OUT July 15, 2011 | Volume IX Issue 5 en served, ev- raderie, this one was not your convention- ery imaginable al 4th of July picnic. On this warm, sunny Ready for Prime Time o dette Ramos side dish, wa- Saturday afternoon, 60 gay and bi men gath- By StEvE chaRing termelon, desserts to challenge your guilt tol- ered at the spacious Glen Burnie backyard of From all appearances, it was your typical July erance, and corn so sweet and fresh it could Charles Spinks to enjoy what has become an Ramos Vies for 4 weekend backyard cookout. Burgers and have been dessert. annual event – a July 4 holiday potluck cook- hot dogs galore, four different types of chick- But despite the bounty and joyful cama- out – for members of the group Prime Timers 12th District of Baltimore. The organization, By Dana LaRocca one of over 73 chapters Councilman Carl Stokes surprised worldwide spanning four Baltimore when he dropped his bid in continents, was estab- the mayoral campaign and decided to lished to promote edu- run for his current seat as council mem- cational and cultural ac- ber for the 12th distinct. Among those tivities as well as social on the most surprised list was Odette welfare among older gay Ramos, candidate for that same seat. and bisexual men and Baltimore OUTloud sat down with can- younger men who en- didate Ramos and asked her about joy the company of old- this recent turn of events. er men. “It was frustrating because my plan Prime Timers was was based on an open seat and I still founded in 1987 by a re- think I’ve got a winning strategy I might tired professor, Woodrow have to tweak it a little bit,” Ms. Ramos —continued on page 4 explained. However, she said that oth- er people are treating him as an in- cumbent, even though he has not run in the twelfth district since 1995. Launch: Marylanders for Marriage Equality Asked how it would affect her strat- By Dana LaRocca conference in front of an enthu- egy she said, “I’m even more deter- The Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) siastic crowd of supporters and mined then to work really hard all the Regional Field Director Sultan Shakir and community leaders. time to win.” She explained that she other community leaders forged a new co- “I am the first out African had knocked on close to three thou- alition for marriage equality in Maryland for American woman to be elected sand doors in 12 of 22 precincts and the 2012 campaign. Now operating under to office in the state of Maryland that she is using a strategy in plac- the banner of “Marylanders for Marriage and I am honored to serve with es where she knows she will do well Equality” local and national organizations will seven other openly gay and les- to get out the voters. In those places take the position taken in previous years by bian members of the Maryland where she is challenged her team is Equality Maryland. General Assembly, a number working on those people they know That organization has recently suffered higher than any other state legis- will vote – “so that they can vote for financial setbacks, which have left it with only lature in the entire country. This me,” she says with confidence. two paid staff. The coalition was announced morning we are here with a broad “Carl has not paid attention to this in a press conference in front of City Hall in diverse and unified coalition of district so he might do well in a couple Baltimore on Tuesday July 12. organizations and individuals to of precincts but then in other precincts, Joining the coalition are the Service launch Marylanders for Marriage especially new ones that came into our Employees Union International (SEUI), the Equality who will work together to pass a civil liberties, and religious and faith based district, there are three new ones, they Communication Workers of America (CWA), marriage equality bill in 2012.” organizations. “ don’t know him from anybody, so, it’ll the Human Rights Campaign, Catholics for “Together we will insure that all loving “Each of these organizations works tire- be interesting to see how those play Equality, the Maryland Black Family Alliance, committed couples in Maryland will have the lessly every day for fair and equal treatment out as well,” Ms. Ramos explained. the ACLU, Freedom to Marry, and the greatly freedom to marry. This coalition is made up for all working families and for people across —continued on page 3 diminished Equality Maryland. of a number of organizations that are impor- the state of Maryland and our nation.” Delegate Mary Washington led the press tant to all Marylanders, community, labor, —continued on page 5 Why Obama Should Come Out for Marriage Equality Here is the change you can a