INSIDE Gay Families Similar to Others in Texas, New Study Shows
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
‘Revolution’ Comedienne Margaret Cho contin ues to defy labels and categories as she brings her new stand-up tour to Houston. voice Page 15 ISSUE 1177 WWW.HOUSTONVOICE.COM AU THE NEWS FOR YOUR LIFE, AND YOUR STYIE.MAY 16, 2003 INSIDE Gay families similar to others in Texas, new study shows An analysis of New Census data shows HIKING SIMILARITIES new Census 2000 data, households led by gays released this week, shows not unlike those with a number of similarities heterosexual couples MEDIAN: between same- sex couples in INCOME $52,400.............. $55,000 Texas and Both pro- and anti-gay bills By PENNY WEAVER other families get sidelined as the Texas PROPERTY $85,000..............$85,000 in the state. House, led by Republican Tom Just as state officials have highlighted (Graphic by Craddick, stalls from a mass differences between gay and heterosexual CHILDREN 1.97 ................ 1.90 Bonnie Naugle) Democrat walk-out. couples with a Texas Defense of Marriage Page 3 Act, newly released data shows striking similarities between households led by sioned a new analysis of Census 2000 data. ly discriminatory, and, if signed into law, same-sex couples and all families in the “Families headed by same-sex couples is destined to be overturned. All couples Lone Star State. are much more similar to most other fami and families deserve the same treatment “This study should serve as a wake-up call lies than they are different — yet the Texas and protection in the eyes of the law — to both state and federal leaders,” said Seth Legislature has chosen to treat them dif regardless of sexual orientation.” Kilbourn, National Field Director for the ferently in the eyes of the law,” Kilbourn Human Rights Campaign, which commis- said. “The Texas DOMA bill is unabashed Please see FAMILIES on Page 4 Conservative groups upset over GOP meet with gays Marc Racicot, chair of are acting desperate because their perceived U.S. Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) RNC chair says session the Republican stranglehold on the party is slipping.” prepares for a run for U.S. National Committee, Gary Bauer, founder of the conservative Senate without addressing per follows Bush order to 'carry said that gays have 'a group American Values and a former presi sistent rumors that he is gay. right to be involved in dential candidate, tried to soften Wildmon’s Page 6 message to everyone’ the public discussion’ question by emphasizing that the point was and that he didn't not to compare gays to members of NAM- By JOE CREA know what caused BLA, but rather to observe that simply meet homosexuality after ing with a group implies a level of accep WASHINGTON — Marc Racicot is facing pro-family groups tance, according to the Knight article. •a storm of criticism from conservative reli provided him with “There are people I’ve met who are gay — gious groups outraged that the Republican 'evidence' that there thoughtful people,” Racicot said in the National Committee chair met with the is no genetic link to Knight article. “I know of families with chil Human Rights Campaign to discuss gay homosexuality. dren — some of them are gay. They have a rights issues earlier this year. right to be involved in the public discussion.” Racicot faced his critics in a May 6 meet Racicot if he would meet with the North But after the meeting, Bauer sensed that ing that drew 11 conservative leaders to the American Man-Boy Love Association, since the message from the conservative groups GOP headquarters. At the meeting, Racicot he was willing to meet with gay activists. might not resonate as strongly as it once did defended his March 7 meeting with the HRC, Racicot reportedly said he would not and within the GOP, according to the Knight saying that he was trying to implement “the called the group “aberrant,” noting that he article. directive that the president gave me ... to used to prosecute child molesters. “My sense after the meeting was that, for carry our message, our principles, to every “They are testing the depths of despera reasons I don’t fully understand, we still have Montrose fixture Don Gill body and anybody,” he said, according to an tion, there’s no doubt about that,” said David a lot of work to do educating the Republican admits he has learned many life article written by Robert Knight for the Smith, communications director for HRC. establishment about why this matters,” lessons from his beloved pets. Concerned Women for America. “Racicot and others are getting an education Bauer said in the Knight article. Page 17 At the meeting, Don Wildmon, founder of in terms of the viciousness of [pro-family the American Family Association, asked groups’] motives for all to see. Perhaps they Please see GOP MEET on Page 6 2 MAY 16, 2003 www.houstonvoice.com HOUSTON VOICE