriage to its traditional definition,” Scalia wrote. level, I wholeheartedly agree.” for the HIV/AIDS community,” said Wagner, an internationally more frequently in HIV infected people, “ said Schacker. “If recognized stem cell transplant expert and pioneer in cord blood successful, the procedure will prove that HIV infection can be cured Challenges to states that don’t allow gay marriage are inevitable. “No Roberts emphasized that the majority’s judgment is “based on transplantation at the University of Minnesota. “This now offers and point to new areas of research that may one day lead to a cure one should be fooled; it is just a matter of listening and waiting for the federalism” and “that power will come into play on the other side of the patients with HIV and leukemia or lymphoma new hope. But even for all patients with HIV/AIDS.” other shoe,” Scalia said. History provided such a lesson, and it involved board” — an unmistakable reference to the constitutional right of states more importantly, this should compel cord blood banks worldwide those same justices. to ban same-sex marriage. to identify how many cord blood units with CCR5Δ32 exist within The medical team expects to have a full sense of the clinical outcome the inventory. We also hope this case prompts others to find novel over the next 100 days. It was exactly 10 years ago Wednesday that Scalia unloaded a similar The trajectory of the court’s jurisprudence is never assured, of course. ways to block or alter CCR5 to mimic this protective variant.” broadside against Kennedy’s majority opinion in Lawrence v. Texas, Alito’s replacement of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor changed the which held that states “demean” gays by “making their private sexual court’s course on issues such as abortion and campaign finance To date, the only patient proved cured of HIV/AIDS by such an conduct a crime.” legislation. approach is Timothy Brown, (referred to as “Patient 1” or the brouillette & cowan “Berlin Patient”), who was treated with bone marrow from a donor Wealth Managers Tax Professionals That decision, too, was cast as a narrow one, but Scalia was not buying No one knows what the court will look like when the follow-up case with the CCR5Δ32 variant in 2007. it. If the court’s reasoning is right, Scalia asked, “what justification could on same-sex marriage arrives at the court. But this is known: Ginsburg there possibly be for denying the benefits of marriage to homosexual is 80, and Scalia is 77; Kennedy is soon to be 77, and liberal Justice While the approach used in Mr. Brown is curative, finding a bone At Brouillette & Cowan, we help provide couples . . . ?” Stephen G. Breyer turns 75 this summer. marrow donor that is both a match for human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and carries the CCR5Δ32 variant has proven nearly clarity, confidence and personalized financial solutions Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who joined both of those Kennedy impossible for clinical teams worldwide. University of Minnesota opinions, talked about what the court’s role should be in moments of researchers are attempting to solve this problem by using umbilical to the clients we serve, with the goal of creating and great social change during a recent question-and-answer session at the SATURDAY SAVANNAH cord blood, which is readily available. preserving wealth while maximizing tax savings. University of Chicago Law School. SOCIAL PRIDE Hosted By: Hosted By: In addition, cord blood, which is collected and banked at the She repeated her criticism that Roe v. Wade moved too far, too fast. Savannah Auction SUB ZERO time of birth, requires less HLA matching because of the unique Exchange attributes of the newborn immune system. While only a very small Marianne K. Brouillette, EA July 26th ® “Judicial restraint” is a better alternative, Ginsburg said. “The court July 6th proportion of the world’s inventory of cord blood has been tested for C. Jason Cowan, CPA can put its stamp of approval on the side of change and let that change 5:00 - 8:00 CCR5Δ32, the ability to use cord blood has allowed the University 7:00 - 10:00 Financial Advisors develop in the political process.” of Minnesota team to find a suitable cord blood unit for their patient. 122 Pipemakers Circle 109 Broughton St. Suite 200 Savannah, GA 31401 Or the judicial one. That was on display a day earlier at the court, when The cord blood unit was secured from M.D. Anderson Cord Blood Telephone 912.354.2262 Pooler,GA 31322 the court’s conservatives declared a key part of the Voting Rights Act Cocktail Hour Bash. Bank in Houston, Texas. Relax and socialize with Fax 912.354.3165 unconstitutional. Bring a Covered Dish, $5 drink specials. Securities your lover, and a dear friend. “After 7 days of high dose chemotherapy and radiation, our patient Four years earlier, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. held off on such a – ‘Patient 2’ – will undergo the transplant procedure on Tuesday. drastic step when the court considered a similar challenge. The following 100 days will be a high risk period for the patient, as www.BCSavannah.com the treatment can damage different organs as well as wipe out the The court found a narrow way out, and relieved liberal justices joined bone marrow, immune system and the leukemia, hopefully”, said

