AMERICA’S LARGEST CIRCULATION AND NEWSPAPER! NEWSTM YOUR FREE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

JULY 9-22, 2009 VOL. EIGHT, ISSUE 14 SERVINGGay GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANSGENDERED City • WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM ■ CRIME ■ HUMAN RIGHTS Surge In East Sodomy Victory Side Hate In India Crimes BY ARTHUR S. LEONARD BY PAUL SCHINDLER regional high court in India has overturned that nation’s sodomy our days after being attacked, A law, a vestige of British colonial beaten on the head with a gun, and rule. The High Court in the National F called “faggot,” Joseph Holladay’s Capital Territory in New Delhi ruled that forehead remained scarred with a large, Section 377 of the India Penal Code vio- blood-red gash, and his voice quavered as lates constitutional guarantees of pri- he recounted the experience. vacy, liberty, and equality in its crimi- “Suddenly, out of nowhere, I was nalization of private, consensual, adult attacked by some men, they were call- sexual conduct. ing me faggot,” he said at a July 1 press The ruling came on a test case brought conference. “They beat me hard, and by a non-profit advocacy group, the NAZ unconscious, leaving me laying in a pool of Foundation. The Times of India reported blood.” that the nation’s Supreme Court has The next thing Holladay, 36, remem- made clear that a ruling of this sort by bers is waking up in New York Presbyte- the High Court of any province or state rian Hospital, where he was treated in the on a constitutional question not previ- emergency room and given multiple stitch- ously addressed by the judiciary has es in his head. national application — in a country with The attack on Holladay is one of six vio- an estimated population of more than lent assaults on the Upper East Side that 1.1 billion. The government, which had police suspect many have been carried recently made noises about out by the same gang of four to six young reform, can either accept the ruling or UNIVERSAL PICTURES UNIVERSAL white men. SACHA BARON COHEN, AS BRÜNO, TAKES ON HOMOPHOBES, AND MAKES US SWIRM appeal to the Supreme Court. The tri- According to Sharon Stapel, executive umphant advocates for the NAZ Foun- director of the Gay and Les- dation are Anand Grover, Trideep Pais, bian Anti-Violence Project (AVP), as of July Shivangi Rai, Mehak Sothi, and Tripti 8 the police have identified two persons of Satire Dual-Edged, Tandon. interest in connection with one or more of Section 377 was adopted by the Brit- these crimes. INDIA P. 10 EAST SIDE P. 4 But Spare BY STEVE ERICKSON The HBO series built around Ali G and “Borat” hewed closer to documentary. In this issue: here are moments in “Brüno” Recently, Cohen has been flirting with ■ EDITORIAL that suggest it could have been fiction again — no doubt the lawsuits Some perspective on T a brilliant satire on homopho- filed by many of his subjects in “Borat” bia. Unfortunately, they’re few and far had something to do with this. Eminem Washington between. The film’s funniest and edgiest has admitted that the MTV Movie Awards ■ 12 moments bring Brüno, the gay alter ego stunt where Brüno wagged his ass and ————————————————— of British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, crotch in the rapper’s face was staged. ■ WITCH-HUNT SURVIVOR into confrontations with real homo- “Brüno” credits four writers, including phobes, including a pastor at an “ex-gay” Cohen himself, with its screenplay. The Candidate Danny Dromm ministry. The rest of the time, “Brüno” absence of Cohen’s usual cutting humor recalls the bad old days offers tired jokes about how shallow and owes much to this film’s obvious contriv- ■ 5 inane showbiz is. What startling news! ances, such as its invention of an imagi- ————————————————— Cohen’s style of comedy works better nary hosted by Richard Bey. Is ■ the more he interacts with real people. the show’s audience comprised of actors? DON’T ASK OPTIONS I’ve never been able to sit through the I’m not sure, but many of the film’s gags Advocates debate fixes, entirety of his completely fictional vehi- ring as false as this one. executive vs. legislative IN PICS cle, the feature film “Ali G in Da House.” ■ 16, 20-21 BRÜNO P. 25 8 © 2009 • COMMUNITY MEDIA, LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2 9 – 22 JUL 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

EVERYONE DESERVES A SMILE!

Introductory $99 Offer ($380 value) UÊՏÊiÝ>“ˆ˜>̈œ˜ UÊ*iÀˆœ`œ˜Ì>Ê Ý>“ˆ˜>̈œ˜ UÊ"À>Ê >˜ViÀÊ-VÀii˜ˆ˜} UÊ i>˜ˆ˜}Ê*iÀvœÀ“i`ÊLÞÊ i˜ÌˆÃÌ UÊ œ“«iÌiÊ-iÌʜvÊ8‡À>Þà ­ˆvʘiViÃÃ>ÀÞ®ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 248 W. 23RD ST. (Btwn.7TH & 8TH AVE) 646-290-5576

185 212-242-9113

FRIDAY & SATURDAY ALL DRINKS $5 BEER $4 SATURDAY

LIVE DJ THE WHITE HOUSE PETE SOUZA/ SUNDAY Veteran Washington gay activist Frank Kameny raises his hands as he’s recognized by President Barack Obama at the White House on June 29. GOGO DANCERS ■ WEDNESDAY POLITICS KARAOKE with PAIGE TURNER at 9PM An LGBT White House 12 - 9 pm Daily Wonder and impatience mix as Barack Obama celebrates Stonewall’s 40th anniversary

BY MELISSA SKLARZ Nicks, a member of the Obama campaign’s Pride NYC Committee, with Fred Latasa-Nicks, State Democratic ast Monday afternoon, the day after Manhat- Party co-chair Emily Giske, teachers’ union leader tan’s , Dan Tietz from Brooklyn and Randi Weingarten, and Neill Colemann, from the Stone- L I hopped into a cab and told the driver, “White wall Democratic Club of New York. I also saw friends House, please.” Not a typical Monday. from the trans community, like Kathy Padilla from Dan and I were among 400 guests invited by Presi- Philadelphia, a fellow Democratic Convention delegate, OPEN EVERY DAY AT 2 PM dent Barack Obama and his wife Michelle to the LGBT Babs Siperstein from New Jersey, and Diego Sanchez, Reception to remember the 40th anniversary of Stone- a who works in Barney Frank’s office. I saw BEAR NIGHT EVERY THURSDAY 8PM - CLOSING wall. People were invited from all over the country, other National Stonewall people, like Jesse Garcia from Well Drinks 3.50 - Bottled Beer 1 off Rolling Rock 2.75 - Jager Shots 3.50 - Schnapps 2 including Stonewall vets, SAGE members, entertain- Dallas; the chair of the Democratic National Committee Bud and Bud Light Bottles 3 ers, Frank Kameny, fired by the federal government LGBT Caucus, Rick Stafford; Ray Buckley, the chair of for being gay in the 1950s, Democratic functionaries, the New Hampshire Democratic Party; and finally Brian 114 Christopher St. activists, and me. Bond, the man who called to invite me and now works Btw Bleecker & Hudson St. / 212-741-9641 Why me? Well, I know people, I’m involved in the in the White House. Democratic Party, and I’m part of the LGBT communi- I realized I was among friends. ty. Also, I was recently elected co-chair of the Board of We got there at about 3:15 and were met not by the National Stonewall Democrats, and that probably stony-faced men in sunglasses talking into their coat Bringing hot helped as well. sleeves, but by smiling, very young — under 25 — folks back to Dan and I took the Acela down to DC in the morning who said, “Welcome to the White House.” Once we were and checked into a decent hotel. I was nervous. This inside the reception area, all the cameras came out and christopher st. is not the first time I have been out of my comfort zone we were on our way. There are life-sized oil portraits of Sunday and Monday and will probably not be the last. The invite said East the presidents, including John Adams and John Tyler, Karaoke starting at 8pm Entrance, a wing built by Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 first ladies, like Hillary Clinton, and other dignitaries, with your hostess as a place for large parties. Today, it sits atop FDR’s such as Benjamin Franklin. The service staff offered Miss Victoria Chase bomb shelter and is where the first lady has her office. champagne and water, and the attendees reconnected Walking up the sidewalk, we ran into Brad Hoylman with old friends or made new ones. The reception area HAPPY HOUR from the Village Independent Democrats, and I relaxed, is, in fact, made up of six or seven rooms, all intercon- NOON – 9 P.M. figuring I would know some of my fellow invitees. nected, the floors nicely polished and the couches rea- We got on line, noticing that André Leon Talley of sonably plush. Vogue was at the head of queue. But looking around, At about 4:10, we were politely shepherded into a 76 Christopher St. / 212-633-1986 I noticed other New Yorkers — Council Speaker Chris- larger area, with cameras in the back and a podium in www.bootsandsaddlenyc.com tine Quinn with Kim Catullo, US Import-Export Bank chair Fred Hochberg with Tom Healy, Steven Latasa- ᭤ WHITE HOUSE, continued on p.22 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 3

MIKE BLOOMBERG’S Manhattan Public School PROGRESS REPORT

PERCENTAGE MATH SCORES UP 39 POINTS

PERCENTAGE READING SCORES UP 29 POINTS

PERCENTAGE GRADUATION RATES UP 15 POINTS

(Math and reading results reflect scores on 8th grade tests. Graduation rates are citywide.)

Since getting control of the schools More needs to be done, in 2002, Mayor Bloomberg has but with Mayor Bloomberg improved our kids’ education by in charge, our schools are raising standards, demanding accountability and providing a making progress – and our safe learning environment. kids are learning. www.mikebloomberg.com Paid for by Bloomberg for Mayor 2009. 9 - 22 JUL 2009 4/ Crime

