Pritchard to leave City Council: will we lose an openly NewsBriefs LOCAL & STATE NEWS gay Council member? Health Week By Ove Overmyer events include In a surprise announcement plays, films on Feb. 9, Democrat Bill Prit­ chard said his time has come and The Rochester LGBT Health Coalition will pres­ he feels very good about it. He is ent its third annual Roches­ calling an end to his 18 years of ter LGBT Health Awareness service to city government. Week, March 14 through 20. In a press release and e-mail For more information on addressed to media, friends and Health Week events, see colleagues, Council Vice-Presi­ the Calendar on page B 14, or the back cover ad, or go dent Pritchard said he will not to www.gayrochester.com/ seek another four-year term and healthweek or send ques­ his time as an elected represen­ tions directly to Erik Libey at tative will come to a close on [email protected] or Dec. 31, 2009. He added that by phone at (585) 442-2220 he "hopes to continue his public x3042. Sat., Mar. 14: V-Day: The Vagina Monologues. A pro­ duction of Eve Ensler's award-winning play spon­ sored by Planned Parent­ hood. 7 p.m. at the Memorial Art Gallery. For ticket pric­ ing/purchasing and informa­ tion, visit www.pprsr.org. At the "Have a Heart for Marriage Equality" walk on Park Ave. on Feb. 14. Photo: billijo wolf Sat., Mar. 15: LGBT Com­ munity Health & Well- ness Fair. Clarion Riverside Freedom To Marry Week forum, march Hotel (120 E. Main St.) sec­ ond floor. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with exhibitors represent­ rekindle dedication to equality ing a variety of agencies By Ove Overmyer and groups. Free STD/HIV screenings available! Bill Pritchard, Vice President Each year around Valentine's The Community Forum the Gay Alliance Youth Group. Mon., Mar. 16: Real Sex of City Council. Photo: Ove Day, 19bt advocates and allies "What's Next for New York" The proceeds collected from the Ed & LGBT Teens! (Spon­ Overmyer. across the country take action on Feb. 11 drew over 40 peo­ the raffle (for gift baskets donat­ sored by Planned Parent­ to promote the issue of marriage ple, including special guests ed by Equal=Grounds, Open hood). 7 p.m. at GAGV Youth service someday" and for now, equality. This year was the 12th Desma Holcomb, program Arms MCC, Pride at Work and Center (875 E. Main St., "spend more time with his fam­ annual celebration, and several director for Empire State Pride Spiritus Christi) and the silent Prince St. entrance). This ily and friends in 2010." interactive multimedia ses­ Rochester community organiza­ Agenda; Sheilah Sable, upstate auction (of framed photographs sion will explore the ins and There are five At-Large City tions participated in a series of director of Pride in Action; donated by billijo wolf) gener­ outs of sexual health educa­ Council seats up for grabs this events, including a walk on Park Gary Pudup, executive director ated over $400 in scholarship tion for LGBT teens in public year. Presumably, incumbents Ave. on Valentine's Day. NYCLU, Genesee Valley Chap­ money for the Pride Agenda's schools. Refreshments will Carolee Conklin, Dana Miller, These grassroots events have ter; Courtney Michie, Rochester annual Albany lobby day, Equal­ be served. For more infor­ John Lightfoot and President taken on special importance, fol­ AmeriCorps volunteer-GLSEN ity & Justice Day (Tues., April mation, contact Jenna Wein­ Gladys Santiago are all running traub (585)546-2771 x.250. lowing the November passage of Rochester and Jon Greenbaum, 28). Tues., Mar. 17: Lunch­ for another four-year term. That California's Proposition 8 consti­ Metro Justice organizer. Groups that co-sponsored or time Fitness Walk hosted by (Pritchard continues page 7) tutional marriage ban. Over 45 attended the Feb. attended local events include the Brian Quinn. 12:05 p.m. Meet 13 Temple Sinai Meal and Mar­ Genesee Valley Chapter of the (Health Week, page 3) riage Movie, (a screening of (Freedom continues page 7) "Freeheld"); also the Buffalo and Rochester family photo exhib­ Sue Cowell talks to take the demanding job of it, Equal Measure: Portraits of about her goals for heading a gay human services Love was displayed. Rabbi Amy the Gay Alliance agency in a time of financial Sapowith hosted the event and upheaval for the world econo­ over 30 handwritten letters in By Susan Jordan my, Cowell said, "I'm taking it support of marriage equality for Sue Cowell, who takes over on because I want to. I've been same-sex couples were collected as Executive Director for the a business owner for the past following the film and Q&A. Gay Alliance this month, has 10 and a half years, and I'm in On Valentine's Day, over 60 been one of the people most a position now where someone people took part in the Have responsible for creating and who has worked for me for the a Heart for Marriage rally and maintaining local and state 19bt past nine years is more than walk on Park Ave. (see below for community institutions, like the ready to take it on. Community more information). GAGY, AIDS Rochester and the organizing has always been a A Family & Friends Valen­ Empire State Pride Agenda, over major interest of mine, and now tines Day Dance held at Temple the past 20-plus years. this gives me a chance to get Sinai on Feb. 14 drew over 100, When asked why she wanted (Cowell continues page 8) including around 20 members of The Gay Alliance appreciates the continuing F1 FINAI>ICL!