22 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 23 PEOPLE DOING WELL ON HIV THERAPY HAVE A OP-ED: WHY DO SO MANY MORTALITY RISK IDENTICAL TO THAT OF OF US DATE OUR CLONES? HIV-NEGATIVE PEERS By Michael Cartewr By Ryan Thomas

HIV-positive people taking antiretroviral therapy who have an viral hepatitis, 4% were co-infected with hepatitis B and 8% with If you have ever taken a walk down Santa Monica Boulevard in Naturally, I was lying to myself due to social pressures. And this undetectable viral load and a CD4 cell count above 500 cells/mm3 hepatitis C. Injecting drug users were excluded from the study. West Hollywood, Boystown’s North Halsted Street in Chicago, is a common occurrence in the gay world. There is a reason that have a mortality risk comparable to that seen in the general population, or even Chueca’s Gran Vía in Madrid, you have likely seen it: the the term “gold star gay” — a gay man who has never slept with a investigators report in the online edition of AIDS. Researchers looked The participants contributed a total of 12,357 person-years of attack of the clones. And I am not talking about some gaymers going woman — exists. We all take our own path to realize that when it at mortality rates among participants enrolled in two large, randomised follow-up. The median length of follow-up was three years. crazy over the latest George Lucas screening. comes to sexuality, we are different. And for some of us, it takes a controlled trials – the SMART and ESPRIT studies. relationship with a girl. There were 62 deaths. This meant that the overall mortality rate was We have all seen our share of guys in the gay world who cross a “We identified no evidence for a raised risk of death compared 5 per 1000 person-years. seemingly incestuous line between looking so similar they could But when we get out of this straight paradigm, most gay men seem with the general population in HIV-infected individuals on ART be brothers and boyfriends. Whether it is some gym bunny who is to seek perfection in a relationship. After finding how much easier [antiretroviral therapy] with an undetectable viral load, who AIDS-related deaths were rare (n = 2, 3%). The most common dating another protein-obsessed jock, a hipster with another skinny- and natural same-sex relationships are for us, some of us raise our maintained or had recovery of CD+ T-counts to at least 500 cells/ causes of death were cardiovascular disease and sudden death (n= jeans-wearing, glasses-clad ironist, or a twink who is dating another standards so incredibly high that only a clone of ourselves will do. mm3,” write the authors. 19, 31%), non-AIDS cancers (n = 12, 19%), accident, suicide or boyish-looking guy, violence (n = 11, 18%), non-AIDS and non-hepatitis infections (n = there are lot of guys who Yet, this unfortunately There have been significant improvements in HIV treatment and care 6, 10%) and liver disease (n = 5, 8%). tend to date what seems can, and often does, invite in recent years. Antiretroviral therapy has become more powerful, The investigators compared the mortality rates seen in people with like a mirror image of a variety of problems. less toxic and easier to take. Data from cohort studies suggests that HIV to those expected in the matched HIV-negative population to themselves. Above the tendency to people doing well on treatment – often defined as the maintenance produce a standardised morality ratio (SMR). Overall, HIV was serial date, the search for of an undetectable viral load and a CD4 cell count above 500 cells/ associated with a modest increase in mortality risk (SMR = 1.24). And that is not to perfection causes a social mm3 – have a life expectancy similar to that of age- and sex-matched disparage any of the strata among gay men, HIV-negative individuals. There were 28 deaths among participants with a CD4 cell count aforementioned groups. starting with the infamous between 350 and 499 cells/mm3, compared to an expected 16 in the However, it leads one “Masc4Masc” category An international team of investigators wanted to further explore general population (SMR = 1.77). to question: Why is this on dating sites. Wanting the impact of successful antiretroviral therapy on mortality risk. such a phenomenon only a “real” man, this They therefore examined data obtained from participants enrolled However, there was no evidence of an increased mortality risk for among gay men? guy goes out of his way in the SMART study (CD4 cell-guided treatment interruptions) and