᭤ EAST SIDE, from p.1 affected Americans since 1999 — with a total of 29 murders, versus 21 in 2007 Holladay moved to Boston from New and just ten in 2006. York early this year, was in town last week The number of victims overall last year on business, and decided to stay the week- grew by nearly three percent nationally, end with a friend who lives at 85th Street from 2,359 in the 13 locales to 2,424, after and East End Avenue. At around 4:15 a 24 percent increase from 2006 to 2007. a.m. on June 27, he walked another friend Forty-six percent, or 216, of the injuries downstairs from the apartment he was reported were classified as “serious,” and staying in to help her hail a cab and then reports of sexual assault rose from 94 to stopped to have a cigarette before reen- 138, or 48 percent. Bias violence commit- tering the building. ted by strangers grew by 36 percent last Speaking at the press conference, year, and the use of weapons also rose called by the AVP, Holladay chose not significantly, now accounting for at least to speak in any greater detail about the 23 percent of all incidents. crime itself, but the Village Voice, where As in New York, the com- he formerly worked and which he cred- munity is particularly at risk, with 12 per- ited with helping him bring attention cent of all incidents being targeted against to his attack, reported that neighbors its members. Violence aimed at people recounted seeing five or six young, white with HIV comprised five percent of the men “with crew cuts, wearing wife-beat- total. ers” smoking pot outside the building Reports of abusive treatment by police shortly before the attack, and also hear- also increased in 2008, growing to 25 ing the anti-gay language used against NEWS CITY GAY from just ten in 2007. him. The victim is quoted in the Voice Joseph Holladay speaking at the July 1 AVP press conference. Noting that Month is an occa- saying witnesses saw the young men get sion in which many localities experience a into an older model gold Subaru wagon laday’s attackers. The police department surge in anti-LGBT violence, State Assem- after the assault. provided details of two of those crimes, blywoman Deborah Glick, an out lesbian Also on July 1, the police department which it said, “upon further investiga- West Village Democrat, said, “The notion issued a suspect sketch of a man who it tion” in the wake of Holladay’s assault, that the increased visibility of the LGBT is characterizing as a white or Hispanic are being investigated as possible hate community spurs a pushback from those male in his 20s wanted in connection crimes. who are haters in our society is clear.” But with a robbery and assault to Holladay’s At about 2 a.m. on May 31, a group of she also faulted those in government who head with a “silver firearm.” The NYPD three to four white men “forcibly” robbed defend anti-gay policies, saying, for exam- confirmed that the robbery and assault two 19-year-old white men, who have ple, that arguments by Pentagon leaders are being investigated by the Hate not been identified, sitting in Carl Schurz on behalf of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell poli- Crimes Task Force because “the suspect Park, located in the East 80s between cy against open service by gay and lesbian used Anti-Gay slurs during the commis- East End Avenue and the FDR Drive, soldiers “embolden” others to commit acts sion of the Robbery.” just below Gracie Mansion. Kellner said of violence. Saying he has suffered “severe physi- the attackers shouted anti-gay remarks. Stapel, the AVP executive director, cal and mental pain” since the assault, On June 28, at about 3:20 a.m., one day echoed Glick’s perspective, saying dis- Holladay stated that the Voice, AVP, and after the Holladay assault, a 40-year-old crimination is at “the root” of the problem. State Senator Thomas Duane, an out white man was attacked at 84th Street Pointing not only to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, gay Chelsea Democrat, had been par- and Second Avenue, by two young white but also to the federal Defense of Marriage ticularly helpful to him in getting prompt men who Kellner said were shouting Act, the lack of any federal LGBT job dis- attention from Manhattan’s 19th pre- homophobic slurs. The victim’s name crimination protections, and “anti-LGBT cinct and detectives in the Hate Crimes has been reported, but Gay City News is immigration policies,” she said, “It’s no Task Force. He also credited Mayor honoring his request that his name be NYPD wonder we have created a culture where Michael Bloomberg and the three Dem- withheld. A suspect sketch issued by the NYPD on July 1 in the it’s appropriate or seen as acceptable to ocrats running for Manhattan district Three additional attacks on the Upper Joseph Holladay assault. be violent toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, attorney — Richard Aborn, Leslie Crock- East Side, Kellner said, are suspected to and transgendered people.” er-Snyder, and Cyrus Vance, Jr. — for be the work of the same group of young crimes showed significant increases. Mur- Stapel also called for more services reaching out to him, and, referring to men, but none of those victims reported ders rose from three to five; assaults, from nationwide, noting that the 35 anti- Chelsea’s out lesbian leader of the City any anti-gay comments from the perpe- 138 to 169; and sexual assaults, from violence programs that are members of Council, he added, “Your phone call last trators. The NYPD did not comment on 17 to 46. Transgendered New Yorkers, a NCAVP serve only portions of 25 states, night, Speaker Quinn, meant the world those cases. relatively small percentage of the overall leaving half the states and most non- to me.” Holladay’s story was the centerpiece LGBT community, continue to bear a dis- urban areas without any advocacy efforts Upper East Side State Assemblyman in AVP’s presentation of its annual sum- proportionate — and growing — share of on behalf of LGBT crime victims. Micah Kellner, an out bisexual Demo- mary of statistics for New York this violence. Six transgendered men and Geo Vaughn, a 22-year-old Bush- crat, is less satisfied with the response City — and in its severity, Saturday morn- 62 trans women — or 15 percent of the wick gay man, also appeared, speak- from the 19th precinct in this case. He ing’s assault was also emblematic of the total — were among the 435 victims of the ing about an anti-gay assault he suf- said the precinct delayed in bringing larger picture the agency has found. crimes AVP documented. fered last August at the hands of several the assault to the attention of the Hate In 2008, the number of violent crimes The findings in New York reflected a young men who were part of a larger Crimes Task, and he wants to know why against the LGBT and AIDS-affected com- general pattern found by the 35 members group he asked directions from in Chel- — and would also like to see stepped-up munities of New York reported to AVP of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence sea. Two men arrested in connection sensitivity training for the cops there. declined by 14 percent, from 403 to 348. Projects (NCAVP) in 2008. Twelve of those with his assault are scheduled to go on He said that conversations between his The number of victims declined from 496 other groups collect the sort of detailed trial next week. While lauding police for office and the precinct and Commission- to 435, while the number of offenders information that AVP documents here treating him with “much care and much er Raymond Kelly’s office brought to light remained nearly constant — 693 in 2008 in New York. Data put together by these respect,” Vaughn also noted that he five other assaults in which the perpe- versus 689 the year before. 13 NCAVP affiliates found that 2008 was trators matched the description of Hol- However, the most serious types of the most violent year for LGBT and AIDS- ᭤ EAST SIDE, continued on p.5 9 - 22 JUL 2009 Politics /5 14 DAYS A Witch-Hunt Survivor 14 NIGHTS Danny Dromm, Council candidate, reminded of bad old days BY DUNCAN OSBORNE years ago, only nothing has changed,” he said. “The prob- FRI.JUL.10 hen Danny Dromm lems that we have now are the PERFORMANCE spoke at two ral- same problems we had eight Best of the W lies earlier this year, years ago.” Summer Harvest he was not simply objecting Sears wants to benefit from The seventh annual Fresh Fruit Festi- to the false arrests of gay and the change in the city’s term val is a veritable smorgasbord of theater, bisexual men for prostitution in limits law that now allows performance, poetry, comedy, spoken Manhattan porn shops. He was officeholders to serve three word, music, dance, visual arts, and some confronting his own experience four-year terms instead of two. talents that defy categorization, presented from 37 years ago. Those officeholders approved in venues across the city. Performers of “I feel like what happened that change. all racial and many ethnic backgrounds, when they arrested me at 16 For Dromm, the issues sexualities, and gender orientation fill the destroyed my sense of self, my in the district are “our over- stages — and it is particularly notewor- self-esteem,” Dromm said dur- crowded schools, access to thy that lesbian and transgendered artists ing an interview in a Jackson healthcare” and quality of life are better represented here than is the Heights cafe near his City Coun- concerns. “We’re not receiving norm at other cultural festivals. The cil campaign headquarters. our fair share of resources,” he offerings, which run through Jul. 27, In 1972, Dromm met a said. are too numerous and varied to list in full 21-year-old man in the Roosevelt Perhaps 10 or 15 years ago, detail. For that, visit freshfruitfestival.com/ Field Mall on Long Island. After an openly gay candidate would calendar.htm. But among the highlights are some conversation, they went NEWS CITY GAY have little chance of winning in Barbara Kahn’s “Co-Op,” about a homeless to the man’s car in the park- Danny Dromm in Jackson Heights’ Vaseline Alley, where Julio Rivera, a gay man, was lured to the district, but there has been woman who long lived on the Lower East ing lot and began to neck. An his death ion 1990. an influx of progressive voters Side selling the bits and pieces of her life unmarked police car descended into the borough, evidenced by on the street to a newly-gentrified com- on them. They were pulled from he spoke about the arrest, he to local Queens newspapers, the actions of local elected offi- munity (Jul. 24, 7:30 p.m.; Jul. 25, 2:30 the car and arrested. was momentarily overwhelmed community leaders, and politi- cials. Dromm said that Queens p.m.); “The Billy Willy Show,” starring a Held by the Nassau County by emotion. After a minute, cal clubs. was second only to Manhattan gay country and western singer sharing police, cops kept coming into Dromm talked about it again, as The documents include his in the number of members who his music and hilarious hard-luck sto- the room where Dromm was he wiped tears from his eyes. criminal record and a chapter supported same-sex marriage ries (Jul. 18, 9:30 p.m.; Jul. 19, 7 p.m.); sitting to say, “I hear there’s a Police convinced the 16-year- from “Lynched: A Conserva- in the 89 to 52 State Assembly Manuel Igrejas’ “Miss Mary Dugan,” three dollar bill around here” or old that pleading guilty to pros- tive’s Life on a New York City vote on May 12. “That repre- about the fabulous gay partygiver at the “Is there a queer around here?” titution would mean he was not School Board” that is titled sents a sea change in Queens,” center of social life in Cedar Chips, New Dromm said, “I had to endure gay. “I feel that I was tricked “Homosexual Encroachment.” Dromm said. “I think I’m going Jersey (Jul. 14 & 15, 8 p.m.); “Return to that for hours.” by the police,” he said. “I didn’t That book was written by con- to be the beneficiary of that.” Tennessee,” DJ Sharp’s one-man show In 2009, few of the men who want to be locked up, I didn’t servative Frank Borzellieri, He has the support of the about Tennessee Williams (Jul 24, 9:30 were busted in the porn shops want to be put in an institu- and it attacks Dromm and Working Families Party, the p.m.); Bill Crouch’s “Sodomy Rules: Bow- were willing to talk about their tion.” other Queens gay activists. Hotel and Motel Trades Coun- ers v. Hardwick,” about the infamous 1986 arrests, and just one — Robert Dromm has come a great dis- Altogether, Dromm is aware of cil, and the United Federation Supreme Court ruling upholding Georgia’s Pinter — was willing to be iden- tance since then. He founded 10 to 15 individuals or groups of Teachers. Those union orga- pernicious anti-gay law (Jul. 18, 8 p.m.; tified. several gay groups in Queens. who have received the records. nizations can supply voters Jul. 19, 5:30 p.m.); Lucile Scott’s “V-Love,” In 1972, was In the 1990s, he was a light- “It was also sent to some mem- and volunteers. the intertwined stories of six post-modern still widely viewed as a men- ning rod for conservatives for bers of the community,” he Still, there are those anony- women using dialogue, song, dance, spo- tal disorder. Dromm recalled his outspoken defense of the said. “They would have a deci- mous letters that are reminis- ken word, beatboxing, and burlesque (Jul. watching news coverage of the gay community and for speak- sion, they would have a voice. cent of the witch-hunts that 22 & 23, 8:30 p.m.; Jul. 25, 9:30 p.m.; Jul. 1969 with his ing out as a gay public school They’re important figures in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and 26, 12:30 p.m.); Christopher J. Anderson’s mother and hearing her say, teacher. He is very active in the community.” transgendered people once dance piece “Fever!,” which combines the “That’s disgusting.” The shame Democratic Party politics. It is also a distraction. endured. Upon first hearing surrealism of fantasy with the magic of attached to being gay was The arrest has returned as Dromm has been telling vot- about Pinter’s arrest, Dromm the mind, exploring styles, scenarios, gay much more powerful then. he campaigns to remove Helen ers in District 25 that Sears said, “I know what this guy’s love, fetishes and sensual fantasy (Jul. 25, “All of that stuff was internal- Sears from the City Coun- has been in office for eight going through. This is what 4 p.m.; Jul. 26, 3 p.m.); “The Fresh Fruit ized and certainly that arrest cil seat she has held for eight years and little has changed. they do to gay people... If Poetry Slam,” curated by Janice “Cookie” reinforced that,” Dromm said. years. Someone anonymously “I’ve been saying the issues are they’re still doing this type of Pemberton (Jul. 25, 7 p.m.); Rome Neal’s Nearly four decades later, as mailed Dromm’s arrest record the same as they were eight stuff, what has changed?” “Out Jazz,” a dedication to LGBT jazz greats and performed by LGBT jazz artists (Jul. 12, 7 p.m.), “Passion, Lesbian Visions ᭤ EAST SIDE, from p.4 more anti-bias resources for the a car. The Michael Sandy Foun- Kellner, his Manhattan Assem- 2009,” curated by Heidi Russell, featuring NYPD. dation, which McBride serves bly colleague Dick Gottfried, an international array of self-defined lesbi- had to delay medical treatment Patrick McBride talked about as president, is planning to and City Councilwoman Jessica an artists to tell us what ignites their pas- while he waited eight hours for the of his friend Michael erect a sculpture to commemo- Lappin. sion (Jul. 10, 7 p.m., opening reception; Hate Crimes Task Force detec- Sandy, who was lured via a gay rate Sandy’s life, his murder, on exhibition, Jul. 11 – 25, Tue.-Sat., tives to arrive at the local pre- Internet chatroom to Brooklyn’s and the importance of combat- The Anti-Violence Project main- noon – 6 p.m.). cinct, having been detained by Plumb Beach in October 2006, ing hate violence. tains a 24-hour, bilingual hotline another bias case. For Vaughn, where he was chased onto the Others participating in the at 212-714-1141. ᭤ JULY 10, continued on p.6 that pointed up the need for Belt Parkway and fatally hit by July 1 press conference were 9 - 22 JUL 2009 6/ Crime Hate Crimes Charge Sought 14 DAYS Advocates press DA in assault on Jackson Heights 14 NIGHTS BY PAUL SCHINDLER injury that required stitches. gender people and I want to see wrote, “We now hear that that ᭤ JULY 10, from p.5 The two men, Mora said, also the people who did this to me the New York Police Department he Transgender Legal tried to pull her clothing off her; brought to justice.” has failed to classify Ms. Mora’s AT THE BEACH Defense & Education their goal, she feared, was to She told Gay City News, “I am attack as a hate crime and that Boys Scouting T Fund (TLDEF) and other leave her naked on the street. very unhappy. They are not in the Queens Country District Daniel Nardicio and Bianca Del Rio advocates and elected officials As they shouted slurs at her, jail. I need them to treat this as Attorney’s office subsequently present the biggest Fire Island summer are pressing the Queens Coun- they grabbed her wig and threw a hate crime.” expressed reluctance to viewing camp-themed underwear party (ever?) ty district attorney’s office to it into a lot closed off with fenc- Mora moved to New York this as a hate-motivated crime. with this “Camp Wanna-Bone-Ya!” In add hate crimes enhancements ing. As an eyewitness, who she about six months ago, after liv- We urge you to reconsider your the Real Touch Theater, learn how to to assault charges against two believes was a taxi driver, began ing roughly a decade in South position… we feel strongly that use a Real Touch sex toy. Check out the men held in connection with a to scream, she heard one of her Beach. A native of Nicaragua, the facts of this case support, 20-man tent to meet other scouts and June 19 assault on Leslie Mora, assailants telling the other one, she was raised in Mexico. She and even command, that hate win a badge. Rub sticks together with a 30-year-old transgendered in Spanish, “Come on, that’s said she had never before expe- crime charges be brought.” Go-Go Scouts Shay and Brian K and Eagle woman, in Jackson Heights. enough, let’s go.” Mora assumes rienced harassment in Jackson Separately, in a July 2 letter Scout Jay. Get an onstage rubdown from Mora said that during the that the driver called the police, Heights, but added, “Now I feel to Kelly, Duane urged the com- jockstrap-clad masseur Rory. Sign up for assault, which involved the who arrived quickly. different. I am worried.” Going missioner to direct the Hate a chance to win one of more than 150 beating of her head and back The police, she said, would out to a birthday party one eve- Crimes Task Force to re-open pairs of Diesel underwear giveaways, with a belt buckle, her two not let her get up, instead mak- ning this week, Mora said, she an investigation into the Mora while the guys from DirtyBoyVideo.com attackers called her “maricon” ing her wait for an ambulance. needed a friend to travel with assault. keep it dirty. The pool is open all night for and “puto,” two words that in A doctor at Elmhurst Hospital, her.” Quinn, responding to a skinny-dipping, DJ Aaron Elvis provides Spanish slang are the equiva- Mora said, was concerned that Silverman explained that his request for comment, wrote, “I the music, and Gala Rizzatto appears at lent of “faggot.” the belt buckle attack on her group has been working with have reached out to the Queens 1 a.m. to perform her dance hit “Freed According to the Queens DA’s lower back could have caused the New York City Gay and Les- District Attorney’s office and From Desire.” The Ice Palace, Cherry office, Trinidad Tapia, 19, and kidney or other internal inju- bian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) have been assured they are Grove, 11 p.m. Admission is $10. Gilberto Ortiz, 32, have been ries, so she was kept in the hos- and elected officials, including investigating this crime careful- ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ charged with assault in the sec- pital 24 hours for observation. State Senator Thomas Duane, ly and with the utmost regard.” ond degree and criminal posses- According to both Mora and Assemblywoman Deborah In a written statement, the sion of a weapon, a metal belt Michael Silverman, TLDEF’s Glick, and City Council Speaker DA’s office noted that convic- buckle, in the fourth degree. executive director, an assis- Christine Quinn, all three open- tion on the assault and weap- SAT.JUL.11 The two were released on their tant district attorney told the ly LGBT Manhattan Democrats, ons charge could result in a PERFORMANCE own recognizance. victim and a representative to press District Attorney Rich- seven-year prison sentence, It’s Hot Out There Mora said she left Lucho’s, from the transgender advocacy ard Brown to try the two sus- then added, “Subsequent to This summer marks the 18th Annual a club at 69th Street and group that they “did not think pects on hate crimes charges. their arrest, the District Attor- Dixon Place HOT! Festival, a pioneer- Roosevelt Avenue, at about 3:30 it was a hate crime.” Mora said “New York State’s Hate ney’s Office has met again with ing festival of queer performance and a.m., and headed to her home she pressed for an explanation Crimes Law, which I fought the complaining witness and culture, running through Aug. 8, that at 74th and Roosevelt. The two of what the DA felt motivated hard to pass, clearly states that are presently awaiting addi- bills itself as the oldest continually run- suspects, she said, came after the attackers, but did not get a crimes in which individuals are tional documents in this case. ning festival of its kind in the world. her as soon as she left the club, straight answer. targeted and attacked because Once we have all the facts, we The festival hub is the brand new Dixon and then came back after her Silverman said that the of their actual or perceived sex- will make the appropriate legal Place theater complex, with a 120-seat about a block later, at which prosecutor suggested it may ual orientation are classified as decision.” A supplemental state- lab theater and an intimate performance time “they became much more have been an attempted sexual hate crimes,” Duane said in a ment, emailed to Gay City News café, at 161 Chrystie St., btwn. Rivington violent.” She began to feel one assault, rather than an attack written release. on July 8, said, “The Queens & Delancey Sts. The centerpiece of the of them beating her back and based on Mora’s In a letter to Brown, on which District Attorney’s Office was in festival is the world premiere of Penny turned her head to see that she or perceived . Police Commissioner Raymond the forefront of getting the Hate Arcade’s work-in-progress “Old Queen,” was being assaulted with a very “I was attacked because I Kelly was copied, Glick, joined Crimes Act of 2000 passed and a look back to her own teenage experi- large belt buckle, a style she am transgender,” Mora said in by her gay colleagues Assem- continues to be very much com- ences in the early ’60s, when older often saw growing up in Mexico. a written release from TLDEF. blymen Daniel O’Donnell and mitted to the vigorous prosecu- homosexual men were venerated figures She was also struck in the head “I want to make sure that this Micah Kellner of Manhattan and tion of hate crimes in Queens in the gay bars of Hartford, Providence, by the buckle, sustaining an does not happen to other trans- Matt Titone of Staten Island, County.” Boston, and Provincetown (Jul. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 & 24, 8 p.m.; Jul 11, 18 & 25, 10 p.m.). The festival also features the NEWS BRIEFS By PAUL SCHINDLER East Coast premiere of ’s highly regarded Sean Dorsey Dance, Massachusetts sex couples and allows states to of Massachusetts to define and in Massachusetts by denying The lawsuit named the fed- doing four performances of Dorsey’s Takes On DOMA deny recognition to marriages regulate marriages as it deems them access to US income tax eral government as well as, spe- “Uncovered: the Diary Project,” with a The Commonwealth of Mas- of same-sex couples from other appropriate, noting that prior to credits, employment and retire- cifically, the US Department of prologue written and performed specifi- sachusetts, the first state to jurisdictions. its enactment, defining marriage ment benefits, health insurance Health and Human Services and cally for the New York production by Kate recognize marriage equality for According to the Associated was “exclusive prerogative of coverage, and Social Security the US Department of Veterans Bornstein (Jul 30-Aug. 1, 8 p.m.; Aug. same sex-couples, in 2004, is Press, Democratic Attorney Gen- the states.” DOMA, the lawsuit payments, and requires the com- Affairs as defendants. 2, 3 p.m.). Tony-Nominated performer going to court to challenge the eral Martha Coakley, in announc- alleges, “constitutes an over- monwealth to also discriminate Joe Solmonese, the presi- Justin Bond headlines a big summer federal Defense of Marriage Act ing the lawsuit — which specifi- reaching and discriminatory fed- by using DOMA’s definition of dent of the Human Rights Cam- concert at Highline Ballroom in celebra- (DOMA), signed in 1996 by Presi- cally challenges that portion of eral law.” marriage in determining Medic- paign, the Washington-based tion of the release of his new EP, “Pink dent , which requires DOMA dealing with the federal The suit charges that the fed- aid eligibility and evaluating the LGBT rights lobby, in a written Slip” (Jul. 22, 8 p.m.). And one other the federal government to recog- recognition issue — said that eral statute discriminates against right of a spouse to be buried in a nize only marriages by different- the law impinges on the right married gay and lesbian couples veteran’s cemetery there. ᭤ BRIEFS, continued on p.9 ᭤ JULY 11, continued on p.8 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 7 ■ CRIME

At Least 23 Years 5IPNBT%4IBOBIBO 1$ In Gay Murder ±"UUPSOFZBU-BX± Omar Willock, 19, sentenced for 2007 Brooklyn stabbing death of Roberto Duncanson, 20

BY DUNCAN OSBORNE

he killer of Roberto Duncanson, a 20-year-old gay man, will serve T at least 23 years in prison for the 2007 stabbing that caused Duncanson’s /FX:PSL&NQMPZNFOU death. -BXZFST"TTPDJBUJPO “I just want to tell Omar that I forgive him, even though that’s not going to bring my son back,” said Karen Sterling- Over A Decade of Experience Palmer, Duncanson’s mother, just before Omar Willock, 19, was sentenced in a Litigating Employment and Civil Rights Brooklyn court on July 6. “Don’t get in Cases for our Community any more trouble... You’re just hurting yourself, son.” The two young men encountered each other on the street in Crown Heights 2007 - 2009 Deputy Commissioner, early on a May morning. Willock called New York State Devision of Human Rights Duncanson a “faggot” and accused Dun- canson of looking at him, witnesses said. Roberto Duncanson was 20 when he was stabbed to Duncanson responded with his own death on a Crown Heights, Brooklyn street. 2006 Honoree: New York City Council - taunt, but continued walking. A video- tape showed Willock following Duncan- sion and offer our condolences,” Hein- “Contributions and Service to New York City” son down the street. The two came to rich said. “He is not the perpetrator of blows, and Willock stabbed Duncanson this act.” 2003 Honoree: Common Cause four times in the back. Duncanson died At trial, Heinrich wanted to present roughly one hour later at Kings County evidence that Omari, Omar’s identical “Holding Power Accountable” Hospital. twin brother, had stabbed another man Ethical New Yorker of the Year Award Willock faced two counts of second- when Omar was being held in jail for the degree murder, one as a hate crime, Duncanson killing. Firetog did not allow though the hate crime count was dis- that defense. At the start of the sentenc- missed by Neil J. Firetog, the trial judge. ing hearing, Heinrich asked Firetog to After a three-day trial and four days of vacate the verdict. Former Aide to Mayor David N Dinkins deliberation, Willock was found guilty of “I’d like to move that this court set and Public Advocate Mark Green second-degree murder on March 18 of aside the verdict based on this court’s this year and faced a minimum sentence failure to fairly and fully allow my client of 15-to-life. to present his defense,” Heinrich said. In asking for 25-to-life, the maximum That motion was denied. sentence, Howard Jackson, the prosecu- The hate crime charge was dismissed EMPLOYMENT LAW / CIVIL RIGHTS tor in the case, noted that Willock had because the prosecution’s main witness, pursued Duncanson. Belinda Toon, gave testimony that was ',6&5,0,1$7,21‡6(;8$/+$5$660(17 “The victim in this case walked away,” less detailed than what she told a grand 3$571(56+,3$*5((0(176',63,7(6‡&,9,//,7,*$7,21 Jackson said. “Apparently, that wasn’t jury. She was compelled to appear by a good enough for this defendant.” material-witness warrant, and the rea- 0$75,021,$/&8672'<‡0(',&$/0$/35$&7,&( Jackson said that Willock declined to son for Toon’s reluctance became appar- be interviewed for a pre-sentence report. ent during the sentencing hearing. 3(5621$/,1-85< “Here was an opportunity for this Toon has been “the subject of constant defendant to express some type of threats, harassment, and taunting about remorse, and he chose to not say any- being a snitch,” Jackson said. thing,” Jackson said. Toon has continued to live in the Thomas D. Shanahan, P.C. With his hands cuffed behind him, neighborhood where Duncanson was Willock stood stoically throughout the killed. On July 3, she was walking home 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2010 proceeding. Asked if he would like to and met four young women whom she speak, Willock made brief, mostly inau- did not know. One said, “That’s the fuck- dible comments. He motioned toward ing snitch” and she was hit with a bottle. New York, NY 10176 Duncanson’s mother and said, “I feel “After that, all four of the sorry for the people.” jumped on Miss Toon and beat her up,” Benjamin Heinrich, Willock’s lawyer, Jackson said. noted Sterling-Palmer’s comments, but The Brooklyn district attorney is aid- tel (212) 867-1100 WWW.SHANAHANLAW.COM said his client did not kill Duncanson. ing Toon in moving out of that neighbor- fax (212) 972-1787 [email protected] “We appreciate her words of compas- hood. 9 - 22 JUL 2009 8/ Military Views Split on Don’t Ask 14 DAYS Some press for presidential order; others question strategy 14 NIGHTS BY DUNCAN OSBORNE ᭤ JULY 11, from p.6

