In WiGOUT Madison’s Proud Theater celebrates a decade of engendering pride among queer youth. Page 17. The voice Of progress fOr WIscOnsIn’s LGBT cOmmUnity August 12, 2010 | Vol. 1, No. 20 prop. 8 ruling sparks rallies, celebrations By Lisa neff major U.S. cities and capi- Staff writer tals, including Madison and The majority vote for Milwaukee. Proposition 8 is irrelevant Ted Olson and David because “fundamental rights Boies, the attorneys who may not be submitted to a represented opposing parties vote,” a federal district judge in the election feud between wrote as he declared uncon- George W. Bush and Al Gore stitutional California’s pro- in 2000, filed the constitu- hibition against marriage for tional challenge against Prop same-sex couples. 8 on behalf of two same-sex U.S. District Court Judge couples – Kris Perry and Vaughn R. Walker released Sandy Stier and Paul Katami his decision in Perry v. and Jeff Zarrillo – and in part- Schwarzenegger on Aug. 4, nership with the American finding that Prop 8, approved Foundation for Equal Rights. by a 52 percent vote in 2008, “We just want to get mar- irrationally discriminates ried, just like our friends, fam- against gays and lesbians. ily and relatives can. We are Celebratory press releas- thankful to live in a nation of es, Tweets, Facebook posts, equal laws,” Katami said. donation requests and action Olson, one of the best demands went out from known constitutional law- LGBT civil rights groups yers in the country, said, “We almost immediately. Within came to court to seek for hours of declaring a land- Kris, Sandy, Paul and Jeff the P h oto : A P / t h e C ap i tA l t i m e s / m ike DeVries mark victory, LGBT activists same right to marry that gathered for rallies through- all other Americans enjoy, out California and in most and to ensure that they WIscOnsIn regisTry receive equal protection under the law as guaran- ceLeBrates fIrsT AnnIversAry teed to every American by This the Constitution. Through its Tamara Packard, left, and Renee Herber leave the Dane County Clerk’s Office after signing up for Wisconsin’s domestic decision today, the court has partner registry on the first day it went into effect – Aug. 3, 2009. Fair Wisconsin celebrated the registry’s one-year anni- issue acted in the best traditions versary with an Aug. 3 party at Shamrock Bar, 117 W. Main St., Madison. “Although domestic partnerships fall short of full inside and online at of a legal system established equality, they mark an important shift in the direction of our state,” said Fair Wisconsin executive director Katie Belanger. wisconsingazette.com Prop 8 page 11 “Wisconsin has resumed its rightful place at the forefront of the quest for fairness.” News WiGWAG ����������������������2 Wisconsin Gaze............4 hassett hopes to unseat ‘hard right’ van hollen Editorial ��������������������������8 National Gaze ���������������7 By Louis Weisberg gressive and moderate voters Early in his tenure as attor- leaders, including right-wing dollars on outside counsel to International Gaze ���� 15 Staff writer in his effort to replace J.B. Van ney general, Van Hollen alien- talk show radio hosts Charlie perform a job that falls under Democrat Scott Hassett Hollen as Wisconsin attorney ated voters on the right by Sykes and Jeff Wagner, Van his constitutional duties. Van Features says the state’s top attor- general in November. dropping an ethics investiga- Hollen seemed to veer Hollen’s stance on the issue WiGOUT �������������������� 17 ney has misused his office “J.B. Van Hollen is a hard- tion of Gov. Jim Doyle and sharply to the right. was a “defining position” that Art Gaze ��������������������� 19 to promote a conservative right politician who has issuing a legal opinion that Van Hollen refused to endeared him to the far right, Interview ��������������������� 23 agenda that serves his politi- catered to a hard-right politi- said Wisconsin’s late-term defend the domestic partner Sykes told the Associated On the Town �������������� 25 cal ambitions rather than the cal base,” Hassett charged abortion ban was likely unen- registry law enacted by the Press. Community Events.... 26 people of Wisconsin. Hassett during an interview with forceable. But after coming Legislature last year, forcing Fair Wisconsin’s PAC has is reaching out to LGBT, pro- WiG. under fire from conservative the state to spend taxpayer Hassett page 5 2 WI s c O n s I n GAZ e TT e . c O m | August 12, 2010 lGBt news with a twist By Lisa Neff & Louis Weisberg WiGWAG VaVaVa vOOm she announced July 28. producing and co-hosting. She August arrived with some “It’s simply impossible and her partner Allison Adler eLLen major celebrations in Wisconsin for me to ‘belong’ to are the parents of two children. deGeneres – the biggest being the state fair in this quarrelsome, hostile, OUT … As ‘IdOL’ West Allis, featuring 60 on-a-stick disputatious and deservedly One too mAny jUdGe items (chocolate-covered bacon, infamous group. For 10 years, I’ve Maybe “Jersey Shore” star deep-fried Snickers and cookie tried. I’ve failed. I’m an outsider. Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi should from Ap and WiG dough). And, in Wisconsin Rapids, My conscience will allow nothing consider moving to Milwaukee, reports the last month of summer vaca- else.” where public drunkenness is not Ellen DeGeneres is danc- tion began with a celebration of Rice, who wrote in 2008 only perfectly legal but encour- ing off “American Idol” after the voluptuous Betty Boop and about her conversion to Roman aged. That’s generally not the case one season, leaving Fox’s hit her Wisconsin-born animator, Catholicism, said via blog that elsewhere, including in Seaside show with two vacancies on Myron “Grim” Natwick. The multi- she refuses to be “anti-gay,” “anti- Heights, N.J., where Polizzi was its judging panel. day Betty Boop Festival featured feminist,” “anti-science” and “anti- recently arrested and thrown in If the singing contest intends music, dancing, a motorcycle show, Democrat.” a drunk tank after being spotted to revamp itself to stem P h oto : C o u rt e s y films and, of course, cartooning. “But following Christ does not intoxicated in public. Of course, a ratings slide, it has the “ A m e r i ca n i D o l” It’s too late to catch the BB mean following His followers,” cameras for the hit MTV reality opportunity to bring in two festival this year, but not too late Rice added. “Christ is infinitely show captured the whole incident. new faces for season 10 in ellen deGeneres for the state fair. more important than Christianity January. P.S. The celebrity cream-puff and always will be, no matter what WeddInG’s Off Fox has yet to announce a replacement for Simon Cowell, who eating contest is set for Aug. 12. Christianity is, has been or might Designer Marc Jacobs, who left after the season finale in May to start a new talent show for become.” showed off his engagement ring the network. The WeddInG Can we get an amen for that? last year, says his wedding to “A couple months ago, I let Fox and the ‘American Idol’ pro- planner Lorenzo Martone is off. “We are ducers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” Boston-based event planner WrOnG AnGLe not together, haven’t been in 2 DeGeneres said in a statement. The comedian-talk show host Bryan Rafanelli planned a wed- Sharron Angle, the Republican months. And we will not comment said she realized that while she “loved discovering, supporting ding for political royalty – that U.S. Senate candidate who’s angling on it. Sorry. We’re fine,” Jacobs and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people of Chelsea Clinton and Marc for Senate Majority Leader Harry Tweeted. and sometimes hurt their feelings.” Mezvinsky – on July 31. Reid’s seat in November, told a DeGeneres said she told the network she would delay any The gay man also hosted a conservative talk radio host that ‘me’ to The LIBrAry action until it had time to “figure out where they wanted to take party for the Clintons at the 2008 young girls who become pregnant Ricky Martin recently Tweeted the panel next.” Democratic National Convention, after being raped by their fathers that his “book titled ‘ME’ will be A Fox statement contained no announcement of a replacement as well as a Hillary Clinton for should not get abortions, because released and available everywhere for DeGeneres. President fundraiser in Florida. “two wrongs don’t make a right.” on November 2nd.” Judge Kara DioGuardi, who was brought in two years ago to Rafanelli’s partner, Mark Walsh, Angle went on to urge such vic- Martin has said the process of replace Paula Abdul, is not under contract for next year and Fox was a staffer in the 2008 campaign, tims to turn their lemons into writing his memoirs helped him has not announced whether she’ll return. advising on LGBT issues. lemonade. reach his decision to come out as “It was a joy to work with Ellen,” said Mike Darnell, president The July 31 wedding was esti- Before people in Nevada got to gay in March. of alternative entertainment for Fox. “She brought an incredible mated at $2 million – and yes, know her, Angle held an 11 per- “I was sure the book was the spirit to ‘Idol.’” the bride and groom have access cent lead in the polls. Now she’s tool that was going to help me When DeGeneres joined the show, proclaiming herself a fan to those 1,000-plus federal ben- trailing.