people with a CD4 cell count above 500 cells/mm3 (SMR = 1.00). to act “straighter” than ESPRIT trial (HIV therapy with or without interleukin-2, or IL-2). The answer, I believe, straight men and date only Both were randomised controlled trials, meaning that mortality data “In our study, individuals who had current or recent CD4+ T-cell lies deep in the struggle those who are the same were rigorously collected. counts above 500 cells/mm3 had no evidence of increased overall of coming out. While — he forgets, of course, mortality compared with the general population,” comment the growing up, many of us that straight men want a The study population involved 3280 people. To be eligible, authors. “In contrast, those with CD4+ T-cell counts between 350 to — especially those of vagina and not his penis. participants were required to have a recent undetectable viral load 499 cells/mm3 had evidence of higher mortality rates.” us from small towns — (below 400 copies/ml in the SMART study and below 500 copies/ tried fitting into a straight Then there are the racially ml in the ESPRIT trial) and a CD4 cell count above 350 cells/mm3. The investigators believe that much of the excess mortality seen in paradigm. We grew up motivated messages on Participants from the SMART study all came from the continuous- their patients would have been avoided with “timely diagnosis of with our straight friends, dating profiles and hookup treatment arm. Participants from the ESPRIT trial received HIV and initiation of ART”. assuming that we would grow up, fall in love with a woman, get sites, such as “no Asians” or “no black guys,” etc. Wanting only to antiretroviral therapy without IL-2. married, and procreate. For this reason, some of us around puberty date a guy of a particular race (most likely his own), this man swears But there was even good news with respect to late diagnosis. The had a hard time reconciling what was hardwired in our brain and he is not racist, but rather that skin color is a preference just like Most participants were men (80%) and were recruited in the United investigators found that participants with a CD4 cell count below 200 what our genitalia was telling us, because in all other aspects, we are one’s personality or astrological sign. States (53%). The median age at baseline was 43 years. As regards cells/mm3 at the time of diagnosis had only a very modest increase just like our straight counterparts. in their mortality risk, provided their CD4 cell count increased to Last but not least, there is the message that says “no fats.” While it is above 500 cells/mm3 while taking HIV therapy (SMR = 1.18). I can recall the exact moment in my middle school years when I understandable that this guy may be simply concerned that a potential tried to reconcile these two aspects of my life. At the time, I most partner could just die of a heart attack at age 40, that is probably not There have been significant improvements in HIV treatment since certainly had a crush on this one guy named Kyle who I swam with his motivation. A guy with a healthy body image who has a little bit the initiation of the SMART study in 2002 and the ESPRIT trial in on my year-round club team. I would often have to avert my stares of pudge disgusts him, as he seeks only a man with the abs of a go-go 2000. This could mean that modern antiretroviral therapy reduces at him when he looked my way, embarrassed that I had just caught a dancer and the arms of a construction worker or lumberjack. mortality risk to an even greater extent than that seen in the present glance of his muscly features in a Speedo. analysis. Of course, many believe that these three examples are really just Yet, at an awkward tweenage party — the kind that only acne and preferences and not problematic. After all, gay clone couples However, the authors urge caution when interpreting their findings newfound hormones could create — I saw all my friends “falling show the happiness and fulfillment of standards, right? I choose in the context of debates about the best time to start antiretroviral in love” with girls. It suddenly hit me that I had never felt about to respectfully disagree — rejecting anyone who is not Prince therapy. They believe this “needs to be assessed in randomized trials, a girl in that way. Feeling left out, I decided I needed a girl crush. Charming riding down Santa Monica Boulevard, you are rejecting such as the ongoing START trial, which is randomizing people with So I looked over at my nearby friend’s newly developed boobs and reality for a fairy tale. Enjoy a man who is exactly like you or a man CD4+ T-cell count of at least 500 cells/mm3, to immediate ART decided I was head over heels for her. After all, that was what I was who is your polar opposite, but always acknowledge that no man or versus deferral to CD4+ T-cell count reaching 350 cells/ mm3”. supposed to find attractive, right? relationship is perfect.