s the gay blogosphere highlight is “The Mattachine Project,” has harangued Presi- created by Stephen Brackett, Dan Fish- A dent Barack Obama for back, Andy Horwitz, Ken Nielsen, and his perceived inaction on gay Christin Meador, a devised theater piece issues, one thing has become an exploring the origins of modern homo- article of faith among the blogs sexuality and by focusing and their readers — Obama can on the much-overlooked history of Harry end the military’s Don’t Ask, Hay and the inception of the pioneering Don’t Tell policy simply by issu- organization from 1948-1953 ing an executive order. (Jul. 28, 7 p.m.) For complete details, But it is not clear that the tickets prices, and reservations, visit hot- president has the legal author- festival.org. ity to do that, and it may be that ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ such a move would have political blowback which could cripple GALLERY the effort to repeal that policy. Women Look At “The question is whether the Women particular kind of discharges “The Gaze” is a group exhi- or the discharge power at issue bition of women artists depicting the in Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell-type female form. With this premise, the discharges is within the sus- show presents a collection of works pension statute,” said Eugene which reclaim the traditional domina- R. Fidell, an attorney at the tion of the “male gaze” and reorient Washington, DC firm Feldes- the significance of the female figure to man Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP THE WHITE HOUSE APPLETON/ SAMANTHA allow for more varied interpretations. who teaches military law at Yale President Barack Obama, seen here at the June 29 reception for LGBT leaders, faces pressure on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell from the gay blogosphere, as A variety of mediums will be shown Law School. “If it is, then this is well as from some in Congress who may be reluctant to lead the charge themselves. —sculpture, photography, video, paint- a very clever and wise proposal. ing, and installation — and several If it’s not, then it’s not going to ple solution to ending a noxious [Obama] administration would approved, and Clinton signed, different women artists represented, get anywhere.” policy. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has be roundly criticized even if the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, a policy including Berenice Abbott, Ghada Fidell did not have an opin- resulted in more than 12,500 purpose was noble.” that is now law. Amer, Diane Arbus, Vanessa Beecroft, ion as to whether Obama could and losing SLDN has said it supports an “The Palm Center is asking Lynda Benglis, Louise Bourgeois, Julia issue such an order, but in May, their military jobs since 1993. executive order, but only if it is Obama to do what Clinton was Margaret Cameron, Victoria Civera, the Palm Center, a think tank Two of the three lawyers who paired with a repeal effort. In a asked to do, which is asking Rineke Dijkstra, Marlene Dumas, Anh at the University of California contributed to the Center’s piece on huffingtonpost.com, a commander in chief with no Duong, Judith Eisler, Tracey Emin, Ellen at Santa Barbara, produced report did not respond to calls Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN’s execu- military experience to take uni- Gallagher, Nan Goldin, Katy Grannan, a “roadmap” for ending Don’t and emails. The third would tive director, did not mention an lateral action without support Jenny Holzer, Roni Horn, Chantal Joffe, Ask, Don’t Tell that had such not be quoted. The Pentagon executive order, but wrote that from the Pentagon or Congress,” Maria Lassnig, Zoe Leonard, Sally an order as the first step. promised a response, but did Congress should amend the Osburn said. Mann, Marilyn Minter, Joan Mitchell, The Center cited the mili- not produce one. 2010 defense budget to read But if the White House is Alice Neel, Collier Schorr, Joan Sem- tary’s stop-loss rule that allows Dixon Osburn, an attorney that “there may be no investi- unwilling, then Congress is mel, Cindy Sherman, Mickalene Thom- the five service branches and who headed the Servicemem- gation or inquiry into, or any also reluctant, in part, because as, Kara Walker, Hannah van Bart, Hel- the president to stop discharges bers Legal Defense Network administrative action” taken Democrats do not have the votes len van Meene, and Lisa Yuskavage. whenever “members of a reserve (SLDN) from 1993 to 2007, under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Cheim & Read, 547 W. 25th St. Tue.- component” are called to active said the president “has broad policy. After this, the president In separate statements in June, Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Sep. 19. duty. More than 93,000 reserv- authority to suspend any and and the Congress should “wipe 77 members of Congress and 212-242-7727 or cheimread.com. ists or retired members are all discharges,” but added, this entire shameful law off the Democrat Harry Reid, the Sen- ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ serving, though only the Army “Typically, it is either a blanket books. For good,” Sarvis wrote. ate majority leader, said Obama is currently using stop-loss to stop-loss that would apply to The legal authority aside, should act either by issuing an The Subjective Eye suspend discharges. everyone or to a specific service the politics of such a move executive order or introducing The Leslie/ Lohman Gay Art Founda- The Palm Center argued or specialty... It’s never been may be charged as well. When legislation to repeal the law. tion recommends “As We See It 2009,” Obama could end Don’t Ask, applied, as far as I know, to he first ran for president, Bill “We have three different enti- the fifth annual NYC Photo Club exhibi- Don’t Tell discharges with an demographic groups.” Clinton promised to repeal the ties pointing their fingers in a tion, featuring stunning imagery, from executive order citing stop-loss Osburn said an executive military’s ban on gay and les- direction that does not include erotic to political, from pop art to politi- as the authority. With discharg- order would be on “shaky legal bian service members by exec- them,” Osburn said. “It gives the cally incorrect, from travel to portrai- es stopped, the Pentagon will ground” and risks charges that utive order. At that time, the appearance that nobody wants ture, and everything in between. LGBT see that the policy is unneces- the Obama administration is ban was by regulation only. to take responsibility.” Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. sary, making the effort to repeal going beyond the law. The opposition to Clinton’s Were Obama to issue an Through Sep. 3. To preview the exhi- the 1993 law in Congress that “There is just a growing cho- proposal in Congress and the executive order, Congress might bition, visit nycphotoclub.com. All sale much easier. rus of criticism about unilateral Pentagon formed quickly after choose to avoid a vote on repeal. proceeds benefit the Center. The gay blogosphere seized executive authority that was he was elected in 1992. A bru- “It gives a pass to Congress to ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ on the proposal, where that abused by the Bush administra- tal months-long debate ensued do what it needs to do,” Osburn approach is portrayed as a sim- tion,” Osburn said. “I think the in 1993. Congress ultimately said. ᭤ JULY 11, continued on p.10 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 9

᭤ BRIEFS, from p.6 dead at Camp Pendleton on June had recently complained to fam- Donald Johnson, Provost’s es of police brutality, spawned 30, is laying out a scenario in which ily that he had been facing harass- uncle, said the Navy told the family ridicule for police accusations that statement, said, “We applaud the the dead man was the victim of an ment, and they advised him to tell that two other suspects are being they felt threatened by sexual ges- Commonwealth of Massachusetts attack on the military base. his supervisor. sought. Brown acknowledged that tures from gay male patrons, and for stepping forward on behalf According to the San Diego On July 7, San Diego Con- several other people were being caused some second-guessing on of these families and saying, in Union-Tribune, the Navy flew Pro- gressman Bob Filner, a Democrat questioned, but he declined to call the part of the police chief. essence, ‘Enough is enough.’” vost’s mother, stepfather, sister, who chairs the House Veterans’ them suspects. Fort Worth police and agents and aunt from Houston to San Affairs Committee, laid out what Brown characterized Provost, from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Diego for a July 7 memorial service the Union-Tribune characterized who joined the service in March Commission entered the bar, the at Camp Pendleton. Rose Roy of as a “bizarre” theory of the crime, 2008, as “a rising star in our Navy.” recently opened Rainbow Lounge, Beaumont, Texas, another aunt of saying he had been told by a Navy The Camp Pendleton memorial ser- unannounced as part of a tour of Provost, who did not travel to San official that the murder was “not vice, he said, “was an emotional bars in the city, others of them not Diego, said the military had told a hate crime,” but that a suspect time, very heartfelt.” gay, purportedly aimed at curbing the family little about the investi- “was just attacking the base and Cristina Finch, an attorney liquor law violations. The New gation into the killing, but said she this guard shack was just the first for Human Rights Campaign, the York Times quoted Todd Camp, a believes that “it was a prejudiced place he came upon. He appar- Washington-based LGBT rights gay film festival organizer at the hate crime.” She added, “He had ently did other damage to some lobby, said, “I think that there has Governor Jack Markell club to celebrate his 43rd birthday, been ridiculed and ostracized. He equipment. I mean, he was storm- been enough national attention to saying of the officers, “They were tried to ignore it the best that he ing Camp Pendleton.” require the military to thoroughly WBOC-TV reported that Demo- hyped up. They came in charged could.” Provost was found dead at 3:30 investigate this case.” cratic Governor Jack Markell and ready for a fight. They were Critics of the Don’t Ask, Don’t a.m. on June 30 with multiple bul- signed the bill on July 2, in Reho- just telling people they were drunk Tell military policy have ques- let wounds at his guard post on the Guv Signs both Beach, a popular gay and les- or asking them if they were drunk, tioned whether Provost was con- base. Delaware Gay bian resort, capping a decade-long and, if they mouthed off, arresting strained from seeking assistance Captain Matt Brown, a Navy Rights Bill struggle by advocates. The TV sta- them.” Seaman August Provost from senior officers, since lodging spokesman, would not comment Delaware became the 21st tion reported there were tears and Three patrons were injured a complaint could well be con- on Filner’s account, but officials state to adopt a statute barring dis- hugs in the roomful of gay activ- in the ensuing melee, the most Murdered strued as “telling.” The newspaper have several times said that there crimination based on sexual orien- ists. serious of them Chad Gibson, a Gay Seaman reported that Provost’s boyfriend, is no evidence that Provost’s killing tation, covering housing, employ- 26-year-old computer technician Remembered Kaether Cordero, said the sailor was a hate crime. The Naval Crimi- ment, and insurance eligibility. Stonewall from Euless, who suffered a con- Even as family members of was openly gay, but circumspect nal Investigative Service is holding Twelve states and the District of Anniversary cussion, a skull fracture, and inter- slain Navy Seaman August Provost about his private life. “People an unidentified sailor as a “person Columbia also bar discrimina- Raid on Fort nal bleeding. The Times reported are charging that the 30-year-old who he was friends with, I knew of interest” in the case, and Brown tion based on gender identity and Worth Bar that his mother, Karen Carter, said Houston native was murdered in that they knew,” Cordero said. characterized him as having “ties expression as well, but Delaware, A June 28 early morning raid he remained hospitalized, with an anti-gay hate crime, a Demo- “He didn’t care that they knew. He to the commission of the crime” like New York, only protects gays on a Fort Worth has galva- doctors concerned about a blood cratic congressman from San trusted them.” based on his own statements and and lesbians, not transgendered nized the gay and lesbian commu- Diego, where the sailor was found Provost sister, Akalia, said he physical evidence. people as well. nity in that Texas city, led to charg- ᭤ BRIEFS, continued on p.11

Metropolitan Community Church of New York FREE CONCERT Homeless Youth on GOVERNORS ISLAND Services Social A church of lesbian, and Sylvia Rivera gay, bisexual PRESENTED BY TRINITY WALL STREET Food Pantry Spiritual and transgender Service people. Open to all. Home Advocating Marriage Equality and The Reverend Pat Bumgardner, Pastor Weekly Sunday Services: 9 am (Traditional), 11 am (Celebration) 3 pm (Mandarin) and 7 pm (Praise & Worship) 11 am features ASL interpreter (1st, 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month) 446 West 36th St. bet. 9th & 10th Ave. NY, NY 10018 212-629-7440 website: www.mccny.org email: [email protected] Judy Collins SUNDAY, JULY 26 · 2PM

FREE ADMISSION AND FERRY SERVICE Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, and folk legend Like to Party with Judy Collins performs on Governors Island. Folks on the Island TINA? is made possible by Trinity Wall Street, presenting music for the community.

HOW TO GET THERE The Substance Use Research Center Free ferry service starting at 10am from Slip 7, the Battery at Columbia University Maritime Building on South Street between Whitehall and Broad Streets, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry. seeks medically healthy Meth users between the ages of 21 and 45 to participate in a 10-session study evaluating stimulant effects. FOR INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS, VISIT FOLKSONTHEISLAND.COM You can earn up to $1,004. IN COLLABORATION WITH

For more information, please call: (212) 543-6013 or (212) 543-6545 ALL PERSONAL AND IDENTIFYING INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL 9 - 22 JUL 2009 10/ Human Rights

᭤ INDIA, from p.1 precedents from other Com- private, consensual anal and the guarantees of individual monwealth countries, not hes- oral sex involving adults, an rights that it contains. Leg- 14 DAYS ish administration in 1860, itating to quote from decisions argument that could lead islation aimed at harassing, under a heading labeled by the high courts of other to the statute being found oppressing, or discriminating “unnatural offences.” It states: English-speaking nations unconstitutional in whole, or against gays is, in this anal- 14 NIGHTS “Whoever voluntarily has car- sharing the same common in its application only to spe- ysis, immoral in light of the nal intercourse against the law and constitutional heri- cific conduct. The government Indian Constitution. The chief ᭤ JULY 11, from p.8 order of nature with any man, tage. In a lengthy opinion by argued, however, that its use justice noted that the Law woman, or animal, shall be Chief Justice Ajit Prakash in combating sexual assault Commission of India has rec- punished with imprisonment Shah, joined by Justice S. and sexual molestation of ommended changes in legis- AT THE BEACH for life, or with imprisonment Muralidhar, the court set forth minors was clearly constitu- lation to protect against non- Long Island Ice Tea tional. The court’s solution consensual and underage sex This year, once again, a crowd of was to “read down” the statute that would take the place of more than 900 is expected for the Empire to eliminate its unconstitu- Section 377 on the books. State Pride Agenda Foundation’s Hamp- Anti-gay itself tional applications. Shah took on the govern- ton’s Tea Dance. Lady Bunny DJs. The The court emphasized the ment’s defense of the stat- restored 10A Ranch home of Will violates the Constitution. diversity of Indian society, ute, noting that the argu- Trinkle and Juan Granados, 174 the respect for that diversity ment “that public moral- Cedar St., East Hampton, 4-8 p.m. reflected in constitutional ity of homosexual conduct Parking located at the East Hampton guarantees of liberty and might open floodgates of Town Hall, 159 Pantigo Road, with of either description for a term a wide-ranging analysis of equality, and a distinction delinquent behaviour is not shuttles to and from the event. Tick- which may extend to ten years, these human rights principles between private and public founded upon any substan- ets are $100 in advance, at prideagenda. and shall also be liable to fine. grounded in legal opinions morality in considering justi- tive material.” As early as the org or 212-627-0305, or $125 at the door. Explanation — Penetration regarding sodomy in nations fications for criminalizing pri- 1950s, he noted, the Wolfen- ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ is sufficient to constitute the including the US, South Afri- vate behavior. Following an den Committee, established carnal intercourse necessary ca, and several Asian-Pacific extensive discussion of the US by the British Parliament, FAMILIES to the offence described.” countries. Supreme Court’s 2003 Law- found that such arguments Get Certified to The NAZ Foundation first The ruling examines at rence sodomy decision and often amount to “no more Foster Parent filed suit in 2001, but the New length Section 377’s history, the European Court of Human than the expression of revul- You Gotta Believe! Offers free weekly Delhi court’s initial response noting that prior to coloniza- Rights’ ruling on the Irish sion against what is regarded classes, through its Adopting Older Kids and was to dismiss the case as tion by Western powers, Asian sodomy law (cited, to the con- as unnatural, sinful, or dis- Youth (A-OKAY) parent preparation class, in a purely academic question countries did not have spe- sternation of conservatives, by gusting.” He added, “Consti- helping LGBT adults and couples determine not subject to its jurisdiction. cific criminal prohibitions on Justice Anthony Kennedy in tutional morality must out- whether adopting an older child might make The plaintiffs appealed the consensual sexual conduct, Lawrence), Chief Justice Shah weigh the argument of pub- sense in their lives. The workshop answers dismissal, and the Supreme and that anthropologists have wrote, “Popular morality or lic morality, even if it be the questions and allows you to explore your Court agreed that the case traced a rich history of sexual public disapproval of certain majoritarian view.” The fact concerns, while putting you on the road to presented a serious legal diversity among Asian and the acts is not a valid justification that 377 has almost always foster-parent certification. LGBT Com- question requiring judicial Pacific cultures. Indian soci- for restriction of the funda- been applied to cases of non- munity Center, 208 W. 13th St., 3-6 p.m. consideration. In its second ety reflects a rich blend of reli- mental rights under Article consensual or underage sex, Free. For more information, contact Mary look, the court seems to have gious and ethnic traditions, 21. Popular morality, as dis- rather than consensual adult Keane at 646-691-7986 or MaryTKeane@ considered the challenge with including Hindu and Buddhist tinct from a constitutional conduct, Shah wrote, “shows aol.com, or visit yougottabelieve.org great enthusiasm; it produced that criminalisation of adult ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ a deeply researched opinion same-sex conduct does not that decisively rejects virtu- serve any public interest.” ally every argument made Section 377 had proved an The chief justice also took in defense of the statute. An account of the government SUN.JUL.12 incidental, but potentially sig- impediment to an effective public Health Ministry’s brief — filed COMMUNITY nificant aspect of the ruling health response to HIV/ AIDS. contrary to the position of Butch Gathering in terms of future gay rights the Justice Ministry — that Gather: The Lesbian Community efforts in India is the finding Section 377 had proved an Under One Roof is a community builder that anti-gay discrimination impediment to an effective and social platform for lesbians women itself violates the Constitu- teachings, Islam, and the morality derived from con- public health response to in their 20s and beyond to come together tion. Christianity brought by Euro- stitutional values, is based HIV/ AIDS. and discuss their issues. Gather begins Provisions in the Indian pean colonizers. Onto this on shifting and subjective Western press reports ini- exploring lesbian identities, and first up Constitution have been con- rich brew, the British colonial notions of right and wrong. If tially misreported that the is butch women — the soft, the stone, strued to provide liberty and rulers engrafted statutory law there is any type of ‘morality’ ruling would not have nation- the tomboys, the dykes, the bois… you equality protections equiva- reflecting the English criminal that can pass the test of com- wide effect in India, an error get the idea. This week’s panel address- lent to those found in many prohibitions on “unnatural” pelling state interest, it must corrected by the Times of es myths and truths about the butch Western constitutions influ- sex acts, ambiguously worded be ‘constitutional’ morality India. The government must community and what it is that makes a enced by the US due process statutes befitting a crime “not and not public morality.” now decide whether it is will- lesbian butch, and will also attempt to and equal protection clauses, fit to be named among Chris- Shah continued, “The Con- ing to accept this ruling, in answer the question of where all the as well as by the protection for tians.” Court decisions over stitution of India recognis- line with its recent signals butch women have gone. Go for the human autonomy and dignity time made clear that consen- es, protects, and celebrates that it is considering legal wine, good company, good conversa- defended most vigorously by sual anal and oral sex, regard- diversity. To stigmatise or to reform on sodomy, or wheth- tion, and, most importantly, to gather. the European Convention on less of the age of participants, criminalise homosexuals only er it will seek appeal at the LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th Human Rights, the Canadian consent, or whether done in on account of their sexual ori- Supreme Court, perhaps in St., 6-8 p.m. Free. For more information, Charter of Rights, and the private or public, would be entation would be against the response to objections raised contact Tara Lombardo at lombardo. post-apartheid South African subject to criminal penalty. constitutional morality.” The by religious authorities in the [email protected] or visit gogatherround. Constitution. As with most The NAZ Foundation con- Indian Constitution, accord- wake of the tentative positive blogspot.com. former British colonies, the tended that Section 377 was ing to Shah, generates its own steps taken by the Justice Indian judiciary looks freely to unconstitutional in barring moral system, incorporating Ministry early in June. ᭤ JULY 12, continued on p.15 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 11

