Volume 23 • Issue 23 • No. 422 • December 9, 2010 • outwordmagazine.com page 14 EQCA Executive Divas For Days Finding the From Military Brute Director Steps Down This Xmas Perfect Present to Vampire Slayer page 2 page 19 page 20 page 22 Letters & Announcements Help pass the Safe Schools means we must rely on your Help Make Advent Improvement Act. tax-deductible donations even more 2010 Equally Blessed Adopt a bishop this season and to close the ever-widening gap. This Advent season, join the make a contribution in his name to We need your gift of $1,000, progressive Catholic movement in an LGBT rights organization and $500, $250, or $100 today! wearing a rainbow ribbon to then send a letter to the bishop Please donate online or call us church as a public symbol of justice letting him know of your gift. today at (916) 446-5880, ext. 123, and solidarity with LGBT youth in To stay connected, order ribbons so that you and your family can this time of increased awareness or learn more, visit The Trevor enjoy musical theatre in 2011! about youth suicides. Project or DignityUSA.org. Help Keep Theatre Arts In Our Do you feel called to do more for Community Alive and Thriving! our youth? Here are some other Sincerely, ways you can make a difference: Sacramento Theatres Richard Lewis Pledge to have a conversation Need Your Help Executive Producer about LGBT justice issues with a Dear Outword, family member, colleague, You have probably noticed the neighbor, member of your parish empty seats in the theatre - at Free Tax Preparation or faith community, or with a Music Circus, Broadway The Sacramento coalition for public official Sacramento and Cosmopolitan Working Families is offering tax Volunteer for an LGBT Cabaret. returns prepared for free for organization, maybe one that For the first time in our 60-year income-eligible families. works with LGBT or questioning history, these empty seats and IRS certified tax preparers are youth. unsold tickets mean we face critical available to help you claim the Help create a safe space or decisions about how we will Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) anti-bullying policy to support continue to provide musical theatre and other credits you might be LGBT youth in your local school or this coming year. entitled to under law. faith community. Bringing musicals to life requires They’ll help you e-file and you If you know a Knight of not only hard work and energy, but can receive your direct deposit Columbus, ask them if they know a significant financial investment. refund within ten days of filing. how their money is being spent on Tickets sales cover only a portion of For free tax preparation, call anti-gay campaigns. this expense. Fewer tickets sold 916-498-1000 starting Jan. 3, 2011. EQCA Executive Director Steps Down eoff Kors, who has been at the helm of one loss of revenue has caused belt tightening in the organization. of the most successful LGBT lobbying and Contributions to the group, Gadvocacy organizations in the nation for the according to tax records, past nine years, has announced that he is resigning plummeted after the passage of Prop 8. However, Kors told the Bay from the group, effective March 31, 2011. Area Reporter that “We’re in a Kors has led EQCA almost since Equality California, but of any sound and healthy financial its beginning and is largely credited LGBT group in the nation — having situation.” That may be a very rosy for the many accomplishments of passed 25 pieces of legislation depiction though, as contribution in the organization, including more through the legislature in the 2008 of $14 million have dropped than 70 pieces of LGBT legislation. 2009-2010 session.” to just over $5.8 million so far this He worked closely with the Kors’ departure comes at a time year, according to Kors. Legislature’s LGBT Caucus and when EQCA is facing financial hard The losses are taking a toll on other legislators on issues as varied times. Like most non-profits, the organization though. EQCA as domestic partnerships, financial support for the plans to continue to lobby for transgender rights, Harvey Milk organization is waning, and the LGBT issues, including marriage Day, insurance discrimination, Equality in California. It will do so protection for LGBT youth and with fewer staffers, and with fewer seniors, and twice helped shepherd offices statewide. marriage equality bills through the Plans are for EQCA’s legislator, only to have them vetoed Sacramento, San Francisco, West by Governor Schwarzenegger. Hollywood, Los Angeles and San Kors, and EQCA, also fought Diego field offices to remain open. against Prop 8, perhaps the group’s However, many of the most stinging defeat which led to organization’s canvassing offices, considerable second-guessing and including the office in Sacramento, criticism of the organization. which has already been closed, will Kors will help EQCA with its be shuttered. The canvassing offices