No. 572 • March 9, 2017 outwordmagazine.com magazine sacramento SouthSouth FloridaFlorida IsIs anan LGBTLGBT PlaygroundPlayground page 14 100 Things The 6 LGBT- The “A Gentleman’s To Do In Hunks of Friendly Mendocino Guide To Sacramento Cheese Hotels Film Festival Love...” page 10 page 13 page 17 page 18 page 21 COLOR COLOR Outword Poll Finds One in Eight CA Voters Identifies as LGBT Staff quality California has announced that a poll conducted by Tulchin PUBLISHER Research in January 2017 has found that 12 percent of California Hate Groups Fred Palmer Evoters identify as being members of the LGBT community. Increase for Second ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION The online survey of 600 registered voters low end of that range. Homophobia and a Ron Tackitt asked “are you a member of the LGBT lack of acceptance make many LGBT people Consecutive Year community.” The answers showed notable unwilling to disclose their sexual orientation GRAPHIC DESIGN he number of hate groups Ron Tackitt divisions by age, with 16 percent of or gender identity publicly or to a stranger respondents ages 18-29 identifying as LGBT, over the phone. in the United States rose EDITOR while 10 percent of those aged 40 and above “While this is only one survey, it used for a second year in a row Charles Peer did so. The survey shows significantly more sound methodology to examine a statistically T in 2016 as the radical right was [email protected] people identifying as part of the LGBT valid sample of California registered voters energized by the candidacy of ARTS EDITOR community across all age categories than and demonstrates that LGBT people make Chris Narloch has traditionally been the case in previous up one of California’s largest voting blocs,” Donald Trump, according to the polls conducted by telephone. said Zbur. Southern Poverty Law Center’s SALES “This poll gives us new data indicating “Politicians take note: with 12 percent of Fred Palmer that the number of LGBT people who are the electorate, LGBT people make up one of (SPLC) annual census of hate CONTRIBUTING part of the California electorate is the largest voting blocs in California and our groups and other extremist WRITERS significantly higher than previously issues must not be ignored,” said organizations. Diana Kienle estimated,” said Rick Zbur, executive director Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Colt McGraw of Equality California. “Because of our Valley), chair of the California Legislative The most dramatic growth was the Chris Narloch decades-long fight for full equality and social LGBT Caucus. “With strength in numbers, near-tripling of anti-Muslim hate groups – Bonnie Osborn from 34 in 2015 to 101 last year. Charles Peer justice, it’s not surprising that LGBT people LGBT voters stand ready to hold their are especially engaged in the political elected representatives accountable.” The SPLC also released an in-depth profile PHOTOGRAPHY process and appear to make up a significant Tulchin Research pollsters believe that the of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), an Charles Peer percentage of the voting public.” wording of the question and the anonymity anti-LGBT hate group. Leaders of the legal LGBT organizations have traditionally of completing a survey online, rather than advocacy organization and its affiliated ON THE COVER lawyers have regularly demonized LGBT Key West, Florida estimated that LGBT people comprise four to disclosing personal information to a stranger 10 percent of the general population, based over the phone, contributed to higher people, falsely linking them to pedophilia, DISTRIBUTION in part on surveys that set the number at the numbers identifying as LGBT. calling them “evil” and a threat to children Kaye Crawford and society, and blaming them for the Michael Crawford “persecution of devout Christians.” The group also has supported the criminalization of ADVERTISING SALES homosexuality in several countries. The growth has been accompanied by a Northern California rash of crimes targeting Muslims, including (916) 329-9280 Fred Palmer an arson that destroyed a mosque in Victoria, Texas, just hours after the Trump National Advertising Representative administration announced an executive order Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 suspending travel from some predominantly Muslim countries. The latest FBI statistics show that hate crimes against Muslims grew by 67 percent in 2015, the year in which Trump launched his campaign. The report, contained in the Spring 2017 issue of the SPLC’s Intelligence Report, can be read at www.splcenter.org. Online readers will also find an interactive map showing the names, types and locations of hate groups Outword Magazine Inc. across the country. Office 372 Florin Road, #133 Sacramento, CA 95831 PHONE: (916) 329-9280 FAX: (916) 498-8445 www.outwordmagazine.com [email protected] ISSN # 1084-7618 United States Library of Congress Nat. Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Nat. Lesbian & Gay Journalist Association 4 Outword Magazine March 9, 2017 - March 23, 2017 • No. 572 outwordmagazine.com Sac Equality Awards to Honor Three LGBT Champions quality California will honor California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, California Legislative LGBT Caucus Chair EAsm. Evan Low and Equality California Outside Legislative Director Alice Kessler for their years of extraordinary service to the LGBT community at its 2017 Sacramento Equality Awards. This year’s Sacramento Equality Awards “Assemblymember Low authored cutting will take place Monday, March 27, 2017 at edge legislation that aims to address the the Sacramento Public Library Galleria, at wave of anti-LGBT laws sweeping the 828 I St. in Sacramento. country by helping to keep California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon taxpayer dollars out of the coffers of states (D-Paramount), recipient of this year’s that discriminate,” said Zbur. “Even before Vanguard Leadership Award, is one of the becoming its chair, he helped maintain and LGBT community’s staunchest allies in the increase the size and strength of the LGBT California Legislature. Caucus and mentored LGBT candidates at “Speaker Rendon has been instrumental the local level to build a bench of candidates Alice Kessler since becoming speaker in supporting for state senate and assembly. His work will nation’s strongest. With her deep knowledge passage of legislation vital to improving the help maintain an invaluable ‘seat at the of both the challenges facing LGBT people lives of LGBT people,” said Rick Zbur, table’ for LGBT people in the state legislature and of our state’s legislative landscape, her executive director of Equality California. for years to come.” work has improved the lives of millions of “During his time in the Assembly, Speaker Alice Kessler, recipient of this year’s LGBT Californians.” Rendon has been a powerful advocate not Community Leadership Award, serves as Each year, Equality California recognizes only for LGBT people, but for children, Equality California’s outside legislative individuals and organizations who have education, a clean environment and for all director, heading the organization’s made an impact on the movement to secure marginalized communities. Since the legislative work in Sacramento. full and lasting equality for LGBT people at November presidential election, he has “Very quietly, Alice has been one of the its annual Equality Awards — a series of helped lead the charge against the regressive most important forces behind many of the formal events held in San Francisco, San policies of the Trump Administration and advances our community has made over the Diego, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, and has been a constant voice in support of past ten years,” said Zbur. “She is a key Sacramento. California values of inclusion and tolerance.” architect of the legislative strategy that took For tickets or sponsorship information, Asm. Evan Low (D-Campbell) will receive California from a state with few protections contact Scott Gizicki at [email protected] or by this year’s Equality Leadership Award. for LGBT people to the state with the calling 323-848-9801. Former Elk Grove Police Trainee Files Discrimination Lawsuit former officer with the Elk Grove Police Department, who conduct a proper self-evaluation of the pervasive environment and atmosphere is openly gay, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against condoned within their department. I was A that organization claiming he was terminated based on his targeted by the leadership, and unable to sexual orientation. function without intense scrutiny. Without The plaintiff, Jeremy Lemire, was a reprieve from department leadership, I felt probationary police officer who was hired by crippled, unable to comprehend why this the Elk Grove Police Department in June behavior, environment and atmosphere 2014, and was terminated on February 25, would be tolerated and overlooked in today’s 2016. society. By filing this lawsuit, I want to Before being hired by the EGPD, Lemire, ensure that what happened to me with the age 34, served in the United States Army EGPD does not happen to anyone else in the and as a civilian contractor between 2003 future. I want to ensure that our law and 2014, including two terms in combat, enforcement agencies truly reflect the and was honorably discharged in 2014. He diversity of the people they serve.” currently lives in Yuba City, CA. Lemire began his field training in Attorneys representing Lemire are September 2014, following graduation from Lawrance A. Bohm of the California-wide the police academy.