Top 10 Friends and Foes of 2003 December 29, 2003 Volume 4, Number 52 See story on page 16 A Year of Gay Independence See story —and New Challenges on page 3 Court Victories, New Friends and Old Foes Highlight 2003 Photo by Steven Shires On Tuesday, Aug. 12, the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus sang the national anthem prior to the Florida Marlins game at Pro Player Stadium. Michael Stark, left, and Michael Leshner kiss after their marriage in Superior Court in Toronto on Tuesday, June 10, 2003. The couple have been together for 22 years and were finally allowed to marry following a court ruling Tuesday morning. (AP Photo/Frank Gunn) Gene Robinson, the first openly gay man to be consecrated as an Epicopalian bishop Photo by Steven Shires Naomi Parker, teacher and activist, with her daughters, Jamerah and Bria, in May. Photo by Carole Fawcett Sumi, Dori, Janita, Sophia, Mona Ashlyn, Isa and Dori at Aqua Girl’s Pool Party. This 1.25-mile-long was unfurled sea to sea in Key West June 15, 2003, as part of the island’s gay pride festival. Eleven days later, the Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Lawrence v. Texas. Photo by Carole Fawcett Pridelines services grant recipiants, Rose, Priscilla and Natal. Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, left, Photo by Steven Shires looks at his Ten Commandments monument on Aug. Photo by Pompano Bill 22. The Judge has called for the confinement and Ann Bannon, author of many lesbian novels, with Hollee execution of gay people. (AP Photo/Monotogomery Sir Ian McKellen, recipient of the International Media Lane at Bannon’s appearance at the Stonewall Library Advertiser/ Julie Bennett) Award, at the Gay & Lesbian Foundation of South Florida in January. Recognition Dinner, Nov. 22 www.ExpressGayNews.com • December 29, 2003 1 December 29, 2003 Volume 4, Number 52 Issue 161 Managing Editor Phil LaPadula [email protected] Arts & Entertainment Editor 2003 In Review Page 16 Mary Damiano [email protected] Features Editor Top 10 Andy Zeffer [email protected] Friends and Foes of 2003 EDITORIAL Sales and Marketing Manager Kevin Hopper [email protected] Account Executives Expressions Page 1018 Craig Combs [email protected] Anthony Verrico In 2003, the Stars Lined Up for Us [email protected] Daniel Wasinger Mars, Richard Chamberlain and the Judge who [email protected] Accidentally Granted a Divorce Classifieds Manager Ralph Lankford [email protected] National Sales Representatives Expressions Page 27 Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 Publisher The Declining Role of Gay Bars Unite Media LLC. Steven Guerrini, President New Social Outlets Mean Clubs will Have to Innovate to [email protected] BUSINESS Attract Business News & Features Jennifer Trovato • Paul Harris • Dan Aiello Business & Finance 2003 In Review: Q By Q Page Page Q 10 2 Daniel M. Pye • Michael Wilke Syndicated Columnists Mike Alvear • Mubarak Dahir Paul Varnell • Deb Price • M.Signorile 2003 In Review: Q by Q Timothy J. Critzer • John D. Siegfried Jennifer Vanasco • Marc Acito A Look Back at a Year’s Worth of Health & Fitness Columnists Entertainment, ‘Express’ Style Stephen Fallon Advice & Counseling Mark Rutherford Webmaster • Gary Hallock Network Administrator • Ray Johnston Contributing Photographers 2003 Q In Review Page Q6 Steven Shires • Pompano Bill • Carole Fawcett Distribution Managers The Sex, Scandals and Salacious Charlie Braun • Glenn King • John Fugate Graphic Artist • Henny Snow Gossip of 2003 Office Administrator • Logan Kent From Bush’s Porn Pal to Gay Celeb Weddings, ‘The CONTRIBUTORS Express’ Stirred Up The Dirt The Express Gay News Unite Media LLC. 1595 Northeast 26th St. Wilton Manors, Fl. 33305 2003 Q In Review Page Page Q10 10 Phone: 954.568.1880 Fax: 954.568.5110 www.ExpressGayNews.com Maximum Volume DEADLINES Mary Damiano and Andy Zeffer Pick the Display Advertising Classifieds Placement Request Line Ads Best CDs of 2003 Monday by 5pm Wednesday by 4pm Art Work Art Work Wednesday by noon Tuesday by noon The Express is published weekly on Mondays by Unite Media, Concert Review Page 36 LLC. Our paper is a member of the Associated Press, and a Founding Member of the Gay American Media Association. The views or opinions expressed within this publication, in bylined Ft. Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus columns, stories and letters to the editor are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Unite Media LLC. The appearance of Sets a Holiday Mood names or pictorial representations in The Express does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that named person or persons. ‘Seasons of Love’ a Stunning Concert All material in The Express is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of Express Gay News. The Express reserves the right to enforce its own judgments regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and/or photographs. Local & National News................................4-16 The Express Stylebook Policy Weekly Highlights......................................9 For the sake of readable newswriting the word “gay” in Editorial Page..................................................18 The Express Should, when relevant, be interpreted to be Comics, Horoscopes & Crossword.........26-29 inclusive of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals, Norm Kent Founder and Publisher Classifieds..................................................30-31 transvestites, transgendered people, two-spirited people, intersexed people, men-who-have-sex-with-men, women- (2000-2003) Business Directory....................................32-33 who-have-sex-with-women, queers, homosexuals, sexual Faces in the News......................................35 minorities, and people who are unsure of their sexual orientation, “This Above All... To Thine Own Self Be True. And it Cultural Events............................................Q10 but think they might be gay. Here is an example: “Toronto’s gay- must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to Maximum Volume........................................Q11 pride parade is bigger than Vancouver’s.” any man.” • Shakespeare / Hamlet / I / III Copyright © 2003 • Unite Media LLC. 2 www.ExpressGayNews.com • December 29, 2003 A Year of Gay Independence —and New Challenges Court Victories, New Friends and Old Foes Highlight 2003 By Phil LaPadula comments in an Associated Press interview in which he compared homosexuality to Managing Editor bigamy, polygamy, incest, bestiality and adultery. In the years and decades to come, 2003 may become known as the gay community’s The candidacy of Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) for the U.S. Senate revived the 1776. In many ways, it was a year of independence and emancipation for the gay and contentious issue of “outing.” After New Times re-outed Foley (The Express and lesbian community nationwide. other gay publications had already reported on Foley’s not-so-hidden secret), the The landmark Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court ruling in June, which struck congressman lashed out at Democratic activists as “rumor-mongers” who were trying down the sodomy statutes and decriminalized the lives of millions of gay and lesbian to “drag him through the gutter.” In September, Foley dropped out of the Senate race, citizens, was the centerpiece of the year. Many activists regard the Massachusetts but not before posting a statement on his Web site praising virulently anti-gay Judge court ruling in favor of gay marriage as “Gay Independence Day II.” But it remains to Roy Moore for his Ten Commandments fight. be seen if that ruling will have the same broad, liberating impact as the sodomy ruling, The mainstream media ignored Judge Moore’s hateful, anti-gay words when or whether it will instead fuel a backlash that could benefit the radical right more than reporting on his crusade to keep a Ten Commandments monument on state property the gay community. in Alabama. But The Express didn’t ignore the judge’s homophobia, pointing out his A highlight of the year for the local gay community was the election of Dean mean-spirited remarks when he advocated executing gay people in an opinion that he Trantalis as Fort Lauderdale’s first openly gay commissioner in March. Trantalis, co- wrote in February 2002. Moore spoke at the Rev. Kennedy’s “Reclaiming America for author of Broward County’s domestic partnership law, won by 50 votes over John Christ” conference before being fired from his job as chief justice of the Alabama Albee, benefiting from his support in the gay community as well as his position on Supreme Court for defying a federal court order. reining in over-development in the city. In October, gay activists accused President Bush of aligning himself with the far While the year saw the elevation of old friends like Trantalis, it was also a year in right after he after he issued a proclamation in support of the so-called “Marriage which the gay community made new friends in unexpected places. Justice Anthony Protection Week,” an anti-gay event organized and sponsored by several far-right Kennedy, who was appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan, surprised groups. many observers when he penned the progressive majority opinion in Lawrence v. As the year wrapped up, The Express itself made news when the paper’s founder Texas, which declared that gay and lesbian people are “entitled to respect for their and publisher Norm Kent sold the 4-year-old weekly to Unite Media. The new owners private lives. The state cannot demean their existence or control their destiny by promised to enhance the paper and continue its emphasis on local coverage with “a making their private sexual conduct a crime.” strong focus on national issues.” Meanwhile, the South Florida gay community also made new friends in the world So here we are with new captains at the helm about to guide the South Florida of professional sports—an industry that has not been known for its tolerant attitudes GLBT community through the uncharted waters of an election year.