᭤ BRIEFS, from p.9 “He claims to support gay equality but his government actu- ally endorses some aspects of homophobic discrimination,” said Tatchell, who is affiliated with the militant LGBT rights group Buying a home? OutRage! “It supports the ban on same-sex marriage. Civil partner- ships are not equality. They are a form of sexual apartheid, with different laws for gay and straight Give us a call. couples. Gay and bisexual men are prohibited from donating blood, even if they always practice safe sex and have tested HIV-negative.” The State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) Tatchell also criticized the Police Chief Jeffrey W. Halstead Lieutenant Dan Choi Brown’s government for giving can help you become a first-time homebuyer. visas and work permits to visit- SONYMA mortgages offer: clot in his brain. BC’s “Rachel Maddow Show.” All ing hate reggae singers and for In the immediate aftermath of the witnesses at Choi’s pro- the prime minister declining an • 30- or 40-year fixed interest rates that are typically of the incident, Police Chief Jef- ceeding testified to his strengths invitation to march in Saturday’s below market; frey W. Halstead defended his as an officer. Gay Pride March. He challenged • Financing up to 97%; officers’ actions, saying some of The recommendation by the Brown’s explanation that his them felt threatened by sexual four-officer panel did not specify refusal to march was based on • Flexible underwriting guidelines; gestures some of the gay patrons the terms under which he should security concerns: “This is just an • Closing cost assistance (up to higher of $3,000 or 3% confronted them with. Twenty bar be separated from the Army, and excuse. He’s not marching because patrons were taken out of the bar, it must be approved by the First he knows he would be booed and of the loan amount); handcuffed, for questioning, with Army commander and the chief of jeered, like he was at the D-Day • No points; some forced to lie face down in the National Guard Bureau before commemorations.” the parking lot, the Times reported. being finalized. Tatchell heaped scorn on the • No financing add ons. Five were arrested for public drunk- Major Roy Diehl, Choi’s mili- July 4 reception the prime minis- enness. Several patrons told the tary attorney, said the process ter is hosting. “Those invited are For more information, call newspaper that they witnessed could last anywhere from several mostly - not entirely - tame apolo- Gibson being slammed to the floor, weeks to as long as one year. gists for New Labour,” he said. 1-800-382-HOME (4663) head first, by officers upset that he Choi said his discharge came “Critics of the government’s record, asked them why they were ques- because he had been “honest” like myself, are not invited.” or visit www.nyhomes.org THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME tioning him. about his life, and added, “Now Within hours of the incident, a we appeal. Never give up.” crowd of 100 was protesting out- Choi is the founder of Knights side the Tarrant County Courthouse, Out, a West Point gay alumni Affordable Healthcare and a wide swath of city leaders group and served as the grand were soon calling for an official marshal in this past weekend’s independent investigation into the San Francisco Gay Pride March. in Your Neighborhood! raid. A group called Fairness Fort Choi graduated from West Point Worth quickly sprung up to moni- in 2003. tor official actions surrounding the incident and its follow-up. Gay Flak for Brit By July 1, Halstead backed PM Too away from his initial bold defense Peter Tatchell, the longtime gay of the law enforcement action, and rights leader in the UK, launched a launched an investigation, while Gay Pride-timed broadside against suspending joint operations with Labour Prime Minister Gordon the alcohol commission. It was Brown, who is hosting a reception Adult medicine state liquor agents, he charged, for LGBT leaders on the morning of who were involved in the confron- the July 4 march in London. Prime Minister Gordon Brown Contraception (birth control) tation with Gibson. For its part, the Emergency contraception (plan B) State Alcoholic Beverage Commis- GYN exams sion said it had put two officers Red Wheelbarrow Productions Presents who participated in the raid on HIV and testing friendship.loyalty.ambition.betrayal.vengeance. desk duty and was conducting its Male exams own investigation. Prenatal care Now Choi Pediatric care May Really Be a play by Paul Grellong STD counseling and testing Lieutenant Dan Choi, a New Evening 8pm July 9,10,11,15,16,17,18 York Army National Guardsman Matinee 3pm on July 11,12 and 18 Make an Appointment Today! and Arabic translator, was formally Center Stage New York Community Healthcare Network recommended for discharge under 48 W.21st Street BTW 5 & 6 the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy by Downtown Health Center a military administrative board Tickets $15 at redwheelbarrowproductions.com 150 Essex Street New York, NY on June 30. Proceedings against (212) 477-1120 the Iraq War veteran began in the Info • 908-399-2934 • Tickets www.chnnyc.org Spring after he came out on MSN- 9 - 22 JUL 2009 12/ Perspective ■ LETTER FROM THE EDITOR PUBLISHER & CO-FOUNDER JOHN W. SUTTER [email protected] Some Perspective On Washington ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & CO-FOUNDER TROY MASTERS BY PAUL SCHINDLER [email protected] n the Gay City News Pride nation’s military to reintroduce Tell. The latest cry is for an EDITOR IN-CHIEF & CO-FOUNDER PAUL SCHINDLER issue, I wrote about the readiness through himself and his executive order — through [email protected] Ifrustrations we’ve faced in the discharge of community. military stop-loss provisions — ASSOCIATE EDITOR Albany in a year that began qualified soldiers On our side, putting a halt to discharges of Duncan Osborne with so much promise for key — that is still going however, the gay and lesbian soldiers. Was CONTRIBUTING EDITORS LGBT goals. 2009, of course, on. frustration, anybody who is making that Christopher Byrne (Theater), Susie Day, is also the year of Obama, who Smoldering impatience, and recommendation in the coun- Doug Ireland (International), Brian McCormick by his election alone is already dissatisfaction outrage are, in try in 1993? Without a clear (Dance), Dean P. Wrzeszcz a transformational figure, and with the new administration’s my view, having a corrosive buy-in from the military and CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Betsy Andrews, Seth J. Bookey, one who last year, on the cam- approach to our issues might effect. Six months may not be decisive support in Congress, Anthony M.Brown, Kelly Jean Cogswell, paign stump, pledged action not have broken out into wild- too short a time to expect lead- Obama would be walking into Dean Daderko, Tate Dougherty, Andres Duque, that would make him the fires, however, were it not for ership from the new president, the same firing squad that Michael Ehrhardt, Steve Erickson, Nick Feitel, Jim Fouratt, Joe Fyfe, Deborah Garwood, strongest booster of the LGBT the Justice Department’s June but it is way too early for us to doomed Bill Clinton’s effort Erasmo Guerra, Emily Harney, Andrey Henkin, community to ever occupy the 11 brief in which it defended blow our wad in flailing at every to integrate the Armed Forc- Frank Holiday, Andy Humm, James Jorden, Brendan Oval Office. The sorts of hopes the federal Defense of Marriage hint of slight from Obama and es. Seventy-seven members Keane, David Kennerley, Gary M. Kramer, Arthur S. Leonard, Rachael Liberman, the president unleashed on his Act against a lawsuit by a gay his team. Let’s look at a few of Congress urged Obama Michael T. Luongo, Lawrence D. Mass, road to the White House will couple married in California last facts. The DOJ brief was idiot- to issue such an order. That Winnie McCroy, Eileen McDermott, Gregory Montreuil, Ioannis Mookas, Carrie Moyer, inevitably be dashed, at least in summer. The challenge itself ic. But the suggestion that the number is just over a third of Stephen Mueller, Christopher Murray, part, in many quarters, at dif- was handled in ham-handed new president might simply not what is needed to repeal Don’t David Noh, Wayne Northcross, Lori Ortiz, ferent times and in distinctive fashion by the couple’s attorney, defend the law has several seri- Ask, Don’t Tell. That tells me a Pauline Park, Sheila Pepe, John Reed, Nathan Riley, Andrew Robinson, Gerard Robinson, ways. It is not surprising that and anyone who cares about ous logical problems. First, a lot about the political convic- Chris Schmidt, Sarah D. Schulman, the LGBT community, on paper overturning DOMA should hope legal and philosophical one. We tion behind this push. Nobody Jason Victor Serinus, Linda Shapiro, one of the most legally disen- it never finds its way up the just came through eight years in the House is a stronger David Shengold, Gus Solomons Jr., David Spiher, Drew B. Straub, Stefen Styrsky, Jerry Tallmer, franchised demographic groups chain in the federal court sys- of a presidency that picked and fighter for repeal than Penn- Stefanos Tsigrimanis, Kathleen Warnock, in America, would be among tem, inviting unfortunate judi- chose among laws it decided to sylvania Democrat Patrick Benjamin Weinthal, Lee Ann Westover, James Withers, Kai Wright, Susan Yung the first to voice frustration, cial precedent. DOJ could have enforce. President George W. Murphy, an Iraq War veteran impatience, and even anger. swatted the case away simply Bush’s “signing statements,” and former West Point profes- ART DIRECTOR Mark Hasselberger Some of that is the fault of by noting that claims against in which he set the predicate sor. He has 158 co-sponsors the new administration. The the federal government cannot for carrying out the will of Con- on repeal — that’s doing the GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jamie Paakkonen president and his team are originate in state courts, which gress only in the manner he, as hard work — and this week he juggling a breathtaking range this challenge did, and that the executive, saw fit, rightly out- told Maddow he opposes the SENIOR VP OF ADVERTISING/MARKETING FRANCESCO REGINI of bold and, in some cases, plaintiffs failed to allege any spe- raged people who care about president issuing a stop-loss. [email protected] unprecedented initiatives — cific injury from DOMA. the rule of law. Are we now I won’t take the time or space on the economy, on climate Government attorneys did saying that approach is appro- to address the furied and over- ADVERTISING MANAGERS change, on nuclear disarma- make those arguments, but priate, even desirable when we the-top tirades that have taken COLIN GREGORY [email protected] ment, on , and in ginned up in typical lawyerly agree with the ends? hold in the blogosphere and two wars. Still, undoubtedly fashion, they went on to make But let’s put that lofty argu- even among some profession- ALLISON GREAKER [email protected] informed both by increasingly absurd and offensive argu- ment aside, and focus on real- al gay journalists who ought JASON SHERWOOD outdated conventional wisdom ments, such as the canard that world politics. After 15 years of to be more sensitive to the [email protected] that gay issues are hot buttons DOMA has no anti-gay discrimi- a culture war that has thrashed nuances of this debate. Suffice JEREMY MARKS and by his sometimes guile- natory intent. The DOJ showed about over the question of who it to say that one unfortunate [email protected] less belief that all sides in any its political tin ear most egre- gets to marry, does anyone fall-out of the simmering, and DANI ZUPANOVICH debate can be brought together, giously when it made a solid really think this issue is going at times flaming, anger is the [email protected] Obama waited too long — until argument — that states have to magically disappear by hav- misguided call for an October Please call (212) 229-1890 for the day after the 40th anniver- long been recognized as having ing the attorney general simply march on Washington. Frus- advertising rates and availability. sary of Stonewall, to be precise the authority to deny recogni- not show up for his court date? tration seems to have taken the ACCOUNTING — to speak out in a high profile tion to marriages from other The struggle over marriage place of strategic thinking; the DAVID JAFFE [email protected] way on our issues. jurisdictions at odds with their equality is destined to be a long desire for a grand gesture has NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING In the meanwhile, he invited own public policies — but then one, fought state by state, and shoved aside a commitment to Rivendell Media / 212.242.6863 Reverend Rick Warren to offer illustrated the point with Con- also in the halls of Congress, do the heavy lifting desperately Web master the invocation at his Inaugura- necticut’s victory in refusing and perhaps in the federal judi- needed in states and localities Arturo Jimenez tion, recalling his unsavory con- recognition to an out-of-state ciary too, though for the time nationwide — to end stalemate [email protected] Gay City News, The Newspaper Serving Gay and Lesbian NYC, is pub- nection a year before to ex-gay, marriage by an uncle and his being that is the least receptive in Albany, to protect marriage lishedby Community Media, LLC. Send all inquiries to: Gay City News, anti-gay gospel singer Donnie niece. venue for our arguments. We equality in Maine, to win back 145 Sixth Ave., First Fl., NYC 10013 Phone: 646.452.2500 Written permission of the publisher must be obtained before any of the contents McClurkin. The president and, The incest reference was need to be patient to build the marriage rights in California. of this paper, in part or whole, can be reproduced or redistributed. All contents (c) 2009 Gay City News. crucially, the Democrats in Con- really too much. LGBT Ameri- social and political consensus In the weeks to come, I will gress did nothing in the first half cans were offended — and can required to get this job done. engage the Washington march Gay City News is a registered trademark of Community Media, LLC. of 2009 to address the bankrupt reasonably expect Obama’s Congress doesn’t yet want to question in greater detail. For John W. Sutter, President Fax: 646.452.2501; Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. administration not to be making act, the courts won’t do what now, I simply issue a chal- E-mail: [email protected] And then Iraq War veteran Dan the sorts of allusions that have we want — and so we expect a lenge to its organizers. Tell Choi, an Army National Guard become red flags for right-wing, president on for a few me precisely — and explain Subscriptions: 26 issues, $90.00 Arab linguist, came out publicly anti-gay zealots. Joe Solmo- months to cut the Gordian it to me like I’m a five-year- (c)2009 Gay City News. on Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC nese, the Human Rights Cam- knot? old — what we plan to do and All rights reserved. show, reminding everybody that paign president, sent Obama a Much the same analysis hope to achieve on the Mall in the ban on gay service hurts our letter saying he felt compelled applies to Don’t Ask, Don’t October. 9 - 22 JUL 2009 Perspective / 13 ■ WASHINGTON SCENE It’s Time to March BY NATHAN RILEY

he March on Washing- fly into DC, but it is the tens of lence Programs. way to shame Reagan, start- the pulse of the community’s ton has reached critical thousands who travel by car, Cleve Jones is the per- ing the Names Project, which ‘new’ roots.” This is the enthu- T mass and it will play to train, and bus from Boston, fect leader to issue a call for mobilized LGBT energies all siasm that is needed for a suc- a national audience on Octo- Baltimore, Philadelphia, and the march, and he did it with over the nation. His call that cessful MOW. ber 11 — National Coming Out New York who crowd the Wash- finesse in Salt Lake City — the quilt squares be made to honor Doug Ireland, a Gay City Day, the traditional day for ington Mall and make it a note- home of Mormon’s Mother those who died of AIDS caught News contributor whose activ- gay Washington protests. On worthy demonstration. A MOW Church. It is the Mormons who the imagination of so many ism goes back to the ’60s, read that day in 1987, as the AIDS succeeds because it draws on organized Proposition 8 over- people that the assembled Strub’s report and cast aside epidemic was treated with a the organized communities in turning marriage equality in product in time became too his doubts; he has now joined stony indifference by President East Coast cities. California. By issuing his chal- large to display in one place. the call for a march. Ronald Reagan, the LGBT com- The federal government has lenge in the heart of Mormon Here’s hoping we face a similar By now, the march is a sure munity mobilized a major dem- become a major problem in the country, Jones made it clear embarrassment of turnout on thing, and those of us who onstration around the slogan struggle for equality. Deborah the march will reflect a positive October 11, 2009. don’t participate run the risk “Silence = Death.” Glick, an out lesbian assembly- movement and avoid unjusti- AMFAR, the Foundation for of making it a failure. Those In recent weeks, the orga- woman from , fied criticism of Barack Obama. AIDS Research, also started of us who do march are likely nizers of the new march have is furious about the almost The leaders of this march know during those bleak Reagan to have one of the happiest marshaled support in New York daily reminders that Washing- that the Mormons are the foes. years, and it held a moments in our lives. It has City, and that was one of the ton discriminates. She charges, Jones has a record of turning on June 11 honoring Jones. been my pleasure to march crucial tests. While a call by “The Defense of Marriage Act, improbable causes into genu- Sean Straub, another vet- on Washington nearly a dozen Californians like Cleve Jones the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell law, ine organizing tools. He trained eran organizer against AIDS, times. Had I not been over- and David Mixner (who, admit- the anti-LGBT immigration with a master — Harvey Milk reported, “The crowd respond- seas, I would have been in tedly, has relocated to Sulli- policies convey the message it (Emile Hirsch played the young ed wildly to Cleve’s call for a Washington in 1963 when van County in the past several is ok to discriminate against Cleve Jones in the recent march, clapping and standing, Martin Luther King articulated years) is respected, it is the New homosexuals.” Nationally mur- movie). During the bleak years with some stomping their feet his dream. Now is the time we Yorkers who will do the march- ders against LGBT persons are when AIDS was killing thou- or pounding the tables. I went carry equality ing. Undoubtedly, thousands rising, according to a report sands before drugs controlling to bed reflecting, with admira- and demand the full inclusion of LGBT Americans and their released late last month by the the disease had been formu- tion, on how often Cleve has of the LGBT community in the friends from across the US will National Coalition of Anti-Vio- lated, Jones found a creative been in the vanguard, feeling nation’s civil rights laws.

