Year 2, Vol. 22 • May 1 - June 4, 2008 The www.therainbowtimesnews.com FREE! New Feature! Queertations: Dismantling “Don’t ask, RainbowTimes Say What?! Don’t tell” Your LGBT News in Western MA, the Capital District of NY, Northern CT, & Southern VT p. 32 p. 29 CCYYNNDDII LLaauuppeerr PRIDE SEASON FAQ’S TTRRTT IINTERVIIEW & HOT TIPS p.16 P. 3 MA TRANS ACTIVISTS LOBBY CONGRESS FOR INCLUSIVE ENDA P. 6 NY’S LIBBY POST: RECLAIMING CHRIST P. 26 OUT FILM CT RECEIVES AWARD P. 37 VT SAYS NO TO MARRIAGE P. 39 PARADISE CITY ARTS FESTIVAL, BACK IN NOHO P. 4 2 • May 1 - June 4, 2008 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesnews.com Opinions The Controversial Couch Clinton raises the bar Lie back and listen. Then get up and do something By: Nicole C. Lashomb By: Suzan Ambrose*/TRT Columnist send me back out onto the streets, TRT Editor-in-Chief tough questions. After all, she has been through the ringer so to speak. “Feelings … trying to forget my with the promise that I am exactly the same, only better, than before. It’s en. Hillary Clinton has recently chal- Throughout this primary season and … feelings of love …” so the old just that my left-hand turn signal lenged her opponent, Sen. Barack throughout the course of the past 14 months, song goes. And if certain individuals at the doesn’t work anymore. Only problem is, my Obama to a debate, Lincoln-Douglas for those of you who have been following pol- American Psychiatric Association (APA) S car wants to turn left. And so do I. style. Essentially, this means that the candi- itics closely, Clinton has delivered speech have their way, it may be more than feelings So, get this. In a few days, the American dates would be at liberty to ask each other after speech, offerings specific solutions to they’d like gays and lesbians to forget. Like, Psychiatric Association’s annual convention questions with out having a moderator pres- the problems that our country faces, contrary just forget all about being gay and move on ent. After the last debate before the to Obama. I would like both candidates to Pennsylvania Primary, Obama’s campaign debate again and I would like to hear precise- I see the downside here, and it is the existence of us. Gay, complained about the moderators being too ly how Obama plans to solve the nations hard on him, thus stimulating Clinton’s pro- problems because all I’ve heard thus far are Lesbian, Bi, Trans. And a panel of people that appear to be threat- posal.Perhaps Sen. Obama would agree to a general terms used to define general prob- ening, at the very least, to make sure we are categorized as a disease, debate without a moderator since that was a lems. Doubtfully, the debate will happen since chief complaint from the Obama camp. Obama refuses to debate during this critical a mental illness that needs to be “fixed” once again. This challenge to me, speaks largely to moment. If Obama is the presumptive nomi- nee, what in the world will happen in Clintons convictions, her certainty, her ability, …” I can almost hear it now: “Straight Land will present a symposium titled November against the Republican think tank? and quite honestly her intelligence, to use a … Up Ahead! Everybody get off at the Next “Homosexuality and Therapy: The Religious A McCain victory and a third Bush term … I debate forum to assist in propelling her num- Stop!” Dimension” (not to be confused with the Fifth say let’s debate! bers higher in the polls and in her popularity “What?” you ask. “Didn’t the APA Dimension of “Up, Up and Away!” fame). as we head into an increasingly important remove homosexuality from its Manual of The panel will include New Hampshire democratic primary on May 6th, Indiana. This Mental Disorders over thirty years ago?” Bishop Gene Robinson , Reverend Dr. Albert should not be a threatening forum for Obama. Share your thoughts. Well, we all thought this issue was put to rest Mohler and a psychologist without state board If he truly is prepared to be Commander- in- then, but SURPRISE! It’s back! certification, Dr. Warren Thockmorton, an Chief, as he claims that experience doesn’t Send a letter to the Editor. “Reparative therapy,” they’re calling it advocate for “Sexual Identity Therapy,” matter, he should be able to answer Clinton’s [email protected] now; just another word for conversion thera- which, he says, he has successfully (?) applied py. Repair me, like a broken down car. And in helping patients “alter homosexual feelings or behaviors” and live their lives “heterosex- Read TRT’s Own Trans Column on Page 4 Letters to the Editor ually” with “only very few weak instances of homosexual attraction.” Dear