24 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 25 A UNIQUE WAY TO June Southside Social Enjoyed By All FEEL MORE By Wil Jones ENERGIZED... AND BE AS HEALTHY AS YOU CAN BE. A beautiful June evening on the southside of Savannah pro- vided the setting for the FCN June First Saturday Social. Karen Voss, DC Clark Voss, DC Hosted (once again) by Melvin and Billy at their spacious home Reiki certified (912) 356-5886 in the Coffee Pointe community, the approximately 100 attend- ees enjoyed a table full of fine food, fun, fellowship, libations of all kinds and the opportunity to network and reconnect with Chiropractic works with the subtle friends. Several members of the FCN board were in attendance and energies of the body flowing through talking about the upcoming elections; everyone hopes that there the nervous system to stimulate the body’s will be a lot of candidates. Also noted was the absence of sev- own innate capacity to heal itself. eral "regulars", due to illness, vacations, and work schedules.

Reiki works with the flow of Universal Life Those who were absent were missed and talked about in scan- Force Energy channeled into the body to bal- dalous terms! All in all, another highly successful Social! ance the energy centers Have you considered hosting a social? Hosts are always need- and to facilitate the healing process. ed. Contact [email protected] or any member of the FCN Board if you are interested. Skidaway Family Chiropractic Center 5704 Skidaway Road Savannah, GA 31406

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122 Pipemakers Circle Ste 200 Pooler,GA 31322 Direct-912-657-8319

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26 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net the CLASSIFIEDS and EVENTS SAVANNAH GAY GUIDE GAY GUIDE CONTINUED... SUPPORT GAY-FRIENDLY BUSINESS - TELL THEM YOU FOUND THEM IN THE FCN NETWORK NEWS FREE - EMAIL [email protected] FOR PLACEMENT BEFORE THE 20TH OF EACH MONTH

ARTS AND ANTIQUES FUNERAL SERVICES INSURANCE AGENCY PRIDE ORGANIZATIONS GAY MEN’S HEART CIRCLE FIRST CITY NETWORK Motique Antiques Adams Funeral Services Bush Insurance Agency. Savannah Pride Inc. 7 PM, Second Tuesday of every month, Board Meetings 204 North Laurel Street 510 Stephenson Ave. 340 Eisenhower Dr. Bldg 300 Ste A savannahgapride.org Los Robles, 101 East 34th Street SATURDAY SAVANNAH Open to the Public Springfield Georgia 31329 (912) 354-6260 (912) 356-0266. (Contact: Richard Gourley, First Monday of Every Month 912.433.2266 PRINTING/DESIGN/PHOTO Phone - 912-713-5546) SOCIAL PRIDE 6:30pm 785 King George Blvd, GOURMET FOOD & MORE INTERIOR DESIGN Creative Approach Hosted By: Hosted By: Suite 102. Wayne Chambers Gallery Brighter Day Natural Foods Timothy Burkett Interiors 408 MLK JR Blvd TRANSENDANTS (FORMERLY TNET) Savannah Auction SUB ZERO 912.234.6899 Organic foods, books and more. (912) 236-6500 mycreativeapproach.com Monthly Get-Together Exchange PFLAG SAVANNAH 305 W. Bryan St. - Suite 104 1102 Bull St., (912)233-8300 for Transgendered People July 26th Every 2nd Sunday of the Month (912) 236-4703 LEGAL SERVICES and Their Loved Ones July 6th 5:00 - 8:00 2pm-5pm BOOKS & VIDEOS Robert W. Bush. One Horse Photography Third Sunday of Every Month 1901 S Bull St Home Run Video & News Thrive Carryout Cafe P.O. Box 8432. Onehorsephotography.com 311 East Harris Street 7:00 - 10:00 (Market South Mgmt Building) 4 East Liberty St 4700 Highway 80 E (912) 651-2180 ~ (912) 231-9906. Free, Convivial, and Confidential 109 Broughton St. [email protected] (912) 236-5192 Whitemarsh (912) 898-2131 REAL ESTATE & MORTGAGE 122 Pipemakers Circle Georgia Legal Services Austin Hill / CBT Realty HELP WANTED Suite 200 Savannah, GA 31401 COLLEGE ORGANIZATIONS HAIR SALONS Bill Broker 7505 Waters Avenue, Suite B-7 Savannah Clipper Hairstyles AASU Gay Straight Alliance Designs 804 Salon. 