Section A NEW YORK STATE'S OLDEST ~ LGBT PUBLICATION 31 Ways for 31 Days: It's LGBT Health Month By Susan Jordan A health tip every day for The 2010 Census: the 31 days of March -- that's what you get from the calen­ How to fill out dar planned by the NYS Health the form and be and Human Services Network's Healthcare Committee. That counted, maybe and a lot of exciting events. By Ove Overmyer Erik Libey of AIDS Care This month, American filled in The Empty Closet on households everywhere will some of the events and informa­ receive their 2010 Census forms tion which he hopes will make in the mail: an important civic LGBT people in the Rochester milestone that happens only area healthier, and even happier, once every 10 years. by April. What makes this year's Cen­ "We've done a week-long sus historic is the unprecedented health observance for four years outreach by u.s. Census lead­ now," Libey said. "We wanted ers and managers to include the to do it bigger and better and LGBT and allied community in this year we decided to do a full these efforts, as a way to achieve month." the nation's most accurate count possible. While far from perfect (see OPINION, page A 14), the 2010 Census at least provides the possibility of visibility. Plans are The Health Month calendar is at www.everybodysgood.com. underway to improve the 2020 census in order to make it genu­ z cancer," reminding lesbians and access local therapists and other inely inclusive (see below). ~ bi women that they are often treatment," he said, "and also Dr. Robert Groves, Direc­ Q seen as being at higher risk, or link to the website's own direc­ tor of the u.s. Census Bureau, ~ "Know if you're depressed." The tory of local providers." endorsed the 2010 initiative: ~ tip of the day will be featured He listed some of the out­ "We are charged each ten years g on the Health Month calendar standing events for Health to provide Congress with a Cen­ ~ and the AIDS Care website at Month. ''Around 18 events will sus they trust to be accurate and ~~~.......ILL.......IIII..-_"";';:!I..---1 a. www.everybodysgood.com. The be taking place," he said. "Some complete. We are grateful to our website will also provide links to are events that were already LGBT community partners in Libey said that some of the other information on the site and planned for March, but which helping us achieve this signifi­ tips are very basic, general things to local and national resources. we feel will add to people's well­ cant responsibility, and to help like "Take the stairs" or "Floss Libey said that "Know if being, like the RGMC concert, educate, motivate and inspire your teeth". Others, while good you're depressed" will link to the Vagina Monologues produc­ everyone to take part and above reminders for anyone, are aimed an online depression test which tion and the Rainbow SAGE all, to be visible and counted." specifically at the LGBT com­ people can take for free. "You Intergenerational Panel. Others (Census continues page 3) munity, such as "Screen for breast can put in your zip code and (31 Ways continues page 3) HIV/AIDS groups raise awareness of testing, treatment in our area By Ove Overmyer On the cold and snowy Sat­ urday afternoon of Feb. 6, over 125 people gathered at the Audi­ 0:: torium Center to share stories W and information on how HIVI ::;:>­ 0:: AIDS has devastated our com­ W ~ munities of color. W National Black HIV/AIDS ~ Awareness Day is a national o b ~ HIV testing and treatment com­ ....__ ... il: ~ munity mobilization initiative Stephaun Clipper of MOCHA '{l targeted at African American ~ people in the United States and people of color educated on the g; the Diaspora. There are four basics of HIV/AIDS in their :3 specific focal points: education, local communities. @ testing, involvement, and treat­ On Feb. 7, the National Black il: ment. The main focus is to get (HIVIAIDS continues page 3) The Gay Alliance appreciates the continuing ., .... partnership of businesses within our community Ko ak Excellus ~ M!!rrlll Lyn ch who support our mission and vision. Inside CORNING Section A -f. e lIIoIIILlWiace S[tylClU I Newsfronts ................................ 4 Gold Eastman Kodak Company; Excellus, Mass Mutual e NIXON PI'ASD IJY U.F Financial Group; Merrill Lynch; Met Life, Nixon Peabody, LLP ~Th 0. ... Interview: Darrell Lance ............. 6 MONRO ·O J\N Opinion: Census ..................... 14 Silver Ace Mailing Services; Bausch & Lomb Inc.; ~ITT ORttPrifAL From Our Readers ....... 17 Corning Incorporated; Harter Secrest & Emory LLP; Making The Scene .................. 18 Heveron & Heveron CPAs; ITT Corporation; Monroe Plan for TOM P Kl Nil Section B Medical Care; Sage Advisors of Sage Rutty; S1. John Fisher C,I 'f'" Entertainment: Drag racing ...... 1 College; Tim Tompkins Enterprises; Xerox Capital Services Columnists ................................ 