Editor, Uh-huh. Love, Rights … and the Rest of It! The Margaret Cho story was great. Awesome Ok, let’s look a little closer at these pan- Rainbow Times! elists, sanctioned and approved by the APA. By: JM Sorrell*/TRT Columnist nificant for both Mexico and the United Tamara S. , Springfield, MA States. By 1862, Mexico had been liberated Gene Robinson is better known as the first May is here. In pre-Christian Europe, May from Spanish rule for five Dear Editor, out-of-the-closet, elected gay bishop in the 1 marked the first day of summer, and the decades, and yet the French The Anyone & Everyone story was really Episcopal Church. June event was known as the mid-summer arrived under the pretense touching. I wish there were more documen- Solstice. With everything blooming after a of “visitor,” with the inten- taries like this one. See Couch on Page 20 long and fairly cold winter, it certainly feels tion of taking over. Reed M., West Springfield, MA as though life is being created all over again. Outnumbered (at least 2- Dear Editor, The Rainbow Times May 1 is also International Worker’s Day to 1) and out armed, the The Trans coverage in The Times is incredi- commemorate the Haymarket martyrs of 351 Pleasant St., #322 J.M. the JP Mexican army nonetheless ble. I’ve never seen such a presence in any Northampton, MA 01060 1886. Although the observance of this day other LGBT newspaper. Usually the T’s are used strategy to catch the www.therainbowtimesnews.com began with a United States event, it was inten- left out. Thank you. French off-guard and to soundly defeat them [email protected] tionally named “Loyalty Day” and down- Helen S., Northampton, MA near Mexico City. This in turn prevented the [email protected] played in significance by Congress in 1958 Dear Editor, French from continuing to supply arms to the Phone: 413-204-8959 • Fax: 866-310-8512 because of its association with communism. The Suicide Mission article was very well Confederate Army. Union forces rushed to the NY: 518-391-2617 Ironically, it is celebrated all over the world, Texas/Mexican border to provide weapons written. I think the author didn’t choose cow- and our Labor day was placed in September. and ammunition, and American soldiers were ardice, he chose the real challenge, which is to Publisher Columnists Isolationist policies seem to run deep in the discharged complete with uniforms and rifles live as a member of the gay community, as a Gricel M. Ocasio Jennifer Dexter United States; however, we can do things to to fight alongside the Mexican army. It was gay man and all that this entails, as we well Editor-In-Chief J.M. Sorrell counter this. Go to just 14 months later that the Civil War ended. know. Nicole Lashomb Suzan Ambrose www.thelovefoundation.com to learn about Thank you, Mexico. —Joe W., Schenectady, NY Deja N. Greenlaw Global Love Day—also on May 1. This is the Distribution Mother’ Day was originally a gathering day Dear Editor, Ben Peterson Reporters 5th annual event with the following princi- to call for pacifism and disarmament by moth- Great coverage on the CT pages. I see that Lindsay Wilson Sales Associates ples: “We are one humanity on this planet. All ers whose sons fought on opposite sides of the there’s more to read from our area, though you Tynan Power SJ Seymour life is interconnected and interdependent. always have tons to read that pertains to the Civil War. Chris Gilmore Webmaster Love begins with self-acceptance and forgive- Queer community. Memorial Day was first observed in 1865 Liz Johnson Jarred Johnson ness. With tolerance and compassion, we —Sean T., Hartford, CT by liberated slaves at a site that had been a The Rainbow Times is published by The Rainbow Times, embrace diversity.” Confederate prison camp and mass grave for Dear Editor, Continue the love fest at the annual LLC. The articles written by the writers, columnists, and Union soldiers. Freed blacks and Union sol- I am with the reader who thinks that if correspondents express their opinion, and do not repre- Northampton LGBT Pride March on May 3. It diers had a picnic and sang songs. It got its Northampton Pride is for the LGBT communi- sent the endorsement or opinion of The Rainbow Times, kicks off the Pride March Season, which is official name in 1967, having been expanded ty, why is there a T Pride? Should we then just LLC or its owners. To write letters to the editor, please most heavily concentrated in June throughout have an LGB or fight only for the LGB’s from send your letters, with your name, address and phone in definition to commemorate soldiers who number to: The Rainbow Times (address shown above), the U.S.