6602 Abercorn Street 912-354-2100 located in mid Savannah Pooler,GA 31322 Cocktail Hour Bash. Nip Miller PH 912-373-5424 210 East Park Ave. (912) 651-2180. Has an opening for a Relax and socialize with [email protected] (912) 201-0070 Coastal Real Estate Group Professional Hair Designer. Bring a Covered Dish, LODGING 315 E Liberty St. We are a well establish salon $5 drink specials. Georgia Southern University Christopher’s Hair Salon Brunswick Manor (912) 233-5900 You must have a Ga licence your lover, and a dear friend. Gay Straight Alliance 529 E Gordon St. 825 Egmont Street and positive attuide Contact Person: Laura Cahill (912) 234-7070 Brunswick, GA 31520 Donald Callahan Please bring resume to 912-531-8326 [email protected] (912) 265-6889 Keller Williams Realty Salon located @ 70th Waters. The Living Room Salon (912) 441-4416 SCAD Queer & Allies (Q&A) 1821 Bull St Savannah, GA 31401 NIGHTLIFE (912) 525-6729 (912) 344-4377 The Bay Cafe Ron Melander Chris St. Clair (President) 301 W. Bay Street Keller Williams Realty [email protected] HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES (912) 234-6953 (912) 441-7124 Assisted Recovery Center of Ga. CLOTHING 7722 Waters Ave Chuck’s Bar RESTAURANTS The Mens Wearhouse (912) 352-2425 or (888) 570-6391 301 West River St. Bar•food Savannah GAY Guide is opening up! 7929 Abercorn St #205 (912) 232-1005. 4523 Habersham St (912) 925-5499 My Brothaz Home Inc. (912) 355-5956 HIV/AIDS support Club One Jefferson FCN is looking to open up the classifieds section to gay COUNSELING & PSYCHOTHERAPY services for Everyone (Home of The Lady Chablis) Joe’s Homemade owned and gay friendly businesses in the savannah area. FIRST CITY NETWORK Ellen Farrell LPC, EEMCP 127 Abercorn Street 1 Jefferson St. 5515 B Waters Avenue 70th St Holistic Psychotherapy Suite 302 (912) 232-0200 (912) 349-0251 If you know of a business please have them contact 6203 Abercorn St. #108 (912) 349-2935 us regarding placement into the Gay Services Guides. (912) 247-4263, OUTDOORS Southside Pizza Hut MEMBERSHIP & SUBSCRIPTION www.ellenfarrell.com Stand Out Youth Roys Hideaway 11510 Abercorn Street Every Friday at 7 pm (912)225-3900 (912)925-2380 The Board wants to have a better reach with the community Karen Abato ATR-BC, LCAT 307 East Harris St. royshideaway.com at large and open up this section to encompass more than just Art Pyschotherapist - 912-220-0071 (912) 657-1966 LOCAL WEBSITES Mail your completed form with payment to: PET SERVICES Gaysavannah.com advertisers. We want to service the community as a whole. Braswell Gamble, LPC HIV Services. Save-A-Life [email protected] 23 East 38th St. Chatham CARE Center Julie - (912) 354-7357 First City Network (912) 231-8429 107 B Fahm St. WORSHIP SERVICES So please email [email protected] with questions or PO Box 2442 (912) 651-2253 TailsSpin Agape Empowerment Ministries Sarah Holmes, Ph.D. 4501 Habersham St. 703D Louisville Road concerns if you wish to have your business or friends business Savannah, GA 31402-2442 23 East 38th St. Hospice Savannah Inc. (912) 691-8788 agapeempowerment.org listed with FCN. Also is there something FCN can do for your (912) 233-7304 Homecare and Hospice House; TailsSpin.com $100 Corporate - $40 Family/Couple grief support services. Asbury Memorial UMC business. We want to encourage the members to visit your $25 Individual - $10 Student w/ ID Duke Miles, LCSW Psychotherapy 1352 Eisenhower Dr. PHYSICAL THERAPY 1008 East Henry St. business and services. Is there a discount or special that you wish 23 E 38th St.. (912) 355-2289 Phoenix Holistic Center (912) 233-4351 (912) 233-1312 1138 B East 72nd St. to extend the FCN Membership. Let us know and FCN will get You can also become a member online at: Union Mission Phoenix Project. (912) 660-3031 St. Luke’s Lutheran Church the word out to the hundreds of members. Nancy Wallace, LCSW HIV housing and support. 