Year 1, Vol. 17 • Nov. 1 - Dec. 5, 2007 www.therainbowtimesnews.com The FREE! Trans discrimination by UMASS 12 gay men from MA in RainbowTimes campus employee upcoming musical Your LGBT News in Western MA, the Capital District of NY, Northern CT, & Southern VT p. 6 p. 11 EXTREME BETRAYAL! More hatred More Inside ... The L Word: Katherine “In The Name of God” Moennig, p. 4 Dr. Lola Sexpert, The Outfield, Queerwood, Q Destinations, Q Puzzle & More! Lesbian Notions by Nationally ACCLAIMED Libby Post DISCRIMATION: p. 3 Gay men vs. Gay women? p. 10 Is there a GAY gene? p. 9 LGBT Films at NIFF p. 19 2 • November 1 - Dec. 5, 2007 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesmass.com Opinions In the name of God: Missionary murderers? The Controversial Couch By: Nicole C. Lashomb/TRT Editor-in-Chief The Rainbow Times’ unspoken and Lie back and listen. then get up and do something unpublished slogan. We will stand and lthough divided on the issue of say it out loud: We love you in spite of By: Suzan Ambrose GLBT history why this religious/moral beliefs, most the fact that you are different and have TRT Columnist struggle is still going on. Apeople in the commonwealth different views about life. We love you When Senator Larry Craig The struggle we continue to have been known to promote change and even when you love someone from the (R-Idaho) was arrested a few have as loving, committed union. Believing something else should opposite sex, or even if you have erred in months ago at the (and yes, even sexual) peo- not equate being against other communi- the past. We love you because you are Minneapolis airport men’s bathroom for ple in having open and honest, societal- ties. Embracing differences does not just as human as we are, and as capable lewd conduct, it conjured up a whole new accepted relationships. How many of us mean adopting them, but simply under- of making mistakes as we are. It is not meaning for the phrase “dirty politics”. live in the shadows? Are forced to hide or standing that we are all different in some our place to judge you, to intimidate you, And we know how clean public rest- be closeted? How many of us, as recent- form. Just because we share different or to hurt you. We are beyond that, and rooms can be. ly out-ed former New Jersey Governor views and live our lives differently does we remain strong with our commitment No, the Senator got his hands dirty all James McGreevey remarked, “Settle for not make us (members of the LGBT of love. It is not about “converting” any- right—not for voting against gay rights the detached anonymity of bookstores community) bad people, and should not one, but about love and acceptance. After time and time again, as his voting record and rest stops”? For too many of our make us the target of hatred, bigotry, dis- all, who do you know that is, thinks and seems to show—but for continuing to community, being out is a lot like choco- crimination, and even murder. feels exactly as you do in every single deny who he really seems to be. late … just oh-so forbidden. Many people consider themselves way? I think that if your answer is as At time of this writing, Sen. Craig has: Yes, Larry Craig is a hypocrite and Christians, followers of Christ’s teach- mine—no one—then there is only one 1. Announced his resignation from much of his anti-gay voting legislation ings, or even religious. I still have not way to look at this. We are all different Congress, as well as his hesitation to has hurt LGBT causes over the years. But read anything from the Bible that showed and all deserve love, rights and protec- actually go through with that. 2. Rallied at the same time, my heart feels for some- that Christ hated others, or hurt anyone, tions. It should be that simple. against his guilty plea, saying he didn’t one who would cling with such despera- especially those who were different. He In the name of God has become a TRT know what he was signing, and is now tion to remaining closeted. As much as I purely loved people (all people) for who section that will highlight the good news appealing the court’s decision to let his don’t care for the ”he protest-eth way too they were: Children of God. Why is it about what others do in the name of God plea stand. 