public pronouncement (a Recent polls have shown that a small ma- believe in: President Barack OUT televised speech would be jority of Americans support marriage equal- Obama will most likely public- ideal) would not shock any- ity. It should be safe now to take that dip into Co-Publishers Spoken Jim Becker • Jim Williams ly support marriage for same- one. But it would make many the pool. Says Evan Wolfson, founder and [email protected] sex couples, and this declara- Americans ecstatic. president of the organization Freedom to Executive Editor tion should take place prior to Firm up the base. Marry: “The President has very little to lose Jim Becker [email protected] the 2012 election. Backing marriage equality but a lot to gain politically. The center of po- Managing Editor As you are undoubtedly will help galvanize an already litical gravity in this country has shifted, and Dana LaRocca aware, the President has wres- suspicious progressive wing the President is lagging behind. He needs to [email protected] tled with this issue for some of the Democratic Party. The be with us.” Production Director Bill Andriette time. His answers to specific overall enthusiasm level is 2012 is not 2004. When it was Bush vs. questions have been tortured Sales Director likely to be less than it was in Kerry in 2004, the Democrats allowed the Mary Taylor and calculated and to many 2008 because after four years GOP to hijack the narrative of the campaign [email protected] marriage equality activists, un- Obama is no longer the novel- and effectively exploit the Massachusetts rul- Leather Columnist satisfying. In fact, he has char- Steve Charing ty he was when he launched ing that legalized same-sex marriage. It did Rodney Burger acterized his position even to his 2008 run. so by driving a wedge within the Democratic Contributing Writers Shawn Bradley • Cathy Brennan • Terrence Brower • this day as “evolving.” Therefore, igniting a fire Party and bolstering turnout among evangel- Steve Charing • Jeffrey Clagett • Jeffrey Clouser • Chuck Duncan “I think what you’re seeing is a profound under the butts of the left wing will help to ical voters by placing “gay marriage” on the • Gerry Fisher • Eva Hersh MD • Sam Kunz • Jessica Lemmo • Jay Loane • Meredith Moise • Vann Mills • Colin Riley • recognition on the part of the American peo- raise needed cash and attract enthusias- ballots of 11 states. Gregg Shapiro • ple that gays and lesbians and transgender tic volunteers. It doesn’t matter who the It’s an entirely different environment now. persons are our brothers, our sisters, our Republicans send out to challenge Obama; The scare tactics used by the Republicans Graphics Joe Velasquez children, our cousins, our friends, our co- you must have a that predicted society’s Cartoonist workers, and that they’ve got to be treated stoked, passion- collapse and the de- Bruce Garrett (www.brucegarrett.com) like every other American,” Mr. Obama said ate army of sup- struction of the institu- Photographers at a recent news conference. “And I think that porters. He needs tion of marriage won’t Bruce Garrett • Jay W Photos • Justin Nixon principle will win out.” to do this so that wash this time around. Web Editor The President went on: “I think we’re the LGBT commu- Massachusetts has al- Anja Saine [email protected] moving in a direction of greater equality and nity returns to the lowed same-sex couples Managed Web Services – and I think that’s a good thing.” Obama bandwag- to marry since 2004, and The Fusio Group 866-322-7498, www.thefusiogroup.com This is surely a good sign that he’s mov- on in force. with all that hype and fear National Advertising Rep ing in the right direction. Of course, he wasn’t Obama raised mongering, it still has the Rivendell Media as explicit during his election run in 2008 $750,000 from gay lowest divorce rate of any 908-232-2021 whereby political calculations were para- supporters at a re- state. Founders Jim Becker • Joe Berg • Mike Chase • mount. Then he declared his support for civil cent fundraiser Moreover, the young- Lee Mooney (1959-2007) • Jim Williams unions but told big-time pastor Rick Warren without a revela- er generation had been that marriage is between a man and a wom- tion of his evolved more motivated to vote in Baltimore OUTloud an. Ugh! position. Imagine 2008, and this important P.O. Box 3640, Baltimore, Maryland 21214 410-244-6780 But this coming election cycle, things how the communi- demographic is replacing www.baltimoreoutloud.com will be different. Not only do I believe the ty will react when the more conservative el- President will declare his support, but such a he does come ders who have passed on.