RRacinAe -C TheI LNGBTE Cen tLer oGf SE BT CENTER SETS GALA OabPle tEo enNjoy tIheN preGmiere eAxhibPit inR theI cLente r4’s art Wisconsin will open with a formal gallery featuring distinguished works organized by the ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Lemon Street Gallery. Also on the calendar are a dis - Mayor Tom Friedel, Common cussion of the film “Fried Green Tomatoes;” a presen - Council President David Maack, and tation on “The History of Drag: A Peculiar Alderman Michael Shields and a Retrospective,” by the UW-Parkside Rainbow Al - host of regional business and gay liance; a “Dancing with the Stars” demonstration of dignitaries at 10 AM here Saturday, popular ballroom and disco dances; and meetings of April 5. the “How Healthy is Your Relationship?” discussion “We purchased a big rainbow ribbon that will be and support group led by relationship expert and cut by the mayor and other city officials,” Executive Women's Resource Center Director Cherie Griffin. Director Bruce Joffe Ph.D. told Quest . “I’m expecting a Already set for May are a workshop on goal-setting pretty sizeable crowd.” led by Karen Carnabucci, LCSW; the initial meeting of Following the ribbon cutting, the center, located at a monthly LGBT domestic abuse support group; a dis - 1456 Junction Avenue here will hold an open house cussion of the favorite gender-bender film “Steel Mag - and tours of its facilities until 4 PM. nolias;” and the first in the LGBT Center's Local businesses, professionals and organizations - “Distinguished Speaker Series” sponsored by Educa - including members of the Uptown Merchants Asso - tors Credit Union. ciation that formally endorsed the LGBT Center's spe - According to the organization’s By-Laws the mission cial day - are welcoming their newest neighbor with of the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin is two-fold: First, sales at their stores and giveaways at the Center. ‘Welcome to the Community’ address. All proceeds to provide a safe and supportive environment through “The Center received a grant of $3500 from the from the auction and a portion of the door receipts which LGBT people, their family, friends and allies from United Way of Racine,” Joffe noted. “It’s one of sev - will benefit the LGBT Center. Racine, Kenosha and surrounding areas can access eral major major gifts that have come our way in the A limited number of $15 advance sale tickets are still needed community, social, educational, and health- last few months.” available online through Brown Paper Tickets at: related services; and second, to link the LGBT popu - The day-long event will offer drawings for door prizes www.brownpapertickets.com. Space permitting, lation of Racine and Kenosha with the many ranging from gift certificates to dinners for two that tickets also will be sold at the door for $20, although non-profit and cause-oriented organizations operat - are being provided by area businesses such as Corner a capacity crowd is expected. ing in this area and elsewhere. House and Out of the Pan restaurants, the Racine “I cannot emphasize too much how supportive “We’re already serving as the local resource for ef - Merchandise Mart, Antique Junction, Avenue An - (Club ICON owner) Clint Jones has been to the cen - forts by groups such as Fair Wisconsin and Center tiques, the Brass Monkey, Schmitt Music, Uptown ter since the very beginning,” Joffe told Quest . “In ad - Advocates,” Joffe said. Transfer, and Dr. Richard Kemper. dition to helping us raise money, he also serves on The new community center will be open daily from That evening a “Pink Tie Gala Dinner” will be held at the board with twenty other very talented leaders, 2 - 6 PM, except Tuesdays and Sundays. The center is Kenosha's Club ICON to honor and support the Cen - both straight and gay, from the Racine-Kenosha open to drop-ins by teenagers and students seeking ter. The formal, sit-down dinner will offer dishes pre - area.” a safe place to meet, do their homework, conduct re - pared by some of the finest restaurants and catering The Board of Directors, led by President Steven search using free Internet access as well as a large li - services in the area. The menu will feature a full Brown, Ph.D., will guide the new organization in its brary of LGBT-specific books and periodicals. Special lasagna feast - both vegetarian and meat varieties - efforts to provide needed services and to integrate it events open to the public are held on Wednesday and with all the trimmings plus dessert. Dishes will be pro - within the larger community. Other Racine directors Thursday evenings. vided by Club ICON, Frank’s Diner, River Valley Farms, of the LGBT Center are Michael Dobrowski, Lisa “When I moved to Racine last year, I saw there was Mo's Cafe, and Jasmine Roberts, among others. Thielke, Julie Anne Dresen, Sylvia Acheson, Mark a need in the LGBT community and its allies for an an The gala will also offer an extravagant Silent Auc - Bridgeman, Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen, Charles