Quest Magazine Vol 16 Issue 9
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FUNDIES FOILED: WEST BEND LIBRARY BOARD REJECTS ANTI-GAY BOOK RESTRICTIONS West Bend - On June 2 the West Bend Library Board ing - held in the 600-seat gymnasium at McLane El - by a vote of 9-0 rejected efforts by a fundamentalist ementary School - was only one-third full. couple and their supporters to restrict access of young The contentious issue started earlier this year when adults to books allegedly depicting explicit sex among Maziarka and her husband issued request that de - teenagers and those alluding to teenage homosexual - manded that the library board remove books that the ity or gay relationships. Sixty individuals presented their couple considers to be “child pornography” from the contrasting views on the subject for more than two Young Adult section of the library and a related four-year hours prior to the board’s vote. old web page that listed a variety of books that addressed Board members reported that books with such con - gay and lesbian issues. The couple later created a group troversial passages are already separated in the West named the West Bend Citizens for Safe Libraries and uality and “traditional heterosexual perspectives.” Bend Library from children’s books. The books are sought support from outside so-called “family” and “safe Hanrahan’s petition requested the board to protect placed in either in the young adult fiction section on library” groups. The Maziarkas also held a petition drive the library from censorship by essentially rejecting all the first floor of the library or shelved as young adult that paralleled the Spring elections. Maziarka’s blog of the Maziarkas’ revised demands. non-fiction alongside similar adult texts on the build - openly supported the conservative candidates and of - The Library Board’s 9-0 vote included four “nays” ing’s second floor. fered links to the Wisconsin Family Council. from members whose appointments were not re - Debate was evenly divided during the public hear - In response to the Maziarkas’ original request, fellow newed by an April West Bend Common Council vote ing that preceded the vote. Those offended cited the West Bend resident Maria Hanrahan started an op - denying their request. Council members felt the board books’ allegedly “graphic” details of teenage sexual posing group called the West Bend Parents for Free had been stonewalling the Maziarkas. Board mem - encounters, most of which were cherry picked and Speech. Hanrahan and her supporters also circulated bers had countered that the board was following the published out of context by would-be book banner a counter-petition. At the board meeting, both peti - advice of the city’s attorneys who sought to avoid Ginny Maziarka on her WISSUP blog. Those oppos - tions were submitted with Hanrahan’s signatures lawsuits on the issue. ing the book banner cited Constitutional protections outnumbering the Maziarkas’ 1,068 to less than 700. About a dozen citizens have applied to accept an ap - against censorship and the role of parents in moni - The Maziarkas’ petition expanded their demands, pointment on the board including free speech advo - toring their children’s reading material. asking the Library Board to “balance” its collection of cate Hanrahan. The West Bend council has yet to set Unlike meetings that had to be cancelled last Spring books with gay and lesbian themes to with “faith- a selection committee. Ginny Maziarka continues due to overflow crowds, the most recent board meet - based” and “ex-gay” authored tomes on homosex - blogging on WISSUP about the issue. DOMESTIC PARTNER PROTECTIONS STILL IN containing these crucial protections for committed same-sex couples.” The memo BUDGET BILL AS FINAL VOTES NEAR also addressed the worsening rate of tax revenues further crunching the budget by not - Madison - June 10 vote had been scheduled in the Wisconsin Assembly on the ing that representatives need to hear “even in difficult economic times, the govern - 2009-2010 biennial budget. AB 75, as the bill is officially known, still contained ment shouldn’t stand in the way of a couple’s ability to take care of each other.” intact - as Quest went to press - Governor Jim Doyle’s plan to provide over 40 legal Insiders say that some policy items might fall from the final version of budget protections to same sex couples who register for them. The partner protections passed by the Assembly. However, they might be restored if passed by the Senate. plan is one of several policy items in the spending bill, some of which - such as A conference committee must resolve any differences in the budget bill passed by a new high end state income tax category, allowing school district employees to each house. The conference committee report is then voted on by each legislative use collective bargaining and increased minimum auto insurance coverage re - body with an “up or down” vote with