search for a new executive director brought volunteers together for and will continue to press for phone banking, training and LGBT legislation in the meantime. door-to-door canvassing. Also in “For me, after nine years,” Kors Sacramento, Chris Moore, who led told LA’s Frontiers, “it seems like a EQCAs political action arm has good time to leave since we just Equality California’s Executive been let go. Moore is the President had our most successful legislative Director Geoff Kors speaking at the Sacramento EQCA Awards in of Sacramento’s Stonewall session in the history not just of May 2010. Democratic Club. 2 Outword Magazine December 9, 2010 - December 23, 2010 • Volume 23 • Issue 23 • No. 422 outwordmagazine.com Why do birds suddenly appear? Created in Denmark from hand-turned oak. A simple, graceful shape. Heads tilt to express a frame of mind. Perhaps they long to be close to you… BIRD by ARCHITECTMADE Designed by Kristian Vedel, 1959 From $50 Holiday Gifts and Accessories with a Point of View. Serving our Community at 2028 K St., Sacramento • 916.444 .5585 • lumens.com Monday-Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-5 • Open Second Saturday from 6-9pm “Charm, sparkle & talent by the SLEIGHLOAD” - NY Daily News An international cast of over 30 artists costumed as holiday ornaments come to life and perform astonishing feats of disbelief. Come experience gingerbread men flipping mid air, toy soldiers marching on thin wires, and snowmen daringly balancing, soaring high above a landscape of holiday wonderment. DECEmbEr 29 – JANuArY 2 • At tHE SACrAmENtO COmmuNItY CENtEr tHEAtEr, 1301 L StrEEt Tickets available at the Convention Center Box Office • AdvAnce tickets: Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office, 1419 H street (916) 557-1999 or (916) 808-5181 discOunts FOr grOuPs OF 12 Or mOre: (916) 557-1198 (convenience fees apply) 4 Outword Magazine December 9, 2010 - December 23, 2010 • Volume 23 • Issue 23 • No. 422 outwordmagazine.com HIV/AIDS: U.S. Reports Outword Progress in Saving Lives Staff eflecting America’s commitment to saving lives PUBLISHER affected by HIV/AIDS, the U.S. President’s Fred Palmer REmergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION has announced encouraging new results achieved Ron Tackitt by its efforts to support countries in providing HIV prevention, treatment and care to their people. EDITOR/OFFICE MANAGER Among these results, the U.S. is programs show encouraging Charles Peer directly supporting life-saving progress. PEPFAR directly antiretroviral treatment for more supported antiretroviral than 3.2 million men, women and prophylaxis to prevent mother-to- ARTS EDITOR children worldwide as of child HIV transmission for more Chris Narloch September 30, 2010, up from less than 600,000 HIV-positive pregnant than 2.5 million in 2009. women in fiscal year 2010, CALENDAR EDITOR In the coming years, the U.S. has allowing more than 114,000 infants Charles Peer committed to directly supporting to be born HIV-free. more than four million people on Through its partnerships with CONTRIBUTING treatment, more than doubling the more than 30 countries, PEPFAR WRITERS number of people directly directly supported 11 million Boyce Hinman supported on treatment during the people with care and support, Chris Narloch first five years of PEPFAR. including nearly 3.8 million Bonnie Osborn Combating HIV/AIDS is a shared orphans and vulnerable children, in Charles Peer fiscal year 2010 alone. PEPFAR Ron Tackitt global responsibility. In addition to PEPFAR’s direct impact, many also directly supported HIV counseling benefit from programs supported and testing for nearly 33 million people in fiscal year 2010, PHOTOGRAPHY by the U.S. and other donors providing a critical entry point to Larry Lauszus through the Global Fund to Fight Charles Peer prevention, treatment, and care. Ron Tackitt AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Building on these and other Of the estimated 5.2 million global health successes supported individuals in low- and middle- by the American people, President income countries who currently Barack Obama put forward an ADVERTISING SALES receive treatment, nearly 4.7 ambitious U.S. Global Health million receive support through Initiative to support countries as Northern California PEPFAR bilateral programs, the they improve the health of their (916) 329-9280 Global Fund or both. Fred Palmer own people. Charles Peer The U.S. is the first and largest The Initiative seeks to save the donor to the Global Fund, having greatest number of lives in a National Advertising Representative provided more than $5.1 billion to sustainable way by building upon Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 date, and announced an historic what works. The U.S. will continue multi-year pledge of $4 billion for to work with the global community 2011-2013, a 38 percent increase in to build on success to date by U.S.