McDonald, affirming and supportive environment,” Joffe said. “It’s tion boasting original art work provided by Erik Sosa, Christopher Scott Rosen, Steve Wanberg, Russell nice that we’re midway between two large cities, Mil - JoAnn Bates, and Bruce Joffe; Giuseppe Armani Sculp - Warren, and Steve Wingert. Kenosha directors in - waukee and Chicago, but we needed something lo - tures from Chicago's La Bomboniera; Shanon Jayne clude the Hon. Dayvin Hallmon, Len Iaquinta, Clint cally as well. The core constituency was there, they Morgan's custom glass art; autographed books, gift Jones, Dr. Chris Renaud, Chantal Smith, Franco Tarsi - just needed someone to get things started. I was certificates and other items. Scheduled entertainment tano, Rev. Georgette Wonders, and Neil Zeltinger. happy to jump in as I’ve always been an entrepreneur.” includes Jarod Howard during dinner, Ms. Club ICON A full program of exhibits and events has been set For more information the LGBT Center of SE Wis - Sheena Rae's pride presentation, and Club Icon's for the LGBT Center's opening month. Visitors will be consin is available online at: www.lgbtsewisc.org. their domestic partners), Family Research Council, WILL THE “GAY FACTOR” LEAD TO WISCONSIN Focus on the Family (which provided major funding to SPRING ELECTION UPSETS? the 2006 “Vote Yes On Marriage” campaign), Pro- in Life Wisconsin and Wisconsin Right to Life. Koshnick also “accepted an invitation to speak at a government class taught by Julaine Appling, CEO of the Wisconsin Family Council” last September at the Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown. When the Capital Times asked Koshnick if his reli - gious beliefs might impact his rulings on abortion, evolution and gay equality issues, he did not respond directly but noted that his “adherence to a literal translation of the Bible is consistent with his ‘strict Shirley Abrahamson Randy Koshnick Tony Evers Rose Fernandez constructionist’ philosophy toward laws and the Constitution...” Analysis by Mike Fitzpatrick Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Rose On the surface, the match-ups for two statewide 2006 of the so-called “Marriage Protection” amend - Fernandez was the only one to respond to the WFC races in this year’s Spring general election would ment to the state constitution, denying gay mar - questionnaire-turned-voter guide. She supports the seem to be no-brainers to most voters. In the riages and civil unions. expansion of the Milwaukee school voucher program Supreme Court contest, 33 year veteran Chief Justice However the WFC has been actively touting its can - statewide. That program allows families wishing to Shirley Abrahamson is being challenged by the rela - didate surveys (available at: www.yourwisconsin - opt out of public education to obtain a voucher that tively novice Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Randy vote.org), noting in its March Family News will provide funds to a privately-run school for their Koshnick. For the Superintendent of Public Instruc - Connection newsletter that “these documents are ed - child’s education. That money is deducted from the tion, 34-year veteran educator Tony Evers is being ucational and are appropriate for distribution in funds given to the public schools. In Milwaukee, the challenged by Rose Fernandez, a nurse who has never churches.” The WFC also has a planned “Day At The private schools accepting vouchers are overwhelm - worked in a public school in her life. Capitol” offering its supporters “issue updates” ingly run by religious or faith-based organizations. Both the Abrahamson and Evers campaigns are among other activities on March 31, just a week prior While Fernandez wants to see private schools ac - swimming in cash and bipartisan political endorse - to the election. cept state tax dollars, she’s not interested in seeing ments. The biggest conservative-leaning special in - A mid-February profile piece by the Capital Times on those schools held to the same standards as the terest group - the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Supreme Court challenger Koshnick revealed that he state’s public schools. She told the WFC that she Commerce Issues Mobilization Council (WMC) - has is “an elder with the evangelical Crosspoint Com - opposes holding “choice (private) schools to public decided to sit out the Spring election and plans none munity Church in Oconomowoc, and as such helps school requirements regardless of religious or secular of the “issue ads” it sponsored to secure the elections oversee the spiritual ministry of the church, which status of private schools participating in school of Supreme Court Justices Michael Gableman and An - opposes abortion and gay rights, and disavows no - voucher program.” nette Ziegler in the most recent two election cycles. tions of evolution.” Fernandez also appears ready to ignore at least one So will there be easy wins for experience and ex - The paper also noted that Koshnick “also has been state law if she wins the DPI superintendent seat.