2716 Mechanics Ave. firstcitynetwork.net 23 East 38th St. 120 Fahm St. Skidaway Family Chiropractic Center. (912) 354-6815 Join today and Find a Whole “Family” Waiting to meet you... (912) 447-0230 (912) 231-0123 5704 Skidaway Rd. (912) 356-5886. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Monthly Socials, Newsletter Delivered to your door and a way to Martha Womack, PhD. Psychologist. HIV/AIDS LEGAL PROJECT 34th and Abercorn - Savannah meet people to form lasting bonds with. What are you waiting for? 23 East 38th St. Free legal services to HIV+ Small World Therapeutic Massage (912) 232-0274 Not a Member? Then - JOIN TODAY - (912) 447-5660 / fax (912) 447-5661 who meet income guides. Brantley Moate NCTM, NMT, CMT, LMT Name 10 Whitaker St. Whitemarsh Island - next to Jalapenos Unitarian Universalist Church to be part of the Community FINANCIAL SERVICES (912)651-2180 (912) 897-7979 313 E Harris St Brouillette & Cowan (912) 234-0980 Address 1 Oglethorpe Pro Bldg, Ste 102 HOME REPAIR/CLEANING POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS Can do via Credit Card or Paypal (912) 354-2262 Summit Pest Control Georgia Equality Savannah Chapter Unity Church of Savannah City, St, Zip Once a year Pest Control 106 W. 38th St. 2320 Sunset Blvd. via our website at firstcitynetwork.net Glenn Gaylord CPA (912)351-0979 (912) 944-0996 (912) 355-4704 E-mail (912) 658-1346 Sparkling House Cleaning Unitarian Universalist of Statesboro Phone Mitchell Bush Asian Style 609 East Grady Street add us on facebook too to learn more about 340 Eisenhower Dr. 300 Ste A (912) 257 6587 (912) 489-8338 up and coming events... (912) 356-0266 ext. 106

28 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net - 29 JULY 2013 Horoscopes & Sudoku

Aries - An interesting person of the opposite sex may shock you out of a Libra - Problems involving transportation could arise suddenly and this year’s growth by making an frank suggestion concerning your love life. might prove dangerous for some. Discreet behavior at this time is a must and This could be flattering, but the attraction — even if mutual — is not likely any neglect of this warning could be disastrous, for many eyes are following to be lasting. Accidents are in the air and you would be well advised to you now. Be mannerly to superiors, but do not allow yourself to be shouted postpone any lengthy trips until a later date. Children could become a larger down if you know your answers are capable of solving a dilemma. feature in your life. Scorpio - An influential and highly successful person of mature years could Taurus - The signs are excellent now for you to enter upon a new venture, develop an interest in your welfare. Care should be taken, however, to avoid particularly one of a personal nature. A friend from out of the past could the appearance of humoring this person — or even catering to his wished — come to your aid quite unexpectedly and this could mean a financial as a certain amount of independence and integrity is what this person is seeking. windfall to you. Poor judgement of character could be expensive and all Old loves may