A peek at the upcoming arts season Dallas Black Dance Theatre strikes a pose Just what is so gay about the 2010-11 season? • APPLAUSE, Page S1 DallasVoice.com DallasVoice.com/Instant-Tea Facebook.com/DallasVoice Twitter.com/DallasVoice The Premier Media Source for LGBT Texas Established 1984 | Volume 27 | Issue 15 FREE | Friday, August 27, 2010 A big party School rejects lesbians’ daughter for a big anniversary 20th annual LifeWalk steps off Oct. 10, will benefit 9 ASOs TAMMYE NASH | Senior Editor [email protected] Twenty years is a long time for a fundrais- ing event to stay active, not to mention suc- cessful. And a 20th anniversary calls for a special celebration. And that’s exactly what AIDS Arms has planned for the 20th annual LifeWalk set for Sunday, Oct. 10 at Lee Park. As the event marks its 20th year, AIDS Arms Execu- tive Director Raeline Nobles said, “One of the things we Raeline Nobles wanted to do, right out of the gate, was OLIVIA HAS 2 MOMMIES | St. Vincent’s, a school operated by a Bedford church that left the Episcopal Church USA over the denomination’s policies on ordain- increase our partnerships within the nonprofit ing women and accepting LGBT people, waited until just four days before school started to tell a lesbian couple that their daughter would not be allowed to attend community, to increase the number of partner classes there. (John Wright/Dallas Voice) agencies that would benefit from LifeWalk. “We had four partner agencies last year. School’s dean says Harrisons’ St. Vincent’s Cathedral School this year. week, instead of St. Vincent’s. This year, we have nine. There are 10 organi- “We said, ‘You realize that you’re not going to “They don’t like that I have two mommies,” zations, counting AIDS Arms,” she said. relationship violates St. Vincent’s go to the same school,’” said Olivia’s biological Olivia says. LifeWalk was created in 1991 as a ‘basic Christian values,’ but mothers mother, Jill Harrison. “She said, ‘Yes I am, I want “She’s just repeating, so we’re careful about fundraiser for Oak Lawn Community Serv- to go to that school, I want to play there.’ what we’re telling her,” said Jill Harrison. “I don’t ices. When that agency folded, AIDS Arms says discrimination is ‘just not right’ “They have a fish pond, and she said, ‘Yeah, but want her to think that she in any way shape or took over, each year inviting other AIDS serv- JOHN WRIGHT | Online Editor I need to feed the fish and take care of them,’” Jill form did anything wrong.” ice organizations in the community to partic- [email protected] Harrison said. Olivia, who’d been accepted into St. Vincent’s ipate. Regardless of whether Olivia fully understands earlier this summer, was set to start on Monday, • LIFEWALK, Page 14 BEDFORD — Four-year-old Olivia Harrison the decision, she can now tell you why she’ll be Aug. 23. But school officials abruptly changed was disappointed to learn she won’t be attending starting pre-kindergarten at another school next • SCHOOL, Page 14 2 dallasvoice.com • 08.27.10 toc08.27.10 | Volume 27 | Issue 15 4 headlines • TEXAS NEWS 4 YFT fundraiser to kick off Pride 4 Donna Dumae: A friend indeed 10 Red Mango donates equipment 10 Stafford elected DIFFA/Dallas chair • BUSINESS 16 Target: To shop or not to shop? • LIFE+STYLE 16 24 Mama knows best 25 Gay TV at the Emmys 29 DSO outreach to LGBT community 48 ‘Jimmy Dean’ writer returns to Texas departments 24 4 Texas News 24 Life+Style 6 Pet of the Week 46 Starvoice 9 Deaths 48 Scene 22 Viewpoints 50 Classifieds 08.27.10 • dallasvoice 3 • texasnews instantTEA DallasVoice.com/Instant-Tea YFT plans fundraiser to kick off Pride celebrations Show ’em your Scruff The other day on Bearotic.com (yeah, I know), “Net Bear” posted a nifty piece Event intended to help make up “We need a smaller, more secure spot,” he said. about the iPhone app Scruff. For those “YFT Collin County is a more intimate group. We who prefer their shortfall in youth group’s budget have a couple of things in the works and are look- men a little, um, caused by economic downturn ing for what will be the best fit.” scruffier, Scruff The main Dallas center moved earlier this year suits all your DAVID TAFFET | to a new location on Harry Hines Boulevard. needs. This “gay Staff Writer bear finder” was Baker said the old space on Maple Avenue [email protected] designed by Eric leaked, had air conditioning problems, was lo- Silverberg and is Youth First Texas kicks off Pride with a cated