Switch to Total Communications Options " from Allegiance Telecom WEDOUB DUMP YOUR DSL, DROP YOUR DIAL-UP. You can't beat our business telecom service for quality, reliability and value. Call 1.866.THE.DARE and let us prove it. It's a fact - we are the better choice. CALL NOW A SAVf $700. Total Communications Options ” is big business tools at small business prices. Our premium fiber-optic network delivers reliable local, long distance and Internet service through one cost-saving, T1 -grade connection - including "always on" Internet access with speeds of up to 1Mbps. aUe^iancMec(nn,inc. One sowc« to* butmes* tctocom,*” Total Communications Options I.IOO.TNCJMi HOUSTON VOICE www.houstonvoice.com_____________________________________________________________ MAY 16, 2003 3 | local news inside ISSUE 1177 Police report beating death LOCAL NEWS___________________________ 3 NATIONAL NEWS________________________ 6 FORUM....................... 12 recently moved into OUT ON THE BAYOU.............................. 15 Officials unable to confirm Westheimer Rd the town home with COMMUNITY CALENDAR.... ............ 21 the victim, accord APPOINTMENTS.................................................21 whether or not men were ing to police. The CLASSIFIEDS__________________________ 22 suspect learned that Q PUZZLE______________________________ 23 a gay couple the victim was look MY STARS.___ :-----------------------------------26 __Site of' ing for another roommate and was By PENNY WEAVER death planning to evict Houston police are investigating the him, the police Wednesday evening death of a man report stated. Police allegedly beaten by his roommate. said the suspect was As of press time Thursday, Houston not able to pay rent. Police Department spokesman John The suspect told Cannon said he could not confirm whether police that there or not the men involved were gay or were a was a confrontation couple. when the victim The incident occurred about 9 p.m. at the came home and that victim’s home at 9515 Pagewood, according the suspect repeat to a Houston Police Department report. edly struck the vic The name of the victim has not been Harwin tim’s head with a released, pending notification of next of blunt object. The kin, police said. Medical examiners were victim sustained still conducting an autopsy Thursday severe blunt trauma morning, according to Cannon. returned from a walk to his town home to the head and died at the home, police said. HPD Homicide Division Officer C.Y. when the suspect, who was waiting for him Charges are pending against the sus Park and I.E Flores reported that the victim inside, confronted him. The suspect had pect, according to HPD. IN MEMORY: Laurance Butler, a member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston, will be remembered Gay bills likely victim of House impasse in a celebration of life this weekend. Page 5. As Democrats maintain walkout, state law enforcement officers Democrats coming together do not have jurisdiction to "lihd 'standing unified on this arrest the legislators if they are issue,” Ellis said. “They’re proposals both pro-gay and out of state, the Houston standing up for a process. Chronicle reported. “People say they’re not anti-gay may fall by the wayside The House was to re-adjourn engaging in the process [but] Thursday morning, and what we had for the four months By PENNY WEAVER Craddick told the Chronicle he prior to this was the Republicans will have members who show not engaging in the process,” he AUSTIN — Democrats in the Texas House up wait for a quorum to arrive. added. “The fact that the of Representatives this week maintained Without a quorum, Craddick Democrats are standing up as a their headline-grabbing walkout, and a num said, he will adjourn the legisla unified voice to protect the inter ber of measures directly affecting gays tive body until Friday, the ests of the people of Texas and appeared Thursday to be down for the count. Chronicle reported. w they have the ability to stay “It puts a lot of things on hold on the “That effectively puts a nail in Republican Speaker of the together as a cohesive group NO COMMENT: U.S. Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) is House side,” said Randall Ellis, executive the coffin on the bills that were House Tom Craddick means that they’re really look preparing for a run for U.S. Senate, but won't dis director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby left pending,” LGRL’s Ellis said. blames that legislative ing out for their constituents. cuss a published report that renewed previous of Texas. “It’s just shut down the House. The high-profile redistrict body's impasse on the Texas “That should be hopeful to speculation that he is gay. Page 6. Effectively, pretty much all the House bills ing flap specifically affects gay Democratic walkout, but GLBT Texans,” Ellis said. “They will be dead (Thursday at midnight).