\L AACHIliCTS ,"0::" partnership of businesses within our community Kodak 14: Merrilll.ynr:h Inside Section A who support our mission and vision. Interview: Rev. Sally Hamill, lace I Bausch & Lomb CORN] IG Gold Eastman Kodak Company' Mass Mutual Financial Group' WoI U MtUltYlCU Tony PacioUi ............................. 6 ..' , N IXON P AIIODY llF Opinion: Fair Share Tax Reform ..... 9 Merrill Lynch; Nixon Peabody, LLP ... _,........... ~THE ---""" Valentine's Day ........................... 10 MONROEPWJ Silver Ace Mailing Services; Bausch & Lomb Inc.; IiiiiiiiI Making The Scene ...................... 18 Corning Incorporated; Harter Secrest & Emory LLP; ~ v I TT FOR~Ii&CAL Heveron & Heveron CPAs; ITT Corporation; Monroe Plan for Section B Medical Care; Sage Advisors of Sage Rutty; St. John Fisher ~~ Entertainment: Jonathan College; Tim Tompkins Enterprises; Xerox Capital Services . Hadley of Jersey Boys ............. 1 Columnists ..................................... 5 Bronze Canandaigua National Bank; Edgerton Florist; ~ = igua Kyle's B&B ...................................... 8 Empire State College; GALAXE Pride at Work; Open Arms ~ Bank&Trust EMPJIUSTATE. Youth Page .................................. 10 Metropolitan Community Church; Third Presbyterian Church; COLLEGE GAGV News .................................. 11 EDGElHON ILORAL co Wegmans Food Markets; The Woolbright Group Groups .......................................... 13 Calendar, Classifieds ................. 14 Pride Thomson Reuters gmans w&i bright i; . ~ vtHlM!>cNitEUTEII'S GmJp ' . Ongoing Calendar ...................... 15 2 A THE EMPTY CLOSET • THE GAY ALLIANCE OF THE GENESEE VALLEY • NUMBER 421 • MARCH 2009 The Empty Closet is published by the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley FROM THE FROM THE 875 E, Main Street, Suite 500 Interim Executive Director Rochester, New York 14605 Empty Closet Editor © 2009, All rights reserved, SUSAN JORDAN JOANNE GIUFFRIDA Editor-in-Chief: Susan Jordan Staff Reporter: Ove Overmyer nate turns in print. that are unique in the region. Graphic Design: Jim Anderson Staff and community orga­ The Empty Closet newspa­ Ad Sales: nizers will also take turns in per has been published for over Alicia Kibitlewski, 241-0091 print. Groups articles will now 35 years and provides targeted National Advertising Representative: be online for the first time, as communication to the LGBT Rivendell Media: 212-242-6863 well as in the print edition. All of community. Yes, we are reducing Advertising policy: your favorites will still be there the size of the printed paper, but The Empty Closet does not print adver­ on the Empty Closet pages of our we will be expanding our pres­ tisements that contain nude drawings or website at the beginning of each ence online in order to continue photographs, nor does it print advertis­ month, and if you have access to the flow of vital information. ing that states that the person pictured in the ad is for sale, or that you will "get" a computer, you shouldn't have The Speaker's Bureau just that particular person if you patronize to miss a thing. completed training a new group the establishment advertised, Adver­ When I became editor in of volunteers who are available tisements that are explicitly racist, sex­ 1989, The Empty Closet was 20 to educate community groups ist, ageist, ableist or homophobic will be on such topics as hate crimes, refused; advertisements from organiza­ or 16 pages and was not desk­ tions that are sexist, racist, ageist, able­ top published. There were no safe spaces and the special con­ ist or anti-gay will also be refused, color pages and few photos or cerns of transgendered people. ads. It would be a shame to This training has found wel­ Submissions: Time to streamline Farewell For publication, submit news items, have to go back to those days, come audiences in colleges, pub­ You may have noticed the I end my assignment as ads, photos, letters, stories, poetry, and, in fact, we won't be going lic schools and workplaces. ads, photographs or art by mail or in Interim Executive Director with changes in the Democrat & back. One difference between The Anti-Violence Program person to The Empty Closet office by Chronicle since the onset of then and now is that we have a feelings of sadness and accom­ assists local law enforcement agen­ the 15th of the month, Design services for non-camera ready ads are available 2009.