■ A DYKE ABROAD Against Equality BY KELLY JEAN COGSWELL

o how do we build an tion, aiming to establish that did not cry, “Give me equal rep- dened by the idea of sameness, tions of equality that bind and LGBT movement? we’re as good and valuable as resentation under colonial tax a mathematical equivalence restrain every one of us. When S Despite the enormous anybody else. Then there’s the laws and a seat at the master’s incompatible with our roots of can finally retire from turnout at pride parades, we social component of declara- table, or give me death.” He liberation. Working toward it — the battlefield, hets can, too. don’t really have one. For a tions of equality — we really are demanded liberty, which super- as a primary goal — seems to People can marry. Or not. Go while, people rallied for the the same as you despite who cedes all the rest as a political actually encourage conformity, to church. Or not. Differences same-sex marriage fight, but we sleep with. We’re homeown- end. Metaphysical demands for enforce it, even. I feel increas- should not be either “tolerated” if Facebook posts are any ers, parents, taxpayers eager to equality, aiming to establish our ingly I should wear pearls when or celebrated, but expected and indication, a big minority was get married. basic worth as humans, create I protest. Pop a baby and join enjoyed as a part of the human relieved when the “reaction- All of those definitions of a whole new set of problems. a church to prove that I’m just condition. You don’t walk like a ary” fight for gay marriage in equality fall short, both as The main one is that asking for the same as everybody else, man or a woman but as your- California went bust. “Now we practical goals and overarching “equality,” even demanding it, except for the small matter of self. You can sleep on the right can get back to more impor- ideals. is entirely counterproductive. It who I screw. side or the left. Pursue your life. tant issues.” Just in terms of social implies we weren’t born with it; This push for social equiva- Aspire. Dream. What a world How do we reconcile a frac- change, it’s shortsighted to that diminishes us. It turns us lence ignores those of us who if kids could even move freely tured community? Can we? In see legal equality as an end in into beggars in front of the rich, fled our natal world, not just through space. the absence of a charismatic itself. African-American history whether we ask for equality hat for queer self-preservation, but For that, only a hunger for leader like Martin Luther King, teaches us that it’s only a step- in hand, or brick in fist. at a kind of horror at the whole liberation is enough. Some- we need to reach beyond disput- ping stone and tool. Slavery was If you don’t know it, the gate- stifling heterosexual world, the thing no one can legislate or ed goals toward shared ideals. outlawed, separate but equal keepers of power certainly do. petrified functions of mothers award. Liberty, or rather, libera- accommodations were removed They revel in the pleasure of and fathers, the extension of As French dyke musician tion, used to be our battle cry. from the books. Finally, het- bestowing crumbs of rights, their roles in the neighborhood, Nadia Boulanger (1887 – 1979) Today, mainstream organizers erosexual black folks could then patting our heads as if we church, community, and school said, “Liberty has never come focus almost all their attention marry whom they wanted, even were not disinherited equals, where they strangle each other from the government. Liberty on equality. There’s Equality whites. But after all those laws but a strange breed of dogs. See into a likeminded homogeneity has always come from the sub- Arizona, Immigration Equality, have changed, ’s not almost every pandering, self- that targets artists as much as jects of it. The history of liberty and even the Dallas Principles over. There’s an African Ameri- congratulatory word of Barack dykes. is a history of resistance.” advocating not just Equality can in the White House, but no Obama’s June 29 speech for Which is why I argue, once Queers all know something but Dignity. Sometimes equali- real racial justice. Is the aver- proof. again, that we need to go further about that. ty is supposed to mean full civil age black child free to cast a Which raises the question, in if we want a real movement. rights for LGBT people, from thought in any direction? Even our quest for equality, just what Beyond laws to justice. Beyond Check out Kelly Sans Culotte marriage to military service. walk down any street? and whom are we trying to be equality to liberty in every facet at http://kellyatlarge.blogspot. Sometimes it’s a moral asser- Which is why Patrick Henry equal to? The word itself is bur- of our lives, rejecting the limita- com/. 9 - 22 JUL 2009 14/ Pride Stimulate This!, Say Lesbians New York’s 17th annual all about visibility, solidarity

BY WINNIE MCCROY

n what has become a traditional part of New York City Pride festivities, I thousands of women came together at Bryant Park on Saturday, June 27, for the 17th Annual Dyke March. And the theme of this year’s annual protest, “Stimulate This,” referred to more than just the troubled economy. “Just like we need a stimulus for the economy, we need a stimulus for the gay and lesbian movement, to make sure we get what we need and want — and it’s not limited to gay marriage,” said march organizer Maxine Wolfe of the Lesbian Herstory Archives. “Especially in times of poor economics, women are falling by the wayside. Everyone thinks gay people are rich, but women are not rich, and we need to fight for what we want.” Whether participants marched for economic, erotic, or intellectual stimula- tion, the resulting crowd represented the diversity of the lesbian community. ACETO DONNA A group of women from the South Despite a sudden shower, the enthusiasm of the Dyke March was undiminished. Asian Lesbian and Gay Association of New York (SALGA) said that they in pink satin, the Femmes for Freedom were steadfast in their opinion that the spontaneous, and it feels much more marched in part to embolden closeted were on hand to fight for femme vis- Dyke March was a vital part of Pride fes- celebratory. There’s a heart and soul in South Asians to come out. ibility and the freedom to marry. The tivities. this that I feel much more akin to.” “I think it’s very important to represent Femme Sharks, a group founded in the “It often seems like the gay and les- Eliza Byard, executive director of people of color in this march, because we San Francisco Bay Area, were also quite bian civil rights movement is dominated GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight are marginalized people in a marginal- vocal about their message. by the men, and I think the Dyke March Education Network, admitted that the ized community,” said Piali, a SALGA “Femmes are more than just Barbies is a perfect symbol for us,” said Andrea Dyke March was her favorite part of marcher. “Culturally, people don’t see or props; we’re fierce, we’re fired up, Spears, a transwoman marching with Pride weekend. us as being able to celebrate openly, and we’re the leaders and heart of our com- the Lesbian Sex . “It’s an illegal it’s important for them to see we have munity…and we are all over the place,” march, never with permits, more or less ᭤ DYKE MARCH, continued on p.22 the same issues as the rest of the queer said a spokeswoman for the group. community.” Although some members of the gay Femme and transgendered partici- community may question the need for pants voiced similar comments. Dressed a separate event for lesbians, marchers DONNA ACETO DONNA DONNA ACETO DONNA A key goal of the Dyke March is challenging the invisibility of lesbians, in the wider society and in the gay and The Dyke March exhibited its customary energy, passion, and diversity. lesbian movement. 9 - 22 JUL 2009 Pride /15 14 DAYS There at the Start 14 NIGHTS , movers behind 1970 march, reunites for Stonewall 40 ᭤ JULY 12, from p.10 BY DUNCAN OSBORNE

FILM tanding on Fifth Ave- Summer Chill nue with a friend who This summer, Jersey City’s Chill Fest S was loudly cheering the offers up four evenings of sex, horror, and contingent of Gay Liberation sci-fi queer cinema. Tonight, the series Front (GLF) members as they begins with Charles Busch appearing marched by, Angelica, 15 years to introduce his “Die, Mommie, Die!” old, said, “I heard about them Automata Chino, 99 Greene St. at York on the Internet.” St., Jersey City, 6:30 p.m. for cocktails The Front organized New and socializing, 7 p.m. screening. One York’s first annual gay rights block from the Exchange Pl. PATH station. march in 1970, which went up Screenings later this summer include: Sixth Avenue from the West “Hellbent,” a classic slasher movie with Village, the site of the 1969 a clever, gay twist (Jul. 26); “Wrangler: Stonewall riots, and ended in Anatomy of an Icon,” Jeffrey Schwarz’s Central Park. documentary about 1970s porn superstar Marching in 1970 was a Jack Wrangler, who died earlier this year decidedly different experi- (Aug. 9); and Dino De Laurentis’ 1980 ence than it is today. No laws “Flash Gordon,” with inspiration directly banned discrimination based from the comic strip and movie serials of on sexual orientation or gender the 1930s in a colorful rainbow of camp identity, so marchers risked delights, with bleach blond Sam J. Jones serious consequences from as quarterback hero Gordon and Melody their decision to be visible. Vio- Anderson as his love interest, Dale Arden lence against the gay commu- NEWS CITY GAY (Aug. 23). Admission is $10. You must be nity by police and their fellow Veterans of the Gay Liberation Front on June 28 in the annual march they first led in 1970. 21. Complete information at myspace. citizens was common. com/chillfestjerseycity. “It was scary,” said Perry wake of the 1969 riots, said movement since 1965,” said Jeannie and Mo Rosenfeld, a ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ Brass as he marched with his GLF member Martha Shelley John Lauritsen, a GLF mem- married couple who are 35 and fellow GLF veterans. “Noth- on a videotape played at a June ber, at the panel. “Those were 31, traveled from Edmonton, ing like that had been done 25 panel discussion at the very radical times.” Alberta, to be at the 40th anni- before.” Center. The 1970 march was Similarly, Michael Lavery versary of the Stonewall riots. MON.JUL.13 Alex Haiken, 55, knew a reiteration of that embrace of ran off a long list of left groups Asked how they knew about BOOKS of the group because “I’m empowerment. he participated in before join- GLF, Jeannie said, “We read.” The White Rose, in old enough,” he said as he “I like to think of the four ing GLF, describing them at James, 22, was holding two Multimedia watched the June 28 parade nights of the riot as the con- the panel as “all things that pro-gay signs as the GLF con- Dr. Judd Newborn, founding histo- with friends. “These guys were ception of the gay community, affected me, but were not for tingent went by. “They’re the rian and curator of New York’s Museum of out there doing this when it and I like to think of that first me.” ones who started the gay pride Jewish Heritage, presents a multimedia wasn’t popular,” he said. year as the gestation,” said Flavia Rando, also at the movement,” he said. lecture program based on his acclaimed The GLF members did more Jerry Hoose, a GLF member, panel, recalled, when she Perhaps the most dramatic new book, “Sophie Scholl and the White than just begin the annual at the panel. That first march joined GLF, saying, “After the impact GLF had was in bring- Rose,” a companion to the 2006 Oscar- marches that commemorate was the birth. ’60s, I’ve been waiting for this ing about a shift from what nominated German film, “Sophie Scholl: the 1969 riots widely recog- Many onlookers at the 2009 all my life.” were seen as the accommoda- The Final Days.” Using music, historical nized as the start of the mod- march had never heard of GLF Echoing the politics that tionist goals of the Mattachine photographs, artifacts, and suspenseful ern gay rights movement. before. informed their work, Hoose, Society, a gay rights group storytelling, Newborn reveals for the first Brass, Leonard Ebreo, and “I think they’re socialist or Brass, and Rick Landman, established in 1950, to a move- time the suppressed arrest of teenaged Mark Rabinowitz founded the communist,” said one woman another GLF veteran, chanted, ment based in demands. Hans Scholl for homosexuality, explaining Gay Men’s Health Project clinic as she eyed the group’s ban- “Ho, ho, homosexual, the rul- “We went from the Matta- finally that motivated Hans and in 1971. That organization is ner. ing class is ineffectual” as they chine idea of being accepted,” his sister Sophie, former fanatical Hitler now called the Callen-Lorde In fact, some GLF members stepped into this year’s march Hoose said. “Most of us in Youth leaders, to become heroes of the Community Health Center. embraced those philosophies, on Fifth Avenue. Those politics GLF had no interest in being German anti-Nazi resistance. Newborn Members participated in cre- and many were active in the have little popular currency accepted... We were not there relates his story to today’s most compel- ating Lambda Legal, a leading ’60s-era American political left today, but the GLF influence to gain love, we were there to ling current events, including those affect- gay rights law firm, Manhat- before joining GLF. The group remains. gain our rights.” ing the LGBT community, presenting an tan’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual took its name from the Nation- Watching the parade, one Certainly, GLF has not been array of “White Rosers” today who risk and Transgender Community al Liberation Front, or the Viet- woman at first said she had forgotten. At the panel, one themselves for freedom and our shared Center, and other community cong, the guerilla fighters allied never heard of the group. Then young woman began to ask a humanity. LGBT Community Center, 208 institutions. with the North Vietnamese she saw two symbols for males question, but then was over- W. 13th St., 8-10 p.m. Free. This presen- They also gave the commu- Communist government that and two for females linked whelmed by tears. tation is part of the annual Fresh Fruit nity a way of understanding successfully fought the US and together on the GLF banner, “Thank you,” she said to the Festival of LGBT arts running through and talking about itself that South Vietnam to unify that and pointed to the same female GLF members. “I have been Jul. 27 (freshfruitfestival.com). persists today. nation and drive out what were symbol that was tattooed on so privileged growing up... “We took our own power and seen as imperialist occupiers. her arm. “I heard of it,” she said I’m thrilled with where we are ᭤ JULY 13, continued on p.18 we were exhilarated” in the “I’d been in the anti-war exultantly. “Representing it.” now.” 16 9 – 22 JUL 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM PHOTOS BY DONNA ACETO DONNA BY PHOTOS PRIDE TAKES THE FIFTH On a stunningly bright early summer Sunday, New York’s queer community marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that launched the modern gay rights movement with the annual LGBT Pride Parade down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, beginning at 52nd Street, and proceeding south to Chris- topher Street in the West Village. The Dykes on Bikes played their customary lead role, revving up their engines under ’s balloon arches promptly at noon, as tens and tens of thousands of marchers readied themselves — and in many cases, waited for hours — to head downtown. Untold numbers of participants decorated themselves in the colors of Pride, but one man was just plain happy to be as tall as he was.

470 West 23d. St at 10th Ave., New York, NY 10011 212-206-9065 / [email protected]

Our Executive Chef Ayesha J. Nurdjaja will bring your palate on a culinary excursion through the Mediterranean coastline in a way you have never experienced before. Brunch - $10 Brunch options include a mimosa or ginger Bloody Mary Lunch - Small plates, various flatbreads, pastas, and many vegetarian options avaliable. Dinner - Unforgetable dishes such as lamb tagine, whole grilled red snapper, and much more. )BQQZ)PVSr.POEBZ'SJEBZr1SJDF#FFSr1SJDF8FMM%SJOLT WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 17

All trademarks are owned by Frito Lay North America, Inc. ©2009 Lay North America, by Frito owned are All trademarks *all of SunChips® 10.5 oz bags are now made with 33% renewable materials 9 - 22 JUL 2009 18/ Perspective

■ PRIDE MONTH Focused on the Future 14 DAYS BY SCOTT STRINGER 14 NIGHTS s I marched in this the harassment of and violence year’s Gay Pride Parade, against members of their com- ᭤ JULY 13, from p.15 A I couldn’t help but feel munity. They questioned the proud of how far we have come strategies being used to achieve CABARET and how much we have accom- protections for the LGBT commu- A Big Gay Preview plished in the last few decades nity; they asked about obtaining Emily McNamara hosts an evening of in the fight for gay rights. I felt basic human rights. Scott Nevins’ “Curtain Call” featuring the truly honored to be able to walk Participants and panelists cast of the upcoming “Big Gay Musical.” alongside the strong, bold, and alike voiced their worries, aired Cast members will sing tunes from the tenacious individuals leading their problems, and shared their film in celebration of its release and that this struggle for equality. Now, advice, encouraging one another of the CD soundtrack. Splash, 50 W. 17th as I reflect on their journey and to continue fighting for collec- St., 11:30 p.m. Admission is free before 10 appreciate their dedication and tive goals — obtaining freedom p.m.; $5 after that. You must be 21. achievements, I also think about of self-expression, broadening ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ how much work is still ahead. civil rights and liberties, while Early in June, in celebra- furthering growth and progress, tion of the 40th anniversary of accord and unity. the Stonewall Riots — the 1969 In the 40 years that have THU.JUL.16 uprising by lesbians, gay men, Cathy Marino-Thomas, Dru Levasseur, Martin Duberman, Ann Northrop, Robert Reid-Pharr, and passed since Stonewall, much FILM and transgendered people that Scott Stringer at the June 10 CUNY symposium the borough president sponsored. has been accomplished, much A Very Queer Two is now seen as the beginning that deserves celebration. But Months of the modern gay rights move- LGBT community and society Lesbian and Gay Studies; Rob- it must be a celebration that For Gay Pride Month and beyond, ment in the United States— I as a whole have made in the last ert Reid-Pharr, professor at the looks to the future. Still to be 92YTribeca has been presenting “Queer/ co-sponsored a future-focused four decades. But after the June CUNY Graduate Center; jour- addressed are the issues of safe- Art/ Film,” a new series of all things hybrid panel discussion on the direc- 10 symposium, we can attest nalist, activist, and TV’s “Gay ty for LGBT youth in schools and and poly-sexual, curated by Butt Magazine tion of the gay rights movement. that what seems to really strike USA” co-host Ann Northrop; and protection from violence on the contributing editor Adam Baran and film- In planning the symposium, a chord in the heartstrings of the Cathy Marino-Thomas, board streets. We must also remem- maker Ira Sachs. Some of the most excit- which featured five experts on LGBT New Yorkers is that the city president of Marriage Equality ber that the LGBT community is ing, innovative (and homosexual) artists LGBT issues, I wondered: what has reached the point where the New York — for an interactive comprised of not simply the Ls, from the dance, performance, film, visual, would the courageous protes- community’s concerns, memo- discussion on these issues. Gs, Bs, and Ts, but of people of and literary arts present and discuss their tors of Stonewall have thought if ries of the past, and hopes for the Engaged and enthused, all races, ethnicities, socio-eco- favorite films, in rare prints, on the big they knew back then that exact- future can be discussed openly attendees asked panelists about nomic status, and religions. screen. How does film create a link from ly 40 years later, we would be and honestly in a public forum. how to achieve marriage equal- The fight goes beyond the one queer generation to the next, from this close to attaining same-sex That is what they did on June ity, how to improve healthcare LGBT community, beyond New Marlon Riggs to Chantal Akerman? Find marriage? Would they have been 10 at the symposium, which I — particularly for transgendered York, to all of America. As a out. The series concludes with Riggs’ able to believe that countless hosted in conjunction with the people — and how to guarantee country with a history of fight- “Tongues Untied” on Jul. 16, 8 p.m., and individuals are working hard to City University of New York. An the inclusion of the gay rights ing for independence and equal- Akerman’s “Je Tu Il Elle” on Jul 30, 8 p.m. increase equality in healthcare audience of some 400 attendees movement in the social, political, ity for all, we must not fail those 92Ytribeca, 200 Hudson St. at Canal for transgendered individuals joined me and the five panelists and academic worlds, such as in who have fought before us and St. Tickets are $12 at 92y.org. and to include an LGBT Pride — Dru Levasseur, staff attor- history books. Audience partici- the generations that will contin- ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ Month on the yearly calendar? ney at the Transgender Legal pants wanted to know whether ue the fight after us. Undoubtedly, many Stonewall Defense & Education Fund; and how the issue of LGBT youth marchers would be heartened author Martin Duberman, homelessness is being addressed, Scott Stringer is the borough by the amount of progress the founder of CUNY’s Center for and what is being done to end president of Manhattan. FRI.JUL.17 FILM Cabaret Cinema: Mirror, Mirror As the “Stable as a Mountain: Gurus in Himalayan Art” exhibition at the Rubin Museum of Art demonstrates, the portraits of Tibetan lamas extend their reach into the future through successive portraits of their reincarnations. The film series “Mirror, Mir- ror” looks at portraits that also make their influence felt beyond time, but rarely with the same compassionate results. Tonight, Albert Lewin’s 1944 “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is up, starring Angela Lansbury and Hurd Hatfield, in a story of a young man who commits all types of sin, but the ravages of his life show up only on his portrait, not on his real face. LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, with a $7 bar minimum.