near a meth clinic and had homeless people described as “a fundraising party at the home of Jo Bess Jackson hanging out on the property. The new, more social application and Joanne Martin on Sept. 11. modern facility is safer and has attracted more for gay bears, “It’s a great way for those in our community youth. musclebears, who want to celebrate Pride and support a great “As of last month, we served 1,300 individuals cubs, otters, organization,” said Youth First Texas Director of so far this year,” Baker said. leather men, and Development and Administration Sam Wilkes. That’s about a 25 percent increase in the num- their admirers. Advisory board member Renee Baker put out ber accessing services, and with the safer location Scruff enables users to create and view profiles based on geo- a call to members of the Women’s Business Net- some attend more often. location, send messages and private im- work to help raise money for the center after it YFT is gearing up for another increase later ages, and check in to neighborhood moved to its new location. Jackson and Martin this year when DART’s Green Line opens in De- venues.” responded. cember. We asked resident DV bear Greg to While no admission to the party will be Sam Wilkes Market Center Station is across the street from download the free app for a test run. “Oh charged, Wilkes said they will showcase the serv- their new building, making the facility even more my God! My whole world has just opened ices the organization offers and hope the commu- donors who will make a multi-year commitment accessible. up,” was his first reaction. Its similarities to nity will be generous with its financial support. and challenge appeals. Jackson said she and her partner were de- Grindr make it easy to use and some of the “We’ll probably have a short presentation. A Wilkes said that their Collin County group re- lighted to open their house to help the organiza- features come in pretty handy — you know, youth or two will make an appeal,” said board cently lost its space and is currently meeting at tion continue to offer a variety of services. for social networking and all that. Greg and I could do a general browse member Chris Hendrix. an office owned by Big Brothers/Big Sisters. The • YFT, Page 12 regardless of location, but then we had the He said the group was looking for monthly group is looking for a space of its own. option to choose “Near” for bears near our den. Like FourSquare, you can check in, but neither our office nor adjacent busi- nesses came up. We’re at Fitzhugh and Travis and the closest to us for check-in Donna Dumae: A friend indeed were the businesses in Knox-Henderson. Once you’re logged in, you can send For 14 years, Don Jenkins has used his royal alter ego to someone a “Woof” (which I never under- stood because bears actually growl) and bring together ‘Friends Helping Friends’ to benefit ASD also click under the “Would you meet this person?” with options of “Not My Type” (ouch), “Maybe” and “Definitely.” We clicked DAVID TAFFET | Staff Writer “definitely” for one guy who clocked in at [email protected] nine blocks away. Hi, Justin! — Rich Lopez Donna Dumae — aka Don Jenkins — will present her 14th annual “Friends Cars vandalized at ilume Helping Friends” benefit for AIDS Services Dallas on Sept. 4 at Dallas Eagle. Dallas police estimate that 20-25 vehi- Don Jenkins has performed as Donna for 27 years. But his alter ego Donna cles were vandalized Sunday afternoon wasn’t something he had been rehearsing at home that was just waiting for a while parked in the garage at ilume, the chance to burst out. posh new development on the Cedar “I was out at one of the clubs in Fort Worth and someone dared me to do Springs strip. it,” he said. “At first I said no. Then I asked, ‘What’ll you give me?’” Sr. Cpl. Kevin Janse, a spokesman for His friends offered him $100 to enter a contest and win. He competed in the DPD, said the vehicles appeared to have Closet Ball and lost but was asked to come back the next night and perform been “keyed,” although the suspect could again. have used a screwdriver or anything sharp. Janse said only four victims have called “I never got the $100,” he said. in reports to police thus far, but it’s esti- But he found that he enjoyed performing, so he joined some of the cast mated that 20-25 vehicles were damaged. shows. He added that there’s no reason to believe “And they’d pay me!” he said. the incident was an anti-gay hate crime.