15 Bronze Canandaigua National Bank; Edgerton Florist; EMPIRlSTATE. GAGV News: Marriage Empire State College; GALAXE Pride at Work; Open Arms EDGEIHON FLORAL co COLLEGE resour ces .............................. 10 Groups ..................................... 13 Metropolitan Community Church; Third Presbyterian Church; Calendar ................................. 14 Wegmans Food Markets; The Woolbright Group - Classifieds .............................. 14 Pride Thomson Reuters Ongoing Calendar ................. 115 2 A THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE OF THE GENESEE VALLEY • NUMBER 432 • MARCH 2010 AY ALLIANCE EE VALLEY The Empty Closet is published by the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley 875 E. Main Street, Suite 500 Rochester, New York 14605 © 2010, All rights reserved. Editor·in·Chief: Susan Jordan FROM THE FROM THE Staff Reporters: Ove Overmyer, Laura McSpadden Empty Closet Editor Executive Director Graphic Design: Jim Anderson Advertising policy: SUSAN JORDAN SUE COWELL The Empty Closet does not print advertise­ ments that contain nude drawings or pho­ at a 2006 conference on "Race of legal referrals to deal with tographs, nor does it print advertising that and Conservatism" that featured legal issues that would be very states that the person pictured in the ad is for sale, or that you will "get" that particular leading white nationalists and different if their partner was person if you patronize the establishment proponents of ''Aryanism''. The legally defined as a spouse. advertised. Advertisements that are explicitly photo, published Jan. 30 on the Marital status affects social racist, sexist, ageist, ableist or homophobic will be refused; advertisements from organi­ site of the anti-racism group One security survivor benefits and zations that are sexist, racist, ageist, ableist People's Project, shows O'Keefe translates into more than or anti-gay will also be refused. All politi­ cal advertisements must contain information at the gathering, which even the $5,000 a year in benefits avail­ about who placed them and a method of ultra-right Leadership Institute, able to legally married spouses. contact. Additionally, The Empty Closet does which employed O'Keefe at the Losing their partner's income not print negative or "attack" advertisements, whether they relate to a product or politics time, wouldn't endorse. puts an elder survivor at risk and no matter in whose interest the ad is Meanwhile, Rick Jacobs of for losing their home. It means being produced. A negative advertisement the Courage Campaign has filed that those who can't be legally is defined as one that focuses upon a rival product, or in the political area, a rival elec­ complaints with the California married have to do retirement tion candidate or party, in order to point out Fair Political Practices Commis­ planning very differently. If supposed flaws and to persuade the pub­ lic not to buy it (or vote for him or her). The sion and the Attorney General's one partner needs Medicaid Empty Closet maintains, within legal bound­ office against Andy Pugno, Gen­ financed nursing home care, aries, neutrality regarding products, political eral Counsel to the organization their partner can lose a jointly candidates and parties. However, "attack" The Right: Why ads that fail to provide undisputable evidence Protect Marriage and Repub­ owned home, since assets are that the information in the ad is true do not preaching morality lican candidate for California Marriage not protected unless married. further in any way the objectives and poli­ State Assembly. The complaint The list of issues goes on and cies of the Gay Alliance or The Empty Closet, & breaking the law Matters! including the primary tenet that The Empty alleges Pugno misused public is very long. Closet's purpose is to inform the Rochester Remember CREEP and funds in violation of the state A tremendous amount of The Gay Alliance sees the gay community and to provide an impartial forum for ideas. Watergate? Maybe you also Political Reform Act while a time, energy and money was impact by the phone calls we recall last year's rightwing trash­ staffer for State Senator Pete spent in 2009 to secure mar­ receive. Unfortunately too Submissions: For publication, submit news items, ads, ing of ACORN, the African Knight, in support of a ballot riage rights in New York State. many in our community do photos, letters, stories, poetry, ads, pho­ American community organiz­ initiative to ban same-sex mar­ The good news is that the bill not realize the full impact this tographs or art by mail or in person to The Empty Closet office by the 15th of the month. ing group. riage, approved at the November did come up for a vote in the may one day have on our own Design services for non-camera ready ads For weeks, conservatives 2000 election as Proposition 22. NY Senate for the first time.