Martin Duberman, with Dru Levasseur looking on, and Ann Northrop make points during the June 10 symposium. ᭤ JULY 17, continued on p.22 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 19 K_\J_fnj

;Xek\Ëj:fm\ PflCfm\ J\Xjfe*XmX`cXYc\efn 8i\ NXkZ__\i\feI:E M`[\fFE;

JkXikn`k_ I:EJ`^eXkli\  0, ;`^`kXcKM Xdfek_! " +( › Fm\i(0'Z_Xee\cj › +,?;Z_Xee\cj`eZcl[\[ › )#,''"_flijf]=I<<M`[\fFE;

:Xcc/--%.0'%*-.. M`j`kiZe%Zfd&^XpZ`kpe\nj ?XYcXdfjlXiXek\\

F]]\imXc`[]fie\nZljkfd\ijfecpXe[\og`i\jAlcp*(#)''0%F]]\iefkXmX`cXYc\`eXccXi\Xj%!+(%0,Xdfek_`jXgifdfk`feXciXk\Xe[`jmXc`[]fi()dfek_j]ifd`ejkXccXk`fe[Xk\2k_\i\X]k\i#i\^lcXii\kX`ciXk\Xggc`\j%IXk\`eZcl[\jk_\dfek_cpj\im`Z\Z_Xi^\]fiI:EJ`^eXkli\;`^`kXcKM#n`k_J_fnk`d\Xe[KD:gif^iXdd`e^# gcljfe\[`^`kXcZfem\ik\i2X[[$fejefk`eZcl[\[%@ek_\\m\ekf]XZ_Xe^\`ek_\i\kX`ciXk\]fiXepj\im`Z\j#I:Ei\j\im\jk_\i`^_kkfdf[`]pk_\X]fi\d\ek`fe\[dfek_cpgifdfk`feXciXk\`egifgfik`fekfjX`[Z_Xe^\%@]Zljkfd\ij\im`Z\j\c\Zk`fejZ_Xe^\ n_\k_\imfclekXi`cpfi[l\kfefe$gXpd\ek i\dX`e`e^j\im`Z\Z_Xi^\j i\m\ikkfI:EjkXe[Xi[`e[`m`[lXcj\im`Z\dfek_cpZ_Xi^\j%8ccjXc\jjlYa\ZkkfZi\[`kZ_\Zb%8cciXk\jjlYa\ZkkfXggc`ZXYc\kXo\j#]iXeZ_`j\]\\jXe[fk_\i^fm\ied\ek$`dgfj\[Z_Xi^\jXe[]\\jXe[Xi\efk`eZcl[\[`ek_\gi`Z\%:_\ZbpfliI:EI\j`[\ek`XcJXc\jFi[\i=fid]fiX[[`k`feXck\idjXe[Zfe[`k`fejficf^fekfiZe% Zfd%EfjlYjk`klk`fej%;`^`kXcKM18[`^`kXcZfem\ik\i`ji\hl`i\[Xe[XZZflekdljkY\`e^ff[jkXe[`e^%8[[`k`feXcjkXe[Xi[Zfem\ik\ijXmX`cXYc\Xk,%0,Xdfek_%?;Z_Xee\cZflek`eZcl[\jgi\d`ldXe[GXp$G\i$M`\nZ_Xee\cj%?;gif^iXdd`e^i\hl`i\jXe?;k\c\m`j`feXe[Xe?;Zfem\ik\i%?;Zfem\ik\ijXmX`cXYc\Xk/%0, g\idfek_%JXk`j]XZk`fe>lXiXek\\1I:En`cci\]le[fiZi\[`kk_\dfek_cpi\Zlii`e^j\im`Z\Z_Xi^\fecp2Zljkfd\in`ccY\i\jgfej`Yc\]fi`ejkXccXk`feZ_Xi^\j#ljX^\]\\j jlZ_XjGXp$G\i$M`\n#kfcc Xe[Xggc`ZXYc\i\Zlii`e^Z_Xi^\j%I\]le[jfiZi\[`kjXi\Zfek`e^\eklgfeZfdgc\k\[`jZfee\Zk]ifdXe\c`^`Yc\I:EYle[c\[ j\im`Z\gXZbX^\n`k_`e*'[Xpj]ifd[Xk\f]`ejkXccXe[i\klief]XccI:E$fne\[Xe[gifm`[\[\hl`gd\ek`ejXk`j]XZkfipnfib`e^Zfe[`k`fe%EfkXccj\im`Z\jXmX`cXYc\`eXccXi\Xj%Ÿ)''0I:EE\nPfib:fddle`ZXk`fej#CC:%8ccI`^_kjI\j\im\[%-,0''-'0 20 9 – 22 JUL 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM PHOTOS BY DONNA ACETO DONNA BY PHOTOS

AMONG THE MARCHERS WERE Governor David Paterson, one of the parade’s grand marshals, seen here with out lesbian City Council Speaker Christine Quinn; the Lesbian Herstory Archives, a Park Slope repository for material on the contributions of women to the LGBT movement; the Empire State Pride Agenda, the state’s LGBT rights lobby; APICHA, the Asian Pacific Islanders Coalition on HIV/ AIDS; and FIERCE!, the Fabulous Independent Educated Radicals for Community Empowerment, a Manhattan LGBT youth advocacy group. WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 21 PHOTOS BY DONNA ACETO DONNA BY PHOTOS

$1.95 EACH

ALSO SEEN ON PRIDE SUNDAY WERE US Senator Charles Schumer, who since he last marched with the community down FIfth Avenue has endorsed marriage equality; a former Boy Scout leader drummed out due to the group’s anti-gay hostility, strong enough to turn its back on so much life experience; and a tiny group of gay rights opponents protesting in front of the militarily-fortified St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese and the only Fifth Avenue church that bars its gates when the parade passes by. 22 9 – 22 JUL 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

᭤ DYKE MARCH, from p.14 “I love being here with the 14 DAYS mass of women taking over Fifth Avenue, and it always moves me to see so many different com- 14 NIGHTS munities coming together for this one event,” she said. “I’ve ᭤ JULY 17, from p.18 been doing this since the first Dyke March 17 years ago, and SEX now I’m here with my daughter, Direction, who is four. I see a lot of kids Discipline & out here; so many generations Service are represented.” The Lesbian Sex Mafia presents an “I think it’s important for us evening that explores the heart of a master/ to come together, represent, and slave relationship, led by Slave Marsha. walk the streets, to be happy Advice on structuring and living in such a and proud together, and have relationship in the real world and keeping the passersby on the streets get the bonds strong. LGBT Community Cen- a look at who we are,” said DJ ter, 208 W. 13th St., 8 –10 p.m. Admission Noa DeSimone, who also spoke is $10; $5 for members. More information at about the need for lesbians lesbiansexmafia.org or 212-726-3844. young and old to come together ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ and inspire each other. Doing his part to inspire oth- AT THE BEACH ers, downtown personality Mur- More Underwear ray Hill participated in the march ACETO DONNA Fun for the tenth consecutive year, The sun returned by the time the march hit Washington Square Park, where some of the women checked out the recently reopened fountain and Daniel Nardicio and Bianca Del Rio pres- saying, “The lesbians, trans, and others drummed. ent a South of the Border edition of their island dyke community has some of the underwear party. Go-go boys, including Brian worst visibility of any minority Clinton, “It’s really just good to than the following day’s Pride ing, then down Broadway, before Kenny, battle it out in a Mexican wrestling group, so it’s very important to see all my pals. I’m so happy March because it was less about ending in Washington Square ring, the DirtyBoyVideo.com crew is on hand, come out and show people that to be with the gals on the 40th putting on a fashion show, and Park. A sudden rain shower jockstrap-clad masseur Rory offers onstage they exist, and that there is so anniversary of Stonewall.” more about community. drenched participants, but failed body work, the pool’s open for skinny-dipping, much diversity. I wish we would In addition to the many New “I don’t need to see bulky to put a damper on their enthusi- and DJ Josh Sparber provides the music. Ice all come out more often.” Yorkers present at the march, guys dancing on a fire truck, asm. As the sky returned, a Palace, Cherry Grove, 11 p.m. Narcister Hill stopped to greet come- women traveled from across but seeing 100,000 women rainbow appeared, shining down performs at 1 a.m. Admission is $10. dian Kate Clinton, who was the country to participate in walk down the street is a good on the women gathered around ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ marching with her partner, this event. Returning from Los day,” said Drysdale. the park’s newly-restored foun- Urvashi Vaid, a veteran lesbian Angeles for the Dyke March, The march followed its custom- tain, dancing, drumming, and activist who heads the philan- comedian Rebecca Drysdale ary route down Fifth Avenue from doing their part to raise lesbian thropic Arcus Foundation. Said said she liked the event better Bryant Park to the Flatiron Build- visibility. SAT.JUL.18 AT THE BEACH Asbury Coladas ᭤ WHITE HOUSE, from p.2 later they would be there in the friendly — overall, very gra- that day, are at heart wonky DJ Corey Craig provides the music for White House — or that Obama cious. Someone suggested I folks who care about the LGBT of “Sand Blast,” Asbury Park’s the front bearing the presiden- himself would be there, a line stand behind Randi Weingar- communities, the Democratic gay beach dance, held in connection with tial seal. Twenty minutes later, the crowd appreciated. ten, that the president would Party, and the nation. “Road Trip Weekend,” which attracts there was an announcement, All of us have heard the grum- surely head that way. I did and Before I got to Washington, I thousands of lesbians and gays from the and in walked the president bling about the slow pace of he did. So I got my five seconds thought of the 100 years of my tri-state area to the New Jersey seaside and the first lady. They stopped action for the LGBT community; with the president of the Unit- family’s support for the Demo- resort. A 50 by 70-foot dance floor will be to chat and share hugs along many in the crowd were hope- ed States. “My name is Melis- cratic Party, of my father and erected on the Fifth Ave. Beach, with the way to the podium. They ful for a simple policy change, sa Sklarz and I am from New grandfathers going off to fight the Convention Center as backdrop. smiled and we clapped; every- an executive order, for example, York, and I am transgender,” in war, and the work both my The fun begins at 2 p.m., and runs one was in high spirits. When on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, or the I told him. “I am the chair of mom and my dad did for the until sunset. One quarter of the proceeds was the last time a president final enactment of the HIV sta- National Stonewall and we will Democrats in the harsh ’50s for advance ticket sales with the promo- invited hundreds of LGBT tus immigration reform. But have your back for the next few and ’60s wilderness years in tional code GAYCENTER will be donated people into the White House to that was not to be. The presi- years. But our people are get- Nassau County. And none to Manhattan’s LGBT Community Center. celebrate Stonewall? dent said that he could not tell ting impatient.” With that, he was ever invited to the White For tickets visit, at $40 or, if you are under “Welcome to the White us to be patient, and then he smiled, and said, “Thanks for House. I was — the one who 25, you pay your age, visit SandBlastOn- House” he said. “Welcome to told us to be patient. He said coming today, Melissa,” and experienced years of more line.com. Admission is $55 at the door. your White House.” that his administration wants on to the next he went. Hardly trouble than this article can ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ His speech is online and I to be judged by actions and an intensive policy dialogue on carry. am not a journalist. When a not words, as he left us with trans-inclusive employment I look forward to holding the cell phone went off, sound- words. He listed our agenda for protection and the strategy to president to his word — that ing like a quacking duck, he our communities, proving that win over moderate Democrats things will change for us all, and SUN.JUL.19 stopped and wondered where he is well-briefed, aware, and in the Senate, but you gotta for the better. Already, there is COMEDY he could get a ring tone like knowledgeable; he assured us start somewhere. new talk of further review of The Ladies Who that. He expertly handled the that, in the end, we will all be Later, we attended a post- Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and of a Laugh (Or Make Us) history of Stonewall and men- proud. event briefing with Steve Hildeb- relaxing in the meantime. Brad Loekle’s “Electro Shock tioned that two veterans from After his speech, the presi- rand, who served as Obama’s But the clock is ticking, and Comedy Hour” brings some Grrrl Power 1969 were in attendance. He dent and the first lady spent deputy campaign manager, at all of us look to Washington to Hell’s Kitchen this evening, with Becky said that these vets could not 20 minutes hanging with the the AFL-CIO Building — Dan to hear of change we can all have imagined that 40 years crowd. They were warm and and I, and the rest on hand believe in. ᭤ JULY 19, continued on p.24 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 23 Experience the Harbor. Tours daily from South Street Seaport

New York Water Taxi Sunset Cruise The breathtaking NYC skyline at sunset. Experience a 90-minute cruise enjoying the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan at dusk. Statue of Liberty Night Tour Create memories that last a lifetime. Get up close and personal with the Lady in the Harbor on this one-of-a-kindnight tour.

Circle Line Downtown Thursday Happy Hour on the Harbor Live DJ, drink specials, and giveaways. Friday DJ Sunset Cruise Some of today’s hottest DJs spin. Saturday Night Dance Cruise With rotating theme music nights.

Make your reservations now online at HarberExperience.com or call 866-982-2542.

OUR OFFICIAL TRAVEL | www.harborexperience.com | 866.984.6998 & TOURISM PARTNER 9 - 22 JUL 2009 24/ Film Struggle for the Wishbone 14 DAYS Lynn Shelton offers up the ultimate bromantic comedy 14 NIGHTS BY GARY K. KRAMER ᭤ JULY 19, from p.22