no further amendments permitted. The final quirements - are causing nearly all Republicans and reportedly several members budget is expected to reach Governor Doyle’s desk by the end of June. of the slim 52-vote Democratic majority to call for their elimination. Political strategists believe the domestic partner protections will still be part of the bill. In a memo circulated June 4, Assembly Representative Bob Ziegelbauer (D-Man - itowoc) sought co-sponsors for an amendment to eliminate five such items. Sec - OBAMA DECLARES JUNE GAY PRIDE MONTH ond on Ziegelbauer’s was the same-sex domestic partner plan. Closed-door Washington, D.C. - For the second time in U.S. history a sitting United Democratic caucuses held June 5 discussed items in Ziegelbauer’s memo but the States President has issued a proclamation for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and DP plan reportedly was not one of the items seriously reviewed. Transgender Pride Month.” President Barack Obama followed former President The close vote also prompted Fair Wisconsin to urge its supporters to contact Bill Clinton in issuing such a statement here June 1. The notable difference, their representatives in both houses of the legislature, but especially the Assem - however, is that Clinton’s proclamation came late in his second term while bly. In a June 3 email, the statewide LGBT civil rights equality group advised re - Obama issued his honor in his first year in office. cipients “We need your support to get over this next hurdle!” and to “Encourage In the proclamation, Obama mentioned the legislative priorities, including your state representative to do the fair and decent thing by voting for the budget overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman and allows states not to rec - CANCER CLAIMS CENTER DIVERSITY SUNDAY SET ognize gay marriages performed in other states, and Milwaukee - On Sunday, June 14, the members of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which bars gay men PROJECT CO-FOUNDER St. Paul’s Church, 914 E. Knapp, Milwaukee, will cel - and women from serving openly in the military. TOM THOMPSON Green Bay - Thomas ebrate the diversity of the congregation and honor “I continue to support measures to bring the full their tradition that all are welcome. The public is in - “Thom” N. Thompson, spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans,” vited attend any or all to the planned events: 59, Green Bay, died Obama stated in the proclamation. “As long as the The programs will begin 9AM with an Adult Edu - promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Sunday, May 31, after a cation Forum on “Saints and Diversity,” facilitated by Americans are affected,” he adds, calling on Congress brief battle with cancer. William Stotts. At 10:15AM there will be the cele - and the American people to “work together to pro - Thom was born Nov. bration of the Holy Eucharist with choral offerings, mote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orienta - 18, 1949 in Wausau. followed by a festive social hour with treats, Mi - tion or gender identity.” In 1985 Thompson, mosas, coffee and conversation. However Obama did not make with then partner Mike Attendees also my take an informal garden tour pro - any promises on the timing of Belinski and several vided by the volunteer gardeners of St. Paul’s Lay - any action. others founded Center weeders. Participants will be able to enjoy the spring The month is timed to com - Project, the first AIDS and summer splendors of over 100 species of plants memorate the 1969 Stonewall service organization to serve northeast Wisconsin. found in the gardens surrounding the church. protest in New York City that in The agency grew to serve HIV testing, prevention At Noon Paul Haubrich, PhD will provide a tour of many ways launched the gay and life care services needs for nine counties with St. Paul’s windows that includes Wisconsin’s largest pride movement. “Thanks to that three offices prior to merging with ARCW in April, collection of Tiffany windows including the largest movement,” Obama wrote, “more LGBT Americans 1997. window ever made by the Tiffany Studio. are living their lives openly than ever before.” Thom also taught English in the Green Bay School St. Paul’s is proud that their congregation includes Some activists were quick to that the shine off the District for 33 years. Thom’s advice was to be a life an array of diversities: young and not-so-young; city historic proclamation, however. “A proclamation, dwellers and suburbanites, black, white, Asian, His - while encouraging, is far from enough at this point,” long learner. Teachers should continue to learn; and teach the love of being a life long learner. panic and multiracial; gay, lesbian, bisexual and strait; a gay critic from Kansas wrote on one gay news web - single, married and partnered; PhDs, skilled workers Thompson is survived by his life-mate of 21 site.