Volume 23 • Issue 21 • No. 420 • November 11, 2010 • outwordmagazine.com Waiting on the Court for Equality page 7 Halloween Fun Photos - Oh My! page 14 Let the Fall Entertainment Begin! page 19 Letters & Announcements Law Students Invited law.Last year, over 30 teams from “Bring in the Harvest” groups, or other times by will use to continue our mission of ABA-accredited law schools across appointment. Contact the Center at supporting the LGBTQ community to Compete in Moot the country registered to compete. Food Drive 916-442-0185. Don’t forget the and educating the public. The final round will take place The Sacramento Gay and Second Saturday Art Show at the Thank-you again for this Court Lesbian Center’s 20 Somethings The Williams Institute Moot on Friday, April 8, 2011 during Center, November 13, 6-9 p.m. wonderful opportunity and your and Friday Night Youth Groups Court Competition is the only the Williams Institute’s 10th Thank-you for your support of continued support! went Trick or Canning on national competition dedicated Annual Update & Anniversary this deserving community service Lori Ennis, President Halloween, and collected over 200 exclusively to the areas of sexual Celebration. organization located only eight PFLAG of Greater Placer County pounds of food! orientation and gender identity December 1, 2010 is the last day blocks from the Gay & Lesbian With the recent devastating fire law. to register for the competition. For Center. at the River City Food Bank, the Military/Veteran The competition is designed to more information and plan is to donate the food there. promote and recognize the finest competition entry guidelines, visit Thanks from PFLAG Suicide Prevention The two groups, and the Center, oral and written advocacy on a www.law.ucla.edu/ Dear Outword, are challenging the community to PFLAG of Greater Placer County Seminar significant problem in sexual WilliamsInstitute/programs/ The Sacramento Valley Veterans match and exceed their Halloween would like to thank-you for orientation and gender identity SeventhAnnualWIMootCourt.html (SVV) will host a seminar focused collections with a goal of 500 allowing us to be the recipient of on veterans and suicide prevention. pounds of food for their “Bring in the donations from Drag Queen The night’s speaker will be Janet the Harvest!” campaign. Bingo held at Hamburger Patties Lial, the local VA’s Suicide Please bring non-perishable food on Wednesday, September 22. Prevention Coordinator, who will items and grocery bags to the Thank-you Fred, Hamburger discuss this topic with the purpose Center, 1927 L Street, in Midtown Patties for hosting and of course, of informing veterans and their Sacramento between now and the Drag Queen Bingo crew and loved ones. Thanksgiving. The Center is open the star of the evening, Rusty Nails! All veterans from all eras and all for donations Monday through Everyone had such a fun evening orientations are welcome to attend Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Group and PFLAG of Greater Placer this seminar, and it is open to all meeting times for those attending County received $1,069 that we veteran organizations in the area. The seminar will be held Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave. For more information, call 916-436-7676 or visit SacLGBTVeterans.org 4 Outword Magazine November 11, 2010 - November 25, 2010 • Volume 23 • Issue 21 • No. 420 outwordmagazine.com Dept. of Education Issues Guidance on Bullying Outword he Department of Education has issued hold technical assistance “Students cannot learn if they feel threatened or harassed,” said guidance to support educators in combating workshops around the country in Staff early 2011 to help educators better Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, bullying in schools by clarifying when understand their obligations and Russlynn Ali. “We want to keep T students safe and learning, and student bullying may violate federal education anti- the resources available to take PUBLISHER today’s guidance will help us do Fred Palmer prompt and effective steps that will discrimination laws. end harassment and bullying in that.” ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION The guidance, issued Oct. 26, also will host a conference to raise schools and on college campuses. Ron Tackitt makes clear that while current laws awareness and equip young people, enforced by the department do not parents, educators, coaches and protect against harassment based other community leaders with tools EDITOR/OFFICE on religion or sexual orientation, to prevent bullying and MANAGER Charles Peer they do include protection against harassment. harassment of members of The conference goal is to build religious groups based on shared upon efforts led by the U.S. ARTS EDITOR ethnic characteristics as well as Department of Education and other Chris Narloch “We have an obligation to ensure that our CALENDAR EDITOR Charles Peer schools are safe for all of our kids. Every single young person deserves the opportunity to learn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS and grow and achieve their potential, without Boyce