here is plenty of nervous Donohue (Comedy Central’s “Premium laughter for both the Blend”), Kaitlin Colombo (VH1); and Adri- T viewers and the cast of enne Iapalucci. Therapy Bar, 348 W. “Humpday,” a hilarious indie 52nd St., 10 p.m. No cover charge; $6 cos- comedy about “two straight mos all night. dudes who agree to bone each ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ other.” Written and directed by Lynn Shelton, this remarkably perceptive film about masculin- ity and sexuality has two former TUE.JUL.21 college buddies –– Ben (Mark RELATIONSHIPS Duplass) and Andrew (Joshua Boot Camps Galore Leonard) –– reuniting and agree- In the Pride issue of Gay City News, ing to make a gay sex porn film. you read about Gay Men’s Boot Camp to Because they are both resolute- whip yourself into shape. Now, Angelo ly heterosexual, they feel their Pezzote, gay psychotherapist, columnist, undertaking is not only “beyond and author (“Straight Acting — Gay gay,” but that it will be a work Men, Masculinity, And Finding True of art. Love”), comes forward with a Love Boot Modestly made, “Humpday” Camp. He’s appeared on Sirius Radio, is shot mainly with a handheld RELEASING MAGNOLIA on Logo, even on “Montel.” At the core, camera, and features little or no Mark Duplass (left) and Joshua Leonard in bed together. Pezzote poses the question: “Life… background music except when who’s helping you with yours?” Tonight, a radio is on in a particular HUMPDAY admit his fear of fathering a story about his obsession with he may in a free session (donations wel- scene. This casual but deliber- Directed by Lynn Shelton child. Anna’s reactions to him a video store clerk. Ben’s foolish come) at the LGBT Community Center, ately intimate style allows view- Magnolia Releasing constantly surprise him, and efforts at smooth talk are price- 208 W. 13th St., 8-10 p.m. For more ers the opportunity to listen to, Opens Jul. 10 make for some of the film’s best lessly funny. information, visit askangelo.com. observe, and get to know these Angelika Film Center laughs. Alycia Delmore is also terrific ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ interesting characters. For his part, Andrew wish- in her role; her reactions to Ben Ben is married to Anna (Aly- es he were “more gay,” but is and Andrew are spot-on. Anna cia Delmore), and they are try- time love for his friend. threatened by a dildo lying exhibits intelligence, but there ing to have a baby. Andrew The project forces both guys nearby when he has a three- is no question why she loves FRI.JUL.24 arrives unexpectedly one night, to test how well they know some with Monica and Lily. Ben, even when he says and NIGHTLIFE ringing their doorbell at 1:30 themselves and each other –– How on earth is he going to does dumb things that make Circle in the Square in the morning. As he and Ben and how far they are willing to respond to the real thing the her angry. Her performance Xs and Os, and Lady Clover Honey, reunite, they can’t stop hugging go in the name of friendship. next day as he and Ben per- anchors “Humpday” and gives too. What could be a better way to duck and touching each other. They Andrew can’t quite believe the form for the camera? audiences a reliable point of in out of the heat on a sultry Friday night compare hair and body fat. It more conservative Ben is going “Humpday” serves up plenty identification. in da city? It’s Center Bingo, and Lady has goes on perhaps a little too long, to have sex with him, but these of polyamorous action, but lit- In the film’s most pivotal role, cash with your name on it. The jackpot is and the overly intimate nature are two very competitive and tle of it is sexy, and none of the Andrew, Joshua Leonard is also $500. LGBT Community Center, 208 of their antics verges on unset- very insecure guys involved characters comes away satis- perfectly cast. His goofy charm W. 13th St., 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 at tling. These guys once fancied in a tense game of chicken — fied. The audience will, how- is just seductive and passive- gaycenter.org or $15 at the door. Tables themselves to be Sal and Dean though one that delivers laughs ever, enjoy plenty of chortles aggressive enough to make Ben of ten are available for $100. from Keruoac’s “On the Road,” as well. Even a simple game of as Ben and Andrew repeatedly fall in step with him. Viewers will ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ but Ben has settled into con- turns into a wres- find themselves emasculated likely respond the same way. A ventional married life. Andrew, tling match, with Ben and by the women and each other. scene where he and Anna get though, remains full of wander- Andrew struggling to one-up The cleverness behind the drunk together is a highlight, lust. each other. film results from the two men but it is Ben’s last moment on SAT.JUL.25 The day after arriving, Does Ben have deep-seated achieving a sort of enlighten- screen that is the most haunt- AT THE BEACH Andrew befriends Monica (direc- homosexual feelings for his ment from their efforts to cre- ing, and open to interpretation. East Hampton Strut tor Shelton), who enjoys a fluid friend? Is Andrew mad at Ben ate an artistic same-sex erotic “Humpday” is likely to elicit Susan Morabito provides the music. relationship with her girlfriend, because of something in their experience. divergent responses in audienc- 41 Two-Mile Hollow in East Hampton Lily (Trina Willard). Lily allows past? These are some of the The trio of leads offer strong es. Most women and gay men provides the picture-perfect setting. And Monica to have some “boy time” questions Shelton shrewdly performances integral to the will laugh at two straight guys the LGBT Community Center offers the flirting with Andrew. When Ben posits, and there are no right film’s success. Mark Duplass, behaving badly. Bisexuals and reason to feel real good about yourself arrives at the women’s house, answers. Throughout, humor is also a filmmaker (last year’s anyone into group sex adven- even as you are feeling real good. Join the he is initially put off by the skillfully woven into the drama. Mumblecore “Baghead”), is tures may find themselves on fun at Dancing on the Beach 9 to benefit weird vibes, but is soon seduced Ben gets into trouble with fantastic as Ben, a man whose their guard –– and heterosexual the Center, 4-8 p.m. Tickets are $85 at by the liquor, drugs, and free his no-nonsense wife, Anna, anxieties prompt him to make men are sure to squirm. This gaycenter.org or (in limited numbers) $125 love. By the end of the night, he because he becomes less than rash and bad decisions. His brilliant film’s greatest strength at the door. Higher levels of support are, is making hotel reservations to honest with her as soon as his expressions are priceless, par- is in the fact that whether it’s as always, available. It’s a recession — if create an “erotic art film” with old friend arrives on the scene. ticularly as he recounts, almost laughs or discomfort, it will pro- you’re feeling no pain, remember the work Andrew and “express” his long- An adolescent at heart, he can’t without blinking, a revealing voke a response in everyone. of our community is. 9 - 22 JUL 2009 Film /25

᭤ BRÜNO, from p.1 BRÜNO a narrative arc —a love story Directed by Larry Charles between Brüno and his assistant “Brüno” begins in Austria, Universal Pictures Lutz — but it’s based around where the titular hero hosts a TV Opens Jul. 10 interviews and brief confronta- show called “Funkyzeit.” It covers tions. What does the ending, a the fashion industry, but Brüno alike squirm, but Cohen’s main mock charity music video fea- finds himself persona non grata targets are the latter. But that turing pop stars like Bono, Elton there after his Velcro suit dis- doesn’t keep him from offer- John, and Snoop Dogg, have to rupts a runway event. He then ing up plenty of jokes about gay do with the rest of the film? Not goes to LA and tries working as men’s supposedly outré sexual much, and it’s only funny for an extra. He settles on a new TV behavior. Most of the film’s shots about 30 seconds. Making fun program, but it bombs with test of asses and penises have been of Paula Abdul is frighteningly audiences. He decides to adopt covered with black bars in order easy. an African baby, defending his to get an R rating, although an The early scenes of “Brüno,” in choice on a TV talk show. Even- uncut DVD is doubtless on its particular, seem mostly staged. tually, he decides that his prob- way six months from now. In this part of the film, Brüno’s lems are due to his being gay “Brüno” would be more sub- gayness is almost incidental; the and turns into “Straight Dave,” a versive if it were consistently film’s real target is his vanity and wrestling show host. funny and, more importantly, narcissism. As critic Kirk Honey- Cohen obviously doesn’t come didn’t settle for lazy stereotypes cutt has pointed out, a real flam- from the school of thought that of its own. One gets the impres- boyantly gay man would be far stereotypes are challenged best sion that the filmgoer is sup- more self-conscious about pos- when taken on unambiguously. posed to expect sibly placing himself in harm’s He may criticize anti-Semitism from an entirely African-Amer- way than Brüno is. and homophobia, but his humor ican talk show audience or a His attempted seduction of PICTURES UNIVERSAL has a deliberately uncomfortable group of Southern whites. Ron Paul, which culminates Lampooning celebrity adoptions in Africa, Cohen also addresses, plays with gay parenting. edge to it. He gets plenty of kicks “Brüno” looks slightly slicker with the Texas congressman from the he critiques; than “Borat” — this time, Larry angrily walking out and yelling, bright spot. The rest of the time, voke interview subjects. “Borat” he clearly had a good time Charles, who directed both films, “He’s queer,” is one of the few “Brüno” makes the mistake of uncovered ; “Brüno” embodying a Hebrew-speaking shot it on high-definition video. moments when “Brüno” strikes trying to develop a character, is happier to stage it whenever anti-Semite in “Borat.” There However, it feels even more like real sparks. A trip to the Middle but as with Ali G and Borat, possible, or at best, to throw real are scenes in “Brüno” designed a string of TV show sketches East, where Brüno confuses that character really only works people into fake TV shows or to make gays and homophobes thrown together. It does include Hamas and hummus, is another as a device for Cohen to pro- sports events.

JOIN THE WEDDING PARTY!

A DOUBLE-WEDDING GIVEAWAY CONTEST! Starting June 12, Gay City News readers may enter to win: • round-trip tickets to Key West • 5-day 4-night honeymoon • wedding bands Two lucky couples will be drawn on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010. Visit GayCityNews.com to participate! SPONSORS: • American Airlines • Diamonds International • Island House • Kleinfeld Manhattan • Pearl’s Rainbow Key West ADVERTISERS: Please contact [email protected] or 646-452-2471. 9 - 22 JUL 2009 26/ Theater Stars Struck & Incandescent star power in the park; a happy Broadway transfer

BY CHRISTOPHER BYRNE TWELFTH NIGHT joy of seeing stars performing the Public Theater at the Delacorte Bard under the stars never pales. or at least two actors in the Central Park When so many stars align as they hilarious, heartfelt, and Entrance at 79th St. & Fifth Ave. do in this radiant “Twelfth Night,” F utterly sublime production Or 81st St. & Central Park W. it is an unforgettable evening. of “Twelfth Night” now gracing Jul. 7-12 at 8 p.m. Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre, Free; reservations at ot every show is improved their spectacular performances publictheater.org by a move from Off- are career game-changers. Audra Broadway to the Great NEXT TO NORMAL N McDonald, the supremely gifted White Way. Issues of scale, cast- Booth Theatre singer and supporter of serious ing, and expectations too often 222 W. 45th St. new work in the musical theater, Mon., Thu.-Sat. at 8 p.m.; Tue. at 7 p.m. lead producers to undermine emerges as a delightful comedi- Sat. at 2 p.m.; Sun. at 3 & 7:30 p.m. what made a show work in a enne, with flawless timing and an $25-$115; Telecharge.com smaller, less overtly commercial almost girlish sense of fun. She Or 212-239-6200 venue. I thought both “In the plays Olivia, the countess who Heights” and “Spring Awakening” has walled herself up in grief over comedies. lost something of their rawness in her brother’s death and disdains Hathaway as Viola takes a their transfers, though they were the amorous advances of the role that can sometimes get lost still engaging and inarguably hits. besotted Count Orsino. In fact, amidst many plots and makes “Next to Normal,” on the other she keeps a chilly and imperi- it something special, filled with hand, is a show that is actu- ous distance from everyone until, subtleties and character that ally improved with moving. After being blindsided by a dart from make her a delight to watch. And going out of town for nearly a Cupid, she melts into a ridicu- unlike other movie stars on stage year, the show has been cut and lously romantic puddle. of recent memory, she can com- focused and somewhat rewritten. Anne Hathaway, who became mand her role while fitting seam- JOAN MARCUS While the rock score by Tom Kitt a star largely in a series of forget- lessly into the ensemble. Audra McDonald, as Olivia, and Anne Hathaway, as Viola, appearing here as Cesario, both shine remains mostly intact from the table movies targeted to tween As for the rest of the extraor- brightly in “Twelfth Night.” run at 2nd Stage, the book has girls but began to show serious dinary company, Raúl Esparza been subtly reworked to be more acting chops in last year’s film has long been one of the theater’s Toby into making a fool of him- ing. He consistently finds the intimate, to focus on the struggles “Rachel Getting Married,” emerg- most versatile actors, and as Ors- self, takes his usual maturity and human truth in the outlandish of the characters. A musical about es as a full-fledged leading lady ino he manages to be lovesick, gravitas to ridiculous extremes in story, so each revelation deepens bipolar disorder is still a bit of a with an awe-inspiring emotional self-indulgent, poetic, and hilari- service of the comedy. David Pittu, our affection for the characters. risk and won’t be to all tastes, but range, a gift for both physical and ous in just one evening. Jay O. a strong comedian and singer, As Orsino and Olivia, who have there is a sense of simple human- verbal comedy, and a lovely sing- Sanders, who shone as Bottom finds heart and wisdom in Feste, treated each other with brittle ity that makes this story, in its ing voice. She plays Viola, the in “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” Olivia’s jester; and Hamish Lin- testiness throughout, discover current telling, much more acces- shipwrecked young woman who, several years ago in the park, klater, who always acquits him- that they are to be related since sible than it was before. There’s finding herself lost in the king- once more plies his comic skill self well in smaller productions, Orsino is to marry Viola, whose still a bit too much pop psychol- dom of Illyria, disguises herself as as Sir Toby Belch. Julie White, here nearly stops the show on brother Sebastian has married ogy amidst the pop songs for me, the Cesario to serve Orsi- one of the most dependably inci- several occasions as Sir Andrew Olivia, we see the beginnings of and the fast plotting doesn’t allow no, with whom she instantly falls sive comediennes working today, Aguecheek, the wan and ineffec- affection between them. Olivia’s real depth of character, but this in love. Orsino, not knowing her brings her special brand of glam- tual knight Sir Toby plays upon line to Viola “A sister, you are is an engaging and worthwhile true identity, sends her to plead orous silliness to the role of Maria, and who entertains illusions that she” is often just tossed off. Here, show. his love suit with Olivia, who Olivia’s maid who sets in motion he will win Olivia’s love. in a wonderful moment between Alice Ripley still shines as promptly falls head over heels the practical joke at the center of Much of this production’s McDonald and Hathaway, we Diana, a woman who can’t let go in love with Cesario. Madness the comic plot. Michael Cump- joy comes from the lovely stag- instead see a true bonding over of the son who died in infancy — ensues in one of Shakespeare’s sty, as Malvolio, Olivia’s steward ing by Daniel Sullivan. “Twelfth what each has experienced as a and still hangs around as a ghost most dependable and delicious who is punked by Maria and Sir Night” is a play so well crafted lovestruck woman. — and can’t forge a relationship that mounting it is deceptively John Lee Beatty’s lovely grass- with her daughter or her hus- simple, and many productions covered set provides a versatile band. J. Robert Spencer brings have lagged because the comedy and appealing backdrop, and heart and depth to the long-suf- worked while the lovers fell flat or Jane Greenwood’s Jane Austen- fering and still deeply loving Dan. vice versa. Sullivan seems to have era costumes are magnificent and Jennifer Damiano is excellent as left no moment unexamined or appropriate — it was in that peri- the daughter who acts out, trying unmined for its ultimate impact, od that romantic love, both lyri- to find herself. harnessing Shakespeare’s many cal and comic, became a staple of One has to admire the produc- contrivances to achieve a con- popular literature. The music by ers and the creative team for their temporary comic sensibility and “symphonic folk-rock band” Hem courage in reworking this show a sense of genuine romance. In is a treat and marvelously inte- and taking the risks to bring it lesser hands, Shakespeare’s long- grated into both the romance and to Broadway, particularly in this ish Act V is often dull, as plots the comedy. economic climate. Happily, it’s are unraveled and true identities Shakespeare in the Park is one evident that new voices have firm- revealed. of the reasons to live in New York. ly arrived on the Broadway scene, JOAN MARCUS Sullivan manages to keep it The productions may have been and these days that’s anything Alice Ripley and J. Robert Spencer are standouts in the Broadway mounting of “Next to Normal.” lively, engaging, and surpris- uneven over the years, but the but normal. WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 27 ■ IN THE NOH LA, City of the Dead The Return of Lady T, the real ghost of “Our Town”

BY DAVID NOH

he hovering helicopters over West- wood were the first signs that T something was up. I was sitting at the Griffith Park Observatory on a sur- really beautiful day when I overheard a group of 20-somethings mention, “Well, I guess Michael Jackson thought he was going to live forever…” Then all hell loose, with traffic jammed in every direc- tion by people driving to UCLA Medi- cal, Neverland Ranch, Hollywood Bou- levard, anywhere to publicly mourn in that weird celeb-obsessed LA manner. It was business as usual for the Jackson impersonators in Venice Beach and even in WeHo gay bars, with a particularly hapless ancient white queen in abysmal Michael mufti gyrating in front of the mirror at Trunks. Boys Town has lost A Different Light bookstore, causing actor Ken Page (soon to play Nicely-Nicely in a local “Guys and Dolls”) to rightly lament the neighbor- Lady T’s searing voice would make clubs hood’s now complete mindlessness. My like positively explode big local celeb sighting was Ross, of Jay her jams “Behind the Groove,” “I Need Leno’s show, whose piercing voice could Your Lovin’,” and “Square Biz,” and it’s NICHOLAS RANDEE ST. be heard above the Santa Monica Bou- great to report that she sounds exactly Teena Marie is back with a new CD, “Congo Square.” levard traffic, enjoying one of the end- the same, delivering a record filled with less happy hours. I stayed at the always inspiration and funk. picturesquely raffish San Vicente Inn, “I really tried to put something togeth- which is due for a major facelift. I hope er that was like gumbo,” she told me, the Delano SoBe touches like revamped “influenced by Congo Square in New WATER TAXI rooms and promised white Astroturf in Orleans, a place where slaves were once the lobby don’t rob San Vincente of its allowed to dance on Sundays. Just as distinctive flavor. I was mixing this, I discovered that my BEACH I caught a wonderful production of family originally came from there, and “The Little Foxes,” Lillian Hellman’s truly I’d always felt it was a second home to SOUTH STREET SEAPORT NORTH SIDE OF PIER 17 great American play, at the Pasadena me. I was looking for a place there when Playhouse, that charming 92-year-old Katrina hit and I was on the second Spanish Colonial institution, where plane out of there. everyone from Tyrone Power to Dustin “If this record has a special sound, Hoffman got their starts. Out actress I have to say that I was in a lot of pain EAT IT FRIDAYS Kelly McGillis has come a long way through a lot of it. My refrigerator fell on Dance music spun by from when she had to practically pros- me and my foot was split open. A gigan- RAW Melting Pot Global 8pm.* trate herself to appear shorter than Tom tic picture in a hotel room fell off the wall HAPPY Cruise in “Top Gun.” She was the stron- and hit me on the head. I had a seizure SATURDAYS gest Regina Giddens I’ve ever seen; she in New Orleans a couple days before a HOUR Nicky Siano w/Jeannie was marvelously supported by Julia performance. All this stuff to a point 50 cent Oysters, Clams, Hopper Disco Classics Duffy’s heartbreaking Birdie, Steve where I thought I was cursed and was & Shrimp. Thurs/Fri, Vinovich’s suavely villainous Ben, Geoff really frightened. A few months later, I Hour, 10pm. House til 2am.* Pierson’s magnificently underplayed Hor- realized I was blessed, through overcom- 4pm - 6pm. $3 off beer, ace, and Shawn Lee’s amusingly craven ing a Vicodin addiction. I’d pop the Vico- wine, mixed drinks. SUNDAYS Leo, with Cleavant Derricks and Yvette din for the physical pain, and to get rid of Victor Franco presents... Cason superb as their knowing servants. mental pain, too –– but then there were a very special guest. 4pm til There was a charming pre-performance/ so many nights that I sat here in my Midnight.**$5 with this ad intermission Pride reception in the Play- room, just writing and waking up out of house’s handsome library, and although dreams, and God really got me through McGillis wasn’t present, management that by giving me some really inspira- sand. sun. fun. food. music. told me how touched and gratified she’s tional music, and I wrote myself out of been by our community’s support. darkness into light.” HarborExperience.com Every song is dedicated to a musical 866.982.2542 SOUTH STREET SEAPORT he utterly unique, supremely inspiration, and there was none stronger soulful Teena Marie celebrates 30 than her lover and mentor, Rick James:

years in music with her new CD, OUR OFFICIAL TRAVEL T & TOURISM PARTNER “Congo Square” (Stax). Back in the day, ᭤ CITY OF THE DEAD, continued on p.30 28 9 – 22 JUL 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

■ OPERA Bay Area Brindisi SF Opera’s Pride Season scores with “Traviata,” pleads no contest with “Tosca”

