Full schedule of PrideFest’s 25th anniver- sary events. Page 20 THE VOICE OF PROGRESS FOR WISCOnsin’s LGBT COMMUNITY May 31, 2012 | Vol. 3, No. 15 Today’s out gay military PHOTO: ADAM HORWITZ Navy group at Great Lakes boosts Pride, p. 4 NAACP: Mar- Countering anti- How Wisconsin Locals take Milwaukee’s gay Personal chefs riage equality is gay stigma in passed first gay center stage at Pride: A time- make outdoor a civil right, p. 6 Milwaukee, p. 8 rights law, p. 12 PrideFest, p. 19 line, p. 24 dining easy, p. 54 SHOW YOUR PRIDE AT THE POLLS – vOTE JUNE 5, P. 16 2 WISCONSINGAZETTE.COM | May 31, 2012 LGBT news with a twist WiGWAG By Lisa Neff & Louis Weisberg testant to compete Ohio, school district negoti- say to a student who is getting The industry, which is fighting in the Miss Uni- ated with Lambda Legal over bullied for being gay or lesbian?” standards to reduce harmful pol- verse Canada pag- a principal’s decision to ban a the organization asked in a state- lutants, advertised for the activ- eant reached the student from wearing a “Jesus ment. ists on Craigslist. penultimate round Is Not A Homophobe” T-shirt. before losing her The principal required the stu- BUT WHO IS SHE? PROUD DEBUT bid to win the title. Jenna dent to turn the shirt inside out You know the fight for equality Adam Lambert’s new album Talackova, 23, did leave the glitzy and ordered him not to wear it has reached a milestone when “Trespassing” debuted at No. 1 pageant with a Miss Congenial- again. In the next term, Maverick it seems that every week a on the Billboard Top 200 Album Photo: Rightwingwatch.org ity prize. And, with some help Couch asked permission to wear celebrity is outed who WigWag Chart. It’s the first time an openly from celebrity attorney Gloria the shirt and was denied. Later, has never even heard of. Most gay artist has ever done that. ADS THAT Allred, she already had secured with Lambda on his side, he was recently, “Secrets of a Restaurant “The music industry in general MAKE KIDS GAY for herself and future transgen- told he could wear it one day Chef” host Anne Burrell has con- is a tough market for a gay man. OneMillionMoms, a sub-club of der contestants the opportunity a year – for the annual Day of firmed that she’s a lesbian and in It’s really conservative. It’s hard,” the ultra-right American Family to compete. Silence. Now, under the court a committed relationship with Lambert said during an interview Association, is targeting GAP for order, he can wear it all the time, a woman. The Food Network in March. Fortunately, his fans its BeOne T-shirt campaign and NOT SO OVER anytime. star made the announcement just have proven things do get better. a billboard featuring two hand- THE RAINBOW days after “Chopped” host Ted some young guys in one hand- The Southern Poverty Law Cen- MORE FROM Allen referred to her sexual- NOT EVEN some gray T-shirt. Don’t think the ter is taking on school officials LEVITICUS ity in an interview on SiriusXM GOING THERE call for a boycott has anything to in Savannah, Tenn., where an A middle school social studies radio. “Anne doesn’t feel she was Lady Gaga has taken Indonesia do with fabric or fashion. OMM, administrator banned the wear- teacher in Buhler, Kan., is under outed,” her press rep said. “She off the schedule of her “Born which earlier this year called for ing of gay Pride symbols, includ- fire for a Facebook post that has made no secret of her rela- That Way” world tour due to a boycott of JC Penney for hiring ing rainbows, which “advertise compares being gay to being a tionship.” security concerns. Tour promot- spokeswoman Ellen DeGeneres, or promote sex.” The SPLC murderer. Jack Conkling, who is ers have received serious threats complains, “GAP needs to seri- said schools are not totalitarian also an assistant women’s bas- RENT AN ACTIVIST from religious radicals in the ously consider how their immor- enclaves. Anymore. ketball coach, wrote that homo- Apparently unable to find real Muslim country who oppose the al advertising affects the youth of sexuality “ranks in God’s eyes activists, the coal industry paid sexual authenticity that Gaga our nation.” WWJD, WITH the same as murder, lying, steal- people $50 to wear pro-coal espouses. A T-SHIRT? ing, or cheating.” Kansas Equality T-shirts at Environmental Pro- MISS CONGENIALITY A federal court has approved a Coalition condemned Conkling’s tection Agency hearings held in The first-ever transgender con- judgment that the Waynesville, post. “What would Mr. Conkling Chicago and Washington, D.C. Leonard Sobczak WISCONSINGAZETTE.COM | May 31, 2012 3 Mandel Group. 