3. Has chosen to stay in office much-eth” Senator, I just have to beg the then that we are the targets of hatred, to help other communities, or people who until the remainder of his term (Jan. 09), question—what crime is he really guilty judgments, attacks, etc., all “in the name having recently accepting Idaho’s Hall of of committing? of God?” I am here to tell you that love is See Love on Page 3 Fame award (he was nominated before He touched another man’s foot. His this debacle broke), and stand firm on his hand went under the stall. His extremely {stance----------} denial that he is, wide stance isn’t made for public bath- Love, Rights…and the Rest of It indeed, gay. rooms. By: JM Sorrell*/TRT Columnist who have Craig’s continuing denials of what he No money was exchanged, and no one ast month, I wrote about commu- caused harm did & didn’t do, isn’t (gay) & and is (in engaged in public acts of lewdness. He nity and proposed ways we to our com- love with his wife) is true entertainment only wanted an intimate somethin’- Lcould create and sustain it. In munity as of for comedians and those who love to somethin’ with another man. conjunction with this theme and in late. I wrote ‘poke fun’ at politics as usual. Andrew Sullivan nails it on the head in response to personal pain I have experi- it out, and The hypocrisy is palpable. his post in The Atlantic: enced, I would like to ask readers to con- then reconsid- But as the laughter dies down, we are See Couch on Page 17 sider the harm of gossip. According to ered my forced to re-examine once again in our the dictionary, gossip is “a rumor or motive. Recently, I The Rainbow Times report of an intimate nature” or “a person J.M. the JP Letters to the Editor 351 Pleasant St., #322 who habitually reveals personal or sensa- received reli- Dear Editor, Northampton, MA 01060 tional facts about others.” The verb ver- able word that I have been the source of This is in regards to the Transgender www.therainbowtimesnews.com sion is simply putting to practice the gossip in circles of people who know Pride March 2008 Informational that is nothing about my character, my history, [email protected] noun. in the latest issue. [email protected] Who amongst us has not engaged in or my heart. I want to start off by saying that I am a Phone: 413-204-8959 • Fax: 866-310-8512 gossip? Many spiritual practices consider The characterizations of me were hurt- huge fan of TRT, it’s a wonderful, great gossip as offensive as major crimes, but ful. As a conscious activist for nearly 26 Publisher Columnists: publication that has been long over due! Gricel M. Ocasio Dr. Renee Lang its insidious nature and the disguises we years, I understand the risk of speaking So, Thank you! Editor-In-Chief Jack/ie Kennedy use make it challenging to own and there- out for social justice, but it saddens me In the latest issue, I saw the informa- Suzan Ambrose greatly that the very people I support Nicole Lashomb fore to accept that we should not partici- tional about the Transgender Pride Writers: Sales & Dist. pate in it—either as an executor or as a (and directly or indirectly work on behalf Lindsay Wilson March for 2008. I found this a little dis- Ben Peterson listener. For instance, a piece of gossip of), would find satisfaction in creating appointing, not only the explanation of J.M. Sorrell Sales Associates: may be prefaced with, “I’m really wor- harmful gossip that simply maligns my why, “because it’s not enough to be Webmaster: Simone Irizarry ried about so-and-so; did you hear that character. Who benefits from this care- Jarred Johnson included in the Gay Pride Parades,” but SJ Seymour she..?” less behavior? because I think that the concept of it is Some sociologists say that using gossip What does this hard lesson mean to The Rainbow Times is published by The Rainbow Times, very segregating to what’s left of our gay LLC. The articles written by the writers, columnists, and may be a form of communication that me? I myself must cease the endless community. correspondents express their opinion, and do not repre- denotes belonging to a group, and it may temptation to be any part of gossip. I Growing up in the Midwest, I know that sent the endorsement or opinion of The Rainbow Times, would love to be joined by some form of LLC or its owners. To write letters to the editor, please create some form of bonding. The prob- the struggle for GLBT(rangender) com- send your letters, with your name, address and phone lem is that it is always at the expense of a larger moratorium that would con- munity is not the same as here in the val- number to: The Rainbow Times (address shown above), someone else.