BY DAVID SHENGOLD

an Francisco Opera cannily pres- ents a June season concurrently Swith Pride Week and Frameline’s fabulous LGBT Film Festival, so visitors can intersperse opera with the spectac- ular events of Pink Saturday and Gay Day and its always-inspiring march. The solidly executed but resolutely incombustible “Tosca” (June 26) suf- fered from the sleepy, old-fashioned production, a recreation of the 1932 staging in which Claudia Muzio (no less) opened the War Memorial Opera House; from the undynamic podium leadership of Marco Armiliato, whose sluggish tempi came as a surprise to one who has often enjoyed his Metro- politan efforts; and from underwhelm- ing casting of the three crucial leading roles. Armiliato seemed to have conced- ed that nothing much could be accom- plished. At this last of eight performances, out Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczon- Gay, ka vocalized Tosca with commendable evenness of tone, having absolutely no Str8, problems with the role’s often-difficult Bi, high B flats and Cs. “Vissi d’arte” was quite well sung, and she bustled about

Curious? ANSTEY KRISTEN LOKEN energetically. Yet she failed to con- vince stylistically or visually as a tem- David Lomelí (Alfredo Germont) and Elizabeth Futral (Vio- pestuous prima donna of the Roman letta Valéry) in a San Francisco Opera “Traviata” that well stage, and the timbre seemed basical- earned its ovation. ly unsuited in color to the part. There is a European tradition of “German- Don Alfonso. ic” sopranos doing Tosca on their off The mediocre Cavaradossi, Carlo nights from Wagner and Strauss –– San Ventre, was on a lower level –– utterly Francisco itself has witnessed Lotte generic, today’s all too frequent lyric Lehmann, Janis Martin, and Gwyneth tenor pushed into hard-edged, tremu- Jones in the part. Pieczonka performed lousness in pursuit of spinto fees. His honestly within this tradition, but hers role emerged at a dull mezzo forte, the was not a memorable Tosca –– despite words merely intoned. His Act Three showing good arm hurling the Attavan- recit and aria showed increased atten- ti’s fan at her portrait. tion to dynamics and inflection, but Lado Ataneli (Scarpia) has a pleas- ended provincially in sobs. How could ant, well-produced baritone and is a adults bravo such a performance? capable, musical artist. Yet his pleas- Ventre and Pieczonka evinced zero ant mien and less than capacious tonal chemistry as a couple, seeming to oper- resources made him a fairly low-impact ate on different planes. Depressing to villain, one who had to labor at vocal read the company’s annals for Cavara- climaxes. In this theater, he would seem a more probable Sharpless or ᭤ BAY AERA, continued on p.31

/ÀÞʈÌÊÀiiÊUÊ >Ê˜œÜ BIG FUN! SMALL BUCKS! Sun. $3.50 Screwdrivers & our famous Bloody Mary’s, $2.50 Miller Lite Drafts & Bud Bottles Neighborhood 646-731-6658 Fusion! Mon. $4 Mojito’s all flavors Tues. $2 Margarita’s CHEAP-EEZ COCKTAILS (except Fri. & Sat.) - Coors & Pabst Cans $3, Rootbeer Floats $3, Sloe Gin Fizz $2, Tom Collins $3, “One of the 63 best bars in NYC” — Time Out, 2009 Whiskey Sours $3, Rum Lime Ricky $3 1800GayLive.com MC 7003 Ent only 18+ *Limited Free Trial Photography by Kevin E. McPherson 281 W 12th St @ 4th St. NYC 212-243-9041 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 29 GCN CLASSIFIEDS/NIGHTLIFE DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 5:00PM MAIL 145 SIXTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10013 TEL 646-452-2485 FAX 212.229.2790

APARTMENT RENTALS OFFICE SPACE AVALIABLE MOVING AND STORAGE FRENCH RIVIERA. Charming town- house, authentic village Gorges du Loup, France, near Nice, Cannes, Grasse. Breathtaking views, 2 bdrm, 2 bath $1250/wk. Available year round, turn key furnished. 941-363-0925 Apartment WANTED to BUY or RENT

Large Studio in Lower Manhattan, UWS or Hells Kitchen. HELP WANTED Please e-mail me details/photos to: EMPLOYMENT PSYCHOTHERAPY [email protected] The Alliance (Gay/Straight Alliance Talented Stylist Wanted! ALCOHOL AND/OR of the NYS JusticeSystem), a For a leading salon in Chelsea SUBSTANCE ABUSE? VACATION RENTALS support group for LGBT court Those with or without following PLEASE CALL: employees, encourages applicants Call Now! 212.243.9379 Joseph LoGiudice, LMSW Rooms for men. Open all year. for an open test for the Court www.saloncecilia.com www.oceanhouseatlanticcity.com Psychotherapist 2I¿FHU7KH$OOLDQFHZLOOEH 917.558.4456 or 609-345-8203 for brochure RUJDQL]LQJVWXG\JURXSVIRUWKHWHVW PERSONALS Central, daily or weekly rates. Ital-Amer senior gentleman Bronx REAL ESTATE For application information, go to ZZZQ\FRXUWVJRYFRXUWRI¿FHUUHFUXLW Lover Ital. opera many interests GayCityNews.com )RULQIRUPDWLRQRQWKH$OOLDQFHJRWR Retired Antique Dealer Restorer Private Beach, gated commnty, North ZZZ/*%7LQWKH1<6WDWH&RXUWVFRP Educated. Would like to meet a Shore LI, 3700sq ft, 4bedrm 4 bth, RUHPDLOWR younger man. 718-881-3939 Philip formal dining, decking, 2.5 car gar, on 0DUF6LPRQ/HYLQH#\DKRRFRP 1.2 acre, walk to water, deeded beach rts, best value for sq ftg, MOVING AND STORAGE location and acreage. $529,754 Call Lifetime R.E. 631-265-3700 IDEAL MOVING & STORAGE, INC. ADULT The only gay owned & operated gaycity mover in New York. Ideal is the community favorite local mover. DANIEL We are fully licensed & insured, leading the industry with a 96% news.com FULL BODY MASSAGE referral rate. Reliable, dependable NUDE, SENSUAL & & personalized service. Open 24/7. MUCH MORE (212) 777-5507 or 718-728-5318. www.idealmoving.com See our display ad under Moving & Storage. HOTEL CALLS TRAVEL WELCOME! PROVENCE,south of France.”The Painter’s Brush” art tour.Don’t miss IN $300 / OUT $400 this rare opportunity to see Picasso Cash / Credit Card chateau plus Picasso-Cezanne exhibit; Times Sq. Loc. 24/7 fully escorted exclusive excursion Aix en Provence. Sept 13-20, 2009, excellent accomodations,private art lectures, Artists & Writers 212-302-8217 renowned vineyard, visits with local celebrities. Les Baux de Provence, Residencies BODYWORK St Remy, Picasso-Cezanne-Van Gogh- Renoir. Fantastique! HOT BODYWORK Swedish, Deep Tis- www.frenchtraveler.com sue, sensual nude bodywork. Done by 800-251-3464 www.vermontstudiocenter.org Brazilian masseur. (917) 435-4418. GayCityNews.com www.rentboy.com/fzaneti 30 9 – 22 JUL 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

᭤ CITY OF THE DEAD, from p.27 love my Motown family and we’re very Gaston told me. “The last four years of close, no bitterness in me.” her diary are missing, and I think they “We weren’t really together very long, not I asked what it was like for her, grow- were destroyed by the family. They want- even a year, probably because we were ing up white, but so surrounded and ed her story to go away, merely saying so different. He was my best friend for influenced by black culture: “I don’t know that she was exhausted by ‘Our Town,’ three and a half years before we tried to really what you’re asking me because I and had been taking Dexedrine. The real- have a relationship, and we should have don’t remember too many instances of ity was that the conservative Pinchots just stayed friends because all the things feeling different. My best friend was a lit- were looking at political election losses, I saw him do with the females he tried to tle chocolate girl named Nikki, with a big a tough time to be dealing with depres- pull on me. I was like, ‘Oh no, you don’t. natural. She walked up to me once when sion, suicide, her unhappy marriage to I know the game,’ so we ended up break- I was with my mother and said, ‘I didn’t Bill Gaston — and why was she messing ing up. But he was a musical genius know you were white,’ and we just fell out around with Jed Harris, a Jew? and soulmate, so when I listen to those laughing, the point being that we didn’t “I think Rosamond was very pur- records, they’re just so magical. ‘Déjà Vu’ see color –– she was just my buddy.” poseful in what she did. She’d just had was such a beautiful song, really in my enough of the nastiness in her life. whole career the one that describes me ou won’t find a more fascinat- Some people are just too sensitive for best. He burned the candle at both ends ing summer read than Bibi Gas- Rosamond Pinchot’s granddaughter, Bibi Gaston, says the the world, although it seemed that she and had a lot of pain and illnesses. I miss Y ton’s just released paperback famous beauty was too sensitive for this world. was so extraordinarily beautiful that she him all the time, but know he’s free now, edition of “The Loveliest Woman in had the world by the teeth. She felt dis- and I find comfort in that.” America” (Harper Perennial). Gaston ris’ original production of “Our Town,” empowered by Harris, unloved by her Marie’s real name is Mary Chris- tells the story of her grandmother, Rosa- but pressures she felt led her to commit husband, with two children she couldn’t tine Brockert; I mention this because of mond Pinchot (1904-38), a gorgeous suicide during its previews, an event that relate to, being sons of the man she loved “The Brockert Initiative,” named for her, Valkyrie who might have been sculpted made big headlines and eerily mirrored so much who wouldn’t love her back.” which was a landmark legal decision in by Michelangelo or painted by Burne- the play’s theme of life’s evanescence. Gaston’s father referred to Rosamond her favor. She had a 1982 dispute with Jones, and achieved overnight fame Rosamond became a family secret, of as a “whore,” and escaped his family by Motown, the outcome of which made it when director Max Reinhardt cast her at which author Gaston was kept in igno- going off to Morocco. “He went over there illegal for a record company to keep an 19 in “The Miracle.” Her father, Amos, a rance. Only after her father’s death, in escape mode, and I don’t think he ever artist under contract without releas- prominent New York lawyer, and uncle, when she inherited a box containing reconciled a lot of the pain he came away ing new material, enabling the artist go Gifford, two-time Pennsylvania governor, Rosamond’s diaries and scrapbooks, did with in his life,” his daughter explained. elsewhere. Luther Vandross, for one, helped found the progressive wing of the Gaston pursue the detective work that “I was fortunate to get this material and benefited from this. “It just fell into my Republican Party. Following her discov- resulted in this biography. “I knew noth- piece the story together. I think my life lap –– I didn’t intend to do that,” Marie ery, Rosamond suffered a turbulent life, ing about her and was flabbergasted that would have been led fairly unconsciously explained. “They sued me and I counter- with career success elusive, an unhappy my father had this complete inability to if I hadn’t come across this information. sued and won, and two years later that marriage to William Gaston, and a tor- speak of this woman who had led such There were generations of damage in happened. Nothing I set out to do, but tured relationship with theater director an extraordinary life and whose death if it helps somebody that’s alright. I still Jed Harris. She worked closely on Har- was on the New York Times’ front page,” ᭤ CITY OF THE DEAD, continued on p.31 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 9 – 22 JUL 2009 31

᭤ BAY AERA, from p.28 ence; later the downstage Jailer squarely Elizabeth Futral certainly earned her matched Futral in dynamic variety. blocked fully one third of the audience check as Violetta, Though her bright There can be few better Germonts dossis of the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. from seeing Cavaradossi’s execution. voice is light and relatively “white,” lack- around than Stephen Powell, who con- Even when Bjoerling, Tucker, Peerce, Remarkably, this unremarkable per- ing in the variety of tone colors an ideal tributed fine, generous tone and splen- del Monaco, Corelli, Domingo, Aragall, formance won a standing ovation. Violetta should command, she’s an able did legato; his scenes with Futral and and Pavarotti were not on hand, “Tosca” musician and, within the limits of her Lomeli upped the emotional tempera- audiences could hear Raimondi, Zamp- ith far more justification, so compass –– which only a few moments of ture. Powell’s showing did credit to his ieri, Ochman, and Giacomini. Where are did a “Traviata” June 29 that the score’s demand exceed –– an expres- SFO archival predecessor Germonts their like today? It is scarcely SFO’s fault W marked the first show sung sive phraser. Her slim and attractive fig- (Bonelli, Harrell, Weede, Valdengo and that casting such roles internationally by a “second” lead cast by all accounts ure proved as asset here, and she moved the rest). It would be rude –– yet so easy! has become so sobering. superior to the more ballyhooed initial well even in a ghastly flapper dress at –– to list less qualified Germonts the Met The best of the comprimarii was Zach- trio (Anna Netrebko, Charles Castrono- Flora’s party, delivering –– if no great has employed while ignoring Powell for ary Weisberg’s firm-toned Shepherd. vo, and Dwayne Croft). Director Marta vocal revelations –– a thoughtful, touch- the last decade. Jordan Bisch (Angelotti) sang creditably, Domingo clearly hoped that having Vio- ing performance. The supporting cast offered Leann but –– in dramatic terms –– illustrated letta enter in a ’20s roadster would be a David Lomeli, a Mexican tenor who’s Sandel-Pantaleo’s trenchant, stage- the drawbacks of deploying Young Artists theatrical coup –– in vain! The updating a first-year member of the company’s wise Flora, Travis more in his element in character roles demanding season- makes the underlying story less cred- Adler (Young Artist) program, made a as Douphol, and two notable “adleristi” ing. The very seasoned and sometimes ible, and there were several amateurish promising mainstage debut as Alfredo. –– Andrew Bidlack’s dapper, fluid-voiced effective Dale Travis offered nothing but ideas, such as having Alfredo lead Vio- Somewhat tentative at first, his musical- Gastone and, particularly, the strong- routine shtick as perhaps the least Ital- letta onto a table to be denounced. But ly poised singing increased in tonal point voiced, interesting-timbred star-in-the- ian-looking Sacristan in my experience; the orchestra woke up under Donald and confident detail as he progressed. As making Renee Tatum as an affecting Joel Sorenson, while competent, made Runnicles’ driving but detailed hand, yet the sound is lyric and unforced, and Annina. a hard-voiced Spoletta. Two amateur- providing a secure framework for a lead- his evident sincerity suited the character. ish mistakes –– Cavaradossi improb- ing soprano and tenor not overgifted as Sharper and more nuanced enunciation David Shengold ([email protected]) ably bribed the Jailer in Spoletta’s pres- to volume. must develop; by the third act, Lomeli writes about opera for many venues.

᭤ CITY OF THE DEAD, from p.30 with relationships and this intergenera- ly tried to bed Rosamond –– “Jed Har- her through the houses of the rich and tional pain that was never articulated or ris, Zoe Akins, Bennett Cerf, etc. Now famous, particularly in Hollywood” –– my family” — her relatives include great examined. I’ve been able to make contact with their where she appeared in the 1935 “Three aunt Mary Pinchot Meyer, a supposed “At first I couldn’t open this truly Pan- descendants –– Cerf’s son just showed Musketeers” –– “when she describes the mistress of JFK, whose 1964 murder dora’s box of material –– I was frozen in up on Facebook, and I was able to find decadence of certain digs.” was never solved, and the tragic Warhol a kind of immovable state. I didn’t know time with Horton Foote, who worked on superstar Edie Sedgwick –– “and I didn’t who any of these people were, and going ‘Our Town.’ Rosamond became a real Contact David Noh at Inthenoh@aol. understand where all this pain was com- through the names, you Google George diarist, there were over 1,000 pages com and check out his new blog at http:// ing from. I knew I had my own issues Cukor, David Selznick” –– who constant- to go through, and it was fun to follow nohway.wordpress.com/. Hope Takes Action Men between 18-45 years old and HIV negative needed for an HIV vaccine study.

You can’t get HIV Heart of Chelsea Animal Hospital is a place of healing, warmth and goodwill. Our from the vaccine. staff is dedicated to attending to the best interest of both the patient and client. Combining Western conventional medicine and Eastern holistic traditions, we Call PROJECT ACHIEVE 212.388.0008 strive to fulfill our mission of providing the most comprehensive veterinary care. Call Columbia University 212.305.2201 * Mention that you saw us in The Villager, Chelsea Now, or Gay City News to receive $25.00 off your first visit!

www.HopeTakesAction.org Call for an appointment today - 212.924.6116 7ESTTH3TREETs.EW9ORK .9 www.heartofchelsea.com

-ONDAY &RIDAYAM PMs3ATURDAYAM PMs3UNDAY#LOSED 32 9 – 22 JUL 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

#1 Rated Community Bank Founded 1910 100 Years of Strength and Stability

Since 1910, Bank of Smithtown has been providing Long Islanders with our dedicated and special brand of Lobby Banking Hours: service. As a full-service FDIC insured bank, we are Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 6pm Saturday: 9am – 4pm proud to bring our customer-focused brand of banking to Chelsea – offering you a full range of products and services to make the most of your time and .

n 21t h St re W.18thStr We welcome you to stop by and experience first hand 8th Ave eet how Bank of Smithtown is Dedicated to You. W. 19th Street

W. 17th S W e . 15th Street u tre ue et W. 16th Street th Aven 7 W.14th Chelsea Office 6th Aven Stre 127 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10011 et Phone: (646) 786-2000 www.bankofsmithtown.com

*Offers available only at our Chelsea office for accounts opened with money not already on deposit at Bank of Smithtown. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 6/9/09, assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year and is subject to change without prior notice. To qualify for these offers, you must have a valid Essential Checking Account. High-Yield Money Market Account rates may vary. Applicable fees may reduce earnings. Minimum opening deposit for the High-Yield Money Market Account is $10,000. Accounts with balances of $100,000 or more earn 2.10% APY; $75,000-$99,999.99 Member FDIC earn 1.95% APY; $50,000-$74,999.99 earn 1.85% APY; $25,000-$49,999.99 earn 1.75% APY; $10,000-$24,999.99 earn 1.50% APY. Balances less than $10,000 do not earn interest. Certain restrictions apply. Minimum balance to open 13-month CD is $2,500. CD penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Equal Housing Lender ©2009 Logo & Tagline “Dedicated. To You.” are Service Marks of Bank of Smithtown.