prove to be the best, if you are forced to make a choice. investments should be double-checked before the check is signed. Spend some time in personal contemplation. Sagittarius - Care should be taken now to avoid a misunderstanding with a romantic Gemini. A very casual feeling on your part could be mistaken for Gemini - Don’t let others get the upper hand through shyness or personal a serious commitment and could cause no end of trouble between you and laziness. Make sure you have the ear of an important person who can say yes or another. Take time to plan a trip which will help get you away from the hurly- no with both speed and authority. Love matters are in a flux now and you should burly and into a better frame of mind. avoid any long-range commitments. This does not rule out pleasant interludes PLEASE NOTE THAT A NEW of a casual nature, but even these should be examined for pitfalls. Capricorn - Venus figures strongly in your activities and could bring about a meeting between you and a highly attractive Pisces. This should be avoided DEADLINE IS SET FOR THE Cancer - Get out of that rut and become the catalyst of action rather than if you are already committed to a situation you desire to maintain. Water in all 15TH OF EACH MONTH. the recipient. You should spend some time now getting your personal and forms, as a means of travel, should be avoided now. Gains made by unethical PLEASE HAVE ALL ARTWORK business life in a more orderly state. Opportunity for a sudden move or means will not be long lasting. AND ARTICLES SUBMITTED change in your occupational area could come, but you may need to move PRINT READY. with alacrity. Whispered sweet nothings could come back to haunt you. Aquarius - You could be in for a busy social life in the immediate future, causing you to call on physical reserves you were not aware you owned. Be Leo - A chance meeting with an old acquaintance could lead to a possible cautious in financial dealings with a pleasant and plausible stranger until change in careers, or at least the offer of a better-paying job. You could also you check everything out in detail. A business trip could prove disastrous re-kindle a long-dormant romantic situation by being in the right place at unless you make sure that all minor details are handled with care. Growing the right time. Problems of a domestic nature can be avoided by making pains may cause you to ache a little. sure that you are completely open and honest in all your dealings with a mate or loved one. Don’t wait on a phone call. Pisces - An excellent move for you now would be to go ahead full force on that long-delayed business idea. You will never have a better chance of Virgo - A pretended friend may be working against you in either a love carrying it to fruition, as your powers of persuasion are nearing a peak. A situation or in your career. Be cautious that you give them no ammunition visit to old haunts may cause you to reconsider a serious romantic decision. which could be used against you, either now or later. A friend in need of gainful A telephone call that comes a bit late could be very helpful. employment would appreciate some help right now and this could prove extremely valuable to you at a later time.

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Located in Historic Downtown Savannah. Downtown Savannah 529 East Gordon Street For an appointment, call: Computer Repair 912.234.7070 Find us online at: 912.228.5968 christopherssalon.net 30 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - 912.236.CITY - firstcitynetwork.net SANDRA

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