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SEEBOTH | MILWAUKEE WI 53204 Open Thursday thru Monday 11-6pm Barbara Wood 414.559.4513 [email protected] www.thepointontheriver.com www.mandelgroup.com 4 WISCONSINGAZETTE.COM | May 31, 2012 First-ever military group eases integration of out recruits at Naval Station Great Lakes By Louis Weisberg mentation in 1993. ‘I don’t want Staff writer President Barack Obama The military is often an finally signed a bill repealing tolerance. agent of social change, and DADT in 2010, but the ban the integration of out gays wasn’t officially lifted until I want the and lesbians is no excep- September 2011. tion. The overriding need to Jessie Virga, 21, joined the same rights, defend the nation, particu- Navy shortly before DADT protections larly during times of war, has was lifted, and she said the sometimes forced military difference for her has been and leaders to rise above the significant. Virga, who is prejudices that divide society bisexual, said she “was walk- responsibilities at large in order to fill their ing on egg shells” prior to the ranks. policy change that allows her as everyone World War II helped to to serve openly. spark the movements for “Knowing that I can be else.’ racial integration and wom- who I am at work allows en’s rights during the second me to dedicate more of people to its meetings. The half of the last century. Over- my thoughts and energy to phenomenon that natives call seas combat opened doors work,” she said. “Midwest nice” has allowed for women to assume work- “I feel like you can’t members to feel comfort- place roles formerly filled give 100 percent of your- able off base as well as on by men only. And once the self to something if you’re base. Locals in the area sur- military demonstrated that not comfortable and happy rounding the base are very blacks and whites could live with yourself,” said Robert welcoming, they say. together, the foundation of Baumgartner, 21, an out gay “I wear my GLASS shirt America’s apartheid society man who joined the Navy in out all the time in the area,” began to crumble. the final months of DADT. Virga said. World War II had a hand He said that he would have “The support we’ve had in the modern gay rights enlisted even if the policy from the local community movement as well. Although was not in the process of and the local media in the homosexual acts were ille- being overturned, but that region, particularly Chicago, gal in the military, countless “it was relieving” when it has really made a difference,” closeted and not-so-closeted finally was. Baumgartner said. Spin, a gay gay men distinguished them- “I was with someone (a bar in Chicago’s Boystown selves in combat. When the partner) at the time, and neighborhood, staged a war ended, many gay men it was great being able to fundraiser for the group. who had for the first time include him in my work envi- GLASS members plan to experienced the freedom of ronment,” Baumgartner said. march in the Pride parades in big cities chose not to return Baumgartner and Virga both Milwaukee and Chicago. to small-town America. are members of Gay, Lesbian As gay, lesbian and bisexual Instead they congregated in and Supporting Sailors, the sailors trained at Great Lakes burgeoning gay havens such first-ever military-sanctioned PHOTO: ADAM HORWITZ receive duty orders to other as New York and San Fran- gay, lesbian and bisexual affin- Robert Baumgartner, Kristen Cross and Jessie Virga are GLASS members stations, they are taking the cisco, where they began to ity group. The group held its who are currently awaiting orders at Naval Station Great Lakes. concept of GLASS with them organize and develop politi- first meeting at Naval Station and trying to form chapters cally. Great Lakes on Feb. 13, draw- to undergo training before found in GLASS have helped from Great Lakes command, on other bases, Cross said. Harvey Milk was among ing about 75 people.