Hinman Chris Narloch having to worry about the constant threat Bonnie Osborn Charles Peer of harassment.” Ron Tackitt gender and sexual harassment of federal agencies to spark a dialogue LGBT individuals. on the ways in which communities PHOTOGRAPHY The guidance, which comes in can come together to prevent Larry Lauszus Charles Peer the form of a “Dear Colleague” bullying and harassment. Ron Tackitt letter sent to schools, colleges and “We’ve got to dispel the myth universities, explains educators’ that bullying is just a normal rite legal obligations to protect students of passage, or an inevitable part of from student-on-student racial and growing up. It’s not,” said President ADVERTISING SALES national origin harassment, sexual Obama in a released statement. and gender-based harassment and “We have an obligation to ensure Northern California disability harassment. that our schools are safe for all of (916) 329-9280 Fred Palmer The letter provides examples of our kids. Every single young person Charles Peer harassment and illustrates how a deserves the opportunity to learn school should respond in each case. and grow and achieve their National Advertising Representative The White House and potential, without having to worry Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Department of Education also about the constant threat of announced next steps to address harassment.” bullying and harassment in schools. Following the release of the Early next year, the White House guidance, the Department plans to Outword Magazine Inc. Office 1722 J Street, Suite 6 Sacramento, CA 95811 PHONE: (916) 329-9280 FAX: (916) 498-8445 www.outwordmagazine.com [email protected] ISSN # 1084-7618 United States Library of Congress Nat. Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Nat. Lesbian & Gay Journalist Association Midtown Business Association Golden Gate Business Alliance outwordmagazine.com November 11, 2010 - November 25, 2010 • Volume 23 • Issue 21 • No. 420 Outword Magazine 5 Tax Guide for Domestic Partners ambda Legal has released a short guide aimed at tax professionals and California’s registered Ldomestic partners explaining the consequences of a significant shift in federal tax policy as they file their tax returns for 2010. The change, announced earlier treating same-sex couples who this year by the Internal Revenue have formalized their relationship Service, applies to California’s under state law the same as registered domestic partners married different-sex couples are (RDPs) and also may apply to the treated,” said Jennifer C. Pizer, state’s estimated 18,000 legally National Marriage Project Director married same-sex couples, as well for Lambda Legal. “The problem as registered domestic partners in addressed by this new policy Community Property Treatment to Nevada and Washington. highlights what marriage California’s Registered Domestic In a change from the approach discrimination means – an endless Partners: Preliminary Answers to taken by the Bush Administration, stream of sometimes small Some Frequently Asked Questions.” the IRS will now recognize the inequalities that often end up It was prepared by Pizer, Lambda jointly owned community property costing same-sex couples real Legal Staff Attorney Peter C. Renn income earned by California RDPs, dollars as well as their dignity. But and tax attorneys at the prestigious the same way it long has done for let’s be clear – while this is Irell & Manella law firm in Los different-sex married couples who welcome progress towards our Angeles, with consultation by file separate federal income tax community’s goal of full legal Wendy E. Hartmann of the Bennett returns. equality for same-sex couples, the & Erdman law firm, also in Los Recognition of “community IRS still won’t allow us to file a Angeles, who specializes in estate income” means couples each will joint tax return or otherwise planning for same-sex couples. report half of their combined respect our family relationships, To download Lambda Legal’s income on their separate returns and federal law as a whole still FAQ explaining the new IRS -- called “income-splitting” -- which discriminates against us in position about registered domestic can mean big savings for couples countless serious ways. This is a partners’ community property with wide disparities in income. small step, but it’s a good one.” rights, please go to: www. “This change represents one The document is entitled “The lambdalegal.org/ttp-community- more good step in the direction of IRS Applies ‘Income-Splitting’ property. 6 Outword Magazine November 11, 2010 - November 25, 2010 • Volume 23 • Issue 21 • No. 420 outwordmagazine.com Appeals Court Hearing Date Announced For Prop 8 Appeal by Boyce Hinman he 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has in support of the Judge’s submitted briefs in opposition to html. The most recent links to announced that it will hear oral arguments decision, and about 30 groups Proposition 8, as did many law the documents begin with the have submitted briefs on the groups and organizations in the date “10-26-10